Needlefish Hit

[The Dad Fisherman]

I've been messing with needles this year and what I've learned is...

Different needles have different sink rates from the fast sinkers (i.e. Superstrike) to Floaters (i.e. Gibbs)

You need to play with a few different ones to figure out how they sink. Now the depth of the water being fished will dictate the retrieve speed, Fast sinkers will need to be retrieved faster than slow sinkers to maintain the same depth. so If you are fishing in 10 feet of water and the heavy ones are hitting bottom try a slower sinker at the same speed or speed up the retrieve of the fast sinker.

Current/Waves will also affect how you work the water column. the stronger the current/bigger the waves the slower you can go with the heavier needles to work the same depth and the lighter needles may end up being floaters if the current is to fast as well as if the water is too big the lighter ones will just get tossed around like twigs......you will need heavy needles to keep them running "True".

again this is what I'm figuring out about them....my needle knowledge is in its infancy. Hope this helps. And as I'm learning when it come to fishing......there is no such thing as "The Only Way to do It"

Originally Posted by GonnaCatchABig1

oh so confusing.. i have limited access to needles. the only one i have in my arsenal is a super strike i found in some rocks. and of course (as woody stated) habs' statement is ringing in my head every time i use it. "if you think your goin too slow, go slower." "if you arent bored fishing a needle, you're doing it wrong.".

but now yer telling me the one i have is best suited for fast retrieves. uggg! while we are here. could some one please try to explain the most sought after presentation. and NOT how to reel and twitch ect. but more of what i should be looking for it to do. i can figure out how to make it do it easier that way. than trying to count so many spins of the reel or time between twitches.
i've heard top water leaving wakes, slow drags on the bottom. dead straight in. with a slight wobble. and i'm sure they all have their own moments on certain days. but what is the standard? the results the get speak for themselves. so i would really love to figure these things out.
(sorry for the hijack. but its still about how needles work right?)

[WoodyCT]

Hit the net.
Salty's are GREAT and he sells direct. Ditto After Hours. Surfcasting RI, a site sponsor, has Super Strikes. Search around and you'll find everything except the boutique brands like Beachmaster or Hab's, but you don't need those to catch on needles. My personal best ate a Salty's blurple with glow eyes with a slight peck of a strike a couple seasons ago, so don't be scared off by affordably priced needles.

Some sage advice on this thread. Give it all at try and see what works best for you!

W

[GonnaCatchABig1]

thanks tdf and salty. (i do have access to one of yer 2.5s)

i understand the weight to depth/current factors.. i just cant figure out exactly what the lure it self is supposed to be doing. i was always under the impression that it was supposed to come in straight with no action. which never made sense to me unless it was topwater. as i have heard that sometimes just the v-wake is enough. after about 4 casts of that though i start with the twitches. it just doesn't seem right that a fish would chase a stick that did nothing. until just now though i had no idea what kind of action i was lookin for. now that i think about it. i suppose its pretty versatile. they are pretty much hard sluggos. and could probably be fished in just as many ways. hopefully some more insight when i get back from the surf. i'll give it a whirl while i'm there. can't hurt.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by GonnaCatchABig1

i just cant figure out exactly what the lure it self is supposed to be doing.

Kinda like when a Smokin Babe comes walking by....she saunters by slowly and as she goes by, and you look, you notice the sexiest little wiggle.

[kenyee]

Originally Posted by GonnaCatchABig1

just the v-wake is enough. after about 4 casts of that though i start with the twitches. it just doesn't seem right that a fish would chase a stick that did nothing.

I've always wondered that as well but I suspect it does a little underneath w/ the treble hooks and tail wiggling from the current and you're dragging it.
Some needlefish do wiggle more...the ones w/ the flat faces.
The less wiggle probably makes it look more like a wounded fish gasping for air.

[DZ]

Here is a link to a Needle article I wrote awhile back – hopefully it should be OK to post as it’s from a sponsor of this site.
http://www.saltwateredge.com/info/ZAM.html

I’ve never met a needlefish plug I didn’t like. All mentioned in this thread have produced for me and many others. Salty handed me a “full moon special” this winter that has more than lived up to his description. Received a few homemades from Numbskull that are now a staple in my plug bag which only carries 8 plugs – for George’s plug to break into my rotation says it all.

So much to learn and I haven’t even mentioned “soft needlefish” imitations that have quietly racked up some incredible scores for me and others.

One more thing about lack of action – even though your needlefish may not have any discernable wiggling - it’s still the right “action” to the bass.

DZ

[steve]

What's a "full moon special"?

[steve]

Speaking of needlefish plugs, nobody has mentioned Rhody's Mark Ducharme. He makes a great plug which often times out fishes all others.

[Dick Durand]

Originally Posted by steve

Speaking of needlefish plugs, nobody has mentioned Rhody's Mark Ducharme. He makes a great plug which often times out fishes all others.

Steve, I'm a fan of Mark's needlefish, but the only place I've seen them retailed is at Twin Maples on BI. Does anyone on the mainland sell his lures?

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by steve

What's a "full moon special"?

Coming from Salty that could be pretty scary

[GonnaCatchABig1]

never mind.. now i have no needles..
went out tossed a couple plugs in the rocks.. nothing on top of nothing.. so ok.. winds in my face. needle will sail on out there, and well i need to practice. tried all the above with twitches and what not variable speeds. nothin. but i noticed i could reach over the rocks into a bit deeper sandy bottom.. so lets see what happens when i drag it through the sand kickin up a sand trail.. 3 cranks into my second attempt with that. the unmistakable double tugg of a fish that couldnt commit. so now im excited! next cast, great im stuck on the edge of the rocks.. boink. knot of the leader gives. (i tried a new type i just learned ) and now the needle is back in the EXACT same spot i found it. (give or take 50ft)
guess ill actually hafta buy a few now that i figured out a use for them.

and my buddy has that midnight special salty. i think i like it more than he does.. i think i tried trading the swimmer of the same paint type with him right after we bought them.

[DZ]

Originally Posted by steve

What's a "full moon special"?

Steve,

Salty Bugger gave me one that is very dark blue/purpleish with glow eyes and reflective tint in the finish. I don't normally use dark patterns during the bright moon but his needle has produced well. Not sure what pattern he calls it but the phrase "full moon special" is my description of it. Salty? Chime in.

As far as Ducharmes Needles - some good things are best left in my bag. Geez their good.

DZ

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by DZ

Steve,
As far as Ducharmes Needles - some good things are best left in my bag. Geez their good.

DZ

Yes they are....

[late-start]

Originally Posted by DZ

Here is a link to a Needle article I wrote awhile back – hopefully it should be OK to post as it’s from a sponsor of this site.
http://www.saltwateredge.com/info/ZAM.html

I’ve never met a needlefish
DZ

Thanks for the link and enjoyed the read.