I only threw redfin and jumpin minnow the other day to see if they would "eat" them. If they are pushing, busting, following, etc. I go to a smaller bait or on Priest I throw a cork and fluke. Many times I have been fishing a cork and fluke catching hybrids while others, either in my boat or fishing around me, were throwing redfins, jumpin minnow, spooks, etc. and were either getting bumped, pushed, followed, knocking the bait in the air, etc. but only hooking up every few minutes and I was pretty much hooking a fish every cast. Hard to beat a cork and fluke on Priest for hybrids.

Also, I have been fishing with a friend of mine, both of us throwing jumpin minnows, same color, etc. throwing to same spot and he was catching fish and I could not get a look from a hybrid.
I finally realized he did not (and still does not) know how to "walk the dog" with a jumpin minnow or a spook and when I started reeling in slowly and not working the jumpin minnow I started catching fish.

I have seen also when you better have a jumpin minnow, NOTHING else. Many other fishermen around were throwing all sorts of walk the dog baits, mostly spooks, but the only people getting looks or catching fish were the jumpin minnow throwers. One day a guy (he was and is a rude person) was tore up, it was funny to see him pout. If you knew him and his attitude you would understand, it was hilarious.

The red and white super spook can be "the bait" on occasion also.

I am a huge fan of the jumpin minnow. I've used it almost exclusively for years whenever a walk-the-dog bait is needed.

As for slow moving wakebaits, I have a much, much higher hit-hookup percentage. It seems like hybrids and stripers tend to try and stun a faster moving lure, whereas the slower moving wakebaits just get plastered. It appears as though the fish are able to lock-on to the slower baits better. I personally like the SmackJack, but similar baits will work. There are a few tweaks in retrieve style that can trigger bites, but a slow steady retrieve has been my go-to technique. It may seem counterintuitive when fish seem to be willing to move after faster baits, but switching to a slow-moving wakebait can result in more fish and less "misses." I've had the same results with trout, bass, etc...enough to prove to me that it isn't a fluke occurrence.

As a bonus, the fish that I've caught on wakebaits tend to be better quality...sometimes dramatically better.


Chris Bryant

Don't forget the MirrOlure Top Dog and She Dog.