THE BEST FISHING LURES? (FOR BAJA)

Speaking of fishing....
This is thee most important question in mankind's history on earth:

What are the best fishing lures of all time?

For centuries upon countless centuries, man has pursued the answer to that question. No other quest has commanded the determination and perseverance put forth in knowing ...the best lure.

Let's be honest here... basically, fishermen are scondrels and lay-abouts..and will resort to any sort of deciet and deception to get..the best lure.

Do you covet your neighbors lures? Do you resort to any means necessary to catch fish? Do you keep your favorite lures a secret? Do you write down your lunker hole gps co-ords in code? Do you speak only Norwegian on your marine radio?

So...the best lures? Fishermen have plied with strong drink, spied on, harassed, and threatened other fishermen to possess this knowledge. That's just the way it is. Survival of the craftiest...civilization stops at the water's edge. And once that knowledge of The Best Lure is gained, it's identity is protected as if it were the Holy Grail.

Perhaps the following is you?


A known fishing addict overheard at the Mulege dock:

"Picking the perfect lure for a given situation is hard work, so I'll confess to a dirty trick. Before returning to a marina dock or my truck, I take the day's hot lures off my rods and put them away. To the same rods, I then attach lures that didn't work. That means the prying eyes of other anglers in the parking lot will be led astray, and I'll keep a secret to myself just a little longer."

tsk..tsk..tsk .. ..shameful, simply shameful.

Well, it's time to come out of the darkness and spread the bull...er..light. I think we should all form a circle..join hands, sing a little kum-bye-yah...and joyfully share our innermost secrets as to..

"Why I am a fisherman and....

"..WHAT ARE THE WORLD'S GREATEST LURES?"

I will lead the way out of the wilderness with my contribution. Please do the same with your choices.

1. The small, but mighty...Yellow Curly-Tailed Grub.



.
Curly Tail is often used as a generic term for a whole class of soft-plastic grubs with curled tails, but it's actually a trademark of Mister Twister, the company that made the first ones more than 30 years ago. Combined with a plain or painted round-head jig, as shown here, these are MY best fishing lures of all time. They are cheap, easy to use, and work very well (in various sizes) for just about anything that swims in freshwater or inshore saltwater. As just one example, my local walleyes love a 3-inch chartreuse-flake Curly Tail bottom-bounced with a 1/8-ounce jighead-"and that's just the start, pike, lakers, catfish, steelhead, tarpon, bonefish, pargo, dorado, snapper.....I have caught just about everything that swims on this lure. Some I even brought into the boat.
.

WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE FOR BEST LURES OF ALL TIME?

We all use bait...just lures please.
.

[Edited on 8-26-2009 by Pompano]

[Edited on 8-29-2009 by Pompano]

MIKE'S CHOICE.. and definetely a good one!

Rapala (standard silver)

A chrome plated jig from the 1950's called a Streamline Dodger.
I have a few from my dad's tackle box and have bought a few off e-bay when they show up.
Sorry no picture.

Large Krocodiles are also great.

Is this the Streamline Dodger, Taco de Baja?

Good for kokanee and trout? Looks good.

The Cedar Plug

Always in the box.

Pompano, I have never, ever caught a fish on a Rapala. I have 6-7 of them in my tackle box. I do still try them occasionally just for sh--tz and grins.

Boy, sure sorry to hear that, Bajajorge. I have used Rapalas for just about all fish, fresh and salt, with pretty good success.

Shad Raps are my favorite Rapala lure..#5's..in as many colors as I can find.

How are you attaching them to your line? This makes a huge difference in trolling or casting these lures. I recommend either using a plain small wire snap (no swivel..no ballbearings..no nada) or simply tie the lure directly to the line with a loop knot. Any kind of swivel hurts it's action.

I'll try to get a photo of that metal snap on here soon.

Ah..here ya go..metal snap works great. Does not hurt the action of lure.

Bajajorge, I hate to see you wasting time with those Rapalas, so you just stop by mi casa in Coyote and let me take em off your hands. I'll trade some yellow grubs!



