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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Fishing Forum Zulu versus Gulp versus other jerk baits |
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02/03/2010 12:29PM (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I read an article in the BWJ about the zulu swim baits. It explained how zulu's were very effective in the BW and the article was very convincing.
strike king web site
I bought some zulu's and used them on my trip last August to LLC. The zulu's worked well. I can easily see how they would be amazingly effective in the spring when the smallmouth were really active.
First, have others used Zulu's in the spring? Do they work as well as advertised?
Now, I'm also wondering about other jerk baits. Would a scented bait like a Gulp jerk work even better??
Gulp jerk baits at Cabelas
strike king web site
I bought some zulu's and used them on my trip last August to LLC. The zulu's worked well. I can easily see how they would be amazingly effective in the spring when the smallmouth were really active.
First, have others used Zulu's in the spring? Do they work as well as advertised?
Now, I'm also wondering about other jerk baits. Would a scented bait like a Gulp jerk work even better??
Gulp jerk baits at Cabelas
Fish where the fish are...
02/03/2010 03:30PM
For the past couple years, I've brought a couple bags of Storm Wild-Eyed Curly Tail Minnows (white). I've had great success on smallmouth and northern, especially when casting to shallower shoreline rocks/structure and points and jerking them back to the canoe over dropoffs.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are -- Teddy Roosevelt
02/03/2010 08:31PM
Zulu's are good. I usually use Zoom Super Flukes in the regular size. The small size is too little. The Flukes are fairly soft and you can go through a bunch of them quickly if the bite is on. If you want them to sink faster, use a weighted hook or a 1/16 oz sliding sinker. Since it has a seductive (to the fish) action even while sinking, I don't think the extra expense of the Gulp bait is worthwhile. Also, the Gulp baits are smelly, slimey and prone to dry out while out of the water. Gulp leeches on a jig head for walleye are well worth the extra trouble and expense though.
02/05/2010 01:35PM
I use all kinds of soft jerk baits from one of the originals like Slug-go to Gary Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm. Like mobass said some of these baits are kinda soft - when the fish are active I will switch to a
Manns HardNose - they last a little longer.
Manns HardNose - they last a little longer.
02/05/2010 03:00PM
I think its really about confidence. Years ago I bought some real cheap, I mean real cheap no name plastics and they work as well as any of the top brands when that particular lure is called for. It's knowing when and how to use them more then what the brand name is and the price tag says. You should be fine with any of the items you have listed, so long as the fish like them that day also.
"The earth is being overrun by mankind and his machines. There will always be a need for quiet places that can only be reached by physical effort, skill and endurance." Bill Mason
02/06/2010 06:34PM
That Guy is right. About any soft jerk bait will do. As JJ said, the Mann's hard nose baits will last longer. For the last 6 or 7 years I always packed one package of jerkbaits made of the super plastic just in case I went through all of my regular plastic baits but never had to use them. The super plastic made by Strike King is very tough but I just never have been crazy about them. Don't ever mix the super plastic with your regular plastic - they will melt together.
02/08/2010 08:04AM
Mad Angler,
I'm glad I was able to convince someone that Zulus work up in the BW and Quetico. :-) I actually received thank you notes in the mail from BWJ readers telling me about how many more smallies they were able to catch by using the Zulu. If I can keep the pike from tearing them up I can literally catch hundreds of smallies with one package of Zulus. I know I have caught over 50 with one Zulu on numerous occasions. I have never tried using the Gulp jerk bait, I'm sure they would work, just don't know if they would last as long or what happens to them once they start to dry up. As far as the Redfish Magic, never used them before, I didn't think they were any different than the normal Zulus, except they are used with spinner baits. Might be worth trying just to see what happens. I don't know if you can expect to catch any bigger fish with them. All I know is that I will never go to Quetico again without have some Zulus in the tackle, hands down caught more smallies per cast than any other lure I have used up there in the past 22 years. I can be reached at - queticomike@yahoo.com if you want to email me.
