Captain Judy's Saltwater Fishing Report
Which includes:
Inshore report, Offshore Report, Freshies Suggestions, and "Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!" (story)
Freshies Report
Hal-flies/jigs/catch lots-o-fish!
Lindy McDonald of Vidalia, Georgia and I had a great conversation this past week. He was invited on a fishing trip with Ken Brick Masonry Supply Company. (1 912 842 4370) Buy your bricks products here! Here's where this suggestion gets real good!
Lindy and I struck up an interesting conversation about freshwater fishing. As we talked the subject of white perch AKA croppy or crappy came to light. According to Lindy, the correct name for this fish is decided by where you come from. The rest of the information shared, I can't reveal, because it might be politically incorrect!
Every freshwater fisherman has caught one of these fish at one time or the other. However, As far as I am concerned I haven't tried to catch them this way. I will start by say, "trolling nine and sometimes twelve lines might be in your future!" The bait used is artificial and you can't get it any major stores. You have to know who carries it and when. The bait I am talking about is famous to the area only "Hal-Flies." I am just about to go technical, so please stay with me. According to Lindy these so-called "trolling baits" are in demand not only by the fishermen, but also the fish! I think you get my point.
These lures are best trolled and tied directly on to your 8 to 10 pound test line. All 8 to 12 trolled lines need to be staggered so that when you hook up "A tangling event doesn't take place!" You best bet is troll over structure or anywhere that you have seen these fish before. On some occasion a small creek minnows is added to some of the jigs for extra sport. Now that I have explained how they rig up it's time to get "Hal-Fly technical.
Lindy has hundreds of these lures in stock at his house. According to what he told me, "When he finds them he buys them!" I talked with Chuck over at "Chuck's Bait, tackle, and gun shop" the other day and he concurred that this is very true. (Chuck's tackle shop number is 1 478 922 9851) Now you know where to get them. Lindy explained in detail the Hal-flies that he uses the most. Believe me when I say "in detail!"
There is the:
Blue head with dark blue eyes, dark blue body, and light blue feathers, Red head with white eyes, dark green body, and yellow feathers, Red head with white eyes, light green body, and yellow feathers, Black head with no eyes, dark blue body, and black feathers, Yellow head with white eyes, light green body, and yellow feathers, Lime green head with not sure of eye color, black body, and lime green feathers, Red head with not sure what eye color, pink body, and pink feathers
Lindy offered up some suggestions in regards to selecting which lure will works the best. The lures with the most feathers normally win when it comes to the department of "getting the most attention from the fish." Just goes to shows you especially in this case that "lots of wet feathers are in!"
"Jiffy Jigs"
Lindy offered up yet another great fish catching suggestion!
Hal-Fly is great, but there is another artificial bait that also works while trolling for crappy. These lures are called "Jiffy Jigs." These are a little different than the old "Hal's!" They are what I call a two-part lure. They are basically like what we use in the saltwater, which we call lead heads. On our saltwater lead heads, we thread on screw tails or grubs. The saltwater versions are bigger and come in different colors. The "Jiffy Jig" looks like it would work just like our saltwater lures. The lead head comes in different colors, which you can purchase packaged in together. The bag of lead heads that "Chuck's Bait and Tackle" sent me has black, pink, green yellow, and silver. Not all lead heads have the same color eyes. The grubs or screw tails sent to me are basically what we use, but a small version. These soft plastic baits have an assortment of tail shapes. Some have a three tail split, regular type screw tail, and one that looks like a paddle tail type. It going to be up to you as the fisherman to figure out which color head works with which tail design. When you do find the right combination I suggest writing it down, because this information will be what is called "price-less" in your fish catching future!