[chefchris401]

I started my love/hate relationship the same as you.

I couldn't understand how a plug with no action or motion was going to catch and slay fish.

I started with two ss needles, the 1.75 oz size, green over white and blue over white.

I carried them and threw them everywhere i went with no luck, they were also the last plug I threw cause i had zero confidence in them.

Then it finally happened.

I was at a spot in soco, after a hitless night, i decided to throw the green/white ss needle, "what was the worst that thing that happen, id catch less fish? "

cast out, get contact and dead slow retrieve, and was off staring at the sky and BAM, the thing gets hammered, almost ripped the rod out of my hand, i get tight to the fish and fight em for a little bit, a few minutes later i slide a hefty 16lb fish on the rocks, it literally inhaled the needle from behind, released him and kept fishing. I had a hit almost every cast and landed 10 or 12 more fish that night, biggest being 19lbs, i was sold.

most fish took the belly hook, but a few others also inhaled it from behind, one wasn't even hook, the plug just wedged itself in its mouth.

after that night i was a believer in the needlefish.

in zenos book, the art of surfcasting with lures, the needle chapter has some great info, well worth a read.

I fish mine dead slow, with little or no twitches 95% of the time, maybe a slight pause every 4th or 5th crank, the hits seem to come on the pause for the most part and are usually solid hits.

i always envision the needle is moving slow, swaying in the current, and the fish starts stalking it from behind, closing in, and the second the needle pauses like a tired baitfish, the fish sees the oppurtunity and hits it hard.

a lot of times ill be throwing a needle with no action, then i have to remind myself to slow down the retrieve, even if its already painfully slow, the second i slow down it triggers the strike.

I also like fishing mine higher in the water column, then along the bottom.

I'm a fan on the gibbs 1.75oz wood needle, its almost a floater and slays in boulder fields and rocky areas, plus the risk of losing it too is less, purple over silver is my go to in that style.

the ss needle in 1.75oz size is great, for a deeper presentation.

Needle colors i love black over orange, green over white and purple over silver.

I wont fish without a couple needles in the bag now, usually a slow sink/floater and then something a little heavier.

just like anything else, if the fish aren't there or hitting it doesn't matter what you throw.

i think the needle is so versatile now, like stated above it can used to imitate needlefish, silver sides, squid, sandeels, thin baitfish like macs, etc. Most forage doesn't move much side to side when it swims, so the needle covers that action great.

and i think it was Habs senior that said something like " if you aren't bored fishing needles then you are doing something wrong. "

good luck with them, ill be throwing a few tonight that's for sure.