Here Salmon, Salmon, Salmon…
If you’re the suspicious type, toss the yellow-skinned jinx out at the launch ramp and give the banana bread in your buddy’s lunch to someone on the bank.
Fishing is not going to be hexed if you’ve got a banana-shaped plug tied on, though.
That’s especially true of Lindy’s River Rocker. This offspring of the fabled Tadpolly is one of the banana plugs with a long history in Northwest steelheading.
While the River Rocker is relatively new, it is the old standard beefed up, dressed up and ready for the ball.
When the Rockers were first introduced, it was thought that they would become a standard in the walleye world, so the finishes were tailored to that market, giving a big nod to common baitfish.
Some of the finishes, such as the Elton and Aunt Creepy, also worked for steelhead and salmon. All of them were good for trout, but still, for the guys who are specific about the colors of the plugs they pull, there was a lot lacking for the steelhead and salmon world.
That’s pretty much changed with the addition of 12 finishes that give a strong nod to realities of Pacific Northwest rivers and their traditions. New colors include blue and green pirates, metallic silver herringbone in both blue and red, metallic red, pink and purple metallics plus plain silver and plain gold. Fluorescent red is another plain-Jane finish that should provide a good base for those who like to experiment with colors by adding dots or stripes or whatever.
There also are a couple of dotted/scaled finishes.
The new finishes are available in all three sizes: 3/16, 5/16 and ½-ounce sizes. The smallest is a great trout lure for smaller fish, and I’m betting it could be a good size for kokanee. It is supposed to dive to about five feet on the troll, so it should be about right in the upper layer just before insects start hatching in the lake.
The largest will dive 15 to 17 feet while the middle Rocker runs six to seven feet, what I think of as steelhead depth (at least most of the time).
The Rockers all have three-dimensional eyes, and a brass hook hanger for the front hook and tie-in point. They are rigged with wide-gap trebles. There are 33 finishes available in all three sizes.
For more information, go to: www.lindyfishingtackle.com.