[Edited on 8-26-2009 by Pompano]

Jigs, About like your grub,depending upon the size, they'll catch anything from blue gills to halibut. Real toothy fish will do a number on 'em.

Best dry fly of all time: Parachute Adams

Best saltwater fly for all time: clouser minnow

Megabait live jig

These are popular for "fishing the slide" for albacore. I like them for casting and dropping for inshore fishing. I've caught just about everything on them around Loreto. The secret is to concentrate not on the retrieve, but on the drop. Sometimes in gear, sometimes in freespool. The fish like to hit them going down. Cabrilla types, barred pargo, snappers, jacks, triggers, all kinds of fish.

Best dry fly, Elk Hair Caddis, but I like that parachute adams too. I flatten the barb for better hookup ratio, and easier removal of hook from Paula's arm from accidental backcasts.

But neither fly seems to work well for me in the Sea of Cortez.

Don Alley (logged on on Paula's account)

[Edited on 8-26-2009 by Paula]

Best inshore fly of all time: Crazy Charlie

... and all of it's offshoots.

Don Alley:

Good one,been in the trees a time or two,
Rob
Thats another reason I like them so much distance is not a problem,or can be jigged staight up and down,very versatile

[Edited on 8-26-2009 by baitcast]

Don & Igor,

Great flies, wet & dry. I used a few to good affect earlier this summer. Fished Montana's Madison, Big Horn, and Upper Bow in Alberta. Will post some pics here..after I relabel them 'Baja'. Cutthroats Up North loved the Mepps spinners and also took dry flies..hatch or no.

I use the megalures quite a bit, and also the darts by Point Wilson. Got them from 1 - 6 oz, but seem to use the 4 oz the most. One good feature on these is that you can bend them to wobble more on the drop..or retrieve. One particular rockpile off Pt. Teresa will almost surely yeild a nice grouper or brownie on that green Wilson dart. Can't wait to get back there and try it again.

edit to add: Don, you are right. About 95% of my dart hookups are on the drop, not jigging up. Also great for getting a quick pinto dinner in the boat. So easy...I think a Norwegian could do it.



[Edited on 8-26-2009 by Pompano]

the best lure?
is a shameless "plug" by the author.... a lot of baja stuff tho


http://www.amazon.com/How-Fish-Work-Thomas-Sholseth/dp/15718...



[Edited on 8-26-2009 by DrTom]

[Edited on 8-26-2009 by DrTom]

Cutthroats and easternbrooks were a big family favorites mainly because they were pigs and very dumb,Dad would say "If it aint a trout its just not worth your time or effort"
Rob

[Edited on 8-26-2009 by baitcast]

Good additon, Dr Tom. Any good book is also a 'lure'.

baitcast...cutthroats are the 'pintos' of the trout family. Dumb as stumps, but fun nevertheless. They will hit this Mepps 2-3 times in a row...what a blast.


Surely one of the top lures. Depending on size, will catch grayling to tarpon...muskies to barrucuda.

[Edited on 8-26-2009 by Pompano]

Mepps they were the first lure my Dad ever used" don,t know why they try an eat those but the damn things really work" I was with him the day he first tried them,he went out the next day and bought a dozen
Rob

Here's some of my favorites. Of course since the panga's gone my favorites are different now. crocodiles then rapala's then scampi's now for inshore via the "Got Soap?"

A little help

Will be going down to La Mision in Oct. and would like to get a line wet... surf fishing only.. I can't cast very well any more after back surgery, but looking to get out and try a little.

Up here I used, blood worms most of the time, they say on and lower the amount of casts I have to try...

Any suggestions on bait for surf fishing... in the area.. years ago used just use mussles off the rocks for perch with fresh water gear, but will just be sitting now.

Thanks for any suggestions for surf fishing bait, and where to get.

Mepps

... was my first love too. I had a canoe float on the Shenandoah one summer catching smallmouths on Mepps that I'll never forget. They just hammered them. They went one way and the canoe went the other.

Thought I would add this - the Hexbar!

Not a world-class lure but works great for something that's just a bar of metal. Used to be my favorite lingcod lure. Just cast it updrift and drift over it while bouncing it off the bottom. The brightness and clanging on the rocks really get's their attention (the ad says it rings their dinnerbell :lol.

