8 Sept 11, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 19
W
hat is the perfect trolling lure
for trout and landlocked salmon?
Or better yet what are the characteristics of
the most consistently productive trolling
lures for trout and landlocked salmon?
In reality no one can answer this
question definitively, but most of us have
an opinion. I’ve spent thousands of hours
trolling for trout and salmon over the
course of my fishing career and I’ve had
the privilege of fishing with some of the
best guides and anglers on the West Coast.
Based on what I’ve seen the best lures
offer vibration, erratic, unpredictable
7 Sizes
available
from 1 inch to
6 1/4 inches
SILVERHORDE.COM – (425) 778-2640
Bayside Marine
Santa Cruz (831)475-2173
Hi’s Tackle Box
San Francisco (650)588-1200
3209
Will Fish Tackle
Auburn (530)887-0839
Bloody Frog
Watermelon
Apex Lures
catch all species
of trout
and salmon
AVAILABLE AT THESE FINE RETAILERS:
Coyote Bait & Tackle
Coyote (408)463-0711
Discount Mart Bay Tackle
El Cerrito (510)235-2032
Sacramento Pro Tackle
Sacramento (916)925-0529
Go Big With Apex Lures!
Fishing & Lures Ltd.
www.hotspotlures.com
1-888-744-2739
or “skip beat” action and a baitfish like
silhouette.
So, what lure offers all of these properties?
Well there are several, but based
on the title of this piece you’ve probably
already guessed that one of my top
choices is the Apex Trolling Lure…Well
you’re correct!
The Apex meets all the criteria I’ve
outlined. Apex Lures are manufactured by
the HotShot Company. HotShot is a top
manufacturer of ocean salmon fishing gear
and the original generation of Apex Lures
were designed for ocean kings. These
Fisherman’s Warehouse
Sacramento (916)362-1200
Manteca (209)239-2248
San Jose (408)873-0113
Petaluma Sport & Dive
Petaluma (707)763-0930
Available in
over 60 finishes
including
Glow and UV!
APEX LURES
Big Trout, Kokanee and Salmon
Pilchard
Tui Chub
Ask for them
at your local
Tackle store!
3908
JD Auto Gone Fishin’
Sand City (831)899-1111
Jerry’s Marine & Tackle
Atascadero
(805)835-5414
West Marine
Select Locations
Turn To Silver Horde For
Salmon And Trout Gear
W
hether I’m trolling for kings
outside the Golden Gate, trying to
fool Alaskan silvers or just trying to secure a
“Sierra Trout Dinner” lures and accessories
from the folks at
Silver Horde/Gold
Star are never far
from reach. Here are
just a few of their
products that I use
extensively:
Micro Squid
Micro Squid are
perfect for trout,
landlocked kings and
‘kokes. The squid
are 1.75 inches long.
They come in a long
list of standard, ultra
violet and glow
colors. Slip them on
a double hook leader,
toss a dodger into the
mix and you’re ready
to fish!
Ace Hi Fly
“Junior”
An Ace Hi
Fly is like
a hoochie
wearing a
tuxedo,
basically
a greatly
dressed
up
version
of the
Outdoor Pro Shop
Cotati (707)588-8033
Englund Marine
Crescent City
(707)464-3230
Englund Marine
Eureka (707)444-9266
by Cal Kellogg
large Apex Lures ranging up to
6 ¼ inches remain a favorite
of ocean salmon trollers from
California to Alaska and
throughout the Great Lakes.
With large Apex Lures
slaying ocean salmon, it’s not
surprising that a member of
the HotShot brain trust came
up with the idea of offering
smaller Apex Lures designed
for trout and landlocked
salmon. The end result of this
thinking is the Apex Trout
Killer Series and the Apex
Kokanee Special Series.
Master kokanee angler Phil
Johnson helped the folks at
Hot Spot develop the Kokanee Special.
The lure employs two red chemically
sharpened Gamakatsu octopus hooks that
are snelled from ¼ to ½ inch apart. When
these super sharp hooks are combined
with the unique Apex rigging that allows
the Apex blade/body to slide up its leader
leverage is taken away from the kokanee.
When a kokanee is hooked on a traditional
spoon, it can shake its head against the
weight of the lure and get the hook loose.
This doesn’t happen with the Kokanee
Special. The harder the kokanee shakes
it’s head the further the lure body slides
up the leader. Kokanee Specials come in
1 and 1½ inch sizes and are offered in
old
reliable
plastic
squid.
Ace Hi
Flies come
with a hard
bead head that
boasts lifelike
eyes. The skirt
utilizes a hoochie,
but adds to it with
several
different
standard
and UV
color
schemes.
The
Apex
Trout
Killer
also
comes
in 1 and
1½ inch
sizes
and is
offered in
a bunch
of different color patterns. The hooking
arrangement is different on the Trout
Killer. Instead of double hooks the trout
version has a single J-hook attached via
a swivel and the hook eye also sports a
small willow leaf “kicker” blade.
Finally, if I don’t address it I know I’ll
get emails….Do I use dodgers or flashers
with Apex Lures?
Rarely, some guys do and catch plenty
of fish, but when I’m pulling Apex Lures
or rolling shad for big fish I like to go with
a really stealthy natural presentation so I
leave the blades in the tackle box.
For more about Apex Lures, check them
out on the web at www.hotspotlures.com.
by Cal Kellogg
synthetic flash.
Ace Hi Fly Juniors come either rigged
or unrigged. The flies are 2 inches long.
I generally go with the unrigged version
and run them off double hook leaders.
Kingfisher Lite
When I need a small spoon for ocean
salmon or a big spoon for trout I generally
reach for my selection of Kingfisher Lite
Spoons. The spoon comes in three sizes
that range from 2 5/8 inches long to 3
3/8 inches. I usually go with the smallest
version. A wide range of color choices in
standard, glow and Ultra Violet finishes
are available.
When it comes to color I usually keep
things simple and try to match the baitfish
the trout or salmon are feeding on.
For more information visit the Silver
Horde website at www.silverhorde.com.