...You're doing it wrong :laugh:

After a day of banging rock piles for smallies, your baits will look like this:

But you'll end up with a ton of these:

And maybe even a few of these:

Basically spent the day throwing two baits, the Aruku in water 4-6' deep, and the Jr. in shallower water.  Aruku Shad work well for this, the faster you reel them in, the lower the head of the bait runs, giving better deflection off rocks, which triggered strikes.  I basically fished choice rock piles rising out of water 8' deep or more.  Nothing huge, many in the 2-3 lb. class, with some dinks, 'eyes, and googly thrown in. Despite the chill in the air, a fun, short afternoon trip.

Very cool. Interesting how those banged up finishes still catch fish. But we still get all jazzed at the fancy finishes that come out -I know I do. I had a "walleye" finish Rebel minnow I had caught a bunch of walleyes on, until the finish was worn off -and it still caught em. I eventually lost that plug, and bought a new one, which I was sorely tempted to take 50 grit sandpaper to. ;D

Those 'eyes are pretty, aren't they?

Seems like fun! Nice catches too!

Thanks guys.

Yeah, Paul, these 'eyes had perfect fins and coloration.  Beautiful, in an ugly/delicious sort of way.  I didn't keep any, though.  Felt they needed fattening up

Where I mostly fish my lures get banged up real bad.  My xraps peel and in time many are now white with patches of color.  That being said, the fish don't really mind a bit, I catch as many on a banged up lure as one fresh from the box. I use them until they are no longer usable.

Nice...if you catch enough fish on them they will eventually turn clear. I now have 2 clear wild shiner Aruku's lol.

Nice going francho..

Funny how sometimes the banged up lures "seem" to catch more fish..

I don't think it mattered here.  They caught throughout afternoon, progressively getting worse.  Maybe if I was using a slower retrieve, like yo-yo, jigging spoon style it would be different.

Yup. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! HaHa. Great looking fish. I'm thinking of getting a Kayak myself. Actually have the catalog in front of me now.