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Hornswoggle

4.9K views 41 replies 19 participants last post by  samurai  
#1 ·
Since before the river ever even entered my stream of consciousness as a viable option for fishing...I have been a self professed nut for spinnerbaits.

I used to burn them down shorelines and smash them into submerged rocks and logs and at night I would slow roll them through the landlocked bodies of water local to me.

Then I found the river...and suddenly things like weight and balance became of greater significance once current factored into the equation.

I went through many brands...from the $1 Wal-Mart Cheapies to Terminator T1's and 2's to Lucky Craft and River2Sea and pretty much everything in between before settling on Picasso brand lures.

I still have to laugh when I read comments saying spending anything more than a buck on a spinnerbait is a waste...and that there is no difference between brands.

There is.

And for anyone to say otherwise simply demonstrates their lack of experience and expertise in this particular style of lure selection.

A cheap bait will work when they are on a blade bite...but a good bait will induce strikes even when seemingly nothing else will work.
Such has been my experience with the Picasso brand...so this year when I went looking to replenish and refresh my selection of offerings I was surprised to see them almost completely out of stock at most of the big online suppliers.
An even bigger disappointment was finding the PicassoOutdoors website completely devoid of anything but jigs and weights.

So it was without choice that I found myself having to take a chance on something new.

War Eagle is a brand I've had recommended to me by a few friends...and after reading countless positive reviews of them over the years I decided to give them a shot.

War Eagle Screaming Eagle....
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This morning (June 1st 2011) would be my first opportunity with this (new to me) lure.

I started on the East side of the river...first cast I noticed the vibration felt different than what I'm used to...a bit more subdued but it did seem to hold it's own in the current without rolling. I walked upstream a few steps letting the bait work downstream behind me.
I made it about 6 steps or so before I got hit so hard it nearly ripped my Med action bass rod out of my grip.
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Credit where credit is due...this next shot brought to you by PowerPro...
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...because without it I'd just be another one of those guys unconcernedly telling you how I lost my shiny new toy to a toothy critter much to large to be landed on the tackle I had selected.
I'm not a fan of adorning fish with unwanted jewelry and leave that designation to you monofilament guys ;)

Back to topic though..
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...this damn thing don't work
. :p

At least not on bass...like I was assured it would. :wink:

If you look close at that last picture you'll notice she absolutely mangled it.
I didn't have any pliers to properly twist it back into shape so I did the best I could by hand...and decided to journey to the East side to see if I could fare any better.

No big girls but a few dinks and...
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Mega Dinks...
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...have me convinced that this Spinnerbait might have some potential.

At least on the East side.

GoodFishin'

Darth

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#4 ·
x2 with the Picassos. I remember using them several years ago, and that they worked well. The guy who gave me a few said that they didn't make them anymore, and after searching, I found them on Ebay, which was a bad sign. I had forgotten all about them till today. Keep us appraised as to how the WarEagles work. Like you, I'm still trying to get the right setup.

And...Nice Ski!
 
#5 ·
Nice musky!!!!!! and bass too!!!!! I have not had much luck on the spinnerbaits this year. I was just talkin to a friend tonight about that. We are due to go to Delavan this Sunday early am and I am a believer in quality gear and have some home made and strike king stuff to throw. Great ski!!!!!!
 
#11 ·
I'm a big spinnerbiat fan as well. And I'm really picky. Strangely enough I find the Booyah spinners to be an excellent price/value proposition. 3/8 oz. chartreuse/white. If you ever get up to Chetek, WI the Rod & Gun Sport Shop has a really nice selection of handmade spinners that are really heard to beat. I pick up a handful on my way to the Great North Woods every year.
 
#21 ·
Thanks a lot guys!

And thanks for everyone being polite enough not to point out my obvious faux paux "I started on the East side and moved to the East side" was actually supposed to be started on the West and moved to the East :oops:

I'm late for work or I'd write more but I will quickly say the spinnerbait bite is still on...big phat pig smallie pic from yesterday coming.
 
#22 ·
Darth Wader said:
Thanks a lot guys!

And thanks for everyone being polite enough not to point out my obvious faux paux "I started on the East side and moved to the East side" was actually supposed to be started on the West and moved to the East :oops:

I'm late for work or I'd write more but I will quickly say the spinnerbait bite is still on...big phat pig smallie pic from yesterday coming.
I know I was too busy looking at the perty toothy fish to notice a simple error like that. :lol:
 
#24 ·
Well I went and got some power pro tonight. DW, seeing the strength of the line with that ski really sold me on the idea of a high performance line. I used to use just straight flouro in 10lb test but the strength and the thin diameter really sold me. The stuff is also zero stretch which will help with senstivity. I think the new rig, shimano core 50 and cumara rod will perform really well with this line. DW, if you don't mind me asking, do you use a flouro leader or just tie striaght to the power pro? I will be fishing Lake Delavan this Sunday and I think the water is clear there and I did get some p-line flouro coated line in 20lb test in case. I wanted something strong in case a toothy critter hits. I have never used p-line but have heard some good things about it and figured I would give it a try if I need a leader. I know you are on the Fox which is more stained and I would think tying straight to the power pro would be ok. Just wondering????
 
#25 ·
1080tommy said:
Well I went and got some power pro tonight. DW, seeing the strength of the line with that ski really sold me on the idea of a high performance line. I used to use just straight flouro in 10lb test but the strength and the thin diameter really sold me. The stuff is also zero stretch which will help with senstivity. I think the new rig, shimano core 50 and cumara rod will perform really well with this line. DW, if you don't mind me asking, do you use a flouro leader or just tie striaght to the power pro? I will be fishing Lake Delavan this Sunday and I think the water is clear there and I did get some p-line flouro coated line in 20lb test in case. I wanted something strong in case a toothy critter hits. I have never used p-line but have heard some good things about it and figured I would give it a try if I need a leader. I know you are on the Fox which is more stained and I would think tying straight to the power pro would be ok. Just wondering????
I know you weren't asking me, but straight power pro is fine for the Fox. The water has enough stain to it that line visibility is not an issue. For clearer water that P-line is good stuff too. That's what I use in the winter when the river is clear or on creeks or clear lakes.
 
#26 ·
No problem, I appreciate the advice. That is what I thought but just wanted to be sure. I got some thicker P-line because we are going up to Delavan tomorrow and I know from picutures on this site and my friend(he fishes there a lot) there are some pretty good sized northern there. I can only hope to get into some of them. We will be fishing for basically whatever will bite but I have to admit I will be closely watching my sonar to isolate some shallower rocks near emergent weeds for some walleyes because I have seen some good ones come out of there and I know that when the water hits the 60's walleyes will go on the bite on shallow rocks near weeds before getting into their summer patterns. I also did not know how clear the water was and when I fish Loon up in Antioch always use a flouro leader becasue of how clear the water is. I know there is some debate over if the fish can actually see the line but I figure I want every advantage in my corner. So thanks again and that confirms what I was thinking. :thumbup: