SP Minnow is an absolute beast out in Northern California. Every angler I've seen pulling a striper out this year is off a minnow. True story, rolled up to a beach one evening. Talked to a couple guys, they had been there for hours without even a bite. They were using bucktails, threw my minnow and within 25 mins got tangled up with a 15 lbs striper. Thank you Daiwa and thank you John for the advice.
Another great quality video! I caught 29 striper last weekend on the Egg Harbor River in NJ. Most of them in the 20-25" range. Between me and my friends we caught 78 striper! Big females coming up the river any day now!
@@hansperch6182 plug casts like a bullet.. try to fill the rattles changing direction (towards the tail ) before u cast, in other words, load your cast...
SP is generally the first plug out of my bag at night. they're versatile, cast well, and pull a lot of fish. they're generally not a big fish plug, but if there are small to mid sized bass at night in structure and current then there are not a lot of better plugs to throw. vary the retrieve and add pulses, sweeps, etc but if you can you want to fish them slow at night to give them a wider and more deliberate wobble. you will feel in your rod if the plug is working properly, kicking out to the sides, etc. this is another major reason why the plug is so friendly for beginners. i prefer the old sinking models but the newer models get deep enough when you switch out the hardware. 2/0 vmc or a 1/0 mustad and some strong but small splits to fit into those small eyes.
Clicked on this by mistake meaning to watch another video of yours last night but watched it anyway. I was out this morning at 4am on a south shore long island beach and the wind and sweep had calmed down a lot from last night. I was working a bucktail but couldn't buy a hit with it and started to think that there just might not be fish near the beach if I cant get em with a bucktail. So I threw on a chicken scratch sp minnow and bam first cast I was onto a 24" schoolie. I was working a piece of beach that had similar structure to the one you were working the day u shot the video and as I reeled in I had the video playing in my mind. Almost every hit came very close to shore. A beach full of guys throwing bait and lure and I was almost the only one catching. Thanks for another great video John
Lure manufacturers should be giving you a commission John, seriously. Your videos, have given me (& I'm sure many more) courage & know how re which lures/plugs to buy & how/when/where to use them, so we're much more likely to do just that. I also have your book on Kindle. Many thanks.
Thank you for all of your informative videos. Great to see you take time to answer some questions as well. I fish LI shores often, hope to bump into you. Thanks again
Great videos as usual John. Whenever I go out surf fishing and fill my surf bag I watch the videos on tips for using those specific lures. Definitely has paid off. Actually going out tonight and plan on using the SP for some big blue or striper action in NJ. But Ive always wondered about something with your equipment and certainly not to sound like a smartass or anything. Why do you get a 10' Lamiglass when you end up cutting a foot from the end? Why not just purchase a 9'? Does it have to do with the action of the rod?
hey john. your videos are very helpful, and I'm very greatful you share your knowledge with others. I'm from California about 40 mins away from San Francisco, so your tips are just as good to use out here along the suf. I was wondering if you can make a video about the new daiwa sp bullet. I just picked up a few and I'm going to try them out during the season. But I feel like you can realy give out key information of when and how to apply this lure. thanks for reading this.
Took five months before catching a snapper on this lure. Was getting so impatient with this lure until yesterday. But it has so much good rating from other fisherman.
This was my #1 producer this year. Not for biggest fish, but most fish caught (unless something changes in the next 3-4 weeks). Blurple, Olive, Chicken. All three have landed me fish.
John, could you ball park a ratio between hookups and time spent fishing? I feel that as a west coast fisherman, our fishery is much smaller than the east coast TY
Impossible. It varies a lot, and is dependent on your goals. Targeting large fish means a hit an hour is good. Just looking to bend the rod you expect a lot more than that. There are catches with dozens of fish and others without a touch.
hi John, I was wondering if replacing the tail hook with a dressed siwash hook would ruin the action of a Diawa SP like that or even a bomber for that matter?
I removed the belly hook and it killed the action. I was on a gator bluefish blitz earlier this season with every cast resulting in a hookup. The belly hook would come back on the fish's head when it took a run and kept hooking them in the eye. Took off the belly hook and they wouldn't touch it. Killed 4 large bluefish that I had to keep. Ended up smoking them which came out really good, so it worked out. Was snacking on smoked bluefish for weeks!
Hey John. I notice in your surf casting videos you don't use a dropper loop with a teaser. What is your opinion on teasers and why do you opt out of using them in these situations?
The schoolies are just starting to run up the river here on the north shore. I grabbed one of these in blurple. Do these have success just reeling them in with no funny business?
