1 fluke or donkey rig

Justin62882 · May 20, 2018, 08:50:22 PM

I haven't thrown a fluke much. I recently tried the donkey rig and I must say it has alot of action. I haven't caught a fish on them yet. The 2 times I've tried it's been on days It was tough fishing and I was throwing anything i could to get a bite and busted the flukes out just to try. I feel like I should be using them more. Is it better to use one or double fluke? Which presentation seems to work best for you. The donkey rig I was just kinda constantly reeling and twitching it back keeping bait below surface about 6 inches to 10 inches deep. Is there certain times that's best to throw them? I'm sure busting shad and schooling fish is a given but at other times? Certain areas? just any tips with this will be appreciated.

cport · May 20, 2018, 09:10:08 PM

I haven't tried the tandem rig yet, but I think I will give it a shot this fall in the classic. Anytime is a good time to throw the fluke, but I have found it is better in the morning or evening. I usually T-rig a salty super fluke on a 4/0 EWG hook, I like Gamakatzus, then toss it in the grass, on top of pads, at weedlines, whatever, it is effectively weedless! Skipping it over the tops of pads and emergent grass and letting it fall in holes and at the edge can be deadly, but also be ready for them to crash through the pads or grass while skipping it on top. Remember when you cast it to weed edges and grasslines to let it fall for at least a good 5 Mississippi before you start twitching, often you will see your line tighten or move and then its time to set the hook!
I will usually go to a bottom rig like a uvibe or jig when the sun starts warming things up, but if they start chasing bait and boiling at the surface in the middle of the day, you can't beat a fluke type bait through the school, letting it sink like a dying baitfish after a few twitches.

Justin62882 · May 20, 2018, 09:45:32 PM

Thanks. I use alot of those same methods with a Texas rigged senko. I'll have to try this since some days they just don't want the senko or dinger.

cport · May 20, 2018, 09:52:35 PM

Quote from: Justin62882 on May 20, 2018, 09:45:32 PM
Thanks. I use alot of those same methods with a Texas rigged senko. I'll have to try this since some days they just don't want the senko or dinger.

Yeah I throw it in a lot of the same places too. The fluke is a slightly faster working bait, and the jerks and twitches can vary from the subtle ones used on a senko to the rapid and extreme jerks when fishing it like a jerkbait. I love its versatility. Like I said though, if the action slows when the sun is up high, I will switch to a dragging bait, and a t rigged senko style bait is a good choice especially if they have been hitting the fluke earlier.

analfisherman · May 20, 2018, 10:26:11 PM

I FLUKING LOVE TO THROW FLUKES......well actually Caffeine Shads.

Donkey rigs seem to get twisted up a lot for me.......but I seem to ALWAYS have to LONG CAST everything and that can can be a challenge with a 'Donkey Rig' (I LIKE THAT name...never heard it called that before

).

I have caught doubles using it and that always seems to get me to keep coming back.
Last year I tried using a 'weighted belly hook' on the main line rig (not the slider)......seemed to work well....only caught a fish one day....but probably only used a Donkey like three times last year.

BUT I TOSS CShads all year and LOVE them during spawn and prespawn and fall......HELL I got one rigged and ready to go ALWAYS!

basss · May 21, 2018, 02:22:18 PM

Flukes will change your life.

I didn't used to use them until a friend turned me onto them last year ... I now have just about every color they make them in. I do not think I've gone out and not caught a fish on them.

Justin62882 · May 21, 2018, 09:35:06 PM

I'm gonna have to fish them more. Ant certain presentation you do better with? Also. Do you ever use the double rig?

Oldfart9999 · May 22, 2018, 06:10:12 AM

I've used Stickos like a fluke more than I've used a fluke but I've used the donkey rig and caught fish with it and had 2 on several times, though one of them came off each time. I've never had a problem with them tangling, the rig untangles itself in the water.
Rodney

basss · May 22, 2018, 10:00:33 AM

Quote from: Justin62882 on May 21, 2018, 09:35:06 PM
... Ant certain presentation you do better with? Also. Do you ever use the double rig?

No double rig ... yet anyway.

I usually fish them weightless, they're action is so good, giving them a twitch ... wait a few seconds ... then twitch again until back at the boat. They're weedless when Texas rigged and you can get them far under docks.

I even use them in saltwater, went fishing in the Everglades a couple months ago and skipped them into the mangroves to get snook.

Very versatile baits.

Oldfart9999 · May 23, 2018, 07:40:34 AM

Sluggos still work very well, they work differently though.
Rodney

coldfront · May 23, 2018, 08:18:52 AM

Quote from: cport on May 20, 2018, 09:10:08 PMRemember when you cast it to weed edges and grasslines to let it fall for at least a good 5 Mississippi before you start twitching, often you will see your line tighten or move and then its time to set the hook!

lots of folks overlook the power of a dead-sticked fluke. Seems counter-intuitive.

cport · May 23, 2018, 08:38:21 AM

Quote from: Oldfart9999 on May 23, 2018, 07:40:34 AM
Sluggos still work very well, they work differently though.
Rodney

I started my soft jerkbait obsession with sluggos in San Diego, very effective as a top water bait during the summer marine layer mornings. Favorites were the smoke pepper shad and Arkansas shiner

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aclawrence · June 02, 2018, 06:05:53 PM

I just discovered this rig on YouTube the other day. I threw it a little bit in the lake with no luck but when I got home I walked over to the neighbors pond and caught two on the same cast within a few minutes. Was pretty fun.

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Justin62882 · June 02, 2018, 06:08:33 PM

Quote from: aclawrence on June 02, 2018, 06:05:53 PM
I just discovered this rig on YouTube the other day. I threw it a little bit in the lake with no luck but when I got home I walked over to the neighbors pond and caught two on the same cast within a few minutes. Was pretty fun.
I've tried it once with no luck on a day they weren't really biting but it looks too good not to work. Glad it worked for you. I've seen some catch 2 at a time on videos that would be cool

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analfisherman · June 02, 2018, 07:43:41 PM

Quote from: coldfront on May 23, 2018, 08:18:52 AM
lots of folks overlook the power of a dead-sticked fluke. Seems counter-intuitive.

Actually it's VERY INUITIVE.
Watch any dieing minnow or shad.

They kind of thrash around the top end of the water column.....then tucker out and slowly drift semi-wiggling towards the bottom.

Get a burst of energy or fght and wildly thrash back towards the surface.

After a period of time they get closer and closer to the bottom and fall and lye on the bottom.

Every now and then....they get the instinct to give it a fight again and wiggle waggle around moving up just above bottom....and seeing all the energy is slowly getting lost the flicker off bottom comes less and less....with longer lies on the bottom.

In shallow water I always work it from top of water to bottom...flickering and fighting all the way....with pauses to regain energy.

Often in the end, dead sticking for different intravals before a violent flicker......after all... PREDATORS ALWAYS SEEK THE WEEKEST RIGHT?

On the Double donkey, don't most hits, catches come from the 'slider' fluke which as a rule is also closest to the bottom?

coldfront · June 03, 2018, 04:54:11 PM

Quote from: analfisherman on June 02, 2018, 07:43:41 PM
Actually it's VERY INUITIVE.
Watch any dieing minnow or shad.

just like I struggle to spend the smart time scanning ledges with electronics LOOKING for fish, it's tough to let that fluke just lay on the bottom.

it's in our nature to jiggle it, make it look helpless. well, motionless on the bottom is as helpless as it gets.