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Post by Pete D. on Jan 2, 2014 22:01:16 GMT -5
sutor623 - we don't have (many) threadfins on SML at the moment..... some say its a good thing as they take part of the blame for our fish kill - they had taken over the bait population and a severe winter killed off most of them and then the stripers starved.... sorry - I digress.... Right now we're marking most of the bait in the 20-30 range, sometimes deeper - on a warm, sunny day some of those pods are coming up to the 10-15' range...... Yea I have read up on the parasites, its sad really. But the lake will prevail!!!! Thanks for the tip. Last friday when I went out I had to buy minnows for the first time in a while. All of the schools of bait that I marked were in the main parts of the lake and between 30-40ft, so I couldnt hit them with the net. I am going to try and net some in the 20-30' range next weekend, and if I cant do it with the 8'net, then I am going to invest in a 10'er, thanks to you guys. Just curious, do you have side imaging?
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Post by mwardncsu on Jan 2, 2014 22:14:13 GMT -5
Be forewarned - this site is good at causing you to find you need to purchase a bunch of stuff you didn't know you needed Yes, I have the Lowrance StructureScan (with side & down imaging). It can be VERY useful in finding pods of bait.... would be nice to have it on the front of the boat, but like BentRod said, when you mark it, pivot around and net it....
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 2, 2014 22:17:50 GMT -5
Agreed. I just invested in a swivel mount so that I can at least read the graph from the bow. Pretty soon I will get another smaller unit for the bow, and network the heads. THen I want to get a transducer switch so that I can switch from TM ducer to transom ducer. And yea if I could look back 2-3 years ago and see all of the gear that I have now, I would wonder how I managed to stay married.
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Post by mwardncsu on Jan 2, 2014 22:25:27 GMT -5
If you have a Lowrance HDS setup and network them over Ethernet then you don't need an xducer Switch - you can display the xducer connected to either unit - that is from the bow you can display the xducer connected to the console/transom - from the console you can display the xducer connected on the bow.....
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piper
New Member
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Post by piper on Jan 2, 2014 22:52:45 GMT -5
Geeeez..You guys make me jealous. Im lucky to get my 8 footer to open half way decent. Been all over you tube trying various styles and ideas. Are there methods you guys have found that really work. Ive got the time and space to practice but for some reason its like my golf game..I get it figured out on the range...on the course..foooooore
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 2, 2014 22:58:28 GMT -5
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piper
New Member
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Post by piper on Jan 3, 2014 8:37:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the links. I learned from my grandafather using a 5 footer but he threw the opposite way. For some reason i cant get the frisbee concept figured out. Been catching a few gizzards but only in 20ft or less
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 3, 2014 8:57:33 GMT -5
Plus throwing a 5' net is an entirely different concept. I throw my 6, my 8 and my buddies 10 each a little differently.
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Post by Live Bait JunkEE on Jan 3, 2014 8:59:37 GMT -5
Here is another option for throwing the cast net -- still take a little practice but is direct and simple -- always practice makes you better each and every time - www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6vUFrk49jI
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 3, 2014 9:51:53 GMT -5
Nice. Thats basically the same thing except you dont have to put the net in your teeth. I am going to give that a try.
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 13, 2014 16:13:50 GMT -5
MWard, so what size bait would one pull up with a 5/8" mesh? You said that your 3/4" does well with bait 9" and over.Ideally I guess I would have a 10ft in the 5/8 and a 10ft in the 3/4. Do you think that the 5/8" will sink quickly enough to catch 30-35ft. gizzards and big threadfin? Do you think that 3/4" is entirely too large of a mesh for threadfins at all? I like my 3/8" net but boy am I learning over and over that it is only effective in 20ft. water, TOPS!
Basically I am trying to decide whether to buy a 5/8 or 3/4" mesh. I think 1/2" is too close to what I already have, and will sink too slow to catch deep bait regardless of lead weight.
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Post by mwardncsu on Jan 13, 2014 16:24:04 GMT -5
3/4" will gill the monster ales, but not really much else - maybe an occasional 5" gizzard. I've gilled bigger ales and the bigger "peanut" gizzards (juvenile gizzards) in the 5/8. We have not had threadfins for several years so I don't have a lot of experience with then, but I'd think a 5/8" may be a good net to catch larger threadfins, but you'll likely gill some that are a little smaller - keep imn mind a 5/8" is a 1-1/4" stretched, so baits that "tall" can squeeze through. The other side is a 3/4" MAY be a weaker net - depending on the lb test of the mono used to make it - so it might be easier to tear if you hang it up... I never throw my 3/8.... well, only if I know it is LOADED with tiny bait and I don't want to be picking hangers out of a Christmas Tree'd 1/2" net. The 1/2" is my go-to net for ales & peanut gizzzards, If they can slip through the 1/2" they are too small for me to fish with anyway The 3/4" is a good deep-water gizzard net.
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Post by Pete D. on Jan 13, 2014 16:39:29 GMT -5
Ok cool. Thanks for all the feedback. There's a lot of nets out there!! I'm like you, the reason that I bought my 3/8 mesh net was to avoid gilling smaller bait. I will often have to sort through it though. The 1/2" net will turn out to be a christmas tree often at Anna. That is why I want to step it up past 1/2" to a bigger mesh. Plus I doubt the 1/2" will sink that much faster than the 3/8" anyways. Okay well this gives me a lot to think about. Thank you.
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piper
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Post by piper on Jan 13, 2014 22:22:30 GMT -5
I think my current net is 5/8..but id have to check...man good luck to you nailing bait in 35 ft of water. Ive gotten lucky thus far in the winter however everything I catch is in the 20 ft range. Cant see how 35 foot would be easy unless there is a massive school..which again I havnt located..most shad I spot are heavily scattered.
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piper
New Member
Posts: 727
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Post by piper on Jan 13, 2014 22:23:58 GMT -5
Also I ordered some pinch on weights to add a little heft to my net. This might be something to look into to.. I scored em on evilbay fwiw
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