What is a decent setup for fishing flukes? Rod, reel, line,hook (Brand is not important). I have a decent selection of bait caster and spinning rods. 

If I am using a light  wire hook and no weight, I like a medium spinning rod with braid, maybe with leader depending where I want the bait to run.

 

If I up my hook and add a swivel or nail the bait to get it to run deeper,I can throw it on a M baitcaster with soft tip.  I use a GLX MBR.

 

For casting and working them, I want a ML/XF.  For hooksets and landing them, I want a MH/F.

 

I split the difference and use a M/XF most of the time. ?

 

For hooks I have settled on light wire 4/0 Owner Twistlocks.  They give very good hookups and amazing plastic life. I generally have to re-tie twice before I need to change out the fluke.  

 

For line I use a stiffer 13lb mono (Defier Armilo) as that is what is loaded on my M/XF, but I have used all three line types for them and so long as the line is matched to the rod I don't see a lot of difference.  

If you rig your flukes upside down (which I always thought was the right way) you can get away with a Medium rod and 10 pound test since the hook doesn't have to go through a y plastic.  I have been using a fast, medium jerkbait rod that is 6'10" and a 4/0 weightless owner screwlock hook.  

Rod: 6'6" MH Fast Spinning, St Croix Avid

Line: Braid to Fluoro leader 

Hook: 4/0 EWG -OR- #1 Octopus with a screw lock if I want to nose hook it

 

I use the MH Spinning because it's between a M and MH casting.  For me it's the perfect combination of soft tip and lots of backbone without too much or too little of either.  

I like 6’10 Medium Fast or MF rod, with good backbone with soft tip and comfortable to hold. I would look for M rod with lure rating start at 1/8.

Reel, the most comfortable reel for you doesn’t matter spinning or baitcaster, you gonna do a lot of twisting and jerking with Fluke.

Hook, 4/0 twisted lock hook is good as well as regular 4/0 EWG hook. I like EWG hook better since I use a lot of Yamamoto D-Shad and screw lock make it very hard to fix with mend-it when damage.

Line, I like 6-8lb copolymer or FC, to me lighter line make Fluke action better.

I just upload video from yesterday where I used D-shad, if you wanna check it out. 

 

I use the same rod I used for jerbaits:  SLX M/XF.

I use an nrx 853c jw. It casts them a mile , works the bait with ease, and hooks and lands them every time. For a reel it’s an alderbaren with braid to 12lb flouro leader. Definitely been a killer technique this year. 

6'10"MXF spinning rod (shimano curado currently and a stradic 2000 series reel with 20lb braid with a EWG 4/0 for me.  I don't like twist locks as they change the action too much for my liking and takes away from the fluttering action and turns into a more nose down presentation.  If I want a little more weight, depending on the plastic type as some float more than others, i go to a superfine type hook and it gets the job done nicely.  

I posited this same question to the community back in February. Lots of good information in that thread if you're looking for more good info: 

 

Been throwing a fluke the last couple times out when they get schooled up on bait. Usage of the fluke will only increase as we get into Fall. Just thinking about the fluke makes me smile  ?

 

Edit: I'll just add that I throw them as follows: 

 

1) Traditional rig (4/O weightless) on a 6'9" MH/XF casting (soft-ish tip for distance) with 30lb braid to a 10lb hard fluoro. That length rod also happens to be great to work it from shore or boat I've found.

 

2) Nose rigged w a 3/64 weight on either a 6'6" or 6'10" M/F spinning (15 or 20lb braid to a softer fluoro leader (invisx) in 12 or 10lb. Again, rod length is great for either shore or boat and the braid main to fluoro leader really aids in making the fluke dance just how you want it. 

 

@fishwizzard nailed for me in my mind when I asked about this back in Feb when he said the trick is a soft enough tip to cast/twitch with but enough backbone to set the hook. I feel the line type(s) is an important factor for this type of setup. 

On 8/29/2019 at 12:50 PM, JediAmoeba said:

If you rig your flukes upside down (which I always thought was the right way) you can get away with a Medium rod and 10 pound test since the hook doesn't have to go through a y plastic.  I have been using a fast, medium jerkbait rod that is 6'10" and a 4/0 weightless owner screwlock hook.  

I'm just curious, when you rig it like that, does the fluke get turned inside-out when you catch one, like in the picture @fishwizzard posted?

 

On 8/29/2019 at 9:38 AM, fishwizzard said:

 

 

I am going to use my Dobyns FR733C with my Speed Demon reel, Right now it is spooled with 15# Copolymer, Any suggestions on the line??

59 minutes ago, ike8120 said:

I am going to use my Dobyns FR733C with my Speed Demon reel, Right now it is spooled with 15# Copolymer, Any suggestions on the line??

