BigBendFishing.Net

Hey guys I usualy only fish with Live Shrimp under a CT most of the time or a DOA here or there. I was wondering what kind of top water, crank, or spoons that use guys use to catch reds/trouts.

I like MirrOLures. Top Dog series, 52M, 51M, 7M, Catch 2000, they all work for both trout and reds.

The new MirrOMinnow they have out now looks promising, but I haven't haven't tried one yet.

Ditto on what Charles said, but also for reds and sometimes trout I like gold spoons and spinnerbaits. And don't forget the myriad of soft plastics.

Chug Bug, Top Pup for topwater and Catch Jr. suspending jerkbait
and just about any gold spoon (I superglue a couple rattles on
inside of spoons for a little noise)....amazing how much tackle
I carry just in case the above don't seem to be working

I just reread my post and realize I didn't really answer your question. What I recommend is purchasing a couple of topwater baits, the topdog jr. is an excellent start. Just pick any 2 different color schemes like blue and chrome and black and gold. Then purchase a couple of suspending baits, the catch 2000 also by mirrolure is an excellent choice. Again pick a couple of different color schemes. Regarding spoons, there are so many out there and most are similar to each other. I prefer the single hook willowleaf style. Some like the spoons with a treble hook. Pick up an assortment and start casting you be be able to decide which suits your fishing style. On spinnerbaits I recommend those made by Cajun Thunder. The ThunderSpin is a well made spinnerbait that will hold up under the pressure of a hard pulling red. I really don't believe color makes much difference to redfish, but you might as well get an assortment. Good luck.

Charles Pulley wrote:The new MirrOMinnow they have out now looks promising, but I haven't haven't tried one yet.

You wouldn't like it Charles.

For the Gator Trout, fish a small live pinfish under a cajun thunder. Drag it behind the boat, when it starts to rattle, hang on.

Charles Pulley wrote:The new MirrOMinnow they have out now looks promising, but I haven't haven't tried one yet.

Worthless lure

I'm like you, still learning, but when it comes to reds, I like the thunderspin and gold spoons made by Capt. Mike Hakala. Chartuse and rootbeer seem to work best around here, you can check out his assortment of spoons @ http://www.floridaysfishing.com

I don't throw any topwater, cranks, or spoons because I hate treble hooks, I know it sounds funny but I refuse to use them. For Reds, Trout I like my 7" white fluke bait or just a grub. Sometimes I throw a 12" eel and work it like a fluke. The big Reds and Trout love it.

A lure that I used to like and caught a lot of fish with is the Smithwick Devil's Horse, in chrome, black/yellow, or black/white. A productive lure, but the reds will destroy the hooks on them. This is true with just about any lure I've seen, but it seems to happen a lot faster with the light hooks the Devil's Horse comes with.

The Cotton Cordell Boy Howdy is the same type of lure in plastic with bigger hooks, but it can be hard to find. Rivers Bait & Tackle in Tallahassee carries them.

The Rapala Skitter Walk is another good topwater.

I think the Hildebrandt Snagless Sally with gold blade should work for reds, since other spinnerbaits and gold spoons are so popular for them. Although I haven't used the Sally to target reds, I have caught a red on one while fishing for bass in the Wakulla River last November.

Last time I was in Japan I picked up some knock-offs of the Yo-Zuri Mag Darter. A little smaller and much lower priced than the Mag Darter available over here, these have been working well for me, but it's probably not worth it to fly to Japan for them, unless you were going anyway.

Another thing I picked up while I was there were a few Lucky Craft Sammys off the second-hand lure rack. Yeah, tackle shops over there have second-hand lure racks. I'm not 100% sure these aren't knock-offs, but they were a whole lot cheaper than a real Sammy and they work.

Weaver Brown and his grandson catch a lot of trout on the Tsunami Split Tail Minnow. A soft pastic jig that looks just like a glass minnow.

Skitterwalk for topwater, Rattling Redfin, Renegade, Rattle Trap for crank boats....only thing I have ever caught on a spoon is a receipt from buying it .....

If I had to make pick only a handful of lures it would be a pack of 1/4 oz jigheads, pack of 5/0 light wire worm hooks, pink soft jerk bait (zoom/bass assassin/etc), Texas Tackle Red Killers (can't tell ya the color its a secret ), Skitterwalk and a Cajun thunder or Greedy Gut rattling cork

I have a plethora of tackle that I lug around, but after a tackle box cleaning last night I realized the above is about all I fish, throw in a spinnerbait as well....if I can't get it done with that I'm probably only gonna be cleaning the boat

PinFishKing wrote:For the Gator Trout, fish a small live pinfish under a cajun thunder. Drag it behind the boat, when it starts to rattle, hang on.

I always drag a pin. Also I love my Mirrowlure propbait for topwater. But you can't go wrong with an 1/8 or 1/4 red jig head with 1 of the following color bodies: pinfish, candy corn, electric chicken or white/glow with a pink or red tail. I also like to throw jigs without the thunder too. I prefer the cigar floats for jigs and oval for live or cut bait. Usually once the sailcats arrive I don't use shrimp at all.

For top water I've had great luck with 5.5-inch Chug Bug, Spook, and Top Dog (clown color). Good sinking baits are DOA shrimp, and Storm minnows......those things know how to hunt.

My buddy and I are Bass fisherman promarily and we've found that the Trout and Reds will hit on most Bass lures from our tackle box.

Anyone ever try a drop-shot rig with plastics for Trout or Reds?

Good morning mojokoko... If you've been read'n and take'n all this ta heart Then I suspect your looking for a bigger tackle box right bout now

This is sort of what Birddog said but find a couple (2) of top water that appeal to you and see if your comfortable in how you can make them preform...can you walk'm if they are stick baits...can you make them pop if they are that type, can you make em sputter if they are prop baits...use the ones you feel the most confidence in because that's ultimately what will work the best for you. Do you like the way they cast, etc. Find 2 suspended hard baits and see if you like the action, try them with a real slow (twitch) retrieve and try them with a fast (straight)retrieve. If you like them both ways stick with them. Try the same method with the soft plastics (straight without a cork). Try the paddle tail, curly tails, and flukes. As far as the CT's You'll find not quite as much variation in the actual product but the variation will come in how you develop your presentation. Good luck wad'n through all the help