By Steve Weisman

(photo by Steve Weisman) A chunky bluegill liked the action of the Dingle Drop/white Silkie combination.

It’s amazing how there’s always a new design, rod and reel combo, tackle, shelters, etc. I can’t believe that the manufacturers can keep coming up with the latest every year. That’s a testament to their creativity and testing to find new products that work.

When it comes to lures, tungsten has become the rage. They get down to the bottom more quickly and amazingly fish light. Although I still tip my small 1/32-ounce and 1/64-ounce Drop jigs with wax worms and silver wigglers, I have also found a time and place for the use of plastics, like the Maki plastics, which are designed to offer a lifelike movement of the aquatics that panfish will feed on.

This year I finally got ahold of the new Clam Silkies. In visiting with the designers at Clam and some of their pro staff, they raved about how the Silkies were going to be a true game changer. Known as a Silkie Jig Trailer, instead of being synthetic, it made from natural silk material. The silk strands are 1.5” in length, and a small silicone rigging ball holds them together. The ball can be slid to make one side longer. The presentation can be changed by moving the ball and hooking it in different ways. It’s all about experimenting. The longer it is in the water, the more it absorbs the water. This helps give it a really enticing quiver when you jiggle the jig. At least that’s what everybody told me. I’m one of those anglers who has to try it and experience it for myself.

So, I thought I’d give it a try fishing bluegills on East Okoboji and the bays of West Okoboji. There is pretty good water clarity up to about 8’ on East and, of course, West is clear, so I could watch my presentation with the Silkie and see how the fish reacted.

I used my favorite Dingle Drop 1/32-ounce jig, but I first started with a wax worm and then the silver wigglers. I had action like usual, a mix of small gills and some up to 8 inches. However, I had trouble getting the gills over 8 inches to bite. They would come in, but that was it.

So, I thought this is the time to try one of the Silkies. I chose white to go with the hot pink of the Dingle Drop. I kept the silk strands even and put the hook in middle of the silicone ball and actually ran it up the shaft of the hook so that the hook itself was exposed. I felt that this would keep everything balanced, help keep the strands moving together and give fish a clear shot at the hook.

I did find that the silk strands would move better and better the longer they were in the water. I was worried how the strands would hold up after catching several fish. However, they remained in place and were easy to put back. I caught several bluegills this way.

Then I tried adding a wax worm. Sometimes, I have trouble with the jig spinning when I have a wax worm on, but the Silkie seemed to keep things balanced and the jig steady, when I would stop my jigging. This presentation, too, worked. Both ways I caught bigger fish with my largest being a touch over 9”.

Now, this is only two different fishing trips. It gives me a clue, but I need to try it under other circumstances. Cloudy days vs. sunny days, middle of the winter and late winter.

I will say this that I have another choice. There are eight different colors (four Silkies per pak), so I have a lot to learn about how they work. I did find that I only used one Silkie for two different trips.  Of course, you can do all kinds of things, cut the strands shorter for less movement, you name it.

I do know that they have been pretty difficult to find but check out your local bait shops.