Inlets condense the water column and flush bait fish from the back bay, salt pond, or river during an outgoing tide. Large predatory fish hence frequent inlets for free meals. That is, meals delivered to them via current for which they expend minimal energy. The most productive way to fish inlets is to cast up current and work the water column as your presentation drifts down current. This repetitive process is a proven and widely exploited method with artificials: plugs, jigs, metals, and plastics. Ironically, not with chunks.

To properly drift a chunk in an inlet, you need a rig that will cast far, drift, and not snag the bottom easily. I have developed a new rig that I call the “Canal Chunking Rig”. This rig uses a Tactical Anglers clip, two Krok 310 lb swivels, 80 lb mono, and a 4, 5, or 6 oz sinker. This rig is not commercially available. Making this rig takes time. But, it’s time well spent. Here is how I make this rig.

1. Tie a 40″ length of 80 lb monofilament to a 175 lb Tactical Anglers clip via improved clinch knot.
2. Tie a 310 lb Krork swivel on the other end of the line to form an end-to-end length of 12″.
3. Tie a 60″ length of 80 lb monofilament to the other end of the 310 lb Krork stainless steel swivel. Be sure to leave a long tag (e.g. 12″ long).
4. Slide an egg sinker (e.g. 4, 5, 6, or 8 oz) through the line and the tag end.
5. Loop the tag end back through the egg sinker and tie two overhand knots on the tag end to secure the egg sinker.
6. Tie a 310 lb Krork stainless steel swivel on the other end of the line to form an end-to-end length of 24″. This will give you a Canal Chunking Rig with a approximate total length of 40″.

I make 4, 5, 6, and 8 oz rigs Canal Chunking Rigs. I pre-rig my chunks on my hooks and slip them on and off the Tactical Anglers power clip. I also re-rig based on the current speed and the depth that I want to drift my chunk at. I tend to bounce my chunk across the bottom. But, when the fish are suspending and not staged behind structure, I will drift chunks throughout the entire water column. Time is fish!

Holding bottom with a castable sinker in an inlet with water moving at 5 knots is impossible. Go with the flow! Cast your chunk rig up-current and fish the drift. The predators are looking for meat. Feed them meat!

Jointed plugs have great action, but poor castability. The innovative multi-jointed design of the Vertebrae Darter has great action and great castability.  Joe Micelli made these once exclusive features possible with his patent-pending internal linkage system.

The Vertebrae Darter has two action profiles. The classic side to side action of a darter and a serpentine action of a swim bait. I have fished this plug from shore and trolled it from a boat. In both applications, the plug swims true. The plug casts like a needlefish and swim like a darter. But, unlike a solid darter, you can feel the plug swim.

The plug is currently available in one size (2 1/4 oz, 6.619 inches) and eight color patterns. The top three colors are: black, yellow, and white. I personally like the green one, which looks wicked as it swims!

The plug is made using a proprietary process that Joe Micelli developed based on his 30 years of experience as a machinist. He only uses quality components in his plugs to achieve a 175 lb dead weight rating:

• Solid Composite Plastic
• 210 lb Wolverine Split Rings
• 510 lb Tsunami Stainless Steel Swivels
• 175 lb Stainless Steel Ball Chains
• 3/0 4X VMC Treble Hooks

The Fish360 Team field tested the Vertebrae Darter on the shores of Cuttyhunk this past June. The plug stood up to the demands of extreme conditions and has hence found a permanent tube in each plug bag of the Fish360 Team.