Phoebes and yellowjackets for the High Sierras.




---
Roger, try these on the Oregon Coast Steelies:



and of course the Corky is the best lure




In Baja it's crocs and curlies.

Fishing from a chair

Russ, thanks much... going to get the boy to get up in the rafters and bring down all the old surf fishing stuff...

The thought of catching a halibut "keeper" would be just too much... usally only got sand sharks, crookers and rocks.... and not in that order..

Looking forward to it, have not been out in a long while... my sons wants to make me up some kinda "potatoe cannon" for casting... which would really be different concept.. using compressed air with a pressure gague to adjust the force for the cast.

A different approach on bait casting... it still sounds like fun to me

I'll let you know how it goes

[Edited on 8-26-2009 by wessongroup]

Ya..you betcha! Daredevle - red & white.

I was waiting for at least 2 recommendations on this great all-time spoon...who hasn't used or at least seen one of the red-and-white Daredevles? It's the #2 lure on my personal all time best lure list. They had been around for over a hundred years and every kid in my hometown had scars on his hand from them.

Got a great wobble if used with just a snap..and, and is almost every other kind of cast, it advantageous to stay away from a steady retrieve, rather jerk it about a bit and make some erractic motions...trying to look like a darting baitfish will most often improve your catch.

When camping in the bush as a youth, we used these to shore-lunch fish for walleyes, then in the afternoons toss them into the weedy bays connecting to the deep lakes...huge pike!





[Edited on 8-26-2009 by Pompano]

La Mision

Sorry, it is about 60 km South of Playas de Rosarito and around 30-40 North of Ensenada. Has nice sandy beach La Mision

[Edited on 8-27-2009 by wessongroup]

baitcast...I think you mean the Five of Diamonds. 5 red diamonds on the spoon surface?


This is a famous northern lure made by Len Thompson in the late '20's. I have a few down in Baja on my wall. Great lures..much like Lou Eppinger's Daredevles.

If we are going back aways see if this rings a bell with one of you.


Steward Special.........Mackinaw or lake trout

Roy Self.........Rainbows and Dolly-varden

Jack Low spelling? Anyway it was the first of the long string of spoons as in cow-bells
The guy in Sea Hunt first name Bridges

[Edited on 8-26-2009 by baitcast]

Well I got the color right It wasn,t good for anything else but pike,bass once an a while.
Rob

So many thousands and thousands of lures.

Like one of my T-shirts showing a large open tackle box says:

So Many Lures...So Little Time.

But I didn't want to get too nostalgic, just thinking of the very best producing lures of all time.

Now for lake trout, I think this one stands out:

Williams Wabler

(I've used it a bunch..from the Great Lakes to the Yukon)

Mirrolure

My best producing and favorite trolling plug for the Cortez.

Now..time to take a break down at the shoreline.

You don,t want to go back! thats just about all I got now is memories,can,t find anyone around here to go with me,afraid of bandits I guess and can,t be to far from thier doctors and my wife is afraid I might get kidnapped got no money now so that would be a waste of someones time.

O me things have got to get better
Rob

Flatfish

... is another lure that has withstood the test of time.

If I'm casting from the beach I usually use a Subwalk Rapala, most of the pictures of fish that I've posted were caught on 1 lure. It's pretty chewed up and should probably be replaced.

If I'm trolling I like 7"-10" skirts of various colors and when I see tuna it's definately the cedar plug. I don't know why a plain piece of wood with a hook in it outfishes so many other lures but they sure do.

If I see a marlin on top there are several good baits to pitch to it but I've had good results with a rigged Cacawhate........dt

Built in action
Rob
Damn the Flatfish forgot all about that one between Dad and I we must have had 20 or 30 of those,every color combo there was.

That was a super lure for sure,what fun this is.

[Edited on 8-27-2009 by baitcast]

Old trout and small mouth favorites.

The old "Devil Horse" and "Nip-a-Did-Dee" were two great top-water lures, had propellers front and rear.