You mentioned that the beach lip was the most productive structure under the fishing conditions of the day. Would it be feasible under those surf conditions to wade farther out so you could cast quartering the structure to the seaward side in order to keep the lure in the productive zone longer?
Hey John, Thank you for the book and all the wealth of knowledge over the years. Im sure it would not be but please humor me. Please. If you were to fish this Exact set up at the Canal, hypothetically would you feel comfortable potentially trying to hail in a 40+ fish?
I've read that spoons like the Luhr Jensen krocodile spoon twists a lot and can cause line twist, and some people use barrel swivels in this case. I think in cases where line twist could be a problem then maybe a rule of thumb is to use a swivel to reduce the twist, otherwise I would just tie directly to the lure otherwise it is one more thing you have to tie a knot to. More knots, more chance of failure. Also Clips as far as what I know don't strengthen your rig, but help you to change out lures QUICKLY. Also Lures like the LuckyCraft could negatively affect the action.
Kev Z. The weight of the bucktail depends on the depth and current youre fishing, you want a heavy enough jig to keep you near the bottom but not so much so that its just dragging along the bottom. Make sure to add a pork rind or some other trailer. Match the rod to the size of the lure youre throwing. braided line is the way to go when throwing lures, especially jigs. Most importantly just go do it, experiment, thats the only way youll ever learn.
Hi John great videos I learn a ton from you! Could you do a video with the SP minnow and other when your fishing rips and channels? I see a ton of that in our Connecticut waters and it seems like everything is fished differently when you deal with that kinda of current and your only getting a short swing on the retrieval/presentation of the plug.
Get a joe bags swatter let it drift with current and slow retrieve with a few twitches and pause.purple is my color.from we have the same Chanel's in rhode island.
Grand Morning Mr Skinner. Question Im not sure you have been around City Island of the Bronx NY. If by chance you have, how would you fish an area with no sand bars and has man made beaches. Thanks in advance
Hey John - I've been wondering about the cozy looking duds your wearing in the winter. Neoprene? Where to you pick them up? Do you find it better to use a "wet" outfit than rubber waders that keep the water out? Also, while I'm quizzing you, when is the drop dead end of your season for trying to grab the slow to go south stripers? I have always heard legend of the cows that hang around here (Cape Cod) all winter, but I have never actually verified this.
I've not done much when the water temperature has dropped below 47 degrees. We used to sometimes have decent fish into early December, especially when herring were around, but it's been a long time since we've had a good shot of late big fish. I wear breathable bootfoot waders and layer clothes underneath.
i live on LI too and i go to sore thumb for surf casting but the fishing is usually never good, if you do not mind and i understand if you dont want to disclose that, but what beach do u usually go to for surfcasting
Hi John. I happen to be on the CT side of the sound and I'm looking to try surf fishing this year. Whats better for stripers and all around surf fishing, lures or chunking bait? Thanks a lot.
alright I need help i have been surf casting for all of 3 months but I not had a single hit while surf casting, I understand that it hasn't been that long and I still need to learn but i could use all the help i can get, I understand all the reels rods and lures but what are the best tides and conditions for stripers
+Jack Farley During the winter the stripers and bluefish migrate south, therefor your chances of catching fish in the winter are miniscule. I would try again in late april/early may
I have been surf fishing for only 2 years which isn't anything g to brag about. During the 2 years I ha e purchased a lot of different rods and reels and have not found a set up that I am satisfied with. Can I ask your opinion on a good rod and reel with an action made for a plug that is not going to break the bank. Thank you!
For the ocean beach I'd suggest either of the 11-foot Tsunami Airwave Elite rods paired with a Penn 706Z. For a 9-footer you could check out the Tsunami 9' 6'' or St. Croix Mojo 9-foot medium and a Penn 6500SSV
Hey John, are you using the floating or sinking? If you have experience on both models, which do you prefer to reach first? Although they both have their time and place. I'm kinda liking the sinking.
Hello John, found out the hard way why you should change out the hooks and rings on this plug, for now on i will be doing that. Any way you could make a short How-To-Video on that? Or tell me what tools i need?
You may have gotten an answer to this over the years, but the fluro carbon is more abrasion resistant than the mono. That's about the only difference :) both are strong and nearly invisible in the water. You'd want to use fluro when more around rocks and structures that could damage your leader, or when going after toothed fish.
What do you think of the Bomber Log Shot? I find them to cast farther than the SP, have heavier duty hardware and swim very similar to a Bomber Long A. I haven't caught much with it but the few times I used it, I caught a few keeper sized bass and some cocktail blues. How are your experiences with it?