QueticoMike
I'm glad I was able to convince someone that Zulus work up in the BW and Quetico. :-) I actually received thank you notes in the mail from BWJ readers telling me about how many more smallies they were able to catch by using the Zulu. If I can keep the pike from tearing them up I can literally catch hundreds of smallies with one package of Zulus. I know I have caught over 50 with one Zulu on numerous occasions. I have never tried using the Gulp jerk bait, I'm sure they would work, just don't know if they would last as long or what happens to them once they start to dry up. As far as the Redfish Magic, never used them before, I didn't think they were any different than the normal Zulus, except they are used with spinner baits. Might be worth trying just to see what happens. I don't know if you can expect to catch any bigger fish with them. All I know is that I will never go to Quetico again without have some Zulus in the tackle, hands down caught more smallies per cast than any other lure I have used up there in the past 22 years. I can be reached at - queticomike@yahoo.com if you want to email me.
QueticoMike
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
02/08/2010 08:33AM
QueticoMike,
Wow. What a cool site this is! We get to get deteails from the original author.
I could probably quote the entire article back to you. I have literally read it tens of times. Each time, it gtes me more fired up...
I have a few questions though:
- Using the swivel will allow the lure to sink a bit. did you let the swivel take the bait down and fish a bit deeper? Or did you try to keep the bait on the surface?
- When you were targeting walleye, did you change anything?
- Where you targetting walleye, was the water moving very fast? Any tips for fast water versus non-moving water?
Wow. What a cool site this is! We get to get deteails from the original author.
I could probably quote the entire article back to you. I have literally read it tens of times. Each time, it gtes me more fired up...
I have a few questions though:
- Using the swivel will allow the lure to sink a bit. did you let the swivel take the bait down and fish a bit deeper? Or did you try to keep the bait on the surface?
- When you were targeting walleye, did you change anything?
- Where you targetting walleye, was the water moving very fast? Any tips for fast water versus non-moving water?
Fish where the fish are...
02/08/2010 09:51AM
I'm glad you liked the article.
I first used the swivel just to get rid of those nasty line twists from that lure twisting all over the place. It had great action without the swivel and had plenty of hits on topwater, but it seemed like most of the hits and hook ups came when the lure was just below the surface. So adding the swivel actually made it a better presentation and put the lure where the fish wanted it, just below the surface. The bigger the swivel, the deeper I could fish. The action is not as good if you try use this lure with a weighted hook in my opinion. Don't go cheap on the swivels either, buy the good ones that really work well.
As far as walleye fishing with the lure, I presented the lure the same way I did for the smallmouth. When fishing for walleye it was all about location. I had a great spot I could limit out on in the current above a waterfall. I have caught walleye elsewhere but mainly by accident while fishing for smallmouth. A split shot above the swivel will get you down there for most walleye, but I typically use other techniques and lures for walleye.
Was the water moving fast while fishing for walleye, yes I would say there was a good current above the falls.
I first used the swivel just to get rid of those nasty line twists from that lure twisting all over the place. It had great action without the swivel and had plenty of hits on topwater, but it seemed like most of the hits and hook ups came when the lure was just below the surface. So adding the swivel actually made it a better presentation and put the lure where the fish wanted it, just below the surface. The bigger the swivel, the deeper I could fish. The action is not as good if you try use this lure with a weighted hook in my opinion. Don't go cheap on the swivels either, buy the good ones that really work well.
As far as walleye fishing with the lure, I presented the lure the same way I did for the smallmouth. When fishing for walleye it was all about location. I had a great spot I could limit out on in the current above a waterfall. I have caught walleye elsewhere but mainly by accident while fishing for smallmouth. A split shot above the swivel will get you down there for most walleye, but I typically use other techniques and lures for walleye.
Was the water moving fast while fishing for walleye, yes I would say there was a good current above the falls.
