Flukes are another one of my favorite soft-plastic baits. They mimic baitfish extremely well and can be utilized in many different situations for put more bass in the boat.
What is a Fluke?
A fluke, otherwise known as a soft-plastic jerkbait, is made to appear as some sort of baitfish. It is similar to a soft-plastic swimbait, however, a fluke has no paddle tail, just a straight tail.
A fluke is really a great year-round bait and catches fish in all seasons. It can be fished fast or slow depending on the time of year and the different baitfish in a certain fishery.
Zoom Bait Salty Super Fluke (Watermelon Red)
The best fluke on the market is the ZOOM Super Fluke. I haven’t found a fluke with a better lifelike appearance and erratic action. It perfectly mimics a dying or struggling shad.
5 Best Flukes for Bass Fishing
| Rank | Picture | Name | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | ZOOM Super Fluke | See it on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Gary Yamamoto D Shad Soft-Plastic Jerkbait | See it on Amazon |
| 3 |  | Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too Soft Jerkbait | See it on Amazon |
| 4 |  | Z-Man StreakZ Soft Jerkbait | See it on Amazon |
| 5 |  | Berkley Power Bait Jerk Shad | See it on Amazon |
As I mentioned above, a ZOOM Super Fluke is my number one choice for fluke fishing. However, there are several other brands are also great options.
I will often turn to a Yamamoto or Strike King fluke to get the job done. The Yamamoto fluke is a super effective, yet very fragile and will tear easily. The Strike King Fluke is more durable and holds up to more strikes.
The Z-Man and Berkley Power Bait flukes will catch high numbers of bass as well. They are both come in a wide range of colors, are very durable and hold up well to strikes.
6 Tips for Fishing Soft-Plastic Flukes
1. Best Sizes for Bass Fishing
Flukes are offered in multiple sizes, including 5-inch, 6-inch, and 7-inch baits. I typically like to stick with a 5 or 6-inch fluke in most situations, especially during the winter, when the water is cold and bass often want a smaller meal.
However, when the water warms up or if the forage on a certain body of water is larger, I will sometimes change it up and turn to a larger 7-inch fluke.
2. Best Colors for Bass Fishing
When it comes to fluke fishing my favorite color is watermelon red flake, especially in clear water situations. Other great colors include white pearl, electric shad, and gray.
3. Cover is Key
When fishing a fluke, focus on fishing near cover. Fish over the top of submerged grass, around lily pads and reeds, or along other shoreline structure, such as boat docks, seawalls, and lay down trees.
4. Use a Jerk, Jerk Pause Retrieve
The best retrieve for a soft-plastic fluke is similar to a hard jerkbait. Use a jerk, jerk pause retrieve and vary the speed based on water temperature and bass activity. The colder the water, the slower the retrieve.
5. Proper Fluke Tackle
Anglers can throw soft-plastic flukes on either baitcasting or spinning gear. I do some of both.
If using a weighted fluke, I will usually rig it on a fairly sensitive 7’ medium action baitcasting rod paired to a reel with a 6:4:1 gear ratio. I spool that reel with 10-15 pound braided line tied to a 10-14 pound fluorocarbon leader.
If I’m using a weightless fluke, I prefer a 7’ medium action spinning rod paired to a reel with a 6:4:1 gear ratio. I spool it with the same braided line tied to a 10-12 pound fluorocarbon leader. The spinning tackle allows me to cast a light lure much further than if I was using a baitcasting combo.
6. Imitate Baitfish
When fishing with a soft-plastic fluke, remember you’re trying to imitate baitfish. In addition to fishing cover along the shoreline, if you see bass chasing shad at the surface or have identified a school of fish on your graph or depth finder, try these soft-plastic lures. Their shad-like appearance is likely to trigger a strike!
How to Rig a Fluke
I always Texas rig my flukes on one of two hooks. If I’m fishing shallower water or want to keep the bait closer to the surface, I rig it weightless on a 3/0 or 4/0 VMC Offset Wide Gap hook.
However, if I want the bait to get a little deeper, I use a weighted hook. The Gamakatsu Weighted Superline Extra Wide Gap hook is great for allowing a fluke to fall faster, while keeping the same action.
As always, I hope you can put these techniques to the test the next time you’re on the water and use them to catch more fish!
Feel free to leave a comment down below and let us know how your next trip to the lake goes.