+SquirlyBringer I haven't fished it, just test cast, and thought the SP was a much better casting plug. We already know the SP is an awesome fish catcher.
John Nice video. Do you think this lure will work in the kelp line. I'm in San Diego Ca. Im thinking it might do pretty good, but first im gonna try the Daiwa DSPM15F Salt Pro Laser Sardine & Laser Shiner 6". What is the exact lure you had in this video. Do you have the model #. You should list everything you use in the about section. I think it would help everyone from going back to watch the video a bunch of times like I did.
Mr. Skinner, what was the largest bass you have caught on the SP Minnow? Someone told me the SP can't attract bass larger than the 20lbs class of fish so I wanted to know your thoughts on that theory.
If you are in the presence of 30-pound-plus stripers willing to hit plugs, you are probably better off with a larger profiled darter or bottle. That said, many a cow has fallen to 6 inch minnow shaped plugs, so don't feel like you're limiting yourself by using an SP.
Mr. Skinner, thank you for all the hard work you put in your videos. I'm learning a lot from them. You mentioned the rod you're using is based on the Lami GSB1201L, which has a lure rating of 2-4 on their website. You don't seem to have any issue whipping lighter SP out there though. Is the blank you're using rated lighter, or perhaps any tips for getting those lighter lures out a bit farther on rods that aren't super well matched for them? Thanks again!
The lightest floating SP is 7/8 oz right? That's damn near 1 oz which is not very light. If the rod is rated 2-4 oz then I'm guessing that it wouldn't load up the rod engaging it's "sweet spot" necessarily, but it would still cast that lure.
I believe John is saying that he bought a 10" blank and cut off a foot to keep the tip action; then wrapped the rod himself. Sometimes you find the right action, but the length is not right..... IMO.... apologize if I have it wrong.
I this lure today on my first trip of the year i cought some schoolys and the biggest was 28" striped bass it's nice lure and and cast like a bullet but there was a overwhelming amount of bunker so I think there would of been more bites if the weren't so full but was a good day of fishing and john when are you going to make a video of a blue frog bucktail or if your going to? Anyway I like your videos john i hope you start recording some because the fishing Is good in the peconic back bay's and I know u fish there and john keep those lines tight
John, when you make your videos, do you run the camera until you hook up and then stop/restart after you land the fish? I just got a go pro and am thinking about methods for making videos. Thanks.
Anytime someone asks me for advice getting into striper fishing I just tell them to buy a walk the dog plug and a bone SP minnow. TBH you could solely fish those 2 plugs your entire life and not miss out on much. IMO, SP minnows are the bucktails of today's generation. When you don't know what to use, tie an SP minnow
Hey bro, how does this SP Minnow stack up to the Daiwa Sam Model or 4.75 inch...Saltiga at $20....??? I don't get why they would have two models...Which one is better and is lazer red head better than the regular or the regular better over there on the East????? Help me out folks..Greetings from CA.
Hey John, need follower. Trying to fix my casting technique which produces more birds nests than anything else. Question, you said your fishing a 3ft leader, tied to braid with a barrel swivel. Does bringing that swivel back up in the guides on your retrieval and cast mess up your guides?
@@JohnSkinnerFishing I know. It was a stupid question. What I kinda realized is that, it didnt look like a 36 inch leader on the video, so that just got stuck in my brain then I thought about it. I'm just desperate to work out the bad kinks in my casting technique. hahah. Desperado
if you notice how most of the fish are getting hooked its by the belly hook, stripers are known for getting mostly hooked by the belly hook because the way they eat is by eating baitfish head first, so i personally would just upgrade the belly hook to a vmc treble
It depends on how far your want to cast, what size fish you are after, and/or what size the waves are that day and how much weight you will throw according to those conditions
What pound leader and main line would you suggest? I'm thinking 20lb braid main to 40lb leader. I'm that guy that's likes the thrill. But what do you think.
@@JohnSkinnerFishing and may I ask what would you recommend to be best rod length to be? You said 10ft(or 9ft) medium heavy or medium. I am looking at the 10ft penn prevail spinning rod. I've got the 9ft with a 3500 with 20-30lb braid(I forgot which) and love the setup. But a 10ft rod maybe with a 6000 spinning reel and 30-40lb braid and 30-40lb mono or fluoro leader. Do you think that would work or may be a bit on heavy side with a penn battle(first gen) with that pound test?
