That’s what’s so cool about this genre of lures. You can experiment with all sorts of retrieves—until you find one that suits the situation. Sometimes sweeping the lure under a bait school draws instant hits. Other times, letting the lure ride the tide into the underwater strike zone with a minimum of action and twitching it as it swings with tide is the way to go. This method frequently works wonders at a few Intracoastal Waterway dropoffs I’ve fished, with trout after trout attacking the hard-plastic lure every time I gave it a little bump with the rodtip.
Rod action and your choice of fishing line also play major roles in the suspender/sinker-retrieve game. Fast-action sticks are my favorite for these exercises because, with the stiff tips, I only need to move the rodtip an inch or two to dance the lure below. Likewise, braided, no-stretch lines provide immediate transfer of rodtip movement to the lure and allow you to feel soft, subsurface strikes immediately. Just remember not to get too aggressive with hooksets, or you might only reel in a set of fish lips—not the toughest of fights or best on the table. As for reels for this underwater lure dance, I’ll leave that up to you. While I prefer spinners, many anglers swear by revolving-spool baitcast reels for plugging. The choice is yours.
A trip to your local tackle shop will reveal the latest comers in this plug genre, as well as the proven standbys. Probably the most recognized sinker plugs are the MirrOlure 52M and TT series. They’ve been catching fish for years. Likewise the Bomber Mullet and Bagley Finger Mullet. All have provided plug-tossing anglers with many moments of rod-bending glory.
There are, however, a few handsome newcomers on retail racks. Look at a display gleaming with new lures at your favorite tackle shop and you’ll still see the above three—but several others are likely to catch your eye. In fact, it would be almost impossible to miss them with their standout eyes and flashy, lifelike markings. Among them are the new Lucky Craft Saltwater Lipless Slim Pointer (just released), Rapala Twitchin’ Rap, MirrOlure’s MirrOminnow, S38MR, Catch 2000 Series III and Catch 5 Series III, Storm Wildeye Suspending Croaker (soft), Yo-Zuri Crystal Vibe and B & L MFG’s Corky, Fat Boy and Corky Devil soft, suspending plugs.
With the myriad choices available, you’re only a few casts away from upping your strike tally. That is, if you tie on a sinker/suspender the next time a trout, snook, redfish, bluefish, striper or albie stops just short of inhaling your lure.
Added Attractions
Sinker or Suspender?
While you’re perusing the tackle rack for sinker/suspender lures to add to your plug box, consider the water depth you fish. For deep duties, sinking lures are the top choice. Sink rates vary, but the average is a foot or so per second. This class allows you to plug for fish hanging six or more feet below the surface. A good trick for getting these lures down to the fish is to cast them upcurrent and let them sink with the current into the strike zone.
Plugs with line-tie eye on top tend to swim head-down. Those with eyes at the nose swim with a level attitude.
Suspenders are tailored for shallower applications such as flats. Some only sink a few inches when left idle. Others reach a maximum depth of about a foot or so. Choosing one depends on where you fish and which fish you target. I’ve pulled many trout out of white holes scattered across Florida flats using suspending plugs. Cast well beyond your intended target and slowly work the lure up to and along the edge of any fishy-looking white hole. Trout and reds fall for this approach. This technique also works around oyster bars. —F.B.
Make no mistake, lure companies are out to improve and modernize their products. Rattles came on the scene years ago, with many anglers and ads touting their fish-attracting abilities. Sound chambers are being taken a step further, with manufacturers now experimenting with different levels of sound, from low rumblers to high-pitch shakers. You’ll have to try several to find what pitch promotes strikes in your home waters.
Flashy colors are another eye-catching improvement, although several anglers have professed that the “holographic” images printed on the lures hook more fishermen than fish. That aside, these new-look colors, well, look awfully good. Examine one and you’ll find attention to every minute bait detail, including scale, gill and fin patterns. You’ll also notice how holographic colors catch and reflect light, important for plugging in off-color water.
The eyes have it. Veteran pluggers have long recognized that lures with pronounced eyes, be they glued or painted on, garner more strikes. Many say that eye-catching eyes are the most important asset of any lure besides its size, shape and action because predatory gamefish usually slam a baitfish (or lure) head on. Lure companies seem to fully agree. Painted eyes seem to be going the way of the dinosaur, not many out there. Bulging, lifelike and 3-D eyes are becoming the norm. In combination with bright, reflective lure finishes, such eyes enhance the lure’s light-catching attributes.
