Lure Recommendations

[Smcdermott]

I fly fish almost exclusively and hadn't touched a spin rod in a few years but recently picked up a spinning outfit so that my wife and friends have something to use if they come with me. I am looking for a short list of must haves for the northeast salt. The rod is a St. Croix Tidmaster for 10-20lb that has lure wt. of 1/2-1 1/2 oz. The reel is an Okuma Inspira with spools of 12 and 17 lb mono. I would be targeting mainly stripers and blues but would also like to have something handy for when the albies show up. I am guessing I should have some storm shads, a few sluggos and maybe some Yozuris(not sure on color size and type of these though) and some tin but this is mainly from reading reports over the years and not much practical experience.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Sean

[kayaker]

When the spinning rods come out, and we're fishing topwater for blues or bass, the Zara Spooks go on. Removing all but the tail hook is advised for cleaner, faster releases.

[Jay MacLaughlin]

Sean -

For albies and bonito (and blues), Deadly Dicks are the metal lures I reach for first. For that rod, I'd go the the 1- and 2-oz. longs. The green reflective foil seems to be preferred over silver or blue. Irresistible action and they cast a mile. I've gotten more fall albies on DDs than anything else in the box.

[pops]

yo zuri ,mag darters
" " mag lures [cast a mile with internal magnet sysytem]
" " poppers
strike pro jointed lures are da bomb [very noisy]
bombers
gibbs surface lures ,danny's, needle fish [with lots of rod action]
try teasers about 4ft from the lure on a dropper loop[I catch a lot on the teaser !!]
tin for blues and stripers [if there is a lot of bait in the water ,you can
get low to the lurkers underneath , in the fall] --127-3-

[Striperknight]

Some mega bait swimmers
Bombers - Schoolbus, blurple, black on clear
windcheater

[CaptSuperfly]

When I have non fly fishing clients on the boat, nothing seems to work better than a 4" fin-s fish with a 3/8 ounce jig head (unpainted is fine). I prefer the alewife color. I have seen hundreds of albies hooked by first time casters using these, as they are very easy to work. You can strip them across the top, or drop them down deep and work them for bass. Do yourself a favor and buy a few bags to have on the boat. Yes, blue fish tear them but they are CHEAP.

The other suggestions on this thread are all very sound, but I have seen these plastics outfish DDs three to one. It's just my preference.

good luck,

Capt. Mike

[Plastics Galore]

Bomber Jumping Minnows are the greatest topwater lures I have ever used, great for blues and stripers just put a little action on it and the lure will be dancing in no time, blue fish and stripers can't resist...

[Kal9weight]

normally i throw DD's at 'em and have found that size does in fact matter. 3 years ago off great point no.2's were the ticket...2 years ago they wouldnt touch the 2's and were slamming the no.1's. last year i fished the no.1's exclusively and did well. headed over for a 3-day weekend last week and again noted that where more willing to hit the no.1's than the no.2's and witnessed the darndest thing i had ever seen, one guy rippping a flourescent green (top) and white (bottom) needlefish across the top and pounding on albies. Needless to say i picked up a couple at the local shop and nothing further to report. Might be worth the 15$ to stick a couple in the box. For what it is worth, green has been outfishing the silver and blue on ack for years (perhaps that is because it is utilized at approx 10:1 ratio). also of note the swedish pimple would be my choice for spanish mack's off of nantucket but they have cooled considerably...