rooster tails
 

I was wondering what kinds of fish can be caught with rooster tails. I've always used them for just trout. Thanks

RE: rooster tails
 

LOL Rooster Tail is one my top 3 all time lures..
Fish I've caught..


1.many catfish ...mostly blue cats

2.100s of bass many in the 6 pound rangelost count of the 5s and 6s...lost a few over 10:(
WON 3 small tournaments using Rooster Tail only..;)

3.bluegills.

4.lot's of Chain Pickeral

5.a few Crappie

6. Gar

7. Striped Bass ...Sunshine bass

The 2 fish posted were each caught on white Rooster tails..
The tilapia was a state record that was accidently eaten.[:o]
The catfish is 12 pounds.I noticed Rooster tails have gone up 150% in price this year..[&o]almost 4,00 a piece now.I use white 3/8th ounce..

RE: rooster tails
 

Ive only ever used rooster tails for trout and whitefish so trout and whitefish but by what Chuck said they are pretty versatile.

RE: rooster tails
 

Just about everything has been caight on an inline spinner. Smallies love them.

RE: rooster tails
 

Pretty much anything, all of the above, plus....

pike

dogfish (bowfin)

(1) perch ever.

RE: rooster tails
 

good to know because i sure picked up a couple the other day.:D

RE: rooster tails
 

I once caught 23 bass in 15 minutes using a white Rooster Tail..;)I'm serious.a big school swam by..14inchers but still fun.:D

RE: rooster tails
 

If you are targeting big bass, the rooster tail is not your friend. Sure it will catch a lot of smaller bass but how many pro bass tournaments have you seen won with a rooster tail?

RE: rooster tails
 

"If you are targeting big bass, the rooster tail is not your friend".Indianahunter..

LOL I've lost count of the hawgs I've caught using a 1/4 ounce Rooster Tail..This lady below did ok too..My data proves RoosterTails do catch big bass...It's not my opinion it's a fact..:)


Nikki Pederson, St. James, MO, caught this 9-pound monster on a black and orange broken Rooster Tail at Little Prairie Lake, near Rolla, MO in early March of 2007. It was 26-inch long, with a 17-inch girth.

The key ..fish deep, fish just slow enough turn the willow leaf..to mimick a lone lost bait fish lost in the middle...It's a reaction lure and I've had plenty of reaction using this lure..
and not all pros share what they use in catching their fish..We had a fellow down here win a pro tourny on Lake Toho..He was our coaches father..he secretly told me the lure..It was a Mann's Little George..nothing else would work.;)

RE: rooster tails
 

I once caught a 6.5 lb bass on an inch of nightcrawler while pan fishing here in Indiana. That equates to atleast a 9lber in Florida. Does that make it a good bass bait? Not to start an argument but what data? For the most part big baits catch big bass. It is the simple fact that larger bass don't waste as much energy chasing their food as their smaller counterparts. If you were a big fat 10lber would you eat a small inline spinner or would you go for the large crankbait/jig/spinner bait/etc... going past? All I'm saying is that if it was such a great bait it would be used more often. I'm also not a fan of the small treble hook they put on rooster tails. Easy to throw. This all being said if you want to give them a try they will probably catch a lot of smaller bass and the occasional larger bass but if you want to catch the big ones you might want to upgrade to bigger baits.

RE: rooster tails
 

I once caught a 6.5 lb bass on an inch of nightcrawler while pan fishing here in Indiana. That equates to atleast a 9lber in Florida. Does that make it a good bass bait? You bet..The rubber worm is a copy of the nightcrawler..I used to use them all the time.Not to start an argument but what data?
For me..I have proof.An opinion is something that someone feels.A fact is something that can be proven. Your statement was that Rooster Tails catch small fish..and they are not a freind if you want big bass.

That is an opinion..MtHands sent me some jigs..I have not caught any big bass on them yet..BUT I respect him and his word..and if he tells me they catch big fish I believe him...Phil sent me some streamers..and the same goes with him..I have 2 rods made up extra this year ..just to fish their lures on every outing.This should be a place where we share whjat works for us ..not a place to criticize how one fishes..;)

.Data is that picture I posted of that ladies 9 pound bass. In my original post I've stated I'd lost count of the 5 and 6s I've boated. That is my personal data..Why do you not beleive me..I've boated more big bass on Rooster Tails.than on rubber worm.That is my data.Data is proof. Personally I'm here to learn and I believe 20 or more big bass plus is proof enough for me that these lures work..

For the most part big baits catch big bass. That is an opinion ..Matt and I went out 4 weekends ago and caught 68 bass on 11/2 inch minnows..3 were very nice bass.
Here's one of them..on a 1 1/2 inch minnow..we caught 68.