I do pretty good with yo- zuri's They come with heavy duty hooks so you don't have to waist time changing hooks. If you really want to have some fun,,, use a lighter rod and reel and put a storm jig on it and bounce it off the bottom. You talkin bout wreckin up some shit now!
hey i was wondering if you lead these or just tie them on...new to these things i heard swivels kill the action i cant find anywhere what to tie these to.
Richard Wetherby I use the TA clips as well, with 20, 40, or 50lb flouro leader depending on rod and situation. I believe John uses something similar, he says in the video he uses 50lb flouro.
John Skinner Fishing bro...you kill it...i can not hook up with a bass to save my life...what are the ideal water temps and tides to go with? i always do high tide around 60 degrees...obviously thats not working. i also do night fishing...PLEASE what has you experience told you is best..i fish jersey shore. toms river area...literally watch all your videos gonna make the wife grab me the book too haha
Probably if even a little. A side affect that it could have is If the retrieve is too fast the hooks can "swing" and carve out half-moons on the nice finish of the lure. SO the larger the hooks the more they could swing and the larger the half moon pattern would be.
SP Minnow is an absolute beast out in Northern California. Every angler I've seen pulling a striper out this year is off a minnow. True story, rolled up to a beach one evening. Talked to a couple guys, they had been there for hours without even a bite. They were using bucktails, threw my minnow and within 25 mins got tangled up with a 15 lbs striper. Thank you Daiwa and thank you John for the advice.
What color sp minnow were you using?
Another great quality video! I caught 29 striper last weekend on the Egg Harbor River in NJ. Most of them in the 20-25" range. Between me and my friends we caught 78 striper! Big females coming up the river any day now!
got a 20 lber last night on a sp minow and tons more shorter fish. i love this plug ,one of the best in my bag
plug don't go that far though, are you suppose to put a weight on it?
+hans perch Only if you want to, just add a 1/2 ounce slip sinker.
@@hansperch6182 plug casts like a bullet.. try to fill the rattles changing direction (towards the tail ) before u cast, in other words, load your cast...
SP is generally the first plug out of my bag at night. they're versatile, cast well, and pull a lot of fish. they're generally not a big fish plug, but if there are small to mid sized bass at night in structure and current then there are not a lot of better plugs to throw. vary the retrieve and add pulses, sweeps, etc but if you can you want to fish them slow at night to give them a wider and more deliberate wobble. you will feel in your rod if the plug is working properly, kicking out to the sides, etc. this is another major reason why the plug is so friendly for beginners. i prefer the old sinking models but the newer models get deep enough when you switch out the hardware. 2/0 vmc or a 1/0 mustad and some strong but small splits to fit into those small eyes.
Clicked on this by mistake meaning to watch another video of yours last night but watched it anyway. I was out this morning at 4am on a south shore long island beach and the wind and sweep had calmed down a lot from last night. I was working a bucktail but couldn't buy a hit with it and started to think that there just might not be fish near the beach if I cant get em with a bucktail. So I threw on a chicken scratch sp minnow and bam first cast I was onto a 24" schoolie. I was working a piece of beach that had similar structure to the one you were working the day u shot the video and as I reeled in I had the video playing in my mind. Almost every hit came very close to shore. A beach full of guys throwing bait and lure and I was almost the only one catching. Thanks for another great video John
Skinner you are turning us beginners into straight winners!
Lure manufacturers should be giving you a commission John, seriously.
Your videos, have given me (& I'm sure many more) courage & know how re which lures/plugs to buy & how/when/where to use them, so we're much more likely to do just that. I also have your book on Kindle. Many thanks.
Superb ... thanks for mentioning "cast-ability" and covering hook replacement.
Amazing ! You are great angler for release catches ! You have my respect.
Thank you for all of your informative videos. Great to see you take time to answer some questions as well. I fish LI shores often, hope to bump into you. Thanks again
Hey John does the lure in the silver color any good for catching snooks or tarpon
Great videos as usual John. Whenever I go out surf fishing and fill my surf bag I watch the videos on tips for using those specific lures. Definitely has paid off. Actually going out tonight and plan on using the SP for some big blue or striper action in NJ. But Ive always wondered about something with your equipment and certainly not to sound like a smartass or anything. Why do you get a 10' Lamiglass when you end up cutting a foot from the end? Why not just purchase a 9'? Does it have to do with the action of the rod?
I was fishing on the west Hampton beach last night and caught a few nice stripers with bomber lures
hey john. your videos are very helpful, and I'm very greatful you share your knowledge with others. I'm from California about 40 mins away from San Francisco, so your tips are just as good to use out here along the suf. I was wondering if you can make a video about the new daiwa sp bullet. I just picked up a few and I'm going to try them out during the season. But I feel like you can realy give out key information of when and how to apply this lure. thanks for reading this.
