Flatfish, The Lure

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I won a couple lots of used Flatfish lures on eBay recently.
I ended up with 26 of them, in various colors and designs, for $20.
Sizes range from F7 down to F3's (medium to small), and just a little spit and polish was needed to clean them up nice.
I tested one out today.

What a neat little lure! It is a slow bait, in that you can't run it fast or it twists and spins instead of wiggling on the retrieve. This can actually look like a fleeing prey, though, in short bursts. At normal speed it wiggles and wobbles like no ones business, and then basically hangs motionless when stopped. Theyre a surface lure, mostly, and float on splashdown. But they rise VERY slowly once stopped at their running depth (2-3 ft.).
I also watched them scoot and nose up the bottom mud as they came in shallow....
Very neat lure, with a wide action envelope. Also, no one uses them anymore so the fish haven't seen them - old school cool.
Any of you guys got tips for fishing them, especially the small ones?

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

POST NOTE: Nothing in the current instructions about adding weight. I know it was part of the old lore, though.

Maybe another "secret" technique lost to time!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

  According to my feeble memory......factory instructions recommended the split shot.

    The weight affects the depth......the angle of attack to the water and the speed of the wiggles.

    Try a couple of different size split shots and adjust up and down the line to tune in what you want.

Okay Steve, Ill check into that. Maybe I can find the factory instructions on the internet. Thanks, pal.

[Steve Wilson]

      According to my feeble memory......factory instructions recommended the split shot.

    The weight affects the depth......the angle of attack to the water and the speed of the wiggles.

    Try a couple of different size split shots and adjust up and down the line to tune in what you want.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

The eye does need to be centered, and the connecting link straight.
This is according to the originator, Charles Helin.
Also, if they have the dual-hook wire spreader in place of a single treble, then they probably need tuning. This contraption strikes me as kinda gimmicky, although it probably hooks fish. It could also contribute to the lures "weed catching" reputation.
Gonna try one with a double hook instead of the treble., and see what that does.

[Slip Sinker]

they were notorious for leaning to one side or another. they caught lots of fish in their history but they also caught lots of weeds.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

What does the spilt shot do, other than make it run deeper?
What am I watching and adjusting for?

[Steve Wilson]

    That's cool Scruff.  Flatfish are neat lures that work.  Haven't seen any in years.

    Use a small splitshot about a foot above the lure..... watch it and adjust if needed.