1/1 and 1/2.

[quackquackboom]

Fished mid-blackwater on Friday Afternoon. Had a mix of big bait and small bait on planers and floats. LOTS of nervous baits. Seemed like at least one of the big baits was perturbed all the time. Had a couple swirls and baits jump but just did not have any eat.

Saturday AM same set up as before. Fished where we had marked a lot of bait the day before. I was reluctant to fish the muddy water. We picked up one 25" fish before we had to call it about 10.

Seemed like we had a lot of interest just nothing that was all that hungry enough to eat.

[mwardncsu]

Where you using the same books for big and small bait? Or sizing the hooks to the bait?

[quackquackboom]

I had two 8-10" baits out that I think had 2/0 and 3/0 circle. One 12" bait with a 7/0 j hook. I think we did have one big bait that got ate and didn't hook up because of the small circle. Next time I will be changin to larger j hooks on all large baits and be rippin lips. I have very little experience fishing with big baits so we thought/hoped it would hook up even with the circle. Lesson learned.


The small baits were all sized appropriately. I like circles on the small baits. In my experience I feel like when they get ate they get ATE and hook themselves.

[coheasion]

Hey quack -

Your report sounds almost identical to mine during that time. It was a touch weekend with the weather changing the way it did.

Now that you mention it the few fish I did catch were all barely hooked with the exception of one and I was using small bait with 1/0 hooks. So they may have just been toying around with them as well.

[danfox]

Good report. Thanks for posting it. You guys got me thinking about hook size. and the need to change with the size of the bait.

[mwardncsu]

Jan 6, 2016 9:18:55 GMT -5 danfox said:

Good report. Thanks for posting it. You guys got me thinking about hook size. and the need to change with the size of the bait.

Good.... too often we just use what's on the line... a few weeks back we put some 7" gizzards on a downline - the down-line was still rigged from summer-time fishing of alewife - with 1/0 circles - way too small for those baits.... up-sized them to 3/0's I think and it was better.

Alternatively you really want the smallest hook you can get away with - especially on ales & small gizzards.... I generally use a 1/0 circles on alewifes

[Gator]

I keep 40 or 50 leaders tied with different size hooks and it makes it easy to change out quickly, instead of cutting hooks off and retying to a shorter leader. After I finish my leader I coil them up and then I put a rubberband through the center of the coiled leader and then back through itself and then into a bag with the size hook written on the bag. Keeps things orginized and my leaders are ready to rock n roll.

[mwardncsu]

Jan 6, 2016 13:00:41 GMT -5 Gator said:

I keep 40 or 50 leaders tied with different size hooks and it makes it easy to change out quickly, instead of cutting hooks off and retying to a shorter leader. After I finish my leader I coil them up and then I put a rubberband through the center of the coiled leader and then back through itself and then into a bag with the size hook written on the bag. Keeps things organized and my leaders are ready to rock n roll.

When I first started I did something similar - tied up a bunch of hooks/leaders/swivels - wrapped them around a one-foot section of pool noodle - used a pin through the swivel to hold in it place, wrapped them around and stuck the hook in.

I had five or more sizes of hooks on the think..... one noodle for circles, one for J's. Over time I found I used mainly one size circle hooks (1/0) and three tops of Octopus - 2/0 for Ales, 5/0 for medium to large gizzards and 7/0 for mongos. I just tie them up on demand now - as I would never get around to replenishing the noddle storage of the right ones.....


Everytime I try and loop some pre-tied leaders they get in a monster knot.... made that mistake New Year's eve with 3 leaders/hooks/stingers.... took me 15 minutes to untangle it the next morning Would like to see your rubber band technique Mike......

[striperjohn]

Look up the Plano leader box. Cabelas calls it a spinner/snell box. Has 18 plastic units you can wrap 2-3 leaders/hooks on each one, they stack 3 on top/6 rows into a small 3600 plano box. Works great and stores easy.

[coheasion]

Well - I just googled fishing leader organization and this popped up and sounded like a pretty good idea?


Keeping light-tackle hook rigs organized and tangle-free is never easy, especially when getting several hundred rigs ready for the start of a long season. I started looking for some way to keep each one of my light-tackle leaders tangle-free but easy to access. While digging out a CD one day, I thought that the compartmentalized CD case might just make the perfect storage solution for my leaders.
I found that using a large CD/DVD case for light-tackle leaders leaves each hook and leader tangle-free, dry and organized. I tuck one coiled leader and hook into each pocket of the case for quick and easy access. The case also keeps my hooks rust-free and sharp until we need them. Some of these cases hold as many as 500 rigs, so you'll never be caught short. Plastic or rubberized cases seem to last a bit longer when subjected to salt, but the standard nylon cases work well too. I've picked up several of these cases at garage sales for less than a dollar.

[smlmike]

I use the pool noodle also about 12" long, holds about 12 rigs. Swivel, leader, & hook. I keep them in storage compartment ready to go. I use a palomar knot to attach to the main line.
I like the CD/DVD idea, gonna give it a shot also.

[archenemy]

I prefer to make my leaders on the fly, as needed, while I'm trying to steer the boat, reel in another fish, and light a cigarette. The fish seem to bite me when my hands are full;)

Sent from my XT1080 using proboards

[Gator]

Jan 6, 2016 15:48:14 GMT -5 archenemy said:

I prefer to make my leaders on the fly, as needed, while I'm trying to steer the boat, reel in another fish, and light a cigarette. The fish seem to bite me when my hands are full;)

Sent from my XT1080 using proboards

....and taking a leak

[mwardncsu]

Jan 6, 2016 15:48:14 GMT -5 archenemy said:

I prefer to make my leaders on the fly, as needed, while I'm trying to steer the boat, reel in another fish, and light a cigarette. The fish seem to bite me when my hands are full;)

Sent from my XT1080 using proboards

that's OK Charlie - I'll be there to slip in front of the rod and grab it when you step away

[Deleted]

Jan 6, 2016 16:06:18 GMT -5 Gator said:

Jan 6, 2016 15:48:14 GMT -5 archenemy said:

I prefer to make my leaders on the fly, as needed, while I'm trying to steer the boat, reel in another fish, and light a cigarette. The fish seem to bite me when my hands are full;)

Sent from my XT1080 using proboards

....and taking a leak

.... And fooling with two cameras...