It is the simple fact that larger bass don't waste as much energy chasing their food as their smaller counterparts.
I've read many articles in BASS MASTER..where in the winter times when they are sluggish theywould rather have an easy to digest smaller bait..Have you ever heard of finesse fishing..?If you were a big fat 10lber would you eat a small inline spinner or would you go for the large crankbait/jig/spinner bait/etc... going past?..Down here..youhave tobe versatile..they want someting different that looks natural..When their aggressive I fish a certain way..when they are on lockjaw mode..I fish finesse style..I downsize. All I'm saying is that if it was such a great bait it would be used more often.I've been fishing for 45 years..I keep the upper lid of my tacklebox stocked with Roosters..and I usethem on every outing..I don't buy and try every new fad..I use what works..I'm also not a fan of the small treble hook they put on rooster tails. Easy to throw. This all being said if you want to give them a try they will probably catch a lot of smaller bass and the occasional larger bass but if you want to catch the big ones you might want to upgrade to bigger baits.This is true about the smaller treble hooks..which is the main reason I use 3/8th ounce..to compensate for those small treblesI use a medium rod , have drag set perfectly and net ready..One needs to be versatile..there is a place for big , medium and small baits..A 3/8th Rooster is not that small...3 inches exactly.

Remember this should bea learningand sharing site..A placeof encouragement not discouragement. Unless I have a nice fish to post for the tourny ..consider this my last reply..Last year Indianhunter would not leave me alone...and obvioiusly he's back at it again.I don't need the added frustration in my life...and his past proves he enjoys it so much he won't stop..so folks I'm off here.

To the rest..if ya have any questions or happy moments to share..PM me..;)

God bless,
C7

RE: rooster tails
 

Seriously chuck you need to let last year go. This is a discussion about bait choices no more no less. I'm not slamming your fishing choices I am just saying there are possibly better ones out there. You are right this site is about sharing information and if it is ok with you I will share my information even though it might contradict something you believe in. Instead of attacking me just let everyone else believe what they want to.

RE: rooster tails
 

Im not really that big into bass fishing but I have to comment on something Indiana said....

Sure it will catch a lot of smaller bass but how many pro bass tournaments have you seen won with a rooster tail?
I believe this is probably true but I believe that a lot of these big tourney fisherman have sponsors, so therfore they will probably never be completely true about what they caught with what???

Rooster Tails are fine, I myself prefer a hand tied spinner for any specie of fish. But the question was not what will catch the biggest fish, but simply what will the rooster tail catch?? Chuck simply told and showed what he has caught with a rooster tail!!

If the title of the thread is will rooster tail catch the biggest bass, then I wonder if Chuck will still say that he would go with Rooster Tail??? Maybe -Maybe not?

RE: rooster tails
 

The thing is that tournament fishing on its highest level is televised. Its pretty easy to see what they are throwing and what they aren't. I'll never disagree with the fact that inline spinners will catch bass. Chuck did say that a rooster tail was a good choice for big bass is where I disagreed. Simply put if you throw a lure enough times that catches bass you will end up hooking the odd larger fish. You throw the right lure and your odds of success improve dramatically. Take the guys out in california that dead stick big cataic swim baits. They catch more 10lb bass in 1 year then most will catch in a lifetime. This all being said if you just want to catch numbers then any smaller minnow imitating lure will suffice. I on the other hand would rather catch 2-3 bass over 5 lbs in a day then 10 1-2lbers. Keep in mind we are talking about indiana where a 5lber is a nice bass. A limit of 5lbers in a Florida tournament would get you about 45th place.

RE: rooster tails
 

Rooster Tails are fine, I myself prefer a hand tied spinner for any specie of fish. But the question was not what will catch the biggest fish, but simply what will the rooster tail catch?? Chuck simply told and showed what he has caught with a rooster tail!!

If the title of the thread is will rooster tail catch the biggest bass, then I wonder if Chuck will still say that he would go with Rooster Tail??? Maybe -Maybe not? I appreciate the clarification Hardwoods.;)To be honest with ya..I have {God as my witness} hooked the biggest bass of my life with a Rooster Tail...it was a small pit.I saw the entire thing jump up and shake it loose.I was sick..A man came about 2 weeks later and I beleive caught my fish on a shiner and released it.It weighed over 12 pounds..[:o]I believe the best artificail lure for big bass is the rubber worm BUT I do fish the Rooster on every outing and have boated more fish over 5 using it than the rubber worm. [align=right][/align]

RE: rooster tails
 

I will say that when I was younger, I caught my fair share of bass off rooster tails, mepps, etc. No really big ones, but a ton of them. If you want numbers, tie on a spinner. If you want to consistantly hook into the biggest bass in the lake, I'd suggest a bigger, slower moving, and deeper bait than an inline spinner.

RE: rooster tails
 

slower moving, and deeper bait than an inline spinner.

Josh.


That's the blessing of the Rooster..can be fished slow and deep as you like..;)I guess since we know Rooster's can't catch big fish..this ladies fish must be a photo scam..



and I must be one good liar.:eek:

RE: rooster tails
 

i have caught yellow bass and some largemouth with them they are very versital

RE: rooster tails
 

I will be using them alot this year at Lake Fish Hook to prove a point:D
PS they also come in 5 inch 1 ounce..:)

RE: rooster tails
 

Chuck, How do you rig your rooster tails? I want to try them this year but I don't feel like they have enough weight to get to the depth I want.

