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Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
#14576008
12/26/22 03:24 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 44
murraycamp
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Outdoorsman
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OP
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Posts: 44 |
I know, I know - we are in trophy season now, but my thoughts have turned to warmer days and shad in 12" of water. Also, I am restocking terminal tackle using my whisker seeker gift card Santa brought me.
So, my question is - does anyone float small pieces of cutbait under a slip float rig for shallow water blues in Spring? If so, do you use a J hook or what? I like fishing this rig generally and also like to avoid 3x hooks if possible (solo kayak). My concern, however, is whether a suspended bait on a J hook might not hook up well.
Thoughts?
Last edited by murraycamp; 12/26/22 03:25 PM.
“Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll buy a funny hat. Talk to a hungry man about fish, and you're a consultant.†― Scott Adams
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576086
12/26/22 04:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 961
Rowdy
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 961 |
I am not a big fan of treble hooks, with a few exceptions of coarse. The punch baits would be one exception it helps hold the bait on the hook better. I like our new single hooks, what you should try for a better hook up is the off-set. It's just enough so the point of the hook when laid flat on like a table, it's out the side profile of the main body of the single hook. So it has a much improved hook-up ratio over just our old flat j-hook.
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576096
12/26/22 04:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 3,877
Grasshopperglock
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 3,877 |
Look at suspended trotlines. Where the, not tied to a stump end, has a jug.
Nothing but J hooks. Plain old straight shank J hooks.
Same with single jug lines.
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576249
12/26/22 07:51 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 521
skeetmaster
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
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Posts: 521 |
Murray, that's my exact setup for blues and channels in the spring during the spawn. Definitely j-hooks and not circle hooks. I like a slip bobber rig so I can change depth. During the spawn, I've found bigger blues in the very back of small coves just off of the main lake really close to deep water. My best days are when there's at least a 15-20 mph wind blowing into the cove. Makes it a little rough but I generally spot lock about a long cast from the bank. I'll probably be in 5 or 6 feet of water and landing my baits in a couple of feet of water or less. I use bigger baits to weed out some of the smaller fish but I still only use about a 3/0 to 5/0 hook. Some days I'll spotlock a little further out, maybe in 10-12 feet of water and casting my baits into that 5 to 6 foot range with my bobber set a bit deeper, maybe 3 or 4 feet. Occasionally we'll land a few fish in the twenties but mostly in the 5 to 12 pound range. It's a great time for numbers of fish but I prefer the winter bite with bigger fish.
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576254
12/26/22 08:05 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 44
murraycamp
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Posts: 44 |
Rowdy: Thank you. I hear you on the 3xs. If there is a way to get a face full of hooks, it's throwing a 'trap in the wind on a yak. Can you recommend a specific offset hook you run?
Grasshopperglock: Good point man. Hadn't thought of that - thanks. Skeeter: Gotcha on the J hooks and I really appreciate the detailed explanation.
“Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll buy a funny hat. Talk to a hungry man about fish, and you're a consultant.†― Scott Adams
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576257
12/26/22 08:11 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 3,877
Grasshopperglock
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 3,877 |
If it helps. My stash of hooks are size 2/0, Kahle. Eagle Claw brand. I've always considered the treble hooks being a way to hold dough bait better. With live or cut bait, using the single hooks. Edit for a picture,
Last edited by Grasshopperglock; 12/26/22 08:20 PM.
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576262
12/26/22 08:20 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 44
murraycamp
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Last edited by murraycamp; 12/26/22 08:21 PM.
“Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll buy a funny hat. Talk to a hungry man about fish, and you're a consultant.†― Scott Adams
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576301
12/26/22 09:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 660
KEGracing
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 660 |
I like to fish spring and summer shallow like Skeet describes above. Especially with really hard south winds, when it is hard to drift at slow speed and rough with kids on board. I like the kahle hooks for this fishing. Those eagle claw work well and dont break the bank.
Happy New Year all. Ken
2006 Mako 191. Momma tired of slime on her boat 2014 Premier Alante 235 RF tritoon. Momma's boat. But I get to fish on her some
A country boy will survive... but those who cross him?
Cedar Creek personal best: Blue Cat 31.55 lbs Hybrid 6.2 lbs Crappie 2.1 lbs Tennessee River Blue 45.7
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576372
12/26/22 10:49 PM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 44
murraycamp
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Skeetmaster et al. - do you use this approach pre=spawn (assuming shallow fish) as well? KEG - thanks!
Last edited by murraycamp; 12/26/22 10:50 PM.
“Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll buy a funny hat. Talk to a hungry man about fish, and you're a consultant.†― Scott Adams
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576391
12/26/22 11:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 3,877
Grasshopperglock
TFF Team Angler
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Posts: 3,877 |
Skeetmaster et al. - do you use this approach pre=spawn (assuming shallow fish) as well? KEG - thanks! This is your chance, come spring, to validate how yourself is going to approach it. Shallow? Maybe deeper. 5' range. The out skirts of a perch bed.
