[zacharyc]

Loaded up the yak for a spur of the moment afternoon trip today. Put in down the road from my house and made the paddle to a grouping of some good creek mouths.

Started by throwing topwater...for whatever reason I'm getting lots of blow ups lately but fish are short striking it, even when I slow it down, speed it up, longer pauses, etc...Will keep dialing that in, but they're weary or maybe they've seen what I'm throwin

Threw a variety of baits today, and finally hooked up with a few and kept an upper slot red, 25 inches and beefy. If I'm gonna keep one I prefer them around that size if possible, lots of meat on one fish, and perfect for blackened on the grill.

Love the red drum pull but just about time to turn the focus on flounder and trout. Hope this fall's flounder bite is similar to the last, regardless of what the current numbers say. Good drop-offs next to shallow flats are hard to beat IMHO. Drum were caught a little deeper today, 4-6 feet, tide was at the tail end of rising to full high. Water was really clear today.

 

[quest4reds]

Have you ever tried throwing a soft plastic, jerk bait or something immediately after a short strike? I read somewhere on here about keeping another rod ready to fire out after a short strike and the hook up ratio was really high. I think it may have been related to bass fishing, but perhaps it'll work for reds too. Haven't tried it myself yet, but I'll have it ready to go the next time I throw topwater at them. Mind if I ask what you ended up getting them on? I still have yet to hook up with a red on anything other than topwater. I know, boo hoo, but it actually is starting to concern me.

 

[ice cream man]

Zac that area you fish does hold a few Trout. Fish the rips before you enter.
This is from last year...... ICM

View attachment 73793

 

[zacharyc]

Zac that area you fish does hold a few Trout. Fish the rips before you enter.
This is from last year...... ICM

View attachment 73793

Nice, I'll have to pay more attention to the rips when I get back out there and throw a mirrodine maybe

 

[zacharyc]

Have you ever tried throwing a soft plastic, jerk bait or something immediately after a short strike? I read somewhere on here about keeping another rod ready to fire out after a short strike and the hook up ratio was really high. I think it may have been related to bass fishing, but perhaps it'll work for reds too. Haven't tried it myself yet, but I'll have it ready to go the next time I throw topwater at them. Mind if I ask what you ended up getting them on? I still have yet to hook up with a red on anything other than topwater. I know, boo hoo, but it actually is starting to concern me.

Sometimes I do follow up with a jig but I get most of my drum strikes on reaction type baits, I caught that one on a 5-inch mirrolure soft bodied bait, like a jerk shad, gold fleck on a jig head. If you want to catch one on a jig, try hopping it across the bottom or give it a good upward jerk rather than a steady retrieve, sometimes that'll get em to strike it as a reaction

 

[zacharyc]

Have you ever tried throwing a soft plastic, jerk bait or something immediately after a short strike? I read somewhere on here about keeping another rod ready to fire out after a short strike and the hook up ratio was really high. I think it may have been related to bass fishing, but perhaps it'll work for reds too. Haven't tried it myself yet, but I'll have it ready to go the next time I throw topwater at them. Mind if I ask what you ended up getting them on? I still have yet to hook up with a red on anything other than topwater. I know, boo hoo, but it actually is starting to concern me.

This is the bait I've been throwing lately. It's big, but it produces lately. But like others on here have said, it's all about what you're confident in using.

 

[quest4reds]

Zac that area you fish does hold a few Trout. Fish the rips before you enter.
This is from last year...... ICM

View attachment 73793

What kind of trailer is that if you don't mind me asking? Something that came on the bait or did you add it? I've had some success with similar trailers on topwater baits for bass, but need to add some to my saltwater tackle.

 

[zacharyc]

What kind of trailer is that if you don't mind me asking? Something that came on the bait or did you add it? I've had some success with similar trailers on topwater baits for bass, but need to add some to my saltwater tackle.

Don't know if you're referring to my lure pic or not, but that's a 5-inch mirrolure jig that I added to an 1/8th oz jig head. Falls slow.

 

[quest4reds]

Don't know if you're referring to my lure pic or not, but that's a 5-inch mirrolure jig that I added to an 1/8th oz jig head. Falls slow.

Was referring to ICM's pic. But thanks, I'll make sure I have some of those too!

 

[captgordon]

Follow up short strikes with a DOA shrimp

 

[quest4reds]

Follow up short strikes with a DOA shrimp

on a light jig head or other?

 

[captgordon]

DOA comes pre rigged. Pretty foolproof. Green seems to work pretty well

 

[zacharyc]

I like a 1/8th oz jig head paired with a paddle tail, but vudu shrimp is my favorite, and I second DOA hard for them to pass it up.

 

[ice cream man]

Was referring to ICM's pic. But thanks, I'll make sure I have some of those too!

That's a plain hook, sun reflection making it look like feathers. ........ ICM