Took five months before catching a snapper on this lure. Was getting so impatient with this lure until yesterday. But it has so much good rating from other fisherman.
big fan of your video. just got into surfcasting and your video is helpful.
Buy his book striper pursuit on Amazon, it's in incredible
Factory hooks bend fairly easily, great tip changing them.
This was my #1 producer this year. Not for biggest fish, but most fish caught (unless something changes in the next 3-4 weeks). Blurple, Olive, Chicken. All three have landed me fish.
You make it look so easy... makes me wonder if the SF Bay Area stripper fishing even compares to the east coast fishing?🤔
John, could you ball park a ratio between hookups and time spent fishing?
I feel that as a west coast fisherman, our fishery is much smaller than the east coast
TY
Impossible. It varies a lot, and is dependent on your goals. Targeting large fish means a hit an hour is good. Just looking to bend the rod you expect a lot more than that. There are catches with dozens of fish and others without a touch.
Owen- last year the eastern south shore of Long island was pretty good mid october-mid november.
Thanks John
what kind of reel is that
hi John, I was wondering if replacing the tail hook with a dressed siwash hook would ruin the action of a Diawa SP like that or even a bomber for that matter?
+Gothivore I doubt it would kill the action.
I removed the belly hook and it killed the action. I was on a gator bluefish blitz earlier this season with every cast resulting in a hookup. The belly hook would come back on the fish's head when it took a run and kept hooking them in the eye. Took off the belly hook and they wouldn't touch it. Killed 4 large bluefish that I had to keep. Ended up smoking them which came out really good, so it worked out. Was snacking on smoked bluefish for weeks!
congratulations , I have really wanted to fish some day one striped bass
Should you replace the split rings as well? And if so, with what size?
Hi John, nice video. I wonder where in south shore of long island you were fishing at?
Hey John was wondering what are your top choices for color?
Silver's a good bet. White is a good general color.
Hey John. I notice in your surf casting videos you don't use a dropper loop with a teaser. What is your opinion on teasers and why do you opt out of using them in these situations?
The schoolies are just starting to run up the river here on the north shore. I grabbed one of these in blurple. Do these have success just reeling them in with no funny business?
Give an occasional twitch to the steady reel.
Great instructional video, you sir truly are a master!
Hey John I was wondering at what time of year should me and my dad come up there?
Great Video John Love the Action !!!
You mentioned that the beach lip was the most productive structure under the fishing conditions of the day. Would it be feasible under those surf conditions to wade farther out so you could cast quartering the structure to the seaward side in order to keep the lure in the productive zone longer?
You could wade in a little, but I'm not sure how much that would buy you.
Hey John, Thank you for the book and all the wealth of knowledge over the years. Im sure it would not be but please humor me. Please. If you were to fish this Exact set up at the Canal, hypothetically would you feel comfortable potentially trying to hail in a 40+ fish?
Not a canal stick, and I'd use 6x strong hooks.
nice having the beach to yourself
I like the shorter Sp's that are now available.
John any rule of thumb when to directly tie a lure to your leader or when to use a swivel or clip?
I use a clip almost all of the time. I don't use one on my small fluke jigs.
I've read that spoons like the Luhr Jensen krocodile spoon twists a lot and can cause line twist, and some people use barrel swivels in this case. I think in cases where line twist could be a problem then maybe a rule of thumb is to use a swivel to reduce the twist, otherwise I would just tie directly to the lure otherwise it is one more thing you have to tie a knot to. More knots, more chance of failure. Also Clips as far as what I know don't strengthen your rig, but help you to change out lures QUICKLY. Also Lures like the LuckyCraft could negatively affect the action.
Just wondering if you have tried replacing the hooks with short singles. I hate ripping the fishes mouth up when I know I'm going to release them.
Thanks, u think we'll have any luck in early to mid may out there
May is usually good.
Thanks I'll definitely try it
Hi john, is a 10 ft medium heavy surf rod with 25lb monofilament and a 1.5 oz bucktail with a 5/0 mustad hook good for stripers AND blues? Thanks
Kev Z. The weight of the bucktail depends on the depth and current youre fishing, you want a heavy enough jig to keep you near the bottom but not so much so that its just dragging along the bottom. Make sure to add a pork rind or some other trailer. Match the rod to the size of the lure youre throwing. braided line is the way to go when throwing lures, especially jigs. Most importantly just go do it, experiment, thats the only way youll ever learn.
