You know what? I’ve tried a lot of shiny stuff. Some worked. Some just looked cute in the shop. After a pile of dawn starts, windy days, and muddy shoes, here’s my simple answer.
Quick answer
If I can bring only one lure for Virginia reds, it’s this:
- A 4-inch Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ on a 1/4 oz Eye Strike Redfish Eye jighead. Color: Houdini or Gold Rush.
Not familiar with that pair? The Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ is a durable, lifelike swimbait built for redfish, and matching it with a Redfish Eye Jighead featuring oversized 3D eyes and a stout hook turns it into a workhorse combo that survives oyster shells and bulldog runs.
It’s tough, it swims right, and redfish eat it like it owes them money.
I also track color trends and seasonal bite notes on Popdex, and that intel keeps my paddletail choices sharp. For anyone wanting the full deep-dive—including every lure that made (and failed to make) the cut—you can skim my complete tackle-bag notes on the best redfish lure in Virginia.
Why this one wins (for me)
It handles Virginia water. Clear, dirty, calm, or choppy. I’ve dragged it over oyster shells in Mobjack Bay and through grass on the Poquoson flats. It doesn’t tear easy, even when bluefish get rude. I can slow roll it on a flat or hop it along a marsh drain. It just… works.
And it makes that thump I can feel. Even with wind in my face.
Real days on the water
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Lynnhaven Inlet, late May: Tide was pushing in. Water had a light tea color. I tied on the Houdini paddletail, 1/4 oz head, 20 lb fluoro. I slow rolled the lure past little potholes in the grass. First thump felt like a door closing. A 25-inch red ran me around the kayak. I laughed like a kid because I almost dropped my net.
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Poquoson flats, wind and mud: The water was a mess after two days of blow. I went with Gold Rush on the same jig. Cast up current along a little cut that looked dead. Third cast, boom. A chunky 26-incher. That fish was so copper it glowed.
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Eastern Shore marsh near Oyster, September: Bait was thick. I got cute and tried three other lures first. Nope. Switched back to the Z-Man. Two puppy drum in ten minutes. Sometimes you don’t need to be clever.
Those marsh days are a blast, but I’m equally happy hiking upriver to see where the brackish turns fresh. If you’re into mapping out epic flows, here’s my take on the top 10 longest rivers worth chasing giants in.
Close contenders and when they shine
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Johnson Silver Minnow gold spoon (1/2 oz, weedless)
- When: Windy afternoons, stained water, grass everywhere.
- How: Steady, slow, with a tiny twitch now and then.
- Story: Back River flat, tide falling. I ticked the top of grass and let it flutter. A 27-inch red rolled on it like a lab after a tennis ball.
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Berkley Gulp! Shrimp (3", New Penny) under a popping cork
- When: Midday and picky fish. Great for kids too.
- How: Pop-pause-pop. Let the shrimp sit and sway.
- Story: York River feeder creek, high sun. Everyone else looked grumpy. I popped the cork along a little drain and caught three slot reds while eating a gas station sandwich. Classy? No. Fun? Yes.
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Heddon Super Spook Jr (Bone)
- When: First light or last light on calm water.
- How: Walk-the-dog with small pauses. Don’t set the hook on the splash—wait for weight.
- Story: Rudee Inlet wall at sunrise, slick calm. Three blowups. Landed one at 24 inches. I shook after that one. Topwater just hits your chest.
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MirrOlure MirrOdine 17MR (808 or “Electric Chicken”)
- When: Clear fall water, bait pushed tight to docks.
- How: Twitch-twitch—pause—twitch. Count it down a bit.
- Story: Lynnhaven docks in October. I missed two, then slowed down. Fish on. They swipe when they’re moody.
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Strike King Redfish Magic spinnerbait (1/4 oz, gold blade, white body)
- When: After a blow, when the water’s coffee and milk.
- How: Slow and steady, keep the blade thumping.
- Story: Wachapreague marsh edge. An old timer told me, “Put it on and just wind.” I did. Caught a red. Then hooked a skate. He just laughed and kept chewing sunflower seeds.
My go-to rig that never fails
- Rod: 7’ medium or medium-light spinning
- Line: 10 lb braid
- Leader: 20 lb fluoro, about two feet
- Knots: FG or a double uni if I’m lazy
- Jig weight: 1/8 oz for skinny water, 1/4 oz for 3–6 feet, 3/8 oz if it’s ripping
Tip: If mullet are showering, go paddletail. If shrimp are popping, go Gulp under a cork. If the sun is low and the water is glass, throw topwater. Simple call.
Where I throw what (Virginia spots I fish)
- Poquoson and Back River flats: Gold spoon or paddletail. Weedless helps.
- Lynnhaven and Rudee docks: MirrOdine or paddletail bumped slow.
- York River creeks: Gulp under a cork near drains at dead low to first push.
- Eastern Shore marshes: Spinnerbait after rain, spoon on bright days.
- Mobjack Bay oyster bars: Paddletail, 1/8 oz, light drag, keep your rod high.
Little things that help
- Match the water: Green water likes “Houdini.” Brown water likes “Gold Rush” or “New Penny.” Clear water likes “Opening Night” or plain Pearl.
- Don’t overwork it: Reds love a lazy meal.
- Watch your line on the pause: Most hits feel like a soft stop or a tick.
- Use your nose: If the marsh smells like low tide soup, fish the drains on the pull.
When the tide slacks and I’m killing time in the kayak by scrolling my phone, I sometimes wander far from fishing forums into the juicier gossip corners of the internet. If your curiosity ever drifts the same way, this roundup of recently surfaced private photos at fucklocal.com/leaked-nudes pulls everything together in one place—complete with context, timelines, and verification notes—so you can separate real leaks from over-hyped clickbait without hopping between sketchy sites.
On those rare out-of-state tournament weekends when the crew camps near the Mississippi River delta and we overnight in Avondale, the rods eventually get racked and everyone looks for a little post-fishing unwind. If you ever find yourself in the same boat—sunburnt, still smelling like shrimp, but craving some nighttime company—you can check out the local lineup of companions at TS Escort Avondale. The directory lists verified ads with clear photos and contact details, making it easy to set up a safe, no-guesswork meet-up so you can relax before dawn patrol the next day.
So… the best?
For Virginia, my winner stays the same: the 4-inch Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ on a 1/4 oz Redfish Eye jighead. If I’m tossing a second lure in the bag, it’s a 1/2 oz gold spoon. Between those two, I cover most days, most tides, and most moods—mine and the fish.
If you see a woman in a kayak near a marsh drain, talking to mullet and smiling at nothing, that’s probably me. I’ll have the paddletail tied on. And yes, I brought the spoon. Just in case. And when winter finally freezes the marsh, I trade reds for warm surf and chase reef fish—my pick for the best island to travel to in Hawaii hasn’t failed me yet.