RE: rooster tails
 

I know some folks that will swear by rooster tails here as well. I do not use them because pickeral like them too. If you ever saw a pickeral then you know why I preffer not to mess with them. They have some pretty good size teeth on them. To say they do not or will not catch big bass is just a bit shy from being crazy to say the least. Same goes for mepps spinners, I have caught some great bass using the old mepps cpmet, the one with the little minnow hook on it. They appear to work best in the early season up here though. So i would not shoot anyone down for using them that is for sure.

RE: rooster tails
 

In-line's (including RT's) catch anything and everything in the lakes I fish in NE Indiana. From bass to muskies...and big to small. Everyone knows a fast moving aggressive lure will get the limit, but then you have to switch to finesse jigs incoverto get the bigger fish. Anyone who fishes tourny's does this nearly every time out.

RE: rooster tails
 

Chuck, How do you rig your rooster tails? I want to try them this year but I don't feel like they have enough weight to get to the depth I want.

My friend the body is made of lead..I would honestly use nothing smaller than 3/8th ounce..I'm currently bidding on some 1 ounce Roosters..I love them because if you don't have a depth finder they make an excellent count down lure..When I cast them as soon as they hit the water I count one thousand, two thousand etc..If the line stopped falling at 10 thousand I fish the lure at 9 thousand {About one foot off the bottom.When I fish mono ..I simply tie them on with an improved clinch knot { Also called Trilene knot} If I fish braid I tie on the Palomar knot..I do not use a swivel or split shot..I just tie on the lure.A 3/8th ounce falls 1 foot per second.

Ok here are the ways I fish them..
1. The best way..during spawning season I go up the shoreline and fish them slow and just above the bottom right over the bass beds..Lot's of hawgs caught this way.Mostly I fish small cut outs andpitch the Rooster underhanded just past the beds..let it sink till it goes out of sight{About 18 inches}and slowly bring it back towards the boat..WHAM! rod tip doubles..and my friend it doesn't make a difference how little or big that fish is..when something goes over the bed it will smack it.I had a picture of two 6 pounders I caughtlike this the same day I was goingto post it and could not find it..We ate the bass back in those days and I took them both home.
Nearly all the Rooster hawgs I caught were like this during spawning season.
2. We have lots of hydrilla in Florida..I cast long ways right outside of the hydrilla..I use my count down on just about every cast..I once had bass in an aquarium for a year..I studied them 90% of the timebass are on the bottom..At night they are much more active.

3. I also fish the lure in deep water..BUT always let it sinkto the bottomand then fish 12" above the bottom..The 3/8th Rooster sinks about 1 foot per second. I would never fish for bass with anything smaller..then 3/8th ..trebles are too small.

4.If you see schooling bass chasing bait fish..I throw beyond the bass and let it sink just below the surface..get the blade turning and go straight through the swirls..MOst of these fish will be smaller ones.

5. I also use the countdown to find suspended bass..If I'm in 10 foot of water and have not caught anything..I may just count 1 thousand 2 thousand 3thousand 4 thousand 5 thousand 6 thousand..sweeeeep ..and spin slowly......trying lot's of different depths.I always fish it SLOWLY..I practiced in clear water at first to see how fast I had to fish it to keep it at a constant depth..and where it would swim correctly.

The Rooster is simply a stream lined reaction lure..Last year I lost a hawg..I was fishing above hydrilla and the cow took me in the hydrilla..I mostly fish the Roosterover points with sandy or rock bottoms..Weeds and sticksare not good. You would need weedless in such situations..

When fishing the Rooster it can be difficult if you are not used to them..I use 10 pound Trilene mono..The lighter the rod the easier it is to fish..I use a 6 1/2 foot medium rod. ..and a 6 .0 ratio or higher spinning reel.One where you can crank it slowly and teh blade is still moving....simply sweep the rod till the blade starts moving..You can feel it and see your rod tip vibrate..and then fish it just slow enough to keep the blade turning and rod tip vibrating ..You want the Rooster to look like a little lost bait fish just hovering helplessly about a foot off the bottom.

Good luck..I just bought 2 more 3/8th Roosters tonight at Walmart..They only had the rainbow trout color..
I wish I could find these..I got this photo off the Rooster Tail website..


C7

RE: rooster tails
 

sure you can fish them as deep or slow as you want. But you cant fish them on the bottom, in extremely thick cover, or as precisely as other lures. But hey, if it makes you happy, keep fishing the rooster tails. I prefer not to limit myself, and be able to fish any water I can cast into.

RE: rooster tails
 

...If any of you ever want to rid yourself of your Roosters Tails..I'll pay 1.50 a piece for 3/8th or bigger including the shipping.;)