|
|
| 6 ARNOLD ROAD, COVENTRY, RHODE ISLAND 02816 |
|
|
|
|
Strategies
for Fly/Light Tackle Fishing by Capt. Jim White |
|
|
Strategies is a column by
RISAA member, Capt. Jim White, a fly-fishing/light tackle specialist
who operates "White Ghost Guide Service" and fishes Narragansett
Bay. Jim is an endorsed professional of Ranger Boats and Evinrude
Outboards, and a professional outdoor writer/photographer who's work
has appeared in The Fisherman magazine and many national publications.
|
| Walking The Dog |
| During the fall when the air and water temperatures begin to drop
and there is a slight chop on the water's surface, its time to pull out the
Zara Spook type lures. Under the conditions of a slight surface chop, some
cloud cover, and moving water, Zara Spooks come into their own. These types of lures are known as the Dog Walkers, zigzag or surface jumpers. Almost all of them are derived from the original Heddon Zara Spook. PRADCO Lure Company now manufactures the lures. They also include lures my Mirrolure that have a built in rattle chamber and excellent hardware and most others are very similar to the Zara Spook itself. You could also include Pencil Poppers like those from Gibbs, that is made from wood or those from Atom and Cordell that are make from plastic. All these lures are best fished with a loop-knot or a good Duo-Lok snap swivel so the lure gets to move as it was designed to. If the lure isn't dancing in a zigzag motion, then you aren't working it properly. Using too heavy a mono leader or heavy wire will no doubt inhibit the lures effectiveness. On Zara Spooks I like to change the hooks that come on the lure to a heavier, more sturdy set. The one drawback to these lures is that you tend to miss a lot of fish with them, and the fish tend to bend or strengthen the hooks a high percentage of the time. They do however, entice some tremendous surface strikes and are capable of drawing fish from 20 to 30 feet below the surface when conditions are right. Using the proper rod is also important. I like a conventional rod and reel to fish these lures. The slower retrieve of the casting reel and the slightly stiffer action of the casting rod allow for a more controlled retrieve. Reels like the Daiwa Millionaire, Calcutta's, and Penn Internationals will do the job just fine. Spinning reels from the same companies with eight to 12 or14 pound test line is all you need. All these types of surface jumpers deserve a spot in your tackle box, surf bag or boat. They look simple, they are simple, but are extremely effective on all types of gamefish. |
|
|
Back To Strategies
INDEX
|
|