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
02/08/2010 11:34AM
QueticoMike
I too have read and reread your excellent article. Even though I have been using jerk worm type baits every since they came out, your info got me fired up about using them in the Q. I agree that the Zulu will outlast regular plastic by far. However, when they first came out I noticed that they would float like a stopper cork and you had to use some sort of weight to get them down. Then, Strike King saved the day by coming out with the Z Too, which is a sinking version, same tough plastic. Now, Strike King has confused the issue more by coming out with two more versions: The "Caffeine Shad" which is made of the "Perfect Plastic" and has coffee scent (good for early in the morning?) and another Z Too made of "Elaztech". Both of these are in the 2010 BPS catalog and the older versions are not. Haven't searched the web to see if they are still available but I think the new version of the Z Too will work just fine. Thanks for your info and I am anxiously awaiting your next fishing article
I too have read and reread your excellent article. Even though I have been using jerk worm type baits every since they came out, your info got me fired up about using them in the Q. I agree that the Zulu will outlast regular plastic by far. However, when they first came out I noticed that they would float like a stopper cork and you had to use some sort of weight to get them down. Then, Strike King saved the day by coming out with the Z Too, which is a sinking version, same tough plastic. Now, Strike King has confused the issue more by coming out with two more versions: The "Caffeine Shad" which is made of the "Perfect Plastic" and has coffee scent (good for early in the morning?) and another Z Too made of "Elaztech". Both of these are in the 2010 BPS catalog and the older versions are not. Haven't searched the web to see if they are still available but I think the new version of the Z Too will work just fine. Thanks for your info and I am anxiously awaiting your next fishing article
02/10/2010 06:57AM
I think it was in the 2008 summer issue, but I don't have the issue with me here, so maybe someone else can confirm this. If you can't find it, send me your email address to queticomike@yahoo.com and I'll send you a copy.
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
02/11/2010 01:28PM
First off, let me state without reservation that I am a geek...
I bought some Zulu's and some Redfish Magic Zulus. I was hoping that the Redfish zulus would be bigger than the normal Zulus. Well, they both arrived last night. At work, we have an analytical lab so I wanted to get some definitive answers.
Here's the data:
Normal Zulu:
- Weight: 7.45 grams
- Volume: 10 ml
- Density = 0.74 g/ml
Redfish Zulu:
- Weight: 8.00 grams
- Volume: 10 ml
- Density = 0.80 g/ml
Conclusions:
- Redfish Zulu is the same size but slightly heavier
- Both are sifgnificantly lighter than water and will float
The Redfish Zulu does come in some cool colors though. The one shown in "Space Guppy"...
Also, I think the Redfish "Blue Glimmer" looks a bit cooler than the normal Zulu...
Here's a picture:
I bought some Zulu's and some Redfish Magic Zulus. I was hoping that the Redfish zulus would be bigger than the normal Zulus. Well, they both arrived last night. At work, we have an analytical lab so I wanted to get some definitive answers.
Here's the data:
Normal Zulu:
- Weight: 7.45 grams
- Volume: 10 ml
- Density = 0.74 g/ml
Redfish Zulu:
- Weight: 8.00 grams
- Volume: 10 ml
- Density = 0.80 g/ml
Conclusions:
- Redfish Zulu is the same size but slightly heavier
- Both are sifgnificantly lighter than water and will float
The Redfish Zulu does come in some cool colors though. The one shown in "Space Guppy"...
Also, I think the Redfish "Blue Glimmer" looks a bit cooler than the normal Zulu...
Here's a picture:
Fish where the fish are...
02/12/2010 06:50AM
They both look like smallmouth candy to me. This might be an obvious question, but do you think they make the redfish zulu heavier so it will go deeper than the normal zulu when rigged the same? Or at this weight disparity is there no real difference?
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
02/12/2010 08:42AM
quote QueticoMike: "They both look like smallmouth candy to me. This might be an obvious question, but do you think they make the redfish zulu heavier so it will go deeper than the normal zulu when rigged the same? Or at this weight disparity is there no real difference?"
