Fishing with Slabs...How to question

I'm a washed up bass fisherman on a pontoon boat nowdays. I've fished for stripers and hybrids a few times but wanting to learn and do more of this type of fishing. I've never caught a single fish on a slab. I've always wondered how its done. Tried a couple of times with no luck. I'm really interested in chasing some hybrids this summer but I seriously am a rookie at this type of fishing.

How do you fish with slabs? What are some proven techniques? Would love to hear from some of the hybrid experts on how you get your bites on slabs. Thanks.

I'm no expert and I'm sure others on this section can give better/more accurate advice but I'll throw in my 2 cents.

What I do is drop the slab straight down just below the depth that you expect the fish to be at. Then jerk up on the rod about 5ft and let the bait fall back down to the original depth. They usually bite on the fall so while it's dropping keep the line tight enough for you to feel the bite.

Hope that helps

If you see the school of fish you should not be able to get to the bottom of the lake before they hit it.Most other times you can hit know spots where they hang out and try to slab them up.Or use your electronics to find them.Most the time it depends on the depth the fish are at as to what method to use . Common vertical drop down to depth fish are at,and jig sometime you can just lift the slab of bottom just a little sometime alot,sometime you have to rip it all the way to the boat.Another Rip ,Rip ,Rip pause.Key to what ever method you use is to keep constant contact with your slab.Most of the time they will hit it on the fall,or pause.unless they are really chasing bait.I would say wait a little while till the water calms down, and the fish relate to some structure (With the high water they really like live bait in front of their face right now).Just get out there and try it time on the water will cure no fish on a slab.

Look up Sandjohnny here on the TFF and order some ole ugly slabs he will do you right also get some flies from him

Thanks for the tips. I just installed a Humminbird Helix 5 SI on my boat. So I have okay electronics.

I didn't mean to mislead anyone. I haven't fished with slabs much. Only a couple of times. But you know that feeling when you are using a lure or technique your aren't familiar with? It tends to eat at your confidence. And you have to have confidence in what you are using. I'm thinking I'll be giving them a go again pretty soon and wanted to get some info. I really appreciate it.

My preferred slab method is something like drop-twitch on the drop, lift, drop-twitch. repeat. I like to make bottom contact every couple of drops. Usually sandies & hybrids will hit on the drop.

You can also do 'deadsticking' which is essentially to move the slab as little as possible. This can work really well if you're drifting over an area rather than trying to hold position over one spot.

The key to slab fishing is to find fish. The method or the slab you use will not matter if no fish. Use your electronics and find liitle mounds on the bottom that look like fire ant mounds. Best places to look is humps near deep water and slopes and points.
Johnny

You can't catch fish on an old piece of lead and a treble hook!

Just kidding, all good info above.

I think there's some technique to slabing that will require going with someone who knows or a guide to learn the technique. I've tried it. I did catch a catfish but abandoned the technique due to the fact I could not catch much that way. I figured I must be doing something wrong.

Sandjohnny is spot on with his advise. "You can't catch em where they ain"t." Pretty simple when you find their location. Electronics and "location, location, location."
Don't give up. When all else fails, hire a guide. Best bang for the buck.

I'm too dang stubborn to hire a guide

But if I don't start putting my two boys on some fish that may be my only option. They're getting tired of going out and no action. We finally got into some crappie the other day. But I want to get them on some stripers or hybrids. Something that will get their attention and bend them rods.

I do appreciate all the tips and PM's. Great info. My confidence level has definitely gone up.

There's a couple of ways to go, from where you are at now. You could save yourself a lot of time by hiring a guide for a half-day. Let them know up front that you want to learn the different techniques and what to look for on your electronics. Most of the guides really enjoy the teaching aspect of their jobs.

if you know you're on whites, just jig thru em', & if one
way doesn't work, change up till it does. sounds simple, yes
but it's jigging.
I will say the old TNT 180 was the most productive slab I ever used,
(don't know how hard they are to find anymore), & the key on that one was the drop, fish ALWAYS ate that lure on the drop. RSR has a similar slab that works just as good. we used to drag that one thru the mud & get bit.
Just be creative. change up your jigging techniques until you make em bite.
'course it all changes on the next school......
also use a dropper fly if you're looking for fish, its just a PITA once you get on 'em. change colors. sure there's old standbys that almost always work, but what about when they don't?
I doubt you're really doing anything wrong, you may just need to polish up on your new electronics. stay vigilant, you'll get on 'em!

Last week it was as simple as drop down and reel up.. If you feel anything at ALL different set hook of if you feel nothing set hook for sure.

How do you like the Helix? I've already got a Bird SI now at the console and love it.

Once you get the "feel" of slabbing, you will see finding fish on your graph to be the more challenging part To me slabs are the easiest to use for kids and newbies on my boat because of the weight at the end of the line even in windy days.

I like to cast the slab and let it go to the bottom, depending on depth of the fish, I retrieve the slab 5 to 6 times and let my slab free fall back to the bottom. I like to release my button and actually let it free fall than just gradually drop.

Sounds like your getting a lot of great tips. I know the struggles that can be had in slabbing from a pontoon. Do you have a trolling motor? Not that it matters but there are times when I am out slabbing in my pontoon that I need to move around a bit say on humps...for that it is a must have. Keep at trying the slab and dont give up on it, once you get into a good school you will feel like a pro in no time. When I am out targeting hybrids if all I am getting is sandbass. Move around but pay attention to the depth at all times when you start pulling fish. Can be useful on fishing breaklines on ledges, flats, or on or the edges of humps. You would be surprised the difference a foot can make. I like the method dropping beside the boat for sandbass. But for me, I have really better luck at times fishing for hybrids away from the boat. When fishing on or around humps cast the slabs and vary your retrieve when you start getting the hang of slabbing, those hybrids will pick up the slab on the fall as you swim it, coolest bite there is. I mention this because you mentioned hybrids, sometimes they can be a bit more evasive than the sand bass depending on their population in the lake you fish. As it heats up late Jun, July, August and into the fall I love throwing big slabs...size does matter. Can you catch hybrids on 1oz slabs sure. But trust me you want at least 1.5oz to 2.5oz size slabs, big hybrids like big baits. Also, in most beginner slab fishermen I have seen where fishing with at least 1.5oz size slabs helps. You can really feel what is going on with it, you can feel the light taps, and you can really feel the snags...so be careful if you are dragging the bottom....although sometimes that is the trick to. Being good with a slab is just being versatile, the bite can be completely different same trip between sand bass and hybrids depths can be to. I learned a lot on my own trial and error, but learned a whole lot from guides that I have fished with. They can fix your learning curve significantly. Feel free to pm me or call me sometime, I dont fish much but have caught one or two on slabs.

Another thing: I have replaced the treble hooks with single hooks on many of mine, much better for me.

I usually cut off the welded hook of the treble hook. This saves time when taking off the fish and going down for another.

This or replace with single hook, also a swivel will prevent line twists.