How to use Salmo darter?

[mac]

After reading about this lure in a few posts, I bought one and like the action. Questions:

1. Can you put bait on it without ruining the action? Anybody watched it with an underwater camera?
2.Does a leader ruin the action? I can just see it fully swallowed by a 10# northern.
3. I think the directions suggest using a stinger with bait on about 3-4" of mono and attached to the same snap. Does that work?

[Brian_MN]

>After reading about this lure in a few posts, I bought one
>and like the action. Questions:
>
> 1. Can you put bait on it without ruining the action?
>Anybody watched it with an underwater camera?

I tried a minnow head on the treble, and it did really cut down the action a lot. I've switched to just putting some scent juice on every 10 minutes or so and that works good.

> 2.Does a leader ruin the action? I can just see it
>fully swallowed by a 10# northern.

A light wire leader with a tiny clip attached to the Salmo would prevent bite-offs by gators, but it might turn walleyes off, depending on how clear your water is.

> 3. I think the directions suggest using a stinger with
>bait on about 3-4" of mono and attached to the same snap.
>Does that work?

It works gret for perch. They get attracted by the big bait, come in for a look, and then find a nice bite sized morsel hanging down below. The walleyes I've caught have engulfed the whole lure.

[mac]

Any particular flavor of scent?

I've got 3 types of leaders that are gator proof (if possible). 1 wire, 2. 25#mono and 3. 25# kevlar braid. I guess I'll try them all.

What color work best for you?

[Backwater Eddy]

Small pieces of bait will not damage the action too badly, I prefer to tip the front hook but others prefer to tip the rear. For larger predatory fish the bait is just a option and you may do better without it. Try a liquid scent on the Chubby, such as Dr. Juice or a like product. Even smearing a squished minnow on them adds a lot of scent.

A leader is a good idea if you suspect big pike are in the area, they love Chubbys, I catch a lot of huge pike on them. Try 7-strand steel and make your own leader 2' long with a small swivel on the top and a cross lock on the bottom. For pike keep them on the move, they will smack it hard!


The stinger or drop link is a very effective perch and crappie rig and works best if you remove the treble hooks first. I like to make them 6" long and include a quick snap like you see on a commercially made stinger option. The greatest appeal of this rig is on schooling fish like a perch competing for food, they think they are robbing a snack from the buddy. Work this off the bottom about 1 foot and as high as 3 feet.

Attach your Chubby to your line with a quality snap to insure proper action. You will find you will get many walleye on them as far off the bottom as 6-10', they rise a long way to hit them so tease them up and do not hang your Chubby in there face.

SALMO site www.salmo.com.pl/chubby_eng.htm


I hope this is of help, good fishing.


><,Sumo-Chubby,>

Backwater Eddy.....><,,>

[mac]

Anybody else using the Salmo Darter?

[Brian_MN]

Hey Backwater Eddy,

I tried your idea tonight, and it worked great! The walleyes were coming in to my jigging rap, but wouldn't hit it. I smeared some minnow parts on a perch Chubby and dropped her down. The fish was immediately interested, followed the lure up about 2 feet while I teased it, then finally smacked it HARD! It was only a 19 incher, but it was a fun one to outsmart. Thanks,

[Jig Master]

I've been using them. I haven't caught any walleye's yet, but the perch really seem to like them.

[Backwater Eddy]

Cool!

I have seen walleye get so fired up they will chase them Chubbys darn near up the hole. It is nothing to see them shoot up 10 feet to smack at a Chubby.

Darn fun to watch it all unfold on the old Vex.

By the way the guy you should really pat on the back is Jeff Simpson from InFisherman, the Chubby Darter is his brain child. Smart kid that Simpson is Eh!

><,SUMO,>

Backwater Eddy.....><,,>

[waterfowler]

I'll be trying them this weekend on the river, out of the boat. Can't wait, as long as this weather holds...........

[Backwater Eddy]

I had good luck with them this fall vertical jigging on holes on the Red. They worked great to draw fish out of heavy cover like snag piles, or rip-rap, that the walleye hold up in during the day in clear water.

They work well on fish holding on sharp breaks when cold front conditions in late spring and early summer send them walleye over the edge on open water.

I hadn't tried slip jigging them yet, I would be interested to know how they do if you try that. I have a sneaky feeling if the sauger are thick you may just have one hanging on each hook when you slide into a school.

;)

><,SUMO,>

Backwater Eddy.....><,,>

[eyedoktr]

I'm trusting all of you that say they work. I just ordered 6 of them from Thorne Bros. I just can't have one of something. I mean, what if it's the only thing working and I lose it?? Can't wait to get them and see for myself how well they catch fish.