DT I showed Fido all rigged up and what you had in mind she said the following"he is kidding right"
Rob

Quote:

Originally posted by baitcast DT I showed Fido all rigged up and what you had in mind she said the following"he is kidding right" Rob

Uhhhhhhh.....kidding about what?.....dt

Don't know why

Quote:

Originally posted by baitcast You don,t want to go back! thats just about all I got now is memories,can,t find anyone around here to go with me,afraid of bandits I guess and can,t be to far from thier doctors and my wife is afraid I might get kidnapped got no money now so that would be a waste of someones time. O me things have got to get better Rob

Don't why but, your post struck a funny bone, I can't keep from laughing...

The "Golden Years Suck" saw that on a bumber sticker about 25 years ago, and didn't really appreciate it until about know... still laughing.. if I missed spell something, please forgive.. I'm bad...

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup Quote: Originally posted by baitcast A tough question if we are considering both salt and fresh water,would be better if there were two. But that not being the case I would say you can,t go wrong with a standard top water Rapala followed by a K/M kastmaster,the K/M comes in sizes 1/16 up 4 onces so can be used in many applications salt and fresh,the trout and spiny-ray familys love them,in the surf they can,t be beat,many in-shore love them as well. Love the question and the answers should be enlighting. Rob Will be going down to La Mision in Oct. and would like to get a line wet... surf fishing only.. I can't cast very well any more after back surgery, but looking to get out and try a little. Up here I used, blood worms most of the time, they say on and lower the amount of casts I have to try... Any suggestions on bait for surf fishing... in the area.. years ago used just use mussles off the rocks for perch with fresh water gear, but will just be sitting now. Thanks for any suggestions for surf fishing bait, and where to get.

Blood worms

Used to get them from a guy in Dana Point, in a small strip mall right behind the Carl's Jr, when coming into Dana Point from South bound 5, across from the State Beach ... He had them flown in from the east coast as I remember... as many times we had to wait for delivery.. used to be the "bait". Alwasy liked them for bait casting, as once you got the little suckers on the hook, they did not come off.. but they did bite..

Don't know if he is still there it's been years since I have been surf fishing.

I'll check out the Berkley Gulp, never heard of that before..

Thanks all




[Edited on 8-27-2009 by wessongroup]

fishing lures

What "lures" me to fishing....

Wow

Quote:

Originally posted by stimbo What "lures" me to fishing....

No arguments here.. thanks have not seen that area in a long time, is it on the Owens River above Crowley?

From My Collection.....

[img][/img]
Heddon TadPolly Spook


[img][/img]
Sputter Bug



[img][/img]
Heddon Lucky 13

[img][/img]
Heddon Crazy Crawler & Tiny Crawler


[img][/img]
Bomber Water Dog (note grin on face of lure)


[img][/img]
Biggest Super-Duper I've ever seen!



[Edited on 8-27-2009 by Santiago]

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup Quote: Originally posted by stimbo What "lures" me to fishing.... No arguments here.. thanks have not seen that area in a long time, is it on the Owens River above Crowley? Wow! Very good. That's exactly where this was taken.

With all the lures out there one really has to wonder if they are designed to catch fish? Or, the fisherman's wallet?

Probably the fisherman's wallet. Try searching for "fishing lure" on ebay. Ooooh look at the colors!

Fishing

Quote:

Originally posted by stimbo Quote: Originally posted by wessongroup Quote: Originally posted by stimbo What "lures" me to fishing.... No arguments here.. thanks have not seen that area in a long time, is it on the Owens River above Crowley? Wow! Very good. That's exactly where this was taken. Have got a few lunkers too... using a "Green Rostertail" working along the banks and hellgrammites when able. A really alluring place .... yeah, pretty bad attempt.. but it's early

Blood worms

Just did a search, they are from back East...

Here is a link; http://www.mainebait.com/bloodworm.html

Prices for shipping $15.00(2&5doz) & $20(10doz) for
UPS ground 2 - 3 day S&H:

Not bad, right to your house... we used to pay $7.50 per dozen at the bait store.. my wife won't even let me put these in the refrigerator or the ice chest where the food is, has to be in my beer ice chest.

Allure

This one's designed to catch the fisherman.

