We may not have tried these tips – use at your own risk! Please send us your tips (and feedback on these ones) by email.

Scent works:
Several fishermen swear by various scents applied to our lures. Just spray or wipe on each time you check your lure.


Scald your Tubby:
Several fishermen swear by this one – submerge your Tubby in boiling water. Let it sit for a few minutes (keep an eye on it) and keep it submerged (you’ll have to hold it down with a pair of pliers on the tow bar). Try not to touch the plastic with the sides of the pan or your pliers. The theory on this one is the hot water will soften the plastic, the air inside the lure will expand and the Tubby will expand. When it cools it will hold this new “Tubbier” shape.

bulbous plug w borderOn a similar note, a commercial fisherman gave us this bulbous plug with his story. He hung some plugs by the engine and they overheated and expanded. He was pleasantly surprised when they still caught fish. 2 of the 6 he’d overheated turned into his favorite (if funny looking) plugs.

 

Troll fast for control in wind:
“I use Tomics because I can troll them effectively between four and five miles per hour. That allows me boat control in the “usually windy” conditions found on large interior lakes during the late Fall. Dave K”

 

Avoid small fish with a big hook:
We’ve heard from several salmon fishing sources that when the small salmon are thick, a good way to avoid them (and get to the bigger ones) is to use a big plug and replace the hook with a larger one. This trick is used extensively offshore of Tofino and Ucluelet, where an 11/o hook is put on the 7” classic or 6” Tubby. The Coho have a tough time getting their mouths around the bigger hooks.

Here’s what one of our favorite fishermen, Mike the Codfather, says about big hooks (and note Mike trolls fast): “Yes, I use 9/o hooks on your spoons and the big plugs. On the 4″ tubby I use a 7/o hook for springs. It keeps the smaller fish from getting hooked, but more importantly it hooks the big fish better. The hook will almost always go sideways in the mouth and dig right through the back of the jawbone. the hook will be wedged behind the back of the bone and when you go to take the hook out you have to pry it out.”

 

Spinner on the Multi tail:
Replace the tail hook of your Multi with a spinner. We’ve heard of all kinds of attractors being towed back here instead of, or in combination with, the hook.
More tips for the Wee Tad in particular:  Wee Tad Tips

All about Pulling the Pin, a popular modification:  Pulling the Pin

All about lures for action or attraction for other lures:  Lures for Attraction