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Franchise
Players
By Jay Torke
It
is always interesting when an NFL football team rests their star players
in the final game of a season once a playoff berth is secured. This strategic
move reminds me of a tactic often gone unnoticed in the tournament fishing
world. We are going to briefly explore the idea of "hot baits" and when
to use them, specifically when money is on the line.
Everybody
has baits or lures that always catch fish and I'm often taken back by
how lightly these super-stars are treated. By lightly, I am referring
to how often they are used in a non-competitive situation. Try treating
hot baits like an NFL quarterback in a meaningless game when a berth is
already clinched. Rest your hot baits and save them for the big tournament.
I
have created a tackle drawer especially for these situations. This drawer
has bailed me out so many times. It's really unbelievable! It has salvaged
many tournaments for me and has enabled me to cash a check more than once.
In this drawer, which is actually labeled "Hot Box," I have four types
of baits. Incidentally, all of these baits are lures, which I used early
in my fishing history, when I fished just for fun.
The
first bait you'll find in my hot box is my favorite "tough times" bait.
It's the Michigan Stinger, Double-Orange Crush. This is probably the most
versatile multi-species spoon ever created. This small, gold metal spoon
can be fished at many depths, but I use it on a high diver when times
are tough.
This
small spoon really can change the atmosphere of your tournament when you
really need a confidence boost. Many times I've hooked up with a rainbow
or an "out of temp" king right when we needed it. Again, this bait doesn't
get used much or at all during pre-fishing, but only when the money is
on the line.
The
second bait in my hot box is probably the most basic plastic lure ever
designed. It's a plug. In these "hard times" situations, I use the 4 inch
model in two color types, the gold or silver prism insert (Silver Horde)
and the glow cracked-ice insert model (Silver Horde).
I use both Silver Horde baits on either a downrigger or a copper/leadcore
rig. The conditions dictate which color type I will choose. Generally
on bright days I like prism plugs and during overcast days the glow insert
model. These hot baits bail me out when I had been previously catching
fish spinning flashers, or fast trolling magnum spoons.
I like to incorporate a few tournament details to increase my strike percentage.
All the plugs get tied directly to the leader line, no snap swivels. This
tip is important especially when it's tournament time and I want the plug
to free float during the hookup and battle. The stock hooks get replaced
with red Gamakatsu EWG number 2 hooks.
The
third type of bait in my hot box probably gets the most laughs out of
them all. It's the good old Fastrac stick. I've used these baits since
my early fishing days as a kid. They are a better baitfish imitator then
most lures and will catch fish when nothing else does, INCLUDING KINGS!
They really shine for me if I have been catching fish in the upper part
of the water column, or if they stop hitting spoons. They are also really
key when the mature kings won't hit anything else.
I
like several models of Fastracs and I try and base my selection just as
I would when picking a spoon. I
like to carry Fastracs with silver prism sides. I also like to carry some
rare colors like the glow ones with the diamond pattern. I have an extremely
rare purple glow diamond number thirty that never gets wet unless it's
a divisional playoff game.
The
last lure you'll find in my hot box is the good old 8 inch flasher, which
I always use in conjunction with some type of Rapture brand fly. This
bait really bails me out when the water temp gets warm. In the summer
period if I have been catching fish well on spoons and they stop biting,
they will usually hit this specific setup.
I
use one very basic color. I like green, green, and green blades with glow
tape. I always pair this with a Rapture Hypnotist. I have a setup that
hasn't changed in two seasons. It goes out during pre-fishing to determine
if green is in and then immediately saved for tournament day.
When
the pressure is on, the four baits I carry in my hot box can save your
day. All of them can be put in a small box and stored for an emergency
situation.
Whether
you're a tournament angler or a recreational fisherman, you never want
to get skunked. These baits will definitely help you put some fish in
the boat!
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