Bumpa Bar Lures

The Most Versatile Lure

Techniques

As with most lures, there are many retrieval methods that may be used which vary in effectiveness depending on the species being targeted and the location being fished. There are five main techniques proven deadly on a wide range of species well suited to the use of Bumpa-Bar Lures.

Drift and Drop: Also known as vertical high-speed, this is the most common and effective way to fish Bumpa-Bars, being particularly devastating on pelagics of all shapes and sizes. This method involves motoring up current of the structure or bait school being fished, and then drifting silently back over the area whilst dropping the Bumpa-Bar all the way to the bottom. Upon contact with the bottom, the lure is cranked as fast as possible back to the surface. This process is repeated until a strike is taken. A sea anchor or drone can be used to slow your drift and maximise the number of lure drops per drift. This technique is excellent when fishing around wrecks as the hooked fish drifts with the boat away from the structure. It is also a great way to discover new ground and build a detailed profile of an area, as each time you drift, a different transect is surveyed.

Cast and Crank: This technique is ideal when chasing surface feeding pelagics such as tuna. These fish feed by rounding up bait schools down deep and force them to the surface where they then carve them up in a spectacular visual display. Simply position the boat up wind of the feeding school and cast the Bumpa-Bar into the leading edge while on the drift. Allow the lure to sink a couple of meters, then crank until your arms start smoking! In these situations it is important to match the lure size with that of the bait fish being consumed. This is a very exciting way to fish, with the angler often seeing the tuna break through the waves to smash the lure.

Cast & Skip (Alternative for Popper fishing): This great alternative for the popular popper fishing is ideal when chasing surface feeding pelagics such as GT’s. These fish feed by rounding up bait on the surface and force them together into tight schools where they then carve them up in a spectacular visual display. Simply position the boat up wind of the feeding school and cast the Bumpa-Bar into the leading edge while on the drift. Keep the skipping on the surface by starting the retrieve as the lure hits the water, then crank at a speed where it skips and slides across the surface without tumbling. This is a very exciting way to fish, with the strikes being spectacular.

Jigging: This method is great for targeting bottom dwelling species in deeper water such as coral trout, nannygai, red emperor, fingermark and cod to name a few. Jigging can be undertaken from either a drifting or anchored boat. Simply drop the lure to the bottom, engage the reel, and bounce the lure off the bottom using sweeps of the rod tip. Lower the rod and allow the lure to flutter back to the bottom before repeating. It is important to keep in direct contact with the lure at all times as some bottom dwellers will smash you up in seconds unless you put the hurt on immediately.

Flick and Twitch: Ideal for fishing around sandbars and shallow sand flats, this technique involves a long cast followed by a slow and erratic retrieve. The lure is cast and allowed to sink into the bottom before quickly twitching the rod tip to kick the lure into action. The lure then settles back to the bottom as the slack line is retrieved creating a cloud of sand each time the process is repeated. Species such as flathead and salmon find this approach irresistible. An alternative is to work the surface in the same way, allowing the lure to sink only a small distance before twitching it back to the surface. This method is extremely effective on tarpon around well-lit bridges and jetties at night.

Trolling: Although trolling Bumpa-Bars is less common, it is best suited to the larger lure sizes and will troll close to the surface unless assisted by lead keels, par vanes or down riggers. The wide and erratic action of the large 75g model has proven very effective on large Spanish mackerel when trolled deep using a downrigger. Tackle: While Bumpa-Bars can be successful on all types of tackle, Bumpa-Barring is an intense form of fishing and the best quality tackle is recommended to survive the experience, especially over the long term.