Looking into scrounger head fishing. When do I choose this over just a normal Swimbait? When do I choose this over a crankbait. Just trying to better understand when this bait shines?

 

Levi

I'm learning when to use it as well, but my best success last year was using it like a crank in weedy areas, rubbing scrub grass, between clumps of thinner stalks, etc.  I also did ok cruising within a foot or two of bare bottom breaks and tracing them out on a longer cast.  My best day with it was on a different lake to me, and it was a mid column type deal, but that was a one time event so far.

 

scott

To me a scrounger is a finesse naked chatter bait.

3 hours ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

Looking into scrounger head fishing. When do I choose this over just a normal Swimbait? When do I choose this over a crankbait. Just trying to better understand when this bait shines?

 

Levi

 

Let the fish tell you what is shining. How about using it in addition to the above baits? 

1st you want a Scrounger to run with a tight wiggle, not a wide wobble. Trailers with tails tend to wobble more then straight trailers like a Slug-O. Take time to thread on the trailer so it runs straight at all retrieve speeds.

Keep it simple and I use a Slug-O in Baby Bass or Rainbow trout, both look like baitfish to bass.

Scroungers are surprisingly weedless as the collar deflects weeds on the retrieve. 

You can retrieve a Scrounger at nearly any depth from just under the surface to as deep as you let it sink from slow to fast or stop and go. Scroungers are a silent running lure with trailer creating profile and color, the bill pushing water to create pressure waves. 

Use Scroungers when bass are more active, it’s a moving bait the bass needs to chase to strike.

A trick to increase hook sets is when you feel slight bumps increase the speed. The hook on a Scrounger is heavy wire so use a Jig & worm rod with power to set the hook.

Tom

6 hours ago, WRB said:

1st you want a Scrounger to run with a tight wiggle, not a wide wobble. Trailers with tails tend to wobble more then straight trailers like a Slug-O. Take time to thread on the trailer so it runs straight at all retrieve speeds.

Keep it simple and I use a Slug-O in Baby Bass or Rainbow trout, both look like baitfish to bass.

Scroungers are surprisingly weedless as the collar deflects weeds on the retrieve. 

You can retrieve a Scrounger at nearly any depth from just under the surface to as deep as you let it sink from slow to fast or stop and go. Scroungers are a silent running lure with trailer creating profile and color, the bill pushing water to create pressure waves. 

Use Scroungers when bass are more active, it’s a moving bait the bass needs to chase to strike.

A trick to increase hook sets is when you feel slight bumps increase the speed. The hook on a Scrounger is heavy wire so use a Jig & worm rod with power to set the hook.

Tom

Interesting thank you, what size do you use as a trailer does it vary?

Scrounger  head with a fluke on it, worked well for both LMB and strippers. 

12 hours ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

Interesting thank you, what size do you use as a trailer does it vary?

1/2 oz Hog Farmer w/ 6” Slug-O

20 hours ago, WRB said:

1st you want a Scrounger to run with a tight wiggle, not a wide wobble. Trailers with tails tend to wobble more then straight trailers like a Slug-O. Take time to thread on the trailer so it runs straight at all retrieve speeds.

Keep it simple and I use a Slug-O in Baby Bass or Rainbow trout, both look like baitfish to bass.

Scroungers are surprisingly weedless as the collar deflects weeds on the retrieve. 

You can retrieve a Scrounger at nearly any depth from just under the surface to as deep as you let it sink from slow to fast or stop and go. Scroungers are a silent running lure with trailer creating profile and color, the bill pushing water to create pressure waves. 

Use Scroungers when bass are more active, it’s a moving bait the bass needs to chase to strike.

A trick to increase hook sets is when you feel slight bumps increase the speed. The hook on a Scrounger is heavy wire so use a Jig & worm rod with power to set the hook.

Tom

Good Lord....this might be the best, most concise answer I've ever seen on BR.  I went from also being curious about a Scrounger head to ordering some and having a good starting knowledge about how to use them in about 5 minutes.  Unbelievable...lol.  Thanks Tom!

The Hog Farmer Spunk Shad works great as well.