Lets see some Darters!

[NIB]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Bump to the future. Some interesting stuff in here from before NIB forgot more than I know, and Eben still fished plugs.

I hate reading my old post's I was so sure of myself.
I think I know less now that I think I might know something.
I know this, I still like darters and bottle plugs.Give me some sweeping current, and nice slow retrieve.Only to have it interrupted by the strike.It doesn't get any better than that.
The thing about darters is that the emulate so many bait fish well,From snapper blues,herring,spike weaks to squid.If you have small bait present there's a good chance your gonna have some squid with em.A darter with it's sweeping side to side action is basically the only plug made that does not track straight in.IMO it is best at emulating the darty stop and start swimming actions of squid.Something to remember next time your just reeling one in.
Get funky wit it.
That being said most darters that have a good side to side sweep will run the risk of popping out,They are generally more broad in the face.Better used in less current,still a good plug.There is a fine line to optimum action and coming in upside down.Thinner ones like the SS will track in straight.Don't believe all that is written the Plastic ones are not all created equal.Some swim better than others.It may take some hook tweaking to get the desired results..With all of the wooden creations I have made or fished with. I am coming to the realization that thinner profiles catch better for me.It is so easy to get a fatter plug to do what I want I just don't seem to get the desired results,catch wise.Food for thought.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by NIB

.With all of the wooden creations I have made or fished with. I am coming to the realization that thinner profiles catch better for me.It is so easy to get a fatter plug to do what I want I just don't seem to get the desired results,catch wise.Food for thought.

There is definitely something in this. I've also begun to believe that long thin profiles tend to trigger a strike reflex in stripers, even when the artificial looks all wrong. I think this has a lot to do with why tubes and needles work so well.

[Rockfish9]

I have to agree with this %100... thinner seems to imitate more styles of bait fish, I do make a short stubby darter that works well in the spring, but I've never done well with it in the fall...

[Swimmer]

This thread is killing me.