Inflatable Raft Bum

Im guessing the last hook question was for me.. The seemingly tiny hooks i use do a number of things very well. 1) almost like its not there, for weeds/ doesnt alter the natural balance of the weightless fluke 2) its smaller, so it makes engulfing the fluke at all kinds of odd angles much easier for the bass What does a bass do after it captures its prey? (It crushes it with its teeth etc in its throat and inside gill plates etc) This is why the small hook is still so effective on this lure. I get a lot of fish hooked in the top of the roof of the mouth. Very rare to have a gut hook, i was scared of that at first but its been a non issue. I do re- tie after every fish due to the top of the roof of the mouth hook ups/ makes the line ride against fish's teeth on the fight.

Soak a pearl fluke, and a white ice fluke in water for 48 hrs, and just look at what you'll see.

When you buy Zoom products, open them and taste them, some (many) claim salt content when they have none. Still my all time favorite lure.

White Ice Flukes have no salt, regarless of the packaging claims. The salt is required for the lure to function

I like a BPS or Gamakatsu 2/0 Octopus hook to be more specific. No ***** colored hooks 'neither, just black.

The ones i fish would lay flat on your thumbnail, quite small.

If you find yourself jerking too early on the hook up in clear water.. Experiment with looking away from the lure after it lands.. At least until you stop quickly jerking the lure away from the approaching bass.As time goes on you will get to where in clear water you will be almost 100% sight fishing, not casting at fish, BUT MONITORING YOUR FLUKE IS STILL VISIBLE, if not, set the hook!

Try a scrounger head, i dont like weighting the fluke, but a scrounger head long bill gives it beautiful fluttering action

Use a Senko as a trailer, adds bulk, profile length, and lets jig fall at 45 deg angle on retrieve vs srtaight down

Because they will never be Norman Deep Little N crankbaits, for this reason THEY SUCK.

Very very broad question, so long i have to admit i stopped reading.. I think i get your question.. All i have to add, trumps all type scenario?, cool water/ early winter/ late winter... If the water is cold i want a Norman Deep Little N crank-bait. I used to dread pre& post season, no more.. Give me my bait-caster and a box of Normans. Not only that, but cold water, i'm actually craking kinda hard and fast, not quite burning it, but not far from it.

2/0 Octopus hook, i merely hook the Fluke like you see the banjo minnow hooked. Just simple nose hook. Any type of double entry tex-posed etc rigging simply kills the natural action of the long soft bodied Fluke. Fished 'em all over the yrs. Been fishing Zoom Flukes for over a decade, finally settled on 2/0 oct hooks two yrs ago. They rock, hook up even on big big bass is excellent.

John if you post the pics i sent you, the fellar in the one picture with the camo ball cap is Cottny 27 thats a member here. I let him fish with me (blah ha ha)

I can email it to you'z guys if'n you wanna see her.

Wish i could post my big bass from weekend before last. Says it too big to upload. 8+ lb female, LLLLLLLLLLOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG fish. 10lb line, it was a hoot!

I hook up better w/ spinning reel set up too. Kinda like not setting the hook when you hear a bass bust a spinnerbait/ but waiting until you feel the weight of the fish.

Your casting non weighted flukes into the wind on a bait-caster? Your more talented than i am. Much easier to grab the correct tool for the job though.

I fish windy Southern Illinois strip pits. Your not going to throw flukes on a bait-caster unless you just get kicks out of constant backlashes. The configuration of the bait-cast rod w/ eyes above the rod (for some reason) doesn't lend itself to jerking around a fluke. Even on dead calm days.

7 foot medium heavy open faced spinning real and rod, A bait caster simply won't give you the correct action and will wear you out

Can it be two?, i'm split personality.. Fluke- pearl Senko- junebug (blueish/ purple w/ flake)

My post reads rude, not intended to.

I always Palomar my open faced reel spools, then install them on the reel. I like to fill the bathtub or the kitchen sink with hot water, just sling the loose spool from the box of line right in the hot water. Anything that spool needs to do, it will in that water. No face down this & that, your not painting purple poke a dots on a pink elephant~ sling her in the tub and spool her up. I had one shallow spool reel, didn't care for it.

I can honestly say without reservation, YOUR USING A KNOWN INFERIOR KNOT, (and i can say that as someone who formerly fished that turd of a knot) Sorry, dont hate me, LOL

Doesnt superglue alter the integrity of the line? (A good properly selected knot should need no aid/ glue)

I only fish cheap WMart house brand mono, 12# is as light as i go around cover. Their house line has never really given me any trouble. (Shakespeare or whoever it is?..)