How to Catch Redfin

By Jesse Rotin

Redfin, not the most highly prized species found throughout our inland waterways, however their abundance and feisty nature doesn’t discriminate, making them an accessible target to just about any angler. I’ve watched shoals of these hunters’ barrel down minnow almost as if they were a school of tuna working a bait-ball. Just like other fish though, they can prove difficult at times but this all adds to the excitement and usually a change of approach is enough to convince them.

Many would say that soft plastics were designed with redfin in mind because the two go hand in hand! Soft plastics are quite a versatile lure, covering the entire system from top to bottom and being soft they feel natural, so fish hold on.

Recently, I’ve been mingling into some varying strategies which still involves a soft approach but with a little twist. I’ve started by adding some flash to the equation in the form of a Daiwa Jig-Spinner SS and then attaching a Bait Junkie Minnow or Grub as a trailer. Let me tell you this drives them crazy and often tempts bigger fish out of their hidey holes. A slow and steady retrieve works best but by letting it sink before the retrieve commences, allows the lure to cover a range of depths.

If a fish hits the lure, I continue the steady retrieve and eventually their aggression gets the better of them and they attack. It’s been a helpful addition to my kit, especially when discovering new water. Another quite deadly soft plastic technique that is fast becoming a favourite of mine in both the salt and freshwater scene is the Bait Junkie Risky Critter.

Yabbies and shrimp are a staple diet of the old redfin and Risky Critters mimic these creatures to a tee. They can be rigged on a variety of jig-head setups but its hard to beat a Ned style jig-head, which along with the Elastomax material these lures are made from, not only makes them buoyant but also allows their lifelike appendages to move about naturally just like a crustacean fending off a predator. These lures work best when fished close to the bottom, so once a cast has been made let the lure sink down until it stops. I then give the rod a few flicks up and in return this imparts a fleeing type action to the Risky Critter.

My Outfits

Baitcaster

* TD Black 6101LFB (Baitlady)/Tatula 100H spooled with J-Braid Grand Island blue 10lb (mainline)/ J-Thread Fluorocarbon 8lb (leader)

Spin

* TD Black 722ULFS (Grub’n)/Revelry 2500 LT spooled with J-Braid Grand Island blue 8lb (mainline)/ J-Thread Fluorocarbon 8lb (leader)

Lures

* Steez Jig Spinner SS 5-7gm Gold Ayu/Silver Smelt and Bait Junkie Minnow 2.5 or Grub 2.5 Bait Junkie Risky Critter (all colours) rigged on Nedlockz EWG (size #1) in 1/15th,1/10th,1/6th and 1/5th weights.