Vintage Helin Tackle Helin Flatfish, 1/3oz Yellow / Black fishing lure #4686

Fishing is an age-old practice that has evolved over the centuries, with new and improved fishing gear and techniques being developed regularly. However, one thing remains constant: the importance of the lure. A lure is an artificial bait that mimics the movement of prey, attracting fish to bite. One such lure that has been a favorite of anglers for over 80 years is the Flatfish.

The Flatfish is a lure that imitates a small fish, and it comes in a variety of sizes and colors. It is designed to be fished slowly to mimic the natural movement of injured or dying baitfish, which is a tempting target for predatory fish. Flatfish has been proven to be an effective lure for catching a variety of fish species, including trout, bass, walleye, and pike.

One of the unique features of Flatfish is that there are big and small sizes, but there are no bad ones. Regardless of the size or color, they all work well. However, they are not commonly used by bass fishermen because they need to be fished slowly, and bass anglers tend to prefer faster-moving lures.

One particular favorite Flatfish is the F4 size, which is 1 1/2 inches long and comes in a perch scale color. This size is ideal for trolling rainbow trout in ponds, especially in the early summer. The recommended setup is to run the plug on a 30-foot, 6-pound-test fluorocarbon leader ahead of 60 feet of lead-core line. The lure should be fished slowly, with the boat being paddled or rowed slowly to create a wobbling motion but not spinning. This technique is highly effective for catching larger rainbow trout, over 20 inches long.

In conclusion, the Flatfish is a versatile and effective lure that has stood the test of time. Its ability to mimic natural prey and its variety of sizes and colors make it an excellent choice for a variety of fishing situations. If you're looking for a lure to use for rainbow trout in ponds, give the F4 size Flatfish a try, and you may be rewarded with some trophy-sized fish.