HOW TO FISH:
The SlopMaster BUCHERTAIL® was designed by hall of fame angler Joe Bucher specifically for muskies, big pike and monster bass hanging tight to extra thick weedy cover. The unique wire arm shape and flat horizontal hydro-planing head combined with one upriding single hook enables this lure to slip, slither and slide through and overtop nearly any obstruction with no hangups. This lure is most effective when conventional lures fail - such as cold front conditions, areas of heavy fishing pressure and anything else that drives fish tighter to cover. Fish the SlopMaster BUCHERTAIL® with heavy weight line test, and a medium/heavy to heavy power rod. Short, accurate, pinpoint casts will nearly always be more productive in any heavy cover situation. Whenever possible, cast the SlopMaster, slightly beyond the target and retrieve it back to the cover. Keep your rod tip pointed directly at the lure with a slight upwards angle. Avoid pulling on the rod tip to work the lure through the cover. Instead, hold the rod stationary while maintaining a steady retrieve - allowing the reel to pull the lure through the cover. When you get a strike set the hook hard with a sideways body rotation. Put a lot of pressure on the fish initially to pull it out of the thick debris. Then, back off a bit when the fish is near the boat, but maintain solid even pressure and strong rod bend throughout the fight.
Slopmaster Buzz
HOW TO FISH:
The SlopMaster buzzbait is a surface lure that can be fished in some of the thickest, most impenetrable cover there is for big pike, muskies and giant bass. For best results use a heavy duty, musky style, bait casting outfit and a low stretch super braid style line of no less than 50 lb. test. Thicker braided lines in the 75 to 80 lb. range perform best with this lure.
Casting: Cast beyond intended cover targets (brush piles, weed patches, etc.) whenever possible and engage the reel as soon as the lure hits the water. Keep your rod tip in an upward angled position throughout the retrieve, and "gun" your reel hard initially to quickly drive the bait to the surface. Whenever the SlopMaster Buzzbait collides with cover, resist the urge to jerk it thru the cover with your rod tip. Instead, simply “gun” the reel while keeping your rod tip pointed at the lure with that slight upward angle. As soon as the SlopMaster clears the cover and hits open water, slow down the retrieve slightly. Be prepared for strikes to occur at any time, but a vast majority of strikes do happen just after the lure collides with cover. Set the hook only after you actually feel the fish take the lure, and then with a sideways sweep.
If you are getting short strikes and missed hook ups, you can effectively add a trailer hook to this set up as well.
Slopmaster Tandem
HOW TO FISH:
The SlopMaster Tandem is a surface lure that can be fished in some of the thickest, most impenetrable cover there is for big pike, muskies and giant bass. For best results use a heavy duty, musky style, bait casting outfit and a low stretch super braid style line of no less than 50 lb. test. Thicker braided lines in the 75 to 80 lb. range perform best with this lure.
Casting: Cast beyond intended cover targets (brush piles, weed patches, etc.) whenever possible and engage the reel as soon as the lure hits the water. Keep your rod tip in an upward angled position throughout the retrieve, and "gun" your reel hard initially to quickly drive the bait to the surface. Whenever the SlopMaster Tandem collides with cover, resist the urge to jerk it thru the cover with your rod tip. Instead, simply "gun" the reel while keeping your rod tip pointed at the lure with that slight upward angle. As soon as the SlopMaster clears the cover and hits open water, slow down the retrieve slightly. Be prepared for strikes to occur at any time, but a vast majority of strikes happen just after the lure collides with cover. Set the hook only after you actually feel the fish take the lure, and then with a sideways sweep.
If you are getting short strikes and missed hook ups, you can effectively add a trailer hook to this set up as well.