The 733c is a good fluke rod, if you don't use heavy wire hooks.

If I am using heavier hooks I go up to the 734c.

For fluke fishing I use 14 pound sunline sniper. It is pretty sensitive with the semi slack line of fluke fishing. Plus it sinks, which allows the fluke to run a little deeper.

I have tried a few copoly lines, but always go back to flouro with the fluke.

In my arsenal, I throw flukes and caffeine shads on my 6’9” Medium Fast KLX, 7’ LMH Helium 3, and 3-power Dobyns Champions.  

On 8/31/2019 at 4:26 PM, fin said:

I'm just curious, when you rig it like that, does the fluke get turned inside-out when you catch one, like in the picture @fishwizzard posted?

 

 

Not normally, no.  I have great success with it rigged this way and it seems to last longer.

What is your preferred line on your fluke set up? My set up could also be used for chatterbaits. I just can't justify now buying a setup for each different baits used.

Medium fast tip 7’ carbon lite, spinning reel, 8lb mono to tiny swivel, 36” of 8lb mono to 4/0 EWG hook and fluke

I have caught a zillion bass on flukes, love them, used them since they first came out, and actually rigging really doesn't matter, your preference.  Any rod reel setup you'd normally use to fish for bass and rigging them upside down is the easiest but not necessary. Fish them on top slow, jerk them, up and down retrieve or carolina rig them.  

2 hours ago, Bigassbass said:

I have caught a zillion bass on flukes, love them, used them since they first came out, and actually rigging really doesn't matter, your preference.  Any rod reel setup you'd normally use to fish for bass and rigging them upside down is the easiest but not necessary. Fish them on top slow, jerk them, up and down retrieve or carolina rig them.  

Do you use a swivel with a leader?

Baitcaster on a 6'6" mh/f rod.  Hook is a 3/0 EWG gammy tied on 15# mono.

1 hour ago, Bankbeater said:

Baitcaster on a 6'6" mh/f rod.  Hook is a 3/0 EWG gammy tied on 15# mono.

I agree with you. I use 12# floro on mine.

It's rare that I ever use a Fluke but would like to up my game and use one more often.

 

I've got a spare rod laying around that never gets used and from reading here I think it'll work fine. It was my specific jerkbait rod but I never really use a jerkbait.  It's a St. Croix AVC 68 MF. What line do you suggest? Just a preface, I don't like Fluoro or leaders.

 

 

41 minutes ago, TBAG said:

It's rare that I ever use a Fluke but would like to up my game and use one more often.

 

I've got a spare rod laying around that never gets used and from reading here I think it'll work fine. It was my specific jerkbait rod but I never really use a jerkbait.  It's a St. Croix AVC 68 MF. What line do you suggest? Just a preface, I don't like Fluoro or leaders.

 

 

One of my wading pal's confidence bait is a fluke. He probably throws it 95% of the time. He always catches fish. I can't remember a time that he's gotten skunked when we've fished together. I know he has an inexpensive ABU 7' MF rod. The spinning reel is quite old and has so much rash that there isn't any lettering left, so I can't say what it is.  It looks to be  a 3000 sized reel. He uses 30lb braid with no leader. I'm not suggested you should, but we fish very weedy pad filled spots for the most part. Line choice might matter in some places. It doesn't seem to matter much here. But he catches them in open water too. I think it comes down to how he works the bait more than anything.

On 8/29/2019 at 5:52 AM, ike8120 said:

What is a decent setup for fishing flukes? Rod, reel, line,hook (Brand is not important). I have a decent selection of bait caster and spinning rods. 

Chronarch CI4+ on a Powell Inferno 7' MH/XF. Light wire hooks and Berkely Big Game 12lb clear.

2 hours ago, TBAG said:

It's rare that I ever use a Fluke but would like to up my game and use one more often.

 

I've got a spare rod laying around that never gets used and from reading here I think it'll work fine. It was my specific jerkbait rod but I never really use a jerkbait.  It's a St. Croix AVC 68 MF. What line do you suggest? Just a preface, I don't like Fluoro or leaders.

 

 

I have used them with 12# Sufix Siege mono on baitcaster with no problems. If using a spinning rod I would go with 10# Sufix Siege.

On 8/29/2019 at 12:50 PM, JediAmoeba said:

If you rig your flukes upside down (which I always thought was the right way) you can get away with a Medium rod and 10 pound test since the hook doesn't have to go through a y plastic.  I have been using a fast, medium jerkbait rod that is 6'10" and a 4/0 weightless owner screwlock hook.  

They last a long while this way its how i do mine