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576504
12/27/22 01:20 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 660
KEGracing
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
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Posts: 660 |
I am no expert on this stuff... still pretty new to it but trying to learn and willing to pay my dues with hours on the water.
Yes - pre spawn - at times. Have caught them much earlier than the spawn. Follow the bait - whatever they are eating at the time. And the wind might change, and fish move... One of the things I have learned is to not lock myself into one pattern or location. Fish will make you look bad in a hurry sometimes. Just part of FISHING.
Good luck. Ken
2006 Mako 191. Momma tired of slime on her boat 2014 Premier Alante 235 RF tritoon. Momma's boat. But I get to fish on her some
A country boy will survive... but those who cross him?
Cedar Creek personal best: Blue Cat 31.55 lbs Hybrid 6.2 lbs Crappie 2.1 lbs Tennessee River Blue 45.7
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576767
12/27/22 04:59 AM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 521
skeetmaster
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 521 |
Skeetmaster et al. - do you use this approach pre=spawn (assuming shallow fish) as well? KEG - thanks! Murray, For the pre-spawn I generally like to fish the very shallow areas at the mouths of main feeder creeks around timber in water that's less than 5 feet deep. I will almost always anchor with a double anchor setup and fan cast all around the boat. You want to make sure you have a really good anchor setup because if you have a lot of wind and you don't, you'll breakaway and have a complete disaster on your hands. I won't use the slip bobber setup during this time because I'll have 6-8 rods out at one time which would be fine if you didn't have a whisper of wind. If you did though, all your bobbers would end up in the same place downwind of your boat and end up completely tangled.
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: KEGracing]
#14576805
12/27/22 05:15 AM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 521
skeetmaster
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 521 |
I am no expert on this stuff... still pretty new to it but trying to learn and willing to pay my dues with hours on the water.
Yes - pre spawn - at times. Have caught them much earlier than the spawn. Follow the bait - whatever they are eating at the time. And the wind might change, and fish move... One of the things I have learned is to not lock myself into one pattern or location. Fish will make you look bad in a hurry sometimes. Just part of FISHING.
Good luck. Ken Man, Ken, you are absolutely right about not locking yourself into a pattern or location. That's what separates the average cat guy from the really good ones. Knowing when and where to locate fish. Especially in the spring with the constantly changing weather patterns. If you look at a map of your favorite lake and you can only pinpoint three or four locations or areas that you predominantly fish, you need to do more exploring. I've found that sometimes, whatever my game plan is, I'll have at least 3 or 4 backup plans or locations, at least 2 of which, I've never even tried. Some of the best days I've had were just on a complete hunch in an area I had never tried before. With that being said, I've also been skunked more than my share of times. Those times are getting less though, the better I get with my graph. I learned a lot from Catfish Tim and El Gato about the graph. I also have another friend that only uses his graph for depth and water temp. He finds his fish on a topo map the day before he fishes based on where he thinks the fish are going to be with respect to the weather. I can honestly say that he's as good and as consistent as anyone I've ever seen.
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576835
12/27/22 10:08 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 961
Rowdy
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 961 |
Depending on what size of bait and if it's cut or live. But for the most part I really like 3/0-5/0 hooks and I am no stranger to taking a flat hook and using two sets of pliers to bend my own offset in the hook. Specially if I have the size and wire strength I want but it's not offset, well it gets that before I tie it on lol.
Brand wise, heck I have a host of brands, Owner is a brand I have used for years as well as some I have bought and use tying flies out of when fishing in the Gulf. Umpqua X-Series XS415H BN5X in a 3/0 makes a great hook that once a offset bend put in it, really is a great hook that I have exhausted my stash of. Umpqua has a XS425 BN5X that is another good hook if you can get them in a big enough size.
No, a rattle trap in the face would not be anything fun no matter what you are doing, nor from what type of boat, or not lol. I have always loved to fish from my FishcatIV float tube. I have been caught off guard a couple times by things in it and always left me with that impression lol.
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Re: Slip floats for cut shad in Spring
[Re: murraycamp]
#14576846
12/27/22 11:15 AM
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,406
Catfish Tim
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,406 |
A J hook or Aberdine hook under a slip cork was my go to rig for a long time. It was great for the kids because they could cast it. I can't remember how many Zebco 33s I rigged like that for my kids growing up. I used that rig for Crappie, Bream and channel cats for years. Solid, simple and flexible. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...
Catfish Tim ðŸŸðŸŸ"If it doesn't have whiskers, it's just bait"ðŸŸðŸŸ Romans 8:1
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