One item at the just completed ISE show in Sacramento that I could not wait to get my hands on was the new half ounce Hum Dinger spoon made by Shasta Tackle Company and Mack's Lures.

Most serious and casual trout trollers, especially those in the North State, are familiar with the success found trolling the one eighth ounce Hum Dinger for kokanee and trout, especially when paired with a Sling Blade dodger. This combination trolled at a slow speed, often 1.25 to 1.5 mph is optimum, can be deadly.  I have even had success trolling just the lure without the benefit of the flasher. Of course, lure color and proper depth identification is also important as can be learned in the informational video produced by the lure designer Gary Miralles....but I digress.

The new larger size Hum Dinger will allow anglers to troll at a higher speed, upwards of 3 miles per hour. For many boat owners getting a boat to troll smoothly at a slow rate of speed is near impossible without having a secondary kicker motor or using a trolling plate on the lower unit.  Remember that lures are designed to work (the action of the lure) effectively at certain speeds. I always recommend that lures absolutely be checked for proper action and speed adjustments each time you drop a lure behind the boat. Let just enough line out to watch the action of the lure in the water, then adjust the speed so that the lure looks and feels right.  After setting the lure back 150 to 200 feet behind the boat, (yes, many anglers troll too closely to the boat), keep watching the rod tip to make sure the lure is working and tracking properly. The rod tip should have a steady wobbly vibration if the lure is working correctly. A fouled lure will reflect in a dead pull on the rod tip. The same rules of checking speed and action apply to those utilizing down riggers, although, the total distance behind the boat can be shortened in some cases.

Bigger baits equate to bigger fish as the story goes. Many North State trout waters can hold some large trout. Shasta, Trinity and Almanor can all kick out trout of 6 to 8 pounds, even small lakes like Lake Siskyou can harbor big bows and browns.  

These new baits will also become very popular for bass anglers who like to jig spoons for bass.  As many trout anglers can attest, bass love the action designed into these lures.

Another tip for anglers using these baits in either size is to add some Pro Cure scented gel to the back of the lure. The design holds the scents well and can often enhance catch rates.

Few stores have the new half ounce size in stock so the Mack's Lure website is one of the best sources to currently purchase what is sure to be a hot seller and producer.  Visit www.MacksLure.com to see the color selection of these new lures as well as other popular  Mack's and Shasta Tackle products.