SUBJECT: # 39965: Speckled Trout Lures and Techniques Help Please?!!?

Submitted by Pokey (70.10.39.148) from VIRGINIA on 1/10/2008 6:30:00 PM

I'm a largemouth bass tournament angler that has just gotten into fishing for speckled trout in a local river (Hot ditch in the elizabeth river), but I have't had much luck so far. I've caught a few on a sinking mirrolure, and got 2 the other day on a 1/2 oz silver buddy from my freshwater stuff. I'd like to find a few lures from my bass stuff that would catch some trout, but I'll take any suggestions. The fish in my area average about 2 - 5 lbs, with a few monsters over 10 lbs. The area a bowl shaped cove that is 20 ft in the middle and gently slops to the shore. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

1. 1/11/2008 9:44:00 AM Submitted by Gene from GA says down here we use like shrimp under a float
   sometimes a slip float so you can cast it and still have your bait 5-10 feet under the float. Sometimes we use a Cajun Thunder type of float, its kinda like a popping float/cork, all above with a live shrimp and a Kahl hook, of maybe #1 or a 1/0.

   Artificial many will use a lead head jig, usually a red headed one, and a plastic body. Bass Assassin makes some 3 inch paddle tails, the electric chicken "color" is pretty popular. Screw tails too. It can be used as a jig, cast and slowly retrieve, or under any or the above floats. DOA Shrimp are popular too, usually with a float. 90% of our trout fishing is all of the above. Top waters sometimes work, live small bait fish work.

   Google the above names I mentioned and maybe you can find a pic to help ya.

   Good luck,

   Gene

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2. 1/11/2008 9:45:00 AM Submitted by Gene from GA says ...thats "live" shrimp...nm
   nm

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3. 1/11/2008 2:01:00 PM Submitted by Gene from GA says ..forgot,
   on that jig I use 1/4 oz ones, and the new to me soft plastic body are the GULP 3" shrimp. They have an odor that seems to help. Toss that baby in that 20 ft of water and let it hit bottom and slowly work it back. bam

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4. 1/11/2008 3:14:00 PM Submitted by MikeF from FL says what Gene said
   Live bait is unfortunately your best choice and small bait fish are at least as good as shrimp. For artificials the mirrorlures or a fluke style jerk bait and a Gulp shrimp or Gulp swimming mullet fished on a light jig head. For colors of Gulp I use Nuclear Chicken, Natural and white (cream color). Some days they will hit them swimming but most of the time I slowly bounce them along the bottom.

   If you do use the live bait a Cajun Thunder float is hard to beat and they will also work with a DOA shrimp.

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5. 1/12/2008 10:08:00 PM Submitted by Richard (70.161.130.22) from VA says Know it well
   I fish the ditch all the time, probably have seen you out there. White 5 inch gulp eels on a chartruese jig heads and pumpkin seed assassins have worked good for me this year. Most of the sow trout are caught soaking minnows at various depths under a float.

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6. 1/13/2008 1:05:00 PM Submitted by Pokey (70.10.245.157) from VA says well?
   Dub question, How do u fish the jig and eel ad are u fishing the bass assassin weigtless or on a jighead? We went Sat and only had 3, bes one was 22",1 n a Manns1 minus (freshwater crankbait) and 2 on a mirrolure

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7. 1/14/2008 12:53:00 PM Submitted by MikeF from FL says I like
   I like a samll jighead but there's no best way. More weight allows you to either work it faster or deeper and less weight allows you to work it slower or on top. All you have to figure out is how they want it that day and that's what makes it fun.

   I haven't fished your location but I would start with a natural color on a 1/16 for topwater and a white on a 1/4 to 3/8 on or near the bottom. But don't be afraid to change it out.

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8. 1/15/2008 3:07:00 PM Submitted by Richard (70.161.130.22) from VA says answers
   Fishing assassin's with 1/8 - 1/4 oz jig heads. I try to let the tide/current do as much of the work as possible, i.e. casting up current. I control my retrieve based on what action and or depth is required to locate the fish. Saltwater inshore revolves around tidal movement, it's what moves the bait. High tides in that surrounding area I like to stay in 5 - 8 ft of water and cast towards the shoreline in the ditch itself. If they're not there I work around the first island's reef markers on the main river side and I'll also set up drifts on the channel edge alternating working both the shore and channel. Falling tides I work the channel by the bridge, the main river entrance to the ditch, and in the ditch itself back up in it by the discharge. In prior years I've done my best in the "cove" but evidently that area is off limits this year and the marine patrol will ticket you if caught in there.

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9. 1/17/2008 10:02:00 AM Submitted by Spinny from VA says Richard thanks for the good info on the Hot Ditch.
   I've never fished it but want to very soon. You said you're off on Mondays and thanks to MLK, I am too on the 21st. Wanna teach me how to fish for specks? I've got all the right stuff except the knowledge.

   Gimme a call. Thanks.

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10. 1/22/2008 5:17:00 PM Submitted by Swampy #10451 from FL says don't listen to these guys...
    Richards from Texas. He's just telling you what he heard at the baitstore...

    and Gene will have you fishing with cut bait if you don't watch out...

    Stay with your mirrolures sinking or floating. Also, you can order a good topwater from Texas called a Corky.

    Gowge used to tell us - BIG lures for BIG trout. He had some mirrolures that are only sold in Central and South America...

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11. 3/16/2008 8:51:00 AM Submitted by Spooled Again from TX says Keep your Lures at the House
    And stop by Uncle Arnie's Ye Olde Bait House and score ya a bucket of young, Atlantic Golden Croakers in the 6 to 8 inch class. Freelining, cast em out thar in the deep water and prepare to set the hook on those monster 10's is what I'm sayin'. And tell Arnie I said to stick 'em okey dokey?

    SA

    jus sayin here

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