Hi John great videos I learn a ton from you! Could you do a video with the SP minnow and other when your fishing rips and channels? I see a ton of that in our Connecticut waters and it seems like everything is fished differently when you deal with that kinda of current and your only getting a short swing on the retrieval/presentation of the plug.
Get a joe bags swatter let it drift with current and slow retrieve with a few twitches and pause.purple is my color.from we have the same Chanel's in rhode island.
Grand Morning Mr Skinner. Question Im not sure you have been around City Island of the Bronx NY. If by chance you have, how would you fish an area with no sand bars and has man made beaches.
Thanks in advance
Hey John - I've been wondering about the cozy looking duds your wearing in the winter. Neoprene? Where to you pick them up? Do you find it better to use a "wet" outfit than rubber waders that keep the water out?
Also, while I'm quizzing you, when is the drop dead end of your season for trying to grab the slow to go south stripers? I have always heard legend of the cows that hang around here (Cape Cod) all winter, but I have never actually verified this.
I've not done much when the water temperature has dropped below 47 degrees. We used to sometimes have decent fish into early December, especially when herring were around, but it's been a long time since we've had a good shot of late big fish. I wear breathable bootfoot waders and layer clothes underneath.
i live on LI too and i go to sore thumb for surf casting but the fishing is usually never good, if you do not mind and i understand if you dont want to disclose that, but what beach do u usually go to for surfcasting
great job, as usual. thanks John.
Hey John - I see you are wearing gloves in this video. I am looking into getting new fishing gloves and was wondering what you use?
very nice video. very nice tricks, tips and info. thanks.
Hi John. I happen to be on the CT side of the sound and I'm looking to try surf fishing this year. Whats better for stripers and all around surf fishing, lures or chunking bait? Thanks a lot.
alright I need help i have been surf casting for all of 3 months but I not had a single hit while surf casting, I understand that it hasn't been that long and I still need to learn but i could use all the help i can get, I understand all the reels rods and lures but what are the best tides and conditions for stripers
nj so i know there around
+Jack Farley During the winter the stripers and bluefish migrate south, therefor your chances of catching fish in the winter are miniscule. I would try again in late april/early may
Bro your a rock fishing god
Can't wait to be doing the same.
I have been surf fishing for only 2 years which isn't anything g to brag about. During the 2 years I ha e purchased a lot of different rods and reels and have not found a set up that I am satisfied with. Can I ask your opinion on a good rod and reel with an action made for a plug that is not going to break the bank. Thank you!
For the ocean beach I'd suggest either of the 11-foot Tsunami Airwave Elite rods paired with a Penn 706Z. For a 9-footer you could check out the Tsunami 9' 6'' or St. Croix Mojo 9-foot medium and a Penn 6500SSV
John Skinner Fishing awesome. Thank you so much for your input. I will definitely take it into consideration!
Hey John, are you using the floating or sinking? If you have experience on both models, which do you prefer to reach first? Although they both have their time and place. I'm kinda liking the sinking.
floater
Tony Hong Fishing
I love your videos !
Can you tie the SP Minnow right on to Braid or should I use a Leader?
Thanks !
I would use a leader.
Please can you tell me about the type of rod and reel you are using there.
Hello John, found out the hard way why you should change out the hooks and rings on this plug, for now on i will be doing that. Any way you could make a short How-To-Video on that? Or tell me what tools i need?
They make split ring pliers, but I've always used a dull knife on split rings. I upgrade the hooks on those to VMC 9626 size 2/0
John Skinner Fishing thanks again John
Great video john, when do you think the bass will start moving into the back bays, like little neck bay?
They start early there. Any day now as soon as the weather warms a bit.
Hey John what kind brand and size split rings do you use? People use rosco 4h but I can't find anybody that sells those.
Hi Jonh,
Have u see any difference using flurocarbon leader vs mono?
thanks
You may have gotten an answer to this over the years, but the fluro carbon is more abrasion resistant than the mono. That's about the only difference :) both are strong and nearly invisible in the water. You'd want to use fluro when more around rocks and structures that could damage your leader, or when going after toothed fish.
What do you think of the Bomber Log Shot? I find them to cast farther than the SP, have heavier duty hardware and swim very similar to a Bomber Long A. I haven't caught much with it but the few times I used it, I caught a few keeper sized bass and some cocktail blues. How are your experiences with it?
+SquirlyBringer I haven't fished it, just test cast, and thought the SP was a much better casting plug. We already know the SP is an awesome fish catcher.
