O.K. Gang,
Kinda saved this subject until after christmas, so everybody could both contribute and get in on the answers.

We kind of beat the who owns what, and sold permission to who question concerning Storm Lures to death. Fact is, none of my favorite (close to home) outlets sells my favorite 1/4 ounce (Original) Storm tot anymore, and the close knock-off's are not doing the job for me on the Saginaw Bay. I am impressed and do have great expectations for Dave Storms new lure the "Winning Streak", but truthfully have not trolled a foot with it yet to get the walleyes opinion.

But with that said, I know a lot of you guys still have a few Originals left. And like myself, may have some techniques that have become your favorite way to catch walleyes with them. I persoanlly have at least 6 or 8 ways I could list, but not to steal all the thunder will just list a couple. You guys can fill in the blanks.

One technique that probably dont get used much with the 1/4 tot is drifting. Yup, I often drift/troll when the wind pushes the boat fast enough to do so. I discovered this technique quit by accident one day while trolling in about 6 feet of water near shore on the Saginaw Bay. I was trolling when my motor quit. The gas nozzel had removed itself from the gas can and I had ran all the gas out of the line. By the time I got it all hooked back up, all my trolling lines were off to the side and working under wind power versus the motor. The first thing I got was a white bass, fallowed quickly by a decent walleye. Didn't troll the rest of that morning, and ended up with a limit of walleyes. Found it best to let enough line out so the tot just tick's the bottom. The wave action imparts that (Flee and Stall) action into the tot and drives shallow water/feeding walleyes nuts.

Heres one that I kept secret for years. Used it mostly on shallow/clear water river walleyes and steelhead. Take a bobber and attach it 3 to 6 feet ahead of the tot. Finding that right length is imparitive. Let it float downstream to where you know either the steelhead bed is, or the walleyes small holding area is. Hold it and let it work, imparting little pumps now and then. The bobber keeps it at that perfect angle to keep it from just laying on bottom. If it stops working give it a little twitch. This technique works best in rocky terrain, and places you know like the back of your hand. Best part, if you get hung up, let the bobber drift past the tot and give it a snap. TO EASY.

Capt. Dan.
How is this technique possible? I've never heard of using a bobber with a diving lure before. Please explain more. And do you think that new lure you mention on the other post, will work the same in this instance? I don't have any 1/4 tots.



Heres one that I kept secret for years. Used it mostly on shallow/clear water river walleyes and steelhead. Take a bobber and attach it 3 to 6 feet ahead of the tot. Finding that right length is imparitive. Let it float downstream to where you know either the steelhead bed is, or the walleyes small holding area is. Hold it and let it work, imparting little pumps now and then. The bobber keeps it at that perfect angle to keep it from just laying on bottom. If it stops working give it a little twitch. This technique works best in rocky terrain, and places you know like the back of your hand. Best part, if you get hung up, let the bobber drift past the tot and give it a snap. TO EASY.

Dont get it.
This technique is not some magic trick. When you hook diving lures to things such as In-Line boards or planner boards, the boards themselves are in essence, a bobber. This keeps and stabilizes the nose pressure of your lure generated as it pulls down against the water pressure. Its this angle and how far back the lure is, that determines how deep it will run. Your lures may be running farther back than 3 to 6 feet, but the comparrison would be about the same.

Many times on the rivers I fish for both walleye and steelheads, there are some spots that are either to shallow or the water to clear to get close enough to anchor and present a jig or other offering without scaring off the fish. I've tried anchoring off to the side or above these areas, far enough away to throw a cast into the spot. But the farther away you get from your lure or jig, the less feel and control you have with it.

I've seen Lur-Jenson Jet Side Planners in action on some of the rivers I've fished, and just borrowed the idea to a degree. But with the bobber you have to be above the hole, slot or depression your trying to fish.