QM,
I don't know why they make it heavier. Maybe so it casts further. Also, saltwater is denser than fresh water so maybe that is why.
The obvious question for me now is what about the Ztoo. They are supposed to be salt infused and heavier than plain Zulu's. I'd guess that redfish Zulus and Ztoos are made with the same stuff.
Fish where the fish are...
04/16/2010 04:14PM
Oh! Ya! You fish Zulus just under the surface, no weight. Twitch & wiggle......I guess you can fish them on the bottom but the article is about sub-surface action. There is a picture in the Journal showing how to rig it with a swivel.
fishguts
04/16/2010 11:46PM
Never tried the Zulu version but I just bought a pack of very similar baits made by Trigger-X, I'm just a sucker for anything Al Linder endorses, I guess. Haven't tried them out yet. I'll be packing them into the BWCA in about 2 months!
04/17/2010 05:51PM
I read the BWJ article also and bought a package of them two years ago for our 2008 trip to the Saganogons. The water temps was around 55 and fishing was tough. I started using these jigging in about 12 to 15 foot of water and it didn't take long to catch my first walleye. We caught 5 to 6 in that area and I was hooked. One of these fish was 26 inches.
Later on our way out we fished the current area down stream from Silver Falls and granted we had to use a little more weight because of the current but again we caught walleye, and 2 of them were 27 inches.
I think they are good for jigging and I think the color was the blue pearl that I used on that trip. I bought more a month ago for our trip in June.
even caught a nice sized smallie on them with no weight and just casting around a submerged rock between two islands just north of the deadmans portage.
Later on our way out we fished the current area down stream from Silver Falls and granted we had to use a little more weight because of the current but again we caught walleye, and 2 of them were 27 inches.
I think they are good for jigging and I think the color was the blue pearl that I used on that trip. I bought more a month ago for our trip in June.
even caught a nice sized smallie on them with no weight and just casting around a submerged rock between two islands just north of the deadmans portage.
06/01/2010 03:19PM
I just got back. I caught a bunch of smallies and pike on the Zulu's. Here are some things I learned:
- Zulus really look like dying minnows. no wonder fish can not resist them
- Zulus are tough. you can easily catch 5-10 fish on the same Zulu.
- Pike really like Zulus too. You'll lose some Zulus to the pike
- Color does not seem to matter. I did nearly equally well with pearl, black glimmer and even chartreuse
- It is a bit tricky to actually hook the fish. I probably lost about 1/3 of my strikes. Some would really smack it and they were hooked. Others would just tap it and I would set the hook too soon. Waiting a few seconds did seem to help.
- I liked to add some scent. I used "megastrike". It is a thick paste like Vaseline. It seemed to help the fish hang on a bit longer.
- Zulus really look like dying minnows. no wonder fish can not resist them
- Zulus are tough. you can easily catch 5-10 fish on the same Zulu.
- Pike really like Zulus too. You'll lose some Zulus to the pike
- Color does not seem to matter. I did nearly equally well with pearl, black glimmer and even chartreuse
- It is a bit tricky to actually hook the fish. I probably lost about 1/3 of my strikes. Some would really smack it and they were hooked. Others would just tap it and I would set the hook too soon. Waiting a few seconds did seem to help.
- I liked to add some scent. I used "megastrike". It is a thick paste like Vaseline. It seemed to help the fish hang on a bit longer.
Fish where the fish are...
05/25/2011 09:03AM
quote womp35: "I assume the bigger hooks and wider gap would penetrate the bait further and decrease the amount of misses. I just wonder if the 2/0 or 3/0 changes the presentation at all. "
The reason I use a 1/0 hook and not a larger hook is that the bottom of the hook does not ride outside of the lure. The larger hook size I felt acted more like a keel and the natural movement of this lure was decreased with a hook that rode outside of the lure. The real trick to hooking these fish is to wait a count of one second. My buddy was missing a lot of hits on Zulus, I told him to count in his head " one thousand one " after feeling the "tick" and then set the hook. Once he started using this method his hook up ratio increased greatly. If you have any questions concerning Zulu fishing or want to read the article, send me an email at - Queticomike@yahoo.com.
