From early spring to late fall I throw more flukes and Assassins than any other bait.

They skip so well to places I can't get other baits.

I find nose hooked better for hook-up rate.

Around here, smallmouth prefer pearl......largemouth , watermelon seed for clear water.

On 10/26/2019 at 7:21 AM, ike8120 said:

1. Bait caster or Spinning EITHER

2. Mono,FC,Copolymer or Braid ALL OF THE ABOVE.  BUT WITH BRAID I'D USE A LEADER

3. Swivel or No swivel NO SWIVEL

4. Treble Trailer Hook, size  TEXAS RIGGED.  NO WEIGHT,  3/0 OR 4/0 EWG HOOK

 

 

 

 I went out just before sundown (it got dark pretty quick) with my spinning combo, 10#test, 4/0 EWG and X Zone whiplash shad(T Rigged).  Didn't catch anything, but the combo worked well, was able to cast a nice distance, nice action with the bait and no line twist.

Not what the OP is asking, perhaps... but my first exposure to Super Flukes was fishing them on Gotcha painted jig heads at night for wintering striped bass on the Thames River here in CT. We’d cast them straight out on the dropping tide, let ‘em sink, and give them a slow, straight retrieve, barely turning the reel handle. Even then, the best color was Arkansas Shiner. 

 

Later in the year, once the river herring started running, I’d fish 9” black Slug-gos, Texposed on 9/0 EWG, at night on a dropping tide at the mouths of coves for striped bass to 30 pounds. Good times! But the striper fishing ain’t what it used to be. ?

I like a 3/0 hook, weightless, on straight mono with a MH rod. I cast the fluke out and just let it sink down on its own to the bottom. I bring it back with small jerks and let it sink back down between the jerks. 

2 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I like a 3/0 hook, weightless, on straight mono with a MH rod. I cast the fluke out and just let it sink down on its own to the bottom. I bring it back with small jerks and let it sink back down between the jerks. 

May just have to try the 3/0 since where I fish most of the fish are small.