Captain Pete Rosko is a legendary lure innovator and fishing educator whose groundbreaking designs have revolutionized the sport fishing industry for over four decades. Born in 1937 near Lake Erie in Ohio’s walleye country, Pete developed his passion for angling at age three and began designing fishing lures during his teenage years, eventually creating award-winning innovations like the Erie Shiner, which won the American Sportfishing Association’s “Best Spinner” award. After earning his D.D.S. from The Ohio State University and practicing dentistry until a career-ending neck injury in 1989, Pete transitioned full-time to lure design and development, applying his scientific background in anatomy and materials to create more effective fishing tools.
Pete’s lures have contributed to multiple state, international, and Hall of Fame fishing records, while his commitment to education through technical guides, seminars, and mentorship has helped countless anglers improve their success on waters from Alaska to Florida
By Pete Rosko
Almost two years ago, my life was interrupted after being involved in an accident with a truck while working with the WDFW. Since then, my rod has not touched salt water. Before that accident, I shared my fish-catching experiences in the monthly issue of the Mack Attack. I hope to return to those articles once more, beginning with a lure I refer to as my “Mini Mite” the 1/10 oz Sonic BaitFish.
I’ve always loved fishing this little lure, especially when others around me are using live minnows. To me, that’s the ultimate test of its effectiveness.
I designed it with freshwater fishing in mind, replacing my younger years of using live bait like crayfish, frogs, minnows, and nightcrawlers. At 89, I’ve grown to dislike killing anything especially frogs. Back then, we chased largemouth and smallmouth bass, along with bluegill and crappie, in reservoirs just south of Lake Erie in northeast Ohio. Eventually, my dad introduced my brother Bob and me to Lake Erie walleyes. That was in the late 1940s, and it was love at first sight.
Most of our fishing took place at night in a rusty iron boat with no flotation, powered by a 5-horse Johnson outboard that worked more often than not. A Coleman gas lantern hung over the side would attract thousands of emerald shiner minnows, making bait easy to gather with a fine mesh net. Walleyes and blue pike were our primary targets. Sadly, the blue pike a subspecies of walleye began disappearing in 1959 due to oxygen depletion caused by massive algae die-offs from phosphate runoff. They were declared extinct in the early 1980s. Walleyes survived thanks to multiple spawning areas beyond Lake Erie, while blue pike relied solely on it.
In the mid-1980s, I developed two lures for Lake Erie: the Erie Shiner and the Crippled Herring. Both proved highly effective and marked my decision to move away from live bait entirely. The Crippled Herring gained widespread success across North America and beyond, eventually leading to the development of the Kandlefish and, later, this jig. About ten years ago, a 3/4 oz version helped land a 14-pound Lake Erie walleye one of the top sport-caught fish on record by 11-year-old Will Tibbels through the ice.
Before my accident, I fished the 1/10 oz version every way imaginable casting, vertical jigging, and trolling and all methods consistently produced. This article is especially for novice anglers. One of the best ways to learn a body of water is to fish about an hour before dark on a calm evening. Fish move shallow during this time to feed, and surface activity will quickly tell you if you’re in the right place. If there’s no activity, don’t waste your time move on.
Two days ago, I finally decided to give fishing another try despite limitations with my casting arm. I visited a small pond within walking distance of my home and immediately noticed surface activity from feeding minnows and fish. I cast toward visible movement and used a slow retrieve with my rod held high at the 12 o’clock position to keep the lure near the surface and avoid snags.
I made about twenty casts. Every cast produced at least two strikes, with some producing as many as seven. I was using a gold finish with a barbless single hook, and all the fish were bluegills. Every strike was aggressive. That’s one of the true joys of fishing this lure it casts like a bullet and consistently produces hard, unmistakable hits.
The following day, I returned and experienced the same success. I can’t fully describe how rejuvenating it felt to be back on the water. Fishing has always been something I could look forward to, and even now, it continues to bring a sense of peace and excitement that few things can match.
For gear, I used a lightweight 6-foot spinning rod with a stiff butt section and extra-fast tip for longer casts. My main line and leader were both 8 lb test. I attached the lure using a wide bend snap (included in the package) to enhance its action. A swivel is only necessary when trolling.
In closing, I’ve always believed that it’s the anticipation of the next strike that keeps us coming back.
Description Details / Sizes Tips The Sonic BaitFish can be cast, swam, jigged or trolled and features three attachment points, enabling flu...
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