Hi all,

 

I think a Scrounger head and trailer combo should work well for a few things in my lakes.  I am going to buy some this winter for the spring.  I think 1/2 +/- 1/4 is the right range for the head.  it looks like there are tons of options so tell me the best and why that’s the best.

 

thanks,

rick

 

 

7 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

  it looks like there are tons of options so tell me the best and why that’s the best.

 

thanks,

rick

 

Rick, to me the best is the one that runs true.  Not what you're asking maybe.   But, it seems like any brand can have a few that spin like Cousin Vinny's tires in the Alabama mud.  That can be the most frustrating thing about scroungers.  Get one that runs straight and mark it and keep it separate.   

  Otherwise, they all wobble, all have sharp,  open hooks, etc.  Baitkeepers vary.  I find that those with no real baitkeeper are probably going to be relegated to slow, bottom retrieves, as they can be very tough to keep aligned and not spinning.

   So, I suggest getting a couple/few different ones and see how they act for you.  Two seemingly identical heads from same mfr can give you different looks.

  As to weights, I rarely (never?) go under 1/2 oz.

 

-Dave

 Scrounger jigs use a soft flexible bill usually available in the original short bill and the longer thinner bill. The best action for Scoungers is a tight rolling wiggle similar to the original Rapala minnow. Wide wobble doesn’t trigger strike as well as the tighter wiggle.

Scroungers are fished incorrectly by most anglers thinking it’s like a crank bait, it’s more like a swimbait or swim jig, slower retrieve.

I use a straight Sluggo as a trailer and carefully thread onto the hook so it’s not kinked but straight and smooth so it will wiggle properly.

I tie direct to the jig eye with the San Diego jam knot without a clip, this helps the lure to keep a tighter wiggle.

The flexible bill acts like a weed guard to some extent but not weedless.

3/8 oz with 5” Sluggo, 1/2 and 3/4 oz with 6” Sluggo.

Picasso with Grammy hook and pearl white is choice today.

Tom 

 

1 hour ago, WRB-2.0 said:

Scroungers are fished incorrectly by most anglers thinking it’s like a crank bait, it’s more like a swimbait or swim jig, slower retrieve.

I use a straight Sluggo as a trailer and carefully thread onto the hook so it’s not kinked but straight and smooth so it will wiggle properly.

Tom 

 

I was one of those anglers who fished it way too fast.

Thankfully a guide in Mexico straightened me out.

I also like straight-style trailers for the most part.

3/8 oz with the long bill is my go to. 

My favorite way to fish it is low & slow.

Adding in several pauses during the retrieve, allowing the bait to decend slowing on a tight line, has accounted for some real fatties for me. 

A-Jay

 

I’m bringing this one back around because I finally fish them a little last weekend. I went with the hog farmers in 1/4 and 1/2 oz. A Scrounger isn’t what I thought it was going to be, but it is probably better than what I asked for. I was picturing it like a bladed jig type feel but the bait action is more like shaking a minnow on a good head where the bait just rolls back and forth side to side. Except with the Scrounger you’re getting a bit more forward motion and the jighead minnow is a more staying in place and just rolling. I put a 5” freeloader on it. I started with the 1/4 but for a moderate retrieve it was only going down to 3-4’ at most. I could have let it fall deeper, but then the retrieve to keep it there was so incredibly slow it was tough. I bumped to the 1/2 and that just felt natural to me for fishing 3-10’. It’s definitely going to be rigged when I am using FFS and they are chasing.

The scrounger head is my next bait that I need to work on.

Huge fan of the Scottsboro Pro series sniper head, great hook for anything less than a 7" bait in my opinion. And 2 sleeper trailers are a geecrack revival 5" shad worm, tightest wiggle, s-like swim and a deps deathadder, very similar, slightly less durable. I do better with heavier heads working just off the bottom and it has become a really effective bait for me at time hen I used to throw a vibrating jig, especially colder water situations.

scott