Sold on the Spook, but ??

[fishful thinkin]

I heard so much talk on here about the spook!!! So, I got myself a couple of them. I went out Saturday morning for a few hours with a buddy, and we didn't to well for the first little bit. We road back in a creek a little ways around 11:30 and the water was smooth as silk, so I figured I would give the ole spook a try since I couldn't get a hit on anything else. The second cast I got a hit. He didn't take it, but it was a hit!! The fourth cast I caught a decent LM. Now, after 4 casts, I'm sold on the spook. I got a few more strikes on it before heading in. I went back out Sunday, and caught two more on it from the bank in about 20 minutes.

So, that being said, I had a question. I was wondering if some of you fellas could give me some input on what kind of rig you fish your spook with?? I was using a spinning reel and a 6' med rod mostly just because I was more comfortable with that setup fishing the slack line retrieve, but as I get better with the spook, I was just wondering what the ideal set up would be for it. I was having a little trouble setting the hook with the slack and the medium rod didn't seem quite stout enough.

I would appreciate any info. There's nothing like catching 'em on top water!!!! emoBigsmile

 

[MrWiskers]

6 foot medium-heavy rod with 12lb mono. I use a baitcaster for most of my bass fishing.

 

[fishlips]

I am currently using a 6 1/2 foot medium action baitcasting rod for spooks/sammys. I like the Medium action, but I wish the rod was only 6 feet. I'm vertically challenged, so it makes it a little difficult to work the bait right with the longer rod. I keep slapping the siderail of my boat. Now that I think about it, I have a 6 ft medium-heavy rod sitting in the closet that I might try. (Might be too stiff)

Good luck with those spooks.

 

[Jmax]

I use 14 lb mono and a medium to heavy rod with a fast but forgiving tip. You need to be careful with a too heavy of a rod becuase you will take it away from them and a too light rod will not sink the hook into the jaw. I like one with a flexible tip but a lot of backbone. When they strike try to feel the hit and then set it, wait just a second and then the tip and mono will let you do the rest. Also when they hit set it guick and short so if they miss it you can still give them a second chance. I also use a bait caster for more power to drive the hook home. Jmax

I thought I would add that 14 lb mono is on the full size and super Jr. spook and 10 lb or 12 lb would be on the puppy spook. The 14 mono is too big to make a puppy work correctly.

 

[Davo]

I like using a 6 1/2 MH rod with a 6.3:1 reel. That lets me take up slack quickly and the rod is just the right length for the kind of hooksets you need. Oh, yeah, always, always on a baitcaster, but again, my preference.

 

[hl&s]

I like the MH 6 1/2' rod, 12 lb test, 6.3:1 baitcaster.

 

[fishful thinkin]

I appreciate the input from all. I'm going to try and get out in the morning. I have 6.3 to 1 BPS baitcaster on 6'6" med/heavy. I may give that a try. Practice makes perfect though!!

Thanks Again for the input!! emoThumbsup

 

[Guest]

7' custom spinning rod built a popping rod blank, moderate action, 1/4-3/4 oz weight (I believe). Popping rods have soft slow tip but rapidly taper to a heavy backbone. I have the same blank built as baitcaster but I prefer the spinning rod for spooks and other surface baits (except frogs). Spinning rod helps me with not moving the spook too fast and I am generally more on target with with spinning.

 

[B-Pro]

For a spook or a sammy I use a 6-6 medium action Joe's Custom Rod. For all of my topwaters I use 12 lb test stren magnaflex. I use a 5.2:1 older Curado for my reel. I have used a 6.3:1 but I tend to work the bait to fast with a higher gear ratio.

 

[Fishin Fool]

Spinning rod (St. Croix) with a fast action tip and some good backbone in about a 6'6". Again just a personal preference.

 

[2jigs]

Try chapstick on about the first 18in. to 3ft. of your line. It helps it float & I feel it helps the action of the bait. Also the fish don't end up with chaded lips.

 

[TR20bh]

One thing I've found that really helps the action of a spook-type bait is to use a loop knot directly to the lure eye & don't use a split ring or other hardware. I use a Rapala loop or Perfection loop & it seems to "walk the dog" much better. I throw mine on a 6-6 med. action baitcaster & 17# mono.

 

[polo-dog]

If you fish a spook or other walking bait much you will wear yourself out with just any old rod. I use a 6 ft rod because I, like someone else that commented, am vertically challenged. Someone that it tall may be able to get away with a 7 foot rod but you really want to be able to pull down with the rod to get the right walking movement. I also use a pistol grip because I place the butt of my rod on my belly to use it as a fulcrum because then I can use my arm to walk the bait and not just my wrists which will give out after a few hours of casting and working the bait. A soft tip is a must and a med or med/heavy rating should be fine. The most important thing to think about when the fish hits is to wait to set the hook until you feel the weight of the hook. You should either just continue to work the bait until you feel the weight or take a couple of quick turns of the handle and if you don't feel the fish then restart the walking. A spook is very easy to walk but I really think that I get more bites on a chug bug because it has a smaller profile than all but the smallest spook and it also chugs or spits. The chug bug is much harder to walk the dog with but usually is worth it. You can also work it much slower, in fact you can almost walk it in place with very little forward movement, so if you are throwing at a target you can keep it in the strike zone longer. If you are trying to cover a large flat however, the spook is the way to go.

 

[Jmax]

polo-dog - 5/16/2007 12:52 AM

A spook is very easy to walk but I really think that I get more bites on a chug bug because it has a smaller profile than all but the smallest spook and it also chugs or spits. The chug bug is much harder to walk the dog with but usually is worth it. If you are trying to cover a large flat however, the spook is the way to go.

emoUpsmile Polo, you just couldn't help yourself could you?emoBigsmile Like I have said before the reason you get so many more hits on the Chug is you use it so much more.emoTongue Jmax

 

[Guest]

polo-dog - 5/16/2007 12:52 AM
...Someone that is tall may be able to get away with a 7 foot rod but you really want to be able to pull down with the rod to get the right walking movement....

I find that wtd with rod tip up is less tiresome on the wrist (7 ft spinning rod though) especially if you are walking slow. I use more of a pulling motion with my whole arm and my wrist only move the rod tip from left angle to right angle, which alot less stress than snapping downward/upward with the wrist.

Also if you like the chugbug, try to find a old Rebel Chug-R, similar but bigger profile.

 

[polo-dog]

A spook and many other walking baits can be walked with the rod tip up but the chug bug cannot in my experience. A She Dog by Mirro-lure can also be walked easily with the rodtip. The chug bug does not walk well from shore either, it seems that one must be above the water surface a little to make it walk correctly. That means that I could never get it walking while wading for redfish in the gulf. I had to find some different baits to use while wading.

 

[BackOnTheWater]

As noted, the spook is not the only top-water lure out there, and each has it's own special time and place. For example, they might not give a spook a look at a given time, but might explode on a Pop-R, chugger, prop, or buzz bait. Give them all a fair chance, as the different types will present different looks, noises, and actions.

More importantly, if you get hit and don't wait to make sure that the fish has the lure, or you manage to pull it out of the fish's mouth without a good hook penetration, the lure becomes a very dangerous missle, generally heading straight towards your or a buddy's head! 2 or 3 treble hooks can cause serious injury, it goes without saying. Always "set the hook" away from your partner and to the side as opposed to lifting your rod straight up! This lesson is usually learned the hard way, and unless you pay attention the lesson comes early on.emoBigsmile