just picked up the gibbs canal special, never used one before..just wondering what ya think about them? whats the best way to fish it?

Those canal special "pencil" poppers are best worked on a "running" (not slack) tide. So when the tide is running, wing it out there (up current), and when it lands in the flowing current, jerk the tip of the rod so the plug looks like a fish that is trying to escape a huge bass thats right on it's tail. Then , when the lure gets "down current" (if you don't catch a fish on the first cast) reel it back in and start all over.

sweet man. cant wait to try it out in the AM.. does it get good casting distance ?

I'd say it casts just about as far as any big wooden lure can be cast. Hope you catch a big one.

They're weighted more heavily than a regular pencil popper and they'll sink like a rock. If you cast it too far upcurrent, you'll spend half the retrieve trying to get it back to the top.

My all time fav lure

Fishing a tough ditch current
First things first line up your cast, cast 45degs [or less depending on current flow] up current from your postion, then wait unitl the lure sinks a bit or settles [but dont let it get to far down current] then give it a good jerk, it should go subsurface and swim abit then let it settle and repeat. Or you can cast it at a 45 up current and pop it until it's straight out in front of your location and crank it straight in.

Slack
Cast to structure then work the crap out of it jerk it pop it but dont forget to rest between actions. YOur imitating a freaked out bait fish running from the structure.

The canal specail is a great plug it's realy versitile and a awesome caster. The story behind it is every time ole Stan would make a error when forming a mouth on a pencil or while drilling a the belly hook he'd through it in a box then later he'd flatten the bottom and bam you gotta canal special.

just got back from the good ole ditch.. slack early used the polaris for a 35 incher.. when canal starting moving later i used the canal special..nothing. only used for about 10 casts.. but i would cast up current..let it drift down current..slow retrieve a few jerks etc.. does that sound like the proper way to use it? pretty slow morning all togehter though capeside.

I use the Gibbs to work rips on a running current. Or to sight cast where I can get it to work over the fish, altho you will still catch if it's running sub surface.

Hawg Specials are floaters and I like them better for sight casting.

Polarises for slack or slow current around the changes.

Let the current do most of the work for you. "Noodle" the rod tip to get it to bounce---no need to do the heavy-duty whip you need to work a pencil popper from open beach.