Here in the Charleston area, when the water falls between 60 and 65 degrees in the fall, you know it’s time to leave the cast net at home and break out the artificials. There are many options when it comes to throwing artificials, and you can fish many of them just like live bait, catching all of the same species caught with live bait.
Artificials come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and most of them can be classified as grubs. Grubs are made to represent the shape of a minnow or baitfish of sorts and can be called paddle tails, curly tails or jerkbaits. Your standard paddle tail, whether it’s 3 or 4 inches, makes up a large majority of the artificials that are thrown. More manufacturers than you can count produce a paddle tail, many out of the same mold. Try fishing the paddle tail baits with a jighead and a slow retrieve. Fit the jighead to the bait for proper sink rate for the type of water you are fishing. The slower the water is moving the lighter the weight you can use. I find myself picking up a 1/8-ounce jighead most often. Curly tails will work best when fished like a paddle tail bait by matching up the correct size jighead with a slow retrieve. This bait also works well trolled in 5 to 9 feet of water by kicking the boat in and out of gear along the bank. I find it is more effective with a heavier jighead used in swiftly moving water when trying to reach deeper water depths for fish closer to the bottom. A jerk bait is one that you have to work with slow jerks across the bottom. Personally, I have found that this bait produces more fish for me than other baits. I love an electric chicken jerk shad or the Bad Shad 3.5” StreakZ made locally by ZMan.
Remember when I mentioned anglers who enjoy using live bait? The artificial shrimps are for you. You can fish them on the bottom with a slow retrieve or under a popping cork to cover a large amount of area rigged just like live bait. All of the weight is in the bait, so it is ready to fish. The newer artificials that are on the market look very realistic. Good options include the VuDu Shrimp, Savage Gear Shrimp and DOA shrimp.
If you already throw artificials regularly, take the time to test out some of the newer products on the market. One that I highly recommend is the Trout Trick. While fishing with Capt. John Fuss of Holy City Fishing Charters, I landed my largest trout to date – a 21.5-inch on a Trout Trick. It is a simple, translucent, purple worm that you work with a 1/8-ounce Gamakatsu Jighead or a TroutEye Jighead, which is made locally and is available at Haddrell’s Point and RalphPhillipsInshore.com exclusively. The other bait new to the market this year is the Zman Slim SwimZ. The Slim Swim is a 2.5-inch paddle tail that effectively mimics a glass minnow that is very prevalent as our water temperatures cool. The Slim Swim works best when rigged with the ZMan Finesse Shroom Jigheads.
As the water temperatures cools this fall, try leaving the live bait at home and using artificials. You can cover a large amount of water with a paddle tail and a trolling motor. Come by Haddrell’s Point Tackle and pick up a few for your next trip.
Simon Owens
Haddrells Point Tackle
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