Don’t let your big plug obsession count you out of these pint-sized striper slayers!
It’s funny how modern era surfcasters are obsessed with big plugs. It’s almost like it’s become a measure of someone’s manhood, and that flies in the face of what our surfcasting forefathers have taught us. Frank Daignault championed the use of teasers – Milt Rosko as well – and Frank famously talked about how often he found himself in situations where using a fly rod was the only way to hook up.
Tim Coleman worked with Danny Pichney to produce smaller and smaller stubby needles for fishing during the heyday blitzes of the Block Island surf. Bob Pond made the Atom 40 first, but then came out with the Atom 54 (Junior) and the Spin Atom, because that’s what his customers wanted. And these are just the examples I can think of without doing any research.
The average needlefish in use today ranges between 8 and 9 inches, and typically sports a waistline in the same vicinity as the Wadd. Isn’t it funny that during the explosion in needlefish use of the 1980s the Wadd earned its name because it was so big and long… and now that’s average? That’s a very telling factoid. It’s also funny that the “small” needles of today sit between 5 and 6 inches, but I have one of those Pichney/Coleman stubbies and I don’t think it’s even 4 inches!
Just the other night, I was out throwing an 8.5-inch needle into a flat surf and getting some action, but the hits were timid. On my walk out into the water I lit up the shallows to find thousands of medium and large silversides huddled in the weeds and rocks, the wires in my head sparked and I downsized to 6-inch Mini Flat-Glide, a plug of my own creation, and it immediately cranked up the bite. I think there’s some belief that using bigger plugs will either cull out small fish or attract more big ones, and there is some credence in that line of thought, but it’s not absolute.
For a few years I was messing around with a 14-inch needlefish and most of the fish that hit it were more than 10 inches longer that the plug… find the logic there. I’ve also had nights where nudges on larger needles turned into crushing hits from 30-plus-pounders when I dropped down to skinny 6-inch versions. I read those ‘nudge’ hits as the fish seeing my plug as out of place, meaning they are keyed in on a size and, until you get close enough to it, you will not unlock a consistent bite. Having small needles in your bag is incredibly important, half my bucktail loops are occupied by small needles. Here’s a short list of my favorites.
Super Strike Bullet. This little chunky needle is a beast in the surf; at just over 4.5-inches long and weighing 1-5/8 ounces, it feels tiny, but it crushes. I rig mine with a cut 3/0 treble up front and a hackle flag. This is one of the needles that crosses over well into daylight, streaking as fast as you can crank when mullet or peanuts are around draw massive strikes. They are perfect in the night surf to mimic peanuts, squid, finger mullet, tinker macks or any other small, chunky baitfish. You really can’t afford not to have one. My favorite colors are transparent amber and white.
Afterhours Stubby. I bought my first AH Stubby on a whim, and it saved me on a night when November stripers were crushing sea herring and would only bump larger needles. These measure 5.5 inches and weigh about 1.75 ounces. I rig these just like the Bullet; cut 3/0 treble with a flag. They cast extremely well, while maintaining a moderate sink rate and are a great choice for shallower water in calm to moderate seas. I use black, white and parrot colors the most.
Larson Small Needle. This is my most recent addition to the small needle arsenal. Aside from his plugs being obviously well-made, all I’ve ever heard about Scott is that he’s a great guy and he is. It also didn’t hurt that my first cast with this needle produced a 20-pound fish. The Larson is 6.5 inches in length, weighs 2 ounces and they come equipped with super-sharp BKK treble up front and a flag on the tail. It’s a level-sink needle that features a slight wiggle on a slow retrieve and it’s one of those needles that really looks alive in the water. So far I only have one in Block Island Green, but I will be purchasing a few more this winter.
These are just a few of the awesome small needles that have worked well for me. But no matter who makes them, no surfcaster should venture into any nighttime situation without a few small needles in the bag. It will only take a few trips to see how effective they are and to understand that they have the unique ability to save the tide during a tough bite.