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup Quote: Originally posted by woody in ob berkley GULP sandcrabs in the "new penny" color. or else dig some real sand crabs.... GUARANTEED! P.S. if you can give any info on where REAL blood worms are to be harvested we'd appreciate it. we use to buy them in ventura and were guaranteed big corv/bina at pt. mugu and along the silver strand.... [Edited on 8-27-2009 by woody in ob] Just did a search, they are from back East... Here is a link; http://www.mainebait.com/bloodworm.html Prices for shipping $15.00(2&5doz) & $20(10doz) for UPS ground 2 - 3 day S&H: Not bad, right to your house... we used to pay $7.50 per dozen at the bait store.. my wife won't even let me put these in the refrigerator or the ice chest where the food is, has to be in my beer ice chest.

a guy once told me you need to take a flat pry bar and at LOW tide find some rocks covered with mussels. when you scrape the mat of mussels from the rock you should find the bloodworms intertwined with the mat of mussels. was wondering if anyone else had a place/method for getting them in the wild?

Worms

Quote:

Originally posted by woody in ob Quote: Originally posted by wessongroup Quote: Originally posted by woody in ob berkley GULP sandcrabs in the "new penny" color. or else dig some real sand crabs.... GUARANTEED! P.S. if you can give any info on where REAL blood worms are to be harvested we'd appreciate it. we use to buy them in ventura and were guaranteed big corv/bina at pt. mugu and along the silver strand.... [Edited on 8-27-2009 by woody in ob] Just did a search, they are from back East... Here is a link; http://www.mainebait.com/bloodworm.html Prices for shipping $15.00(2&5doz) & $20(10doz) for UPS ground 2 - 3 day S&H: Not bad, right to your house... we used to pay $7.50 per dozen at the bait store.. my wife won't even let me put these in the refrigerator or the ice chest where the food is, has to be in my beer ice chest. a guy once told me you need to take a flat pry bar and at LOW tide find some rocks covered with mussels. when you scrape the mat of mussels from the rock you should find the bloodworms intertwined with the mat of mussels. was wondering if anyone else had a place/method for getting them in the wild?

For what it's worth, from a 2001 State of California Fish and Game report,

Investigations into the Introduction of Non-indigenous Marine Organisms ...

Introduction
Two species of marine polychaetes, Nereis virens Sars1 ("pileworms"2) and Glycera dibranchiata
Ehlers ("bloodworms"3), are imported into California in large numbers from the U.S. East Coast to
be sold as fishing bait. The worms arrive by air freight, in shallow cardboard boxes packed with
Atlantic coastal seaweeds, primarily Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis. Other living algae,
fungi, invertebrates and protozoans from the Atlantic coast have been found in these boxes after
their arrival in California, and a significant portion of these exotic organisms are regularly released
into the California marine environment, where a few have apparently become established. The goal
of this project is to provide a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the diversity and abundance
of non-indigenous marine organisms imported and released into San Francisco Bay via the trade in
marine baitworms. This project builds on two previous studies by report co-authors.

Just a little information on where you might want look... they probably have them plotted on maps and in data bases...

bloodworms

Oh well! Guess worms, wigglers or night crawlers, will work best for most fresh water species. Salt water? Bigger worms!

Bloodworms, nightcrawlers, grubs, maggots, etc...no need to mess with them anymore. Like Igor and others have said, these are readily available nowadays in tackle stores almost everywhere. Berkely makes a great and effective product as does a Japenese firm.

The days of hunting giant nightcrawlers with a flashlight in the back yard are almost a dim memory now...

..but it was almost as much fun as the fishing!

Great stuff!

Berkely Power Worm

Japanese FoodSource Minnow..made from fishfood


These two are a big part of my fishing when all else fails.

Thanks much to all, have not used "Berkely Power Worm" and the others mentioned....

But, no problem... that will take cares of where to put the bait, not getting bit, and keeping them alive..

A pretty good upgrade in bait fishing, thanks again.. will be giving them a try..

Skipjack Joe wrote:

"Mepps
... was my first love too. I had a canoe float on the Shenandoah one summer catching smallmouths on Mepps that I'll never forget. They just hammered them. They went one way and the canoe went the other.

