Simcoe Bugs for Lakers

There is a lot of interest in these bugs lately here on LSO. My buds and I fish for lakers in Muskoka and what we catch are usually small. I know my bud M Kerwin has had some luck with them but apparently not much, if any last year. I know some of you, esp Mykola, seem to use them a lot. I assume SS77 must have been quite lucky with them as he has started his own "production line". I have tried a 'knock off" version occasionally with no luck.  What has been your experience ?

Do you use them alone or with bait?

Do you use them on one regular single hook, or further up the line as a 'high hook'

Any preferred technique? Mykola has some specific jigging technique.

I look forward to an interesting discussion. TIA

Straight 4lb fluoro tied direct to the Simcoe Bug. Has got me many large lakers up here in Haliburton area. Sometimes tipped with an XL shiner eyeball, or a pin head minnow head, just the head. Or tipped with tiniest piece of worm that will fit. This year I’ll be running a high hook on top of that, just a simple drop shot hook and plastic redworm. Gently tap bottom and lift dead slow, repeat. Try lifting a fish sometimes they follow and smash it, but always slowly, sometimes add a jiggle or a wiggle.

Thx for the tips, Nicholas. I want to give them a better try this year. The old standby, minnows, didn't work too well last week. Neither did worms, tubes or other bait.

I'm a bit surprised that you are the only 1 to comment so far given the buzz that was happening on SS77's post. I guess the other guys are waiting until he gets his production line in high gear so they can give the bugs a try.

To be honest I haven't used them on Muskoka lakers before. I definitely will be trying them on Family Day weekend at the cottage when Joe opens. I can attest to success on Nipissing walleye with the bug.

A large Simcoe Bug -- any one from the "natural sampler" pack -- tipped with a shiner, is my go-to for Muskoka area lakes. With the exception of last season, these baits have consistently produced good fish for me. I have fished them occasionally without minnows but have only had lookers.

I use 4 lb. test ice braid with a fluoro leader. At times, I use a split shot 1'-2' above my Simcoe Bug to get the bait down more quickly; however, even without the added weight, the lure gets down to 60'-70' in a reasonable amount of time.

Fishing at bottom or just off bottom, either dead sticking or just slightly jiggling the bait, with an occasional reeling up several feet and letting the bait fall has worked well.

I haven’t used the Simcoe bug much but I have been running a fly (often imitating a wax worm or scud) as a “high hook” above a live minnow on my set line. The only reason I don’t use the bug is most have a tungsten bead on them and I prefer to run the fly in-line. It definitely works though.

I tie the fly and minnow hook ~7” apart above a dropshot weight using a palomar knot. The minnow I have ~1.5” above the weight close to bottom. I find the movement from the live minnow is enough to give subtle life to the fly just above it. I have caught cisco, perch, whitefish, lake trout, pike and even a smallmouth bass all on the top fly. Seems to work when the fish aren’t as aggressive and gives them a choice to pick between.

Sounds like a nice setup. Where do you get your flies?

Thanks for the tip!

Any flies I can find that imitate one of the aquatic stages of insects (larva, pupa, nymph) or a scud, I like the ones that are finished with resin. I think it gives them a bit more of a realistic look and more durable than flies tied with natural hair and thread. I’ve gotten some really nice flies from a fly tier named Brian Smith. Feel free to PM me if you’re interested, I can send you a link to his website.

Another one bites the dust.

was this one tipped with anything?