Now the 1/4 ounce tot is perfect for this job. And I'm thinking that Daves New Ka-Boom Winning Streak lures would be a little to deep diving for this application, unless the pocket you were fishing was a deeper hole. As they appear to be capeable of the same depths as the Rattle Tot.

Capt Dan,

I have a hard time believing you don't have a lifetime supply of 1/4 oz tots tucked away somewhere but I have a couple hundred still new in the box. If you're interested or need particular colors give me a shout. 95% are bay colors that have worked for us in the past.

I never intended on selling them but maybe a dozen or so to defray the cost next time we go out (unless I buy a boat first!).

Steve

Dan,

Nice technique twist. With a 1/4 oz tot, how big of a bobber are you using and about how deep do you figure that tot is running with a 6 foot lead (depending on current speed,I know)? Also, sounds like the Double Downers aren't doing it for you? I haven't had as much time with them, but, superficially, it seems the colors for the fish I had in mind are just a little off from what I would like to see.

Steve.
Thank you for that offer my friend. And your right, I have many 1/4 tots. But do have a wish list of the one's that are becoming kinda (Teeth Wore) and dull with box age. So, if a man could help me out with any #68 Rainbows/#84 Tootie Fruitie/ #83 Parrot/#93 Pepto-Bismol or Solid Floresent Pink/#140 Metalic Silver/Red Throat, I'd be back in full operating sequence for a while. I'm going to guess these might not be the ones to many people have as spares. These first few bright colors were not Storms biggest sellers, but have been kicking walleye ^ss on those days when everything else seems to be dead on the Bay. And the last one is the one everybody needs and uses.

Bob.
The bobbers I was forced to use are the round ones, dont really know the size, I guess the medium ones. They have the most water resistance and are what you need to keep the angle to the lure as sharp as you can. Oh ya, I also paint them black. They are usually submerged a little anyway, so seing them is not imparitive. And the Red and White seemed to spook the fish, even being 3 to 6 feet from the lure.

The 1/4 tot actually runs fairly deep with the ratio being different with faster currents. If I was fishing a slot/hole 3 feet deep, I'd set the bobber at 2 1/2 feet. Feed it quickly to the lip of the hole, then creep it back in little incraments.

When the Double Downer first came out I bought a dozen of the best Bay colors. And dont get me wrong, I like the colors, the action, the hooks and the size. And I have read/heard where other guys are catching fish on them. But I cant seem to catch a cold with them. It may just be the way I fish , who knows? Alway had luck on their Willie Worms.

This technique is not always fool proof. But you wont get any other chance at these fish anyway, so whats the trade off?

Dan,

I never had a color chart with the numbers on it and I don't have my "collection" in front of me.

I do recall that I was not able to find many of that rainbow color pattern but do have numerous in the metallic rainbow. I have several in the pink and not sure on the other codes you listed but probably have some of them too. Is the cotton candy the one that is mostly blue and silver with the hot pink lip and throat ? got some of them for sure.

Steve

Steve.
That Blue/Pink Throat sounds more like our local Captains Choice, which was a special color ordered and carried by Franks. The #68 Rainbow was never carried by local shops to much. The Metalic rainbow I have lots of. I'll e-mail you a color chart so you'll have a better idea of what you have.

I was reading your techniques and I was wondering about the stormlures, hot n tot"s tootie fruity color. I can't find them any where not even on internet. Is there any way you could give me some information on this color. Like maybe where to look on internet or are you selling any that color, ect.
thank-you
Neal Ronk

Walleye Express -
In my best Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Now, that's a name I've not heard in a long time."
He left in a huff years ago, like he did many other sites.
Wow, 2002

Just buy the new 3D printer and clone your own Hot n Tots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw

Just buy the new 3D printer and clone your own Hot n Tots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw

I had access to a printer like this 10+ years ago at work. The first thing I printed was an adjustable wrench and still have it.

Wish I had thought to replicate a few hard-to-find baits back then.

Cap't Dan has his own web site and forum now.