John
Nice video. Do you think this lure will work in the kelp line. I'm in San Diego Ca. Im thinking it might do pretty good, but first im gonna try the Daiwa DSPM15F Salt Pro Laser Sardine & Laser Shiner 6". What is the exact lure you had in this video. Do you have the model #.
You should list everything you use in the about section. I think it would help everyone from going back to watch the video a bunch of times like I did.
Did you try them? I live in baja but I havent tried mine yet but I think they will work
Mr. Skinner, what was the largest bass you have caught on the SP Minnow? Someone told me the SP can't attract bass larger than the 20lbs class of fish so I wanted to know your thoughts on that theory.
If you are in the presence of 30-pound-plus stripers willing to hit plugs, you are probably better off with a larger profiled darter or bottle. That said, many a cow has fallen to 6 inch minnow shaped plugs, so don't feel like you're limiting yourself by using an SP.
I know for a fact a 40" fish was caught by an angler on north shore of MA with an SP.
John... I love the SP Minnow. What would you say are your top 3 lures that you use both in the spring and fall?
fall with sandeels - bucktail, tsunami sandeel, SP minnow
spring -bucktail, pencil popper, swim shad.
Mr. Skinner, thank you for all the hard work you put in your videos. I'm learning a lot from them.
You mentioned the rod you're using is based on the Lami GSB1201L, which has a lure rating of 2-4 on their website. You don't seem to have any issue whipping lighter SP out there though. Is the blank you're using rated lighter, or perhaps any tips for getting those lighter lures out a bit farther on rods that aren't super well matched for them? Thanks again!
The lightest floating SP is 7/8 oz right? That's damn near 1 oz which is not very light. If the rod is rated 2-4 oz then I'm guessing that it wouldn't load up the rod engaging it's "sweet spot" necessarily, but it would still cast that lure.
I believe John is saying that he bought a 10" blank and cut off a foot to keep the tip action; then wrapped the rod himself. Sometimes you find the right action, but the length is not right..... IMO.... apologize if I have it wrong.
I was wondering if you had any recommendations for hard plastic lures besides the SP minnow and the long-A?
Sorry if i missed this but di you usr the factory spilt rings on the sp and bombers? If you replace them what are you using thanks for your time.
What lures/plugs do you recommend for daytime beach fishing? Obviously super strike popper and this SP minnow.. anything else? thank you.
I this lure today on my first trip of the year i cought some schoolys and the biggest was 28" striped bass it's nice lure and and cast like a bullet but there was a overwhelming amount of bunker so I think there would of been more bites if the weren't so full but was a good day of fishing and john when are you going to make a video of a blue frog bucktail or if your going to? Anyway I like your videos john i hope you start recording some because the fishing Is good in the peconic back bay's and I know u fish there and john keep those lines tight
The "bucktailing wind" video on my channel is with a 1-ounce blue frog.
Thank you
Mr Skinner one other detail I noticed is you don't use the split ring on the eye. Is that to slow down the "wiggle" of the SP's action?
Because I attach with a clip, I don't see that the split ring is anything more than extra hardware and a liability.
Gotcha
John, when you make your videos, do you run the camera until you hook up and then stop/restart after you land the fish? I just got a go pro and am thinking about methods for making videos. Thanks.
Like almost everyone does, he likely runs the camera for the entire session then edits later to show the "highlights."
Anytime someone asks me for advice getting into striper fishing I just tell them to buy a walk the dog plug and a bone SP minnow. TBH you could solely fish those 2 plugs your entire life and not miss out on much. IMO, SP minnows are the bucktails of today's generation. When you don't know what to use, tie an SP minnow
You are a fishing God
Do you guide Striper Bass at all John?
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. It is invaluable!
do you ever use cotton cordell redfins?
ive had success with cordell's pencil poppers
Hey bro, how does this SP Minnow stack up to the Daiwa Sam Model or 4.75 inch...Saltiga at $20....??? I don't get why they would have two models...Which one is better and is lazer red head better than the regular or the regular better over there on the East????? Help me out folks..Greetings from CA.
could you tell me what kind of reel you were using in the video?
The grandmaster bass slayer
Hey John, need follower. Trying to fix my casting technique which produces more birds nests than anything else. Question, you said your fishing a 3ft leader, tied to braid with a barrel swivel. Does bringing that swivel back up in the guides on your retrieval and cast mess up your guides?
The swivel never goes into the guides! That would damage them for sure. I use around a 36-inch leader.
@@JohnSkinnerFishing I know. It was a stupid question. What I kinda realized is that, it didnt look like a 36 inch leader on the video, so that just got stuck in my brain then I thought about it. I'm just desperate to work out the bad kinks in my casting technique. hahah. Desperado
Hey john......are the bass out in mattituck yet?