Thought I would add this - the Hexbar!

Not a world-class lure but works great for something that's just a bar of metal. Used to be my favorite lingcod lure. Just cast it updrift and drift over it while bouncing it off the bottom. The brightness and clanging on the rocks really get's their attention (the ad says it rings their dinnerbell :lol"

-
Igor,the flatfish has indeed withstood the test of time. And a counterpart called is the Lazy Ike, a very old flatfish lure in all our northern tackle boxes.

I once caught a monster pike shorefishing from a far north Canadian island where we were windbound for 2 full days. Nothing to do but catch and release small walleyes, keep a couple for lunches.. so one day I pitched a Lazy Ike as far into the wind as I could..maybe 30 feet max..and blammo..must have landed right on top of a huge northern pike, who gave me fun dancing around the island for a half-hour, before we got him close enough to net, measure and release. That jack was 47" long and estimated at close to 36lbs.

Fun stuff here!

Lazy Ike


Here's a photo of what might be Manitoba's largest norther pike (jack) ever caught by an angler. 70" long and estimated at 50lbs. In 1999. And it was caught for food and eaten! Too bad he couldn't have benefited a bit more. Don't know it was caught on, but probably a chunk of white sucker bait.



I am currently fishing a charterboat out of Depoe Bay, Oregon coast, and hope to do well on lings and other bottomfish. I have a similar lure like your Hexbar that I will be using. Basically, a length of lead with a treble hook. Amost a grappling hook kind of lure.

==========================================

dtbushpilot wrote:

"If I'm casting from the beach I usually use a Subwalk Rapala, most of the pictures of fish that I've posted were caught on 1 lure. It's pretty chewed up and should probably be replaced.

If I'm trolling I like 7"-10" skirts of various colors and when I see tuna it's definately the cedar plug. I don't know why a plain piece of wood with a hook in it outfishes so many other lures but they sure do.

If I see a marlin on top there are several good baits to pitch to it but I've had good results with a rigged Cacawhate........dt"
-
dtbushpilot..my first trolled plugs were all metal-lipped Rapalas that I bought at the old Squid-Co downtown San Diego many years ago. Worked well for all species, but especially deadly on cabrilla, grouper, and large snapper.
A fine day on the Cortez is trolling feathers way out there..in dorado and marlin season. My biggest dorado (so far) was on a large hot pink feather...jethead. Also hit a nice sail that day on buddy boat.
====================================================
iflyfish wrote:

"Wiggle Wart, Magnum Wiggle Wart, Wee Wart, Original color...Tiger 074

Chinook and Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Walleye, Small and Large Mouth Bass, Magnum good trolling in Baja."

-
iflyfish,
good bunch of well-used lures, too I still have my dad's old tackle box full of his favorite Canadian lures...has a few trays of Wiggle Warts, River Runts, and such type plugs. Still great catchers.

Here's some freshwaters I have used in the SOC. Excellent lures cast close to rocky points and shallows..use a jerking retrieve and whammo.

A Bagley B



Minus 1



This is one of my favorites to cast Up North for walleyes and pike...a real killer. Years ago I got the nickname Rattlin Rog. The rattletrap is just pure meat and potatoes.

Rat-L-Trap by Rapala

===========================================================

Taco de Baja wrote:

"With all the lures out there one really has to wonder if they are designed to catch fish? Or, the fisherman's wallet?

Probably the fisherman's wallet. Try searching for "fishing lure" on ebay. Ooooh look at the colors!"

-
Taco de Baja - you now know why the tackle stores are in no danger in the present economy!
=================================================
RUSS:
great collection of lures there, my friend, and ones we all have used over the years. Fishing in Baja creates boxes upon boxes of lures & bait rigs for all our different seasons and species..it's our reward for exploring this magical place.
==================================================

Baja Gringo wrote:

"I haven't fished for rainbows in a long time but that Mepps lure sure brought back some great memories from up along the Kern river... "

-
Baja Gringo - I spin-fished the Kern while on a motorcycle trip there many years ago. Great memories indeed.. and a beautiful ride along that spectacular river.
================================================
Skeet Loreto wrote:

