Bait choices behind copper?

[chowder]

Are there any basic guidelines for choosing a bait to use with copper on either the Big O or the FLX? Are there seasonal/ temp, or depth factors that come into play in making a choice?

[Jeff J]

I like to run a flasher fly combo when running copper.

Jeff

[Yankee Troller]

Im usually a flasher/fly guy too, but when it gets rough, I feel my coppers on the boards tend to fall off when there are flasher/flies on them. I think flasher/fly type baits work well when there is a constant pull. So, when it gets rough out I try to switch over to spoons on the coppers. This summer I had a really HOT J-plug on my 300 copper. It was a #3 Green Mongoose.

[raider44]

I have never ran copper before- I know very little about it. I believe it is made up of several 50 foot several different colored sections to indicate length and weight? And there is no need for any kind of weight/device to get the lure down to the 46-48 degrees of water?

Does copper have to be run off boards or can it be flatlined? And if it can be flatlined, is it still possible to run a diver on the same side?

[chowder]

Raider, you are getting copper and lead core mixed up. Copper is a soft wire cable which sinks at the rate of 22'/100' out. Lead core is lead line, sheathed with colored plastic, the color changes every 10 yards, it sinks at roughly 5'/ 10 yards. Both can be run off inline and dual boards and both can be sent down the chute. There is plenty of room to use a diver when either one is "out" on a board.

[skipper19]

I run what ever is working, straight spoons, flashers and flies, or meat rigs, spindoctors and flies, and plugs....Even a dipsey will go down real fast with copper towing it for close in combat fishin....no need for several wire setups this way, run it plain or dipsyed...OK kick me Ray

[chowder]

I know what J-plugs look like but that's as far as it goes.They seem to be in a category all by themselves, or are there similar baits that I just don't know about? Are they a starting in the middle of the summer bait on Lake O? Somebody give me a basic rundown on these things-thanx

[traveling man]

There are a lot of plugs out there. J Plugs are good but don't get the lighted ones. Silver hordes are also good.

http://www.gloutdoorstore.com/silverhordeplug.aspx

http://www.tomiclures.com/color_chart.htm

http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/store ... g_Plug.htm smallersizes have been known to catch some steelhead. I think it is size 3?

You can fish them any time of the year and they will catch fish. Most guys use them starting in August.

[raider44]

Thanks for clearing that up for me chowder. I was mixed up!