Giant Chubby Darter

[Knife2sharp]

Has anyone tried a Salmo Giant Chubby Darter as a decoy?  You'd just have to take off the hooks for decoying.  I have a couple for musky/pike fishing that I've barely used, just because I typically cast shallow water or troll with plugs.  They are balanced nicely and anyone whose fished with the smaller ones knows their action.   

[jasonmichalski]

I've used smaller ones years ago in no size limit lakes, and they work great the pike love them, I used a perch patterned one.

[Whopper Stopper]

They work very well.

         WS

[VanderLaan]

If you want to try one...

http://www.overstockbait.com/salmo-giant-chubby-darter/?gdftrk=gdfV25107_a_7c3257_a_7c12633_a_7cS_d_GC&gclid=CK6jlcrAucMCFY4AaQodshUALA

[Knife2sharp]

Thanks for the info, I ordered 2.  That's a good price, since SalmoUSA sells them for $17.99 on their site.

[jasonmichalski]

For that price you could have got regular decoys my basic start at $20, lol

[Knife2sharp]

I went to Mille Lacs last Friday, no fish spotted, but the GCB worked awesome as a decoy.  I removed the hooks and put a swivel/willow leaf blade where the rear hook was.  I actually had much more control then I thought I would.  The GCB wobbles on the rise and fall, and it propels forward on the fall, and I was actually able to control it quite well.  I was also able to bounce it along the bottom and hear it landing in the sandy areas, which I think would be a great attractant. 

I always use a decoy in conjunction with a live minnow, in this case, an 8"-9" shiner.  I usually spear with a live presentation and a decoy, usually in a pike pattern, so I was using the fire tiger GCB. 

I'd also be tempted to jig the GCD next year during early ice when I go tip-up fishing for northerns, which I never thought of doing.  I guess I figured the GCB was more of a summer lure until now.  Using it in a spear hole really opened my eyes as to how well it actually works and looks.