"Rebels and Rouges"


by Guest Writer Dwayne French

Call them what you want... they flat catch fish and not just numbers, some real "Hawgs" also. We're not talking about the good ole southern boy with a telephone or dynamite, although that has worked in the past! I'm talking about the Rebel Minnow (long billed rebel) and the Smithwick Rattlin' Rouge. There are many other brands that catch fish and since I'm not a sponsored pro (far from that!) I have several different manufactures in my tackle box, but these two always seem to be tied onto my line. The late winter weather and the cold water temperatures have slowed the shad down to a quivering last bit effort to make it though winter's cold grasp on the Ozarks. The Threadfin Shad are begining to "kick the bucket". When this starts to happen, cast that rouge as far as you can and then hold on, because your fixin' to get warmed up by Mr. Largemouth, Mr. Spotted Bass, or Mr. Smallmouth. Whatever species you're after, they all eat dying shad and what better to feed them than a Rebel/Rouge diet plan. As I said, these baits are great this time of year for not only numbers of fish, but they just seem to bring out those big boys and girls.

When fishing tournaments this time of year, you had better have one ready or better yet... have it tied on. You can bet when the weather is right those rouge fish will bite and you will be left with a small sack of fish and the winners will need help carrying their bag up to the scales. Basic colors work well just like if you were spinnerbaiting or throwing a crankbait, just use the same reasoning. The popular colors are Chrome/Black, Chrome/Blue, Bone, Crawdad, and Shad. You also can buy these little morsels in different sizes and different depth divers. Some suspend and some float. Some have a rattle and some don't. Some have two sets of trebles hooks and some have three sets. Now that you are totally confused, let's put another twist on it. Some people even paint their own secret colors and weight them to get the maximum depth out of them. Line size can play a major role in how that lure acts under the water. Do you want it to dart side-to-side or be a slow roller, or do you just reel it in and let it wobble?

Like I said, I'm not a pro, I just like to fish and when the shad start that "dying flicker" your rod had better have a rebel or a rouge tied on just in case you need to catch that 4 lb or even 5 lb bass at you next club tournament or just a day on the water. These baits work anytime the fish are eating shad. You notice I said "fish", because these baits not only catch bass, but Walleye, Stripers, White Bass, and the occasional Channel Catfish have fallen prey to the Rebel-N-Rouges.

Thanks Dewayne