When to throw the irons?

[October]

I was just wondering, is there a a certain time you should throw the iron? Colored? Reflective (i would assume that would be when the sun is high and out)? And whats the typical way to fish them? Cast and immediate steady retrieve?

Im trying to give FW bass fishing a break right now and get into some REAL fishing but its a whole new world. My only salt roots go back to WA state casting out pink buzz bombs from the piers for salmon, and the occasional surf fishing adventures here in CA

[echo1er]

hope this helps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_-KH...e=results_main

[October]

awesome, thanks!

[vincentek9]

what i gather that that film is that people on charter boats need rails to assist with bringing in 10lb YT.

looks like.. its best to chuck the iron when the bite is near the surface.. or when you're out of bait but not ready to go in yet.

[taggermike]

Most irons in so cal fall in to either heavy or light irons. Brass vs aluminum. Bottom or water column vs surface presentation. This time of year you're talking about surface iron. When to cast/throw the iron? I'll cast an iron at about any thing that is happening on the surface. Some things are obvious like birds working, fish boiling, or bait jumping out of the water and running for thier lives. Other signs are more subtle, like fish tailing or leaving a little V behind them or loose flocks of birds circling an area. Even 1 of the tiny least turns circling and looking down can show you where fish are. Birds are your best friends out there. They are pros, out every single day, and fishing to stay alive. On over cast days the little turns are kinda hard to see but you can get to know the calls the turns make when they're cruising or on fish. From a kayak you can hear them from a ways off. Thats a good video about iron sellecting. Generaly you rerieve light iron slower than heavies and right under the surface. You'll hear guys talk about a jig that "swims". Thats the side to side motion. Different irons swim at different speeds and you varry your retreive acordingly. I like an iron that swims fast for YT, medium for cuda, and slower for calicos back over the kelp. Long reply but I love surface iron fishing and could write a book on it. Get out there and get throwing. Mike

[Cbad Mike]

Originally Posted by taggermike

Most irons in so cal fall in to either heavy or light irons. Brass vs aluminum. Bottom or water column vs surface presentation. This time of year you're talking about surface iron. When to cast/throw the iron? I'll cast an iron at about any thing that is happening on the surface. Some things are obvious like birds working, fish boiling, or bait jumping out of the water and running for thier lives. Other signs are more subtle, like fish tailing or leaving a little V behind them or loose flocks of birds circling an area. Even 1 of the tiny least turns circling and looking down can show you where fish are. Birds are your best friends out there. They are pros, out every single day, and fishing to stay alive. On over cast days the little turns are kinda hard to see but you can get to know the calls the turns make when they're cruising or on fish. From a kayak you can hear them from a ways off. Thats a good video about iron sellecting. Generaly you rerieve light iron slower than heavies and right under the surface. You'll hear guys talk about a jig that "swims". Thats the side to side motion. Different irons swim at different speeds and you varry your retreive acordingly. I like an iron that swims fast for YT, medium for cuda, and slower for calicos back over the kelp. Long reply but I love surface iron fishing and could write a book on it. Get out there and get throwing. Mike

Thanks for the information Mike... I can never read enough on different techniques. While I do toss at the obvious, your post reminds me not to overlook anything and to toss at the less obvious too.

[October]

Originally Posted by taggermike

Most irons in so cal fall in to either heavy or light irons. Brass vs aluminum. Bottom or water column vs surface presentation. This time of year you're talking about surface iron. When to cast/throw the iron? I'll cast an iron at about any thing that is happening on the surface. Some things are obvious like birds working, fish boiling, or bait jumping out of the water and running for thier lives. Other signs are more subtle, like fish tailing or leaving a little V behind them or loose flocks of birds circling an area. Even 1 of the tiny least turns circling and looking down can show you where fish are. Birds are your best friends out there. They are pros, out every single day, and fishing to stay alive. On over cast days the little turns are kinda hard to see but you can get to know the calls the turns make when they're cruising or on fish. From a kayak you can hear them from a ways off. Thats a good video about iron sellecting. Generaly you rerieve light iron slower than heavies and right under the surface. You'll hear guys talk about a jig that "swims". Thats the side to side motion. Different irons swim at different speeds and you varry your retreive acordingly. I like an iron that swims fast for YT, medium for cuda, and slower for calicos back over the kelp. Long reply but I love surface iron fishing and could write a book on it. Get out there and get throwing. Mike

awesome info thanks man