"SALTWATER--- 8 Oz. Salas Blue and White Jig"
-
Skeet, - like yourself, the Salas blue-white is a true Baja classic.
==================================================
wsdunc wrote:
"My choices have already shown up on the list:

from the baja beach
Kastmasters gold or chrome 2'-3"
Crocodiles 3"-4" chrome with a color stripe

From the boat
Trolling feathers 4"-6" (stacked for bigger fish) "
-
wsdunc - like all of us vet Bajafishermen you have learned what's good..and produces time after time.
=================================================
Sharksbaja:
Thanks, Corky..I have those shown in your pictures, too, and will surely be using them again..and again. See you soon for some great soup and sandwiches. (and a Bloody Mary) Here's a counterpart to your trout lure...a Goldfish. Remember these? An oldie, but still a goodie.


==================================================

Cypress.. - I knew you would be up on a lot of these lures and baits!

================================================

Santiago wrote:

"Are you kidding us here? I've never thought of using these.
Change the hooks to saltwater? "
-
Santiago - that's generally not needed if you spray your freshwater hooks with Salt-X immediately after using..or rinse well very soon. I have used most of my fresh water tackle in Baja over the years. Use Salt-X judiciously. But, you're right.. changing would be best.

Hey, nice bunch of collector lures and boxes, you show in your post, Santiago. I have a little collection myself and keep adding to it yearly at auctions and garage sales Up North. Fun stuff!

Here's a piece of driftwood with some oldies on it hanging from my Baja gameroom wall.
.


A while back I posted a name-that-lure thread on them..and got great answers:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24419#pid2250...
.

There are some good lures..and some truly great lures...and then there are THE BEST LURES OF ALL TIME.

Now..if we could only decide on WHICH! My tackle box is only so big..
.

[Edited on 8-27-2009 by Pompano]

[Edited on 8-31-2009 by Pompano]

Santiago..you have an honored treasure in those lures. I know you will have many years of enjoyment from just looking at them.

I seldom use the really old ones fishing anymore. I still get mad at myself when remembering a pike-fishing day on Lake Athabasca in northern Manitoba, a trophy pike lake...strictly barbless and trophies must be released unharmed. Like a dummy, I picked out a nice 50-year-old river runt that belonged to my Dad, bent the barbs, and cast it to the weedline where the guide said the really BIG ones were. Sure enough, a monster jack grabbed it immediately..made a huge trashing topwater swirl which showered us..and broke the line before I could blink. What a dumb thing to do.

You can still find a few old lures around if you search hard enough. We go to a lot of estate auctions when I know the folks were fishermen. Trading is good, too, but hard to part with old friends. Here's a few old timers in the box:

Talk about a memory lure....
When I lived in WA by a place called Point No Point I'd surf fish with buzz bombs and a spoon simular to a crocodile called a fjord. One day this kid buts in between a couple of old timers and starts throwing this little lure about 2' in front of 5 or 6 split shot with a 4' rod with a big spin caster and 30# line. No one was catching that day and we all gave the kid encouragement with his 30' casts. Damned if he didn't catch a 20 pound king! In 10 years of fishing that point I never got one that big. The lure.... a very thin copy of the goldfish called a triple teezer.

[Edited on 8-27-2009 by Russ]

baitcast, we still use cowbells Up North. Lake trout killers.
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This tiny lure (about 1 inch) is best used with a jigging motion. It absolutely kills pintos, small snapper, and other rock/reef fishes, but was invented to fish walleyes and perch Up North.

I rate it as one of my top 50 lures.

-image shown is twice actual size-

The Swedish Pimple. (catchy name, eh?)




[Edited on 8-28-2009 by Pompano]

I use it a lot. Row 3 of my favorites....
image is a little smaller than actual size


[Edited on 8-28-2009 by Russ]

Have you ever noticed how often the color red shows up on lures,on the head,gill collars and else where for several years I have put a half moon on the gill collars,don,t ask me if I have doubled my catch

Red has been with us from the beginning,fresh and salt. you ever wonder why?