Doubtful. The Sound is 39 degrees. The bay not much better. Maybe small holdovers.
When casting how far out does your floater go? (Yard wise)
Hey John, I spend most of my time fishing off the beaches of northern NJ. Any color recommendations?
+Kevin Brey I'm not big into color. Anything natural looking is fine.
+John Skinner Fishing thanks John.. going to be rough surf in nj this weekend but hopefully will get out jn the next couple weeks! tight lines!
When casting how far out does your floater go? (Yard wise)
is that a vann stall reel
official _k2500 yep
What are your favorite colors (day/night)?
Hi John would the wonder bread sp minnow work just as well as the one you are using in this video in the fall?
I think so.
John I was also wondering what lb test barrel swivel do you tend to use?
180# tsunami centro
2/0 VMC 9626 Belly hook, 1/0 Tail hook is the best combo, imo..
Jeff from Jersey, hahaha are you telling John Skinner how to fish.
awesome video, thanks for the tips
Hi John... I'm buying new braid. Do you think hi-vis yellow spook stripers?
I prefer green
John skinner how do you feel about removing the belly hook and using a vmc inline hook on the back?
if you notice how most of the fish are getting hooked its by the belly hook, stripers are known for getting mostly hooked by the belly hook because the way they eat is by eating baitfish head first, so i personally would just upgrade the belly hook to a vmc treble
John, Can you tell me what kind of knot you are using to tie the braid to the barrel swivel, same question for the flourocarbon?
Thanks
palomar on braid, clinch on fluoro
John Skinner Fishing Thank you I appreciate it.
John Skinner Fishing
wow clinch on 50 lb flouro. How many twists with the 50 lb flouro?
Patrick O'Rourke
5 or 6
Where on south shore?
Do you think a 9' rod rated up to to 4 ounces is good for the south shore, LI Sound and Montauk?
It depends on how far your want to cast, what size fish you are after, and/or what size the waves are that day and how much weight you will throw according to those conditions
What pound leader and main line would you suggest? I'm thinking 20lb braid main to 40lb leader. I'm that guy that's likes the thrill. But what do you think.
That's just fine, especially in these days of few bluefish.
@@JohnSkinnerFishing and may I ask what would you recommend to be best rod length to be? You said 10ft(or 9ft) medium heavy or medium. I am looking at the 10ft penn prevail spinning rod. I've got the 9ft with a 3500 with 20-30lb braid(I forgot which) and love the setup. But a 10ft rod maybe with a 6000 spinning reel and 30-40lb braid and 30-40lb mono or fluoro leader. Do you think that would work or may be a bit on heavy side with a penn battle(first gen) with that pound test?
Nice video! Were you using the floating or sinking version of the SP Minnow?
+SJ Kim It says floating in the title.
+Craig Dunlap the title was edited after my comment.
I do pretty good with yo- zuri's They come with heavy duty hooks so you don't have to waist time changing hooks. If you really want to have some fun,,, use a lighter rod and reel and put a storm jig on it and bounce it off the bottom. You talkin bout wreckin up some shit now!
Hi John, if you would suggest 3 daytime plugs what would they be? and color preference if at all? Thanks
Get a bucktail, tsunami talking popper and a super strike popper. If I had to add one it would be another plug it would be an SP Minnow.
Thanks Ryan !
John Skinner likes bucktails.I take it they're the swiss army knife of lures.
What size is that lure,'4 inches or so?
hey i was wondering if you lead these or just tie them on...new to these things i heard swivels kill the action i cant find anywhere what to tie these to.
I use a 125# tactical anglers clip.
just tied right on the line? no leader?
Richard Wetherby I use the TA clips as well, with 20, 40, or 50lb flouro leader depending on rod and situation. I believe John uses something similar, he says in the video he uses 50lb flouro.
John Skinner Fishing bro...you kill it...i can not hook up with a bass to save my life...what are the ideal water temps and tides to go with? i always do high tide around 60 degrees...obviously thats not working. i also do night fishing...PLEASE what has you experience told you is best..i fish jersey shore. toms river area...literally watch all your videos gonna make the wife grab me the book too haha
Does changing the hook size change the action of the lure? Thanks
Probably if even a little. A side affect that it could have is If the retrieve is too fast the hooks can "swing" and carve out half-moons on the nice finish of the lure. SO the larger the hooks the more they could swing and the larger the half moon pattern would be.
Daiwa makes many SP Minnows. What weight is yours?
It's the floater, slightly over an ounce.