Saltwater Stickbaits For whatever reason, Texas coastal anglers don't employ stickbaits as often as saltwater fishermen in other Gulf Coast region. This is somewhat perplexing for a couple of reasons. One, stickbaits are among the most versatile baitfish imitations available. Secondly, decades ago, in the 1970s, an early saltwater stickbait, the Cordell Redfin, accounted for a then-state record speckled trout. Thanks to that catch, broken-back redfins are still thrown often in the Coastal Bend region. But, they are seldom utilized in other Texas coastal regions. Stickbaits are every bit as versatile as they were when that Redfin was used to secure a Texas state record. In fact, they are actually a bit more versatile. In addition to the old standbys like the Redfin and Bomber Long A, a number of other stickbaits have made it into the marketplace. Downsized versions, like the Bomber 14A are excellent choices in clear water or when fish are finicky. Sound-producing baits such as the Livingston Lures' STK, which emits a low-pitch croak when wet, are an entirely new generation of lures. And, regardless of any noise-making capabilities, the STK offers an excellent deep-body profile that is substantially different than most other stickbaits on the market, making it a good choice in off-color water or when fish are targeting big baitfish. Perhaps the most versatile is also one of the more recent creations - the 4in1 Lure. This bait utilizes an interchangeable lip system that allows the bait to be used at various depths depending on the lip it is fitted with. Previously, perhaps 90 percent of the stickbaits manufactured were geared toward 1 to 3 feet depth. The other 10 percent were geared to the 8 to 12 foot range. This obviously leaves a lot of water uncovered. And, even if you were to find baits to cover each depth range, it would take multiple baits. The premise behind the 4in1 Lure is it covers anywhere from 1 to 11 feet with one of four lips. This is a huge advantage when fishing transition periods when fish move from shallow to deep (or vice-versa) during the day. It is also handy when working around vertical structure such as docks and pilings where fish may be suspended at any depth. Regardless of the model chosen, stickbaits can be worked in a variety of manners. On a steady crank, a stickbait will dive to its designed depth and remain on that plane during the retrieve. A stop-and-go retrieve can be used at various depth. By pausing the retrieve, the bait will float up slightly, then descend again once the retrieve is renewed. A twitch-and-pause retrieve can be used in the upper portion of the water column. With this retrieve, a sharp twitch of the rod will cause the bait to dive. During the pause, it will float back to the surface - this is usually when it gets nailed (in cold weather, allow the bait to remain motionless on the surface as long as you can stand it). One of the most overlooked retrieves is 'waking' the bait just below the surface. This is accomplished by a slow, steady retrieve and high rod angle. When retrieved in this manner, the bait will dive just below the surface and cause a bulge or wave on the surface as it moves forward. This is an excellent way to catch both specks and reds on shallow flats or over grass beds. Again, this family of baits is perhaps the most versatile hardbaits on the market. They can produce fish with a variety of retrieves and under a variety of conditions. In short, stickbaits should be considered a cornerstone of any saltwater tackle box.