Ranger lures

I've caught wahoo, dorado, roosters etc. I like the blue and white and the all chrome is my favorite. I call it my "chromey homey"

I troll it skipping it along the surface. You can troll it a a good speed and cover a lot of water.



[Edited on 8-28-2009 by AcuDoc]

Quote:

Originally posted by baitcast Have you ever noticed how often the color red shows up on lures,on the head,gill collars and else where for several years I have put a half moon on the gill collars,don,t ask me if I have doubled my catch Red has been with us from the beginning,fresh and salt. you ever wonder why?

Colors have always been important to fishing..and to fishermen. I love chartruese.

http://www.geocities.com/wwindmills/fishcolor.html

Swedish Pimple story..

These lures were designed for ice fishing and best used tipped with wax worms. They catch lots and lots of delicioius crappies through the ice holes..jigging up and down just enough to attract the huge schools of crappies. And sometimes bass & walleyes, too.





Now one fine winter's day a few years back, we selected a spot on the frozen lake about 50 feet from a fellow who already had a decent pile of crappies laying on the ice next to his hole. We drilled our holes quickly, baited our Swedish Pimples with waxworms..just like the fellow next to us had done. I know, because I glanced over there and noticed his bait/lure setup. Yup, he was tipping with waxworms...just like we were.



We jigged and jigged, but nothing was happening. I looked over to see our neighbor pulling in another..then another..and yet another!

Finally, I could stand it no longer and walked thru the snow over to this master angler to find out his secret.

"Excuse me, mister. I see you are using wax worms with the Pimple same as us, but we ain't catching any. If you don't mind telling us, what's your secret?"

The old fellow turned around and grinned, "Uu gomma heat der hate varm." or something like that. Wow, I thought..I should have taken Icelandic in school, rather than German. Then, figuring the guy to have a slight speech impediment, I said..
"Sorry sir, I couldn't quite understand you?"

The old man wiped off his beard and said again, "UU gomma heat der hate VARM."

Dang, I sure couldn't make that out...and said politely, "Uh..sir, I really can't understand your language. Do you speak English?"

The old fellow smiled again, coughed and spit some wax worms into his hand. "You gotta keep the bait warm."
.

In my mind, when I saw the original post my thought was "if I had ONE lure on a desert island for a variety of uses/needs, what would it be?".

For me, without a second thought is a silver/chrome Krocodile. Cast...troll...jig...with bait...without. Just back from San Quintin and silver krocs (ok ok, with a juicy mackerel on board) were nailing the WSB. I have caught over 20 varieties of Baja fish with them. Which of course, sets me up for someone catching 25 on something else

Great question

Quote:

Originally posted by baitcast Have you ever noticed how often the color red shows up on lures,on the head,gill collars and else where for several years I have put a half moon on the gill collars,don,t ask me if I have doubled my catch Red has been with us from the beginning,fresh and salt. you ever wonder why?

Never really thought about it, but remember that my first 2 casting lure were a "super duper" and a "hotshot wobber" both had red as I remember.. my dad used them at the time too, along with the Mepps and a couple of spoons that were just silver.

Took a look at the National Academy of Science, found a research article by:

Satoko Yamaguchi*†, Reinhard Wolf*, Claude Desplan†, and Martin Heisenberg*‡
*Department of Genetics and Neurobiology, Biozentrum, University of Wu¨ rzburg, 97074 Wu¨ rzburg, Germany; and †Center for Developmental Genetics,
New York University, New York, NY 10003
Edited by John G. Hildebrand, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, and approved January 15, 2008 (received for rev)

"only L-cones (red) contribute to the optomotor response
(10)optomotor response belongs to a system of control mechanisms"

would appear red has a lot to do with fishing...
National Academy of Science

Hot Shot - great for steelhead & other salmon

A great red lure by Luhr Jensen.

These are lures that steelhead fishermen love...fast wigglers and hot color like salmon eggs. Add a little leader weight and cast cross-stream to get the bottom on retrieve for those steelhead. You can also drift the boat and walk these across stalled chinooks. This red fire version is a pretty good choice in both cases.

Red is bright, catches the eye, add a little noise, any rattle will do and you have a winner. What predator-type fish could pass it up.