Metal Baits in Saltwater texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout It is hard to find a more basic lure than the spoon. It is also difficult to find a bait that's more productive than this salt water classic. However, over the past decade or so, this durable lure has fallen out of favor along the Texas coast - not because it's no longer productive, but more because it's not the `newest' lure on the shelf. In fact, it's basic shape and `no-brainer' retrieve method often make anglers feel as if it's too simple to be as productive as some of the more modern, glossy-painted lures. Nothing could be further from the truth. Back when the spoon was rising to the top of the artificial lure heap, it was not uncommon for lures to be made from metal. Metal, of course, has natural, fish-attraction reflective properties. It is also the most durable material a lure can be made of, which is particularly beneficial to coastal fishermen who regularly encounter toothy creatures. Metal also tends to impart a unique sound and action when shaped and pulled through the water. All of these elements made many of these early metal lures popular along the Texas coastal curve. Like the spoon, however, most of these metal baits eventually faded from most tackle boxes in Texas. Some of these baits remained in production, while others were `retired' from tackle shop shelves. But, baits crafted from metal have never completely disappeared. In fact, over the years, a few new models have been introduced to compliment the remnants of the past. However, even the newer models seem to be `under the radar' when compared to modern soft- and hard-plastic baits. Although the spoon is perhaps the most popular `metal' lure of all time, today's salt water anglers can actually build an entire tackle box selection from lures that are completely - or almost entirely - made from metal. Some of these baits were designed specifically for salt water, while others were born for fresh water fishing but cross over to the brine quite nicely. Spoons - Not all spoons are created the same. In fact, there are several varieties of spoons, each created with a specific purpose in mind. Many, if not all, of these spoons can be put in service in salt water. However, there are three main styles that play a role for inshore anglers along the Texas coast. Flutter spoons are what most people envision when they think of spoons. The venerable Johnson Sprite remains a popular example of this type of spoon. This type of spoon is most commonly employed in the surf, for specks under the lights at night, or in areas of the inshore bays where fouling the swinging treble hook is not an issue. Flutter spoons are perhaps the most versatile of all spoons, as they can be ripped across the surface, slow-rolled over clean bottom, or fished at any depth in between. Many anglers also find it helpful to add small tabs or sections of tubing as trailers behind flutter spoons to give fish a little extra incentive. Weedless spoons are probably the most commonly thrown spoons in Texas bays these days. Unlike flutter spoons which trail a swinging treble or single hook, weedless spoons are fitted with a single hook cradled in the body of the spoon and protected by a wire weedguard. This configuration makes spoons like the Johnson Silver Minnow a perfect choice for anglers fishing over shallow, grassy flats. Like flutter spoons, weedless spoons have a classic wobbling motion. However, their wobble tends to be a little tighter and they don't seem to perform as well as flutter spoons at depth. But, when fishing shallow water, they are hard to beat. Jigging spoons are another option for inshore anglers. Although there are a variety of salt water jigging spoons on the market, most of these are geared for offshore use. Inshore anglers are usually better off employing the smaller, freshwater jigging spoons like the Cordell CC Spoon. These lures have a dual use along the Texas coast. They can be productive when used in the traditional vertical fishing jigging spoon style, especially around vertical structure such as bridge pilings. However, they also make good glass minnow imitations when used like a casting spoon. Blade baits - Practically forgotten in recent years, blade baits such as the Cordell Gay Blade and Heddon Sonic were once mainstays of both fresh and salt water anglers. Essentially, these baits look like a thin metal Rattletrap. When retrieved, the weighted blade gives off quite a bit of vibration, not to mention plenty of eye catching flash. Blade baits are excellent choices for fish such as Spanish mackerel that typically want a fast, flashy bait. Spinnerbaits - Recent years have seen a rise in the popularity of spinnerbaits in salt water. Fresh water safety pin style spinnerbaits such as the Stanley Small Fry can easily be used in salt water, either with the factory fitted skirt or with a soft plastic tail. Some spinnerbaits, such as the Booyah Samurai Blade are created for use in salt water. Regardless of what type of spinnerbait is used, these baits are excellent choices for covering water quickly, whether it's on shallow flats or up against structure-lined shorelines. Swimming jigs - A relatively new creation that has made a big splash in fresh water, the swimming jig is equally effective in salt water. Models such as the Stanley Salt Water SwimJig are made with corrosion-resistant components. Like spinnerbaits, swimming jigs come fitted with silicone skirts. The lures can be fished with the skirt, with a skirt and trailer combination, or with a soft-plastic tail. However, it is important not to use a paddletail soft-plastic, as the vibration from the tail often counters the movement of the swimming jigs, causing it to track poorly. Swimming jigs are relatively weedless and are great choices for covering water over vast grass flats. They are also effective when pitched into dense cover and under boat docks. Buzzbaits - The noisier cousin of the spinnerbait, the buzzbait is effective under specific circumstances in salt water. Generally, buzzbaits are most effective when the fish are aggressive, as the buzzbait sputters and spits across the surface, causing considerable commotion. If fish are finicky, this bait will usually spook them, but if they are aggressively feeding, it can generate some ferocious strikes. As is the case with spinnerbaits and swimming jigs, buzzbaits are usually factory rigged with a skirt, which can be utilized or replaced. Blade-enhanced jig heads - Another lure that's long been a favorite of fresh water anglers that works equally well in salt water is a blade-enhanced jig head. The most popular example of this type of jig head is the Blakemore Roadrunner. The largest of the fresh water heads is adequate for fishing with small soft-plastic tails in salt water. However, Blakemore also offers a `Salt Runner' version, which is designed specifically for salt water use. Traditional `tout' style tails, C-tail grubs, and paddletail grubs are all good choices to use with Salt Runner heads. Anglers should be aware, however, this head is meant to be retrieved very slow - too fast a retrieve causes it to track improperly. However, this is part of what makes the Salt Runner so effective as, even at a slow pace, the spinning blade causes the lure to lift, making it effective for use over shallow grass. This is an especially good choice when the fish are buried in the grass and a slow retrieve is needed in order to `give them a better look at the bait.' Certainly no one should limit themselves strictly to metal lures. However, if anglers regularly employ some or all of the above baits, they will definitely be more versatile and productive while fishing in Texas bays. texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout