I fished these once before yesterday and they had a snap ring, but the one one it straightened out when a 20" walleye chocked it. But I saw how effective they were so I had my buddy make me some but without the snap ring. Yesterday I fished them tied direct with a palomar knot. The action wasn't there??? My two questions are is the snap ring necessary and if so what would be a good stout brand and what size? 

Thanks for the input,

Colten

Yes necessary. Try searching duo snaps. I like the owner hyper welds. But there are plenty good ones out there!

Jeff

Thanks Jeff I will look into those. 

John Waters invented the Scrounger lure and supplied it with a snap and spear tail soft plastic trailer for use in coastal /surf fishing in the early 70's. The snap helps the lure to osculate or wiggle more freely.

I tie direct to a Scrounger jig 1/2oz or heavier because the lure has a tighter wiggle, less roll without a snap. Try the Scrounger with and without a good quality snap.

Tom 

Tom,

First off thanks for the info, you knowledge in regards to baits is amazing! I have to different lip size the smallest and medium sized bills. I don't have anything in the 1/2 Oz size. My problem was fishing one in about6-10 fow that was stained about 1 to 3' visibility. I couldn't get it to wiggle at all with a direct line tie using a palomar knot. When I go deeper I will give the direct line tie a try again, I personally do not like the idea of using a snap but will have to figure it out and trust it.

You always tie the Rapala loop knot in lieu of using a clip.

The original Scroungers had the medium bill shape, the long bill came from the wiggle head a version made in an attemp to get around Waters patent and developed a following prior to Aaron Martens starting a lure company to make Scroungers.

Tom

Awesome info, thanks again. Next time I'm out I will try the Rapala knot. In your opinion under what conditions does this lure shine? I'd only fished it once before and that was during the early spring, low pressure system blowing through, water was really clear and about 60 degrees. I watched a friend put together a solid limit in front of me that day.

Any time you have bait fish schooled up and bass targeting them a Scrounger can be very effective. Scrounger are similar in action to the original Rapala minnow with it's tight oscillating wiggle that triggers strikes. The difference is a Scrounger can be worked through cover and at nearly any depth. 

I try to use colors that are similar to the bait fish the bass are looking, retreiving the lure where bass tend to trap bait fish against structure like the sides of points. When bass comit to eating a Scrounger they engulf lt.

Good luck.

Tom