The Ripplin’ Red Fin – Niche lure makes good in storybook ending.

Have you ever discovered a fishing spot/honey hole that you just knew hadn’t been fished before? It happened to me, only once, and it was magical. It was the summer of 1984 (as best as memory serves me), and I had decided one afternoon to take a walk down the gravel path across the road from my uncle’s cottage…

I took that stroll every once and a while to look for baby snapping turtles, as the adult turtles dug nests in the loose rock near the end of the road. The end of the path was lined in bulrushes, as tall as your eye, and was surrounded on all sides by a swamp that was adjacent to the main lake. It was brilliantly sunny that day, with birds flittering about, frogs jumping into the tall grass and cicadas humming on nearby telephone poles. There were a few disturbed turtle nests but no turtles that day, so I decided to engage in another favorite pastime of mine at the time: chasing leopard frogs – an obsession my son has inherited.

What creatures hide among and beyond the cattails?

I spied a green and black spotted giant and gave chase through the grass. As usual the web footed reptile eluded me, launching itself through the bulrush wall. On this particular occasion, and for reasons forgotten to me now, I followed that frog, plowing my way into the field of brown cotton cobs. After a few feet of slow progress, the rushes opened up onto a small circular clearing. The frog sat in the middle, obviously unammused by my pursuit. The blue sky burned above me as a blue heron flew overhead so close that it caused the rushes to sway. At that moment the frog bolted forward again, obviously spooked by its natural adversary. I heard a splash, and I followed. What happened next I remember as if it was just yesterday - I pushed my way through the tall reeds like I was opening a set of curtains, stepped forward, and instantly soaked both my feet. What I had stumbled upon was a three meter wide canal connecting the main lake to the swamp. The shrubs, reeds and vines curled up along its edges, camouflaging it from sight. The water itself looked to be at least a meter deep, and it was festooned in petrified fallen tree trunks and limbs. I was frozen but my mind raced. Here, I thought, here be bass! Another low flying bird snapped me out of my stupor and I turned and ran. I ran straight for the cottage and my tackle box and rod.

I had the perfect bait for just such an occasion: A fish-frog imitator - Cotton Cordell's Ripplin’ Red Fin. I quickly attached the lure to my line, stuck its last treble hook in a line guide and then bolted back for the hidden canal. When I got there I was breathing hard and my hands were trembling in anticipation. I had little doubt that I’d find a fish here. I somehow released the lure from its hanger, carefully swung it over my head (there was precious little room to maneuver), and laid down a cast that would be the envy of Al Linder and Rolland Martin combined. The Red Fin landed mere inches from a huge half-sunken log, right in the middle of the water course.

I twitched it.
I waited...
I twitched it again.
I waited a little longer…

Then I started my retrieve in earnest - and suddenly, BANGO! My drag started screaming. A green football shaped torpedo had slammed my silvery pearl lure and was doing its best to swallow it. I tightened down the drag and started reeling in the fish. A heart stopping jump or two later, I lipped a four pound fire breathing beauty – not the biggest bass I have ever caught, but probably the most memorable and satisfying. I stood there a while admiring the fish before bending down to release her. After watching it swim away I took notice of the frog I had chased earlier, sitting in the water with its hands on a lily pad. I thanked the frog for showing me this secret place, and then quietly, happily, made my way back to the cottage for dinner.

Topwater Bottom Line: Because of my success with the Ripplin’ Red Fin that day, I always keep a couple in my box – call me a sentimental old fool. I don’t use it often, but I will get it wet on occasion when I find a stretch of water that looks like it requires a jerkbait/topwater presentation. And that’s the interesting part of this lure, in that it is kind of a crossover type of bait, a frog-fish imitator that has its very own niche. This lure does however seem to be tailor make for pike fishing, as those toothy predators seem to enjoy eating strange and wonderous things. In many ways pike are much like Tiger Sharks in that regard. I suggest replacing the rear treble with a dressed one to add even more substance to its already substantive presence; its wavy sides create an interesting profile, and the lure wobbles tightly and wildly seemingly because of this. When I do toss this lure I throw it on 10 pound mono, spooled onto a medium action spinning reel and rod combo. Colour/pattern choice seems to be limited, but there are a few choices between chrome and solids (older shad patterns can be found with a bit of searching online). The price remains resonable at an average of 4.99 a piece, and though not a lure you may use daily, it does belong in your box, especially if you are a pike fisherman. As always, please practice catch and release with this lure.

Topwater Rating:

4 out of 5 bobbers

With the addition of a feathered rear treble, the Cotton Cordell Red Fin really shines in specialized duty.