Surf: Unconventional Retrieves - The Fisherman

Surf: Unconventional Retrieves

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Even the simple popper can benefit greatly from some angler experimentation.

Think outside the box to catch more fish while plugging the surf.

It was a nice fall night as I arrived at the beach. The tide was right where I wanted and it and the surf was looking good with some white water rolling over the bar and into the trough that I was targeting.  After clipping on a 6.5-inch Mag Darter, I began working the area with a slow retrieve; about 10 casts in I felt a bump and missed the fish. I was kind of daydreaming and was short on the draw, unhappy with myself for not paying closer attention, I yanked back on the rod in disgust, saying to myself (and the fish), “I’ll get you next time!” Immediately after doing that, the lure got slammed and I was tight to a chunky bass.

The next several casts were uneventful until I thought that maybe that extreme yank on the plug might have triggered the hit (duh).  On the very next cast I mimicked my original exaggerated hookset, and got hit hard again on the motionless plug, landing another fish.  Figuring that maybe I was onto something, I continued to do the yank-and-stop routine and was getting slammed with startling regularity, while a steady, straight retrieve went unnoticed.  I believe the fish were in a more neutral feeding mood that night and the fast jerk on the mag darter triggered their instinct to attack. Also the noise of the rattle was accentuated and perhaps got them aroused.

Whatever the reason, this is just one example that proves nothing is carved in stone when it comes to fishing!

Low Sweep Needles

When working needlefish lures and darters, try adding long sweeps with the rod parallel to the water followed by a pause. This works best for me on the open beach if you have little current flow. It gives the plug some movement and action that might be missing due to the lack of current on the beach.

A Finger Twitch

Any swimming plug or jig for that matter can benefit from sticking your index finger out and having the line hit it on every revolution of the rotor. This imparts a little jolt to the artificial that interrupts its action and sometimes can be the difference between getting a hit and getting nothing at all.

Work That Glide

A glide bait is a lure that can do so much more than just a slow side to side zig-zag. Its action is really only limited by your imagination. Think of a wounded fish that is in the throes of dying. It can shoot up fast and then lazily drift back; I was watching a bunker do just that down by my local dock. You can replicate this with a well-balanced slow or fast sinking glide bait. Pull the rod in quick bursts and let it sink back, before catching up and repeating the process. It really is amazing how much this looks like an injured baitfish!

Scratching The Surface

Poppers are another plug that offers more diversity than they’re given credit for; all you have to do is experiment. We all see it, just about everyone works a popper the same, cast out and bring it back with a steady, chugging retrieve. That’s all well and good and it catches plenty of fish, but there are times when changing things up pays big dividends.

Most veteran casters know about swimming the sinking Super Strike Little Neck Popper along the surface; it’s popular for a good reason, and it works!  Floating poppers can also elicit explosive strikes from reluctant fish if crawled along surface with no swimming action at all. The straight-line movement along the surface, especially in calm backwaters can be deadly, especially when fish get moody. I like stopping the plug completely and letting it float for a moment. This has resulted in many fish demolishing the popper over the years!  Also working a Polaris style popper like you would normally work a pencil popper has produced on many occasions as well. Needlefish too can be worked on the surface in this fashion with great results.

It’s wise to think outside the box when plugging; the retrieves that are widely accepted as ‘the right way to do it’ are really just a simple starting point and experimentation will, at times, give you that edge that makes the difference, and expands your arsenal in very positive ways. Think about snap jigging, pioneered by Capt. John Paduano.  His willingness to think outside the box, spawned a whole new technique that has spread across the entire East Coast. Experimentation can lead to phenomenal results.

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