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
05/27/2011 09:09AM
I feel like an idiot.
I've fished the Zulu and agree that the action, texture and weight are great.
I use the Red hooks that were supplied with the lures. I have never been able to actually hook a fish though - they hit the tail and pull it down. I wait for 30-40 seconds to try and set the hook and get nothing.....
How on earth do you guys work this rig to catch fish?
I'm doing something really wrong.
I've fished the Zulu and agree that the action, texture and weight are great.
I use the Red hooks that were supplied with the lures. I have never been able to actually hook a fish though - they hit the tail and pull it down. I wait for 30-40 seconds to try and set the hook and get nothing.....
How on earth do you guys work this rig to catch fish?
I'm doing something really wrong.
"You're not serious about wearing sandals on this portage.... are you?"
07/05/2011 11:24AM
ok, I will give this a shot. I carefully watch the bait, when the fish takes it, I hesitate just a moment and give a sweeping hook set. That's it. You should hook up about 70% of the time this way. It did occur to me that you might not be setting it up the way I do. I buy somewhat expensive, very sharp hooks. When I rig it, I always bring the hook all the way through the plastic so that there is a good place for the hook to go before the fish bites. In other words, the strike should not be having to do the work, the hole should already be there. Also, as others have said, the pike can tear through the line. I use a slightly heavier line (20 lb) attached to a small swivel for a leader and that seems to help some. This is a great way to fish, don't give up!
07/05/2011 01:34PM
Hmmmmm. I've been known to wait 2 minutes and that Spook was dragged down deep, set the hook and got nothing.
I wonder if a second hook set further back would mess up the lure action?
I wonder if a second hook set further back would mess up the lure action?
"You're not serious about wearing sandals on this portage.... are you?"
07/05/2011 06:34PM
quote larryb: "ok, I will give this a shot. I carefully watch the bait, when the fish takes it, I hesitate just a moment and give a sweeping hook set. That's it. You should hook up about 70% of the time this way. It did occur to me that you might not be setting it up the way I do. I buy somewhat expensive, very sharp hooks. When I rig it, I always bring the hook all the way through the plastic so that there is a good place for the hook to go before the fish bites. In other words, the strike should not be having to do the work, the hole should already be there. Also, as others have said, the pike can tear through the line. I use a slightly heavier line (20 lb) attached to a small swivel for a leader and that seems to help some. This is a great way to fish, don't give up!"
What hooks do you use?
07/05/2011 07:24PM
I use the red hooks that came with the lure - my problem may be that only HUGE Northerns can gulp this lure down?
When rigged there is probably 3" of tail behind the tip of the hook - the fish grab this and seem to hold on, but don't seem to gulp the rest down (the part with the hook!)
When rigged there is probably 3" of tail behind the tip of the hook - the fish grab this and seem to hold on, but don't seem to gulp the rest down (the part with the hook!)
"You're not serious about wearing sandals on this portage.... are you?"
07/06/2011 08:12AM
quote Beemer01: "I use the red hooks that came with the lure - my problem may be that only HUGE Northerns can gulp this lure down?
When rigged there is probably 3" of tail behind the tip of the hook - the fish grab this and seem to hold on, but don't seem to gulp the rest down (the part with the hook!)"
Hey Beemer,
Have you ever read my article on Zulu fishing? If not send me an email at - queticomike@yahoo.com - and have the subject say ZULU, that way I can find it if it shows up as spam.
I have never seen Zulus sold with hooks, are they really Strike King Zulus?
What is the hook size? Are they worm hooks with " L " shaped top to keep the nose at the top of the hook?
