Let's discuss/share some of our favorite artificial baits and how to use them for catching snook, reds, trout and other inshore fish.
I'm especially interested in what is worth putting in a tackle box as I'm almost through building my little pirogue and will soon be hitting the bays and passes looking for action. I want keep my tackle box small and filled with things that work. I know what works and how to fish with live bait, but I plan to try using more artificials and want to know what I need that I haven't tried yet.
There are tons of artificial baits hanging in the tackle stores, some which are designed to catch the fisherman more than the fish! With money being tight for many of us nowadays, let's help each other cut thru the crap and find what really works.
So, here's some things I plan to keep and already know a bit about:
Berekely Gulp baits
Mirrolures
pot-belly jigs (getting hard to find)
And here's a question for those who have used Gulp baits sucessfully:
How do you rig them? Lead jig head, or hook them like a live bait, or something else?
My go to baits have always been, and always will be soft plastics.
Some red 1/8 jig heads and tails in various colors
For trout, electric chicken and space guppy are my favorite colors
I like the mullet colors for reds and snook
Several plugs too. Mirr o lure are my favs. Various colors. Sometimes the loudest gaudy colors are the best. A few bomber mullets.
And don't forget the gold spoons
I carry a small three pouch tackle bag with me on my kayak, and it is stuffed with all of those
I've had luck with luv lures but they are a pain to store.
you can use a weighted hook for the gulp baits or no weight at all. today i fished them with no weight. had some snook roll up on them, it was cool. my buddy fishes them and rigs them just like bass assasins with weedless hooks. he is fairly successful with them. i know a couple of guys that use the gulp cut bait and shrimp while redfishing and will throw it out on the bottom while throwing other retrieving baits. also if you can find them, especially in our area, the 5" tsunami colored like a greenback are doing very well for big snook around anna maria island piers and bridges.
