Zara Spook

[kc]

What Sammy model did you buy? If you don't have one try a Sammy 100. They walk easier and better than the smaller ones.

I held off for a long time buying Sammy's at $15 a pop but I finally broke down and it is one the the best surface lures I have ever used. At Barkley two years ago when I first purchased one I caught a 5+ right off the bat and was wearing them out over my son using a different walker and when I traded him he caught a 5+. A few week ends later on the tail end of the spawn (I had 2 Sammys for this trip) I took a 6.5 and one over 4 and between us my son and I took 19 keepers one morning. Sammys are all that.

kc

[zx150]

I don't own any but I may have to buy one or two. I have tried the Lew's and they work pretty well.

[Col Forbin]

The sammys are awesome. One thing about them, the tail is weighted, so they will not float straight - this helps with short strikes. Sammy's are hard to beat in the spring and summer (early mornings) in open water. However, from what I have found is the spooks work better for me int he early and mid fall. I usually start off smaller early in the year and get bigger as the year goes on - just like baitfish. By fall I am using the biggest spook, and it produces.

Tying a good loop knot will be your best help in walking better.

[davidsa]

I started with the Sammy 85's but I recommend people start wth the 100's. or even 115's.

Walking the bait came easy to me. I'm down at Lake Barkley May 2007 hammering the fish with the 85 and my Dad asks to borrow one so I set him up. He can't make it walk and never has a hit. He was really aggrevated as I continued to catch a fish about every 10 minutes. I had never thought anything about how to walk it before I saw this.

When I walk a 85, I use a hybrid line like Pline or Yozuri in 12#. I use a Gloomis MBR782 rod and a Shimano MG50 reel. I have tried at least 10 other rods and a few reels; nothing I have found comes close to the action the MBR782 can put on a 85. You need a limber but fast tip. When I walk the dog, I get most of the action from my wrist; not by long arm jerks. As I watched my Dad struggle, I saw him using mostly his entire forearm. My forearm moves very little. I use wrist jerk, crank, wrist jerk, crank, and get in a cadence. It is like you are trying to make the bait go side to side and not move toward you. The rod is also important. I have tried to use my slower action crank bait rods and they somehow do not work as well. If the rod is too stiff thought that is not verygood either.

I bought my Dad a Sammy 115 and he can walk that bait. His rod is probably too stiff and powerful but with that bait it does not matter. I have not had a bass hit a 115 yet though; only stripers and hybrids.

The 100 is pretty easy to work. Ideal rod for this is a MBR783 or I use a Falcan Cara T7 6'6MH.

Note on Braid- I have tried braid on several rods and do not like it for Sammy's. It tangles in the front hooks and somehow impacts action of the bait.

Sorry to go on so long, just wanted to give some that have not had luck with the Sammy a perspective such that you will test a number of rods and work on your technique until you get it to work. Literally I caught 100' (no white lies) of fish on a Sammy in 2007 and had not caught over 50 fish on a spook in the prior 20 years.

This last tip has worked for me. I try and fish a Sammy where a fish can pin it. Most of my hits in small ponds come just 2-3 feet from bank. Usually the same in lakes but a hump or shelf where the fish thinks the bait is trapped will substitute fine for a shore line.

Best of luck guys!

[Bobby Headrick]

The Sammy's are one of the best walker's out there, also I like the Rap Skitter Walk, I have caught several on this bait and it also is easier to walk than a spook and they are not as pricey as the Sammies.