Setting the hook with a Zulu is no different than a top water bite, you feel the tick on the end of the line ( or see the line run off to the side or the line feels heavy ) you wait a second ( count one thousand one in your head ) and then cross the fishes eyes with a hard hook set.
Let me know if you any questions.
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
07/06/2011 11:45AM
Sent email. I look forward to the article - Clearly the Zulu has great action, so I'm obviously rigging it wrong. I am using the "L" hook in red.
"You're not serious about wearing sandals on this portage.... are you?"
01/30/2012 08:41PM
I had some good luck on Redfish Magic (saltwater version of the Zulu) fished on a jig in saltwater for Redfish, Sea Trout and Snook and I can't wait to try this method out for Walleyes, Pike and Smallies.
All Rapalas that wander are not lost.
02/22/2012 04:19PM
quote Beemer01: "I feel like an idiot.
I've fished the Zulu and agree that the action, texture and weight are great.
I use the Red hooks that were supplied with the lures. I have never been able to actually hook a fish though - they hit the tail and pull it down. I wait for 30-40 seconds to try and set the hook and get nothing.....
How on earth do you guys work this rig to catch fish?
I'm doing something really wrong."
If you are waiting and still missing fish, it's probably because they are bluegill, which will run around with them all over. For bass, the key has always been to reel the slack out of your line before setting the hook. Too often, because there is no weight, you see the flash before you feel the fish. You try to set the hook, and you get nothing because of the slack line. Like with a topwater bait, you may want to wait until you actually feel the weight of the fish before setting the hook. It really does take patience, but they hold on for a long time. (Personally, I now prefer Senko type baits because they cast farther and you can cover the entire water column much easier, without even working the bait. Or, you can work it like a Zulu.)
02/24/2012 09:49AM
This style of bait was my best bait last year for big Largemouths in the wild rice, we know Smallies can't stand them and the inshore saltwater fisherman seem to think you need live bait. Slug-0, Fin-S-Fish, or Power Jerk Shad all work well but Zulus are tougher.
All Rapalas that wander are not lost.
02/24/2012 10:02AM
quote Arlo Pankook: "This style of bait was my best bait last year for big Largemouths in the wild rice, we know Smallies can't stand them and the inshore saltwater fisherman seem to think you need live bait. Slug-0, Fin-S-Fish, or Power Jerk Shad all work well but Zulus are tougher.
"
I have caught upwards of 50 smallmouth on the same Zulu....now that is one tough lure. They actually work better the more beat up they get. The action of the lure seems to improve, it is less rigid.
Nice fish by the way!
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
06/28/2014 02:15PM
This looks like an RT Slug that I use for flats fishing in Florida... Good for Flounder, Reds, SeaTrout and Snook... Sometimes I use no weight and they move on surface really well or I will use a weighted hook (Reds and Flounder)... Great bait and I was wondering if they would work in Quetico even though the package says "salt water".
If we aren't actively working to protect our planet, we are acquiescing to those who run their life as if their personal WANTS are the only things that matter. John
04/26/2017 09:02PM
I've used Zulus in sub surface like QM suggests and also put them on jigs while others were using twister tails. I thought the bigger profile would be fun to try. And they worked really well! Of course we were in Canada where there were a lot of fish, but still...they do work!
Thanks QM!
Thanks QM!
04/27/2017 07:24AM
I can sometimes catch up to 50 fish on one Zulu ( AKA ZMAN ShadZ\StreakZ ) since they are made from ElaZtech, unlike other soft plastics like Zoom flukes. Here's another small tip I have learned over the years to help you catch 100 fish on one Zulu....Put a drop of super glue right below the nose of the lure, it tends to get ripped out at that location. Also put a drop on the back of the lure where the hook penetrates through the grove.
If you fish extremely sharp jagged rocky areas use a braid line for your leader.
If you fish extremely sharp jagged rocky areas use a braid line for your leader.
I can be followed on Instagram @queticomike
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