What Luke Is Throwing for BIG Inshore Fish This Fall

Fall can completely change the way you should approach inshore fishing.

Luke has been testing one particular strategy lately, and it’s been producing some of his biggest fish.

But it only works when the conditions are right.

Here’s when he uses it… and when he switches away from it.

Want to fish the Skinny Lipper XL this fall?

It’s included FREE in the Ultimate Fall Bundle 2026, along with our hand-picked lures for the fall feeding frenzy.

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Featured Gear

• Skinny Lipper XL

Why Bigger Plugs Shine During the Fall

For years, Luke primarily relied on soft plastics.

And they still have an important place in his tackle box.

But when fish are aggressively feeding, he’s found hard plugs offer a few major advantages.

First, they can cast a LONG way.

Second, they allow you to cover water quickly.

And third, a larger plug with single inline hooks can help filter out some of the smaller fish.

Luke regularly sees small trout and other undersized fish swipe at a larger plug without getting hooked. That commotion can even attract the attention of a larger predator nearby.

That bigger fish sees what looks like another fish trying to grab an easy meal and comes charging in.

During aggressive feeding periods, Luke now reaches for plugs far more often than he used to.

And fall is one of the BEST times to take advantage of that.

Fish the Feeding Window, Not Just the Lure

This is probably the most important takeaway from the entire conversation.

The Skinny Lipper XL isn’t automatically the best choice all day.

Luke’s recent trip was a perfect example.

Early in the morning, the fish were actively feeding around schools of mullet.

Luke was throwing the Skinny Lipper XL while his dad was fishing a Prawn XT Jr.

During that aggressive window, Luke could cast roughly 30 to 40 feet farther, cover more water, and get his lure in front of fish his dad simply couldn’t reach.

He caught the biggest trout and biggest redfish during that stretch.

But then the conditions changed.

The sun came up.

The wind died.

The water got calmer.

And the plug bite slowed down.

Luke switched to a much quieter soft plastic presentation and started catching fish again.

That gives us a simple rule:

Aggressive fish = cover water with plugs.

Slower, pressured fish = slow down with soft plastics.

Soft plastics can catch fish during BOTH feeding conditions.

But when fish are really fired up, a plug can give you a serious advantage in how much water you can effectively fish.

How To Retrieve the Skinny Lipper XL

One of the advantages of the Skinny Lipper is that you can change the retrieve as the bite changes.

The lure floats and has a small lip that makes it dive just below the surface when twitched.

When Fish Are Aggressive

Early in the morning, Luke fishes it FAST.

He uses a quicker retrieve with repeated twitches, making the lure dart erratically like an injured baitfish.

The goal is simple:

Create commotion and cover water.

The built-in rattle adds sound while the erratic movement mimics vulnerable bait.

This is the retrieve Luke likes when fish are actively chasing bait and competing for food.

As the Bite Slows Down

As the sun gets higher and the fish become less aggressive, Luke slows everything down.

Instead of continuously working the lure, he gives it a single twitch.

The lure dives several inches below the surface and then slowly floats back up.

Then he repeats it.

This lets you keep using the same plug while presenting it much more slowly.

Eventually, though, there comes a point when even that becomes too aggressive.

That’s when Luke puts the plug away and switches to a soft plastic.

Why Casting Distance Matters So Much for Big Fish

Casting farther isn’t just about covering more water.

It can also help you catch fish that would otherwise know you’re there.

The biggest fish have usually survived long enough to become pretty good at detecting danger.

Your boat, kayak, footsteps while wading, or even your presence can shut them down before you ever get a lure in front of them.

The farther away you can make an effective presentation, the better your odds of reaching those fish before you spook them.

That becomes especially important during fall when schools of larger redfish can move onto shallow flats.

Sometimes those schools pop up just outside normal casting range.

Being able to make one long cast without pushing the boat closer can be the difference between hooking into a giant redfish and watching the entire school disappear.

And remember:

Ten or twenty extra feet might not seem like much on ONE cast.

But over 100 or 200 casts, that extra distance adds up to a huge amount of additional water covered.

Final Thoughts

There isn’t one lure that’s going to dominate from sunrise until you head back to the ramp.

The better approach is matching your lure to the feeding mood of the fish.

When fall fish are aggressive, especially around active bait schools, a bigger plug can help you:

• Cast farther
• Cover more water
• Create more commotion
• Reach fish before they detect you
• Potentially weed out some smaller fish

But once the sun gets high and the bite slows down, don’t force it.

Slow down and switch to a quieter soft plastic presentation.

That ability to recognize when the feeding window changes is much more important than blindly sticking with one lure all day.

What’s your favorite lure for targeting BIG redfish in the fall?

Let us know in the comments!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are bigger lures better for redfish in the fall?

Bigger lures can be extremely effective when redfish are actively feeding, particularly around larger baitfish such as mullet. They can also help reduce some strikes from smaller fish. However, bigger lures are not always the best choice once fish become less aggressive.

When should I throw a plug instead of a soft plastic?

Luke prefers plugs during strong feeding windows when fish are actively chasing bait and willing to move for a meal. As conditions get calmer, the sun gets higher, or fish become less aggressive, he switches to quieter soft plastics.

How should I retrieve the Skinny Lipper XL?

When fish are aggressive, use a faster retrieve with repeated twitches to imitate an injured baitfish and cover water. When the bite slows down, use individual twitches and allow the lure to float back toward the surface between movements.

Why is casting distance important for redfish?

Longer casts allow you to present your lure farther away from the boat or angler. That can be especially important for larger fish that may detect your presence before you get close enough to make a normal cast.

Should I use a plug when it’s windy?

Plugs can work very well in wind, but Luke prefers models with larger lips and more vibration when the water becomes heavily disturbed. In calmer conditions, he favors the Skinny Lipper-style presentation.