Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Posted June 13, 2014 Weird story time…. Burn me a vacation day to go to Pickwick yesterday, been wanting to go during the week so here was my chance….. most know me a non sugar coater….. so I am I sharing the good pics and vids, I am going to share the not so good. It was the weirdest jig bite I have EVER encountered…… I consider myself a “jig guy” and fairly handy with the lead and hook if you know what I mean…. Siebert Outdoor’s jigs make it easy. I am not “accomplished” by any stretch but I do consider myself better than average…..anyways, what you are about to see and hear from me makes me look and feel like a total and complete novice…… so take heed and solace that it can and WILL happen to anyone on any day. I am fishing ledges, not full blown river channel, but intermediate, mid column ledges….. I had idled down about a 2 mile stretch and found a kick out.. Has a nice shape to it and a good drop and probably a deposit of mussel shell…… with as straight as ledge had been I felt confident that fish WILL be on this spot, because of current, they really had no other choice if they lived in the area. Make my first cast to what I figure is the sweet spot, and had to kick my trolling motor in reverse so I am drifting backwards as I make the cast….. This is an important factoid. My drift is starting to slow and I pick my jig up off the top of the ledge….. rock rock rock ….. lower my rod reel some slack to pick my jig back up, as I am close to coming off the top. As I begin to pick my jig back up, I feel my jig coming up against a rock and since my boat was still drifting backwards I didn’t think much about it, I just needed to pull it off…….. pull, pull.....hey dummy that aint a rock , LOL.. it was a fish, and a good one to boot. 4.40# on the scale. This happened more than once or twice yesterday……. It was the weirdest bite I have ever experienced… I had fish spit it at the boat, missed several….. don’t get me wrong, I had a good day with the 4.40# and a 5.20# anchoring a 17.82# bag, by myself. I am gaining confidence each time out on finding fish, bigger fish…… I needed yesterday, I needed to know what it was like to miss fish, be half clueless and still put together a sack. Granted after the day was over you always wonder how many you really did miss……. Never would you have convenience me on the water that I was THIS late on the fish, until I saw the video…. It is repugnant, and I am lucky to have landed the fish. I have some things about the bite (on the day, not this fish) and other bad habits/form I see that I will explain, but I want your eyes to see the video first……….moral of the video is don’t be braindead and be ready on the first cast to a spot, cause it will happen and know EXACTLY what you are feeling. SO LETS TALK ABOUT IT! 6 Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 So you snuck out by yourself on a weekday while poor Jeffro was working. Shame on you! It feels good when it finally starts to come together. 4 Quote
quanjig Posted June 13, 2014 Posted June 13, 2014 Do it all the time, such a slight pick up and move off with the bait, the only hint is a change of direction! Happens to me quite frequently, there are days to me that that's how I come to expect the bite!! 1 Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 Jig bite is all about what it shouldn't feel like...some thing that just aint right! Ya just learned the smallest lightest bite has nothing to do with the size of the fish! Experiencing that bite is a huge leap, how many times in the past do you think plan missed that bite? 3 Quote
Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 So you snuck out by yourself on a weekday while poor Jeffro was working. Shame on you! It feels good when it finally starts to come together. I asked, he decided to be responsible.... Do it all the time, such a slight pick up and move off with the bait, the only hint is a change of direction! Happens to me quite frequently, there are days to me that that's how I come to expect the bite!! that is the funny thing, they never moved, never swam. which is why(in part) I mistook this one as a "rock" I was fishing around a bunch of mussels too, and they have their own distinct feel(as I am learning)..... there were times I was dragging and feeling mussels, then get hung on one. I wasn't getting hung on a mussel.. what I felt when I felt it was the bass spitting the jig that is the only "tic" I felt. when I landed the 5.20# fish, I set the hook when I felt the "suction"..... those are the hardest to feel and have confidence in, because you rarely feel it... and knowing you are fishing mussel mounds, drops, ridges, ect I can easily mistake it for "natural" d**n, learing is fun.....but WORK. 2 Quote
Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 Jig bite is all about what it shouldn't feel like...some thing that just aint right! Ya just learned the smallest lightest bite has nothing to do with the size of the fish! Experiencing that bite is a huge leap, how many times in the past do you think plan missed that bite? I am scared to even think on how many fish I have missed in the past... as usual you are spot on, I indeed hope this is a "leap forward" because I never felt that bite until yesterday. I have caught them on the fall before and other various bite too, but NOTHING like what I felt, or didn't feel, yesterday.... makes me more excited to get back after them! THANKS CATT. 1 Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 The most difficult bite to feel that one, the bass simply inhaled the jig & sat there, no bump, no line movement, almost like it's hung on some thing. Despite what you will hear about the bite on a jig & the bite on a Texas Rig being different. Don't believe it...you WILL get the same bite on a Texas Rig when cast, flipped, pitched, or punched! 2 Quote
quanjig Posted June 13, 2014 Posted June 13, 2014 Like Catt said, I have it happen more often while fishing shallower, but yea, the old Mexican stand off, "I think that's a bite....... Is that him?????........ Wait....... No, ........... No that's a snag....... Pffft, out goes the bait....... Yep, that was him..........." That's how it happens to me!! That's when your buddy in the back of the boat says things like "the fish don't have hands" and "hook sets are free" 2 Quote
Super User Hi Salenity Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 I had a few bites like that the other day in 20fow. I went home and spooled up some braid. I do love having nothing on deck but Jig rods! 1 Quote
MemphisFF Posted June 13, 2014 Posted June 13, 2014 Good story Brian I'm starting to love and really am learning them Tennessee river ledges, good stuff. 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 Nice Fish Brian and your post made me smile - and don't kid yourself - that could have been anyone of us on that fish. I watched the video before I read the text. I counted like 8 seconds between when the bite is evident in the video to when you detected the bite, and then another 2 seconds to set the hook - nice one btw. So that's easily 10 seconds from bite to hook set. I call those Suicidal Strikes and I LOVE those bass. I hope every PB I ever get from this date forward is just like that because I need the help. Good Stuff. A-Jay 2 Quote
Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 Good story Brian I'm starting to love and really am learning them Tennessee river ledges, good stuff. there is nothing like it, I love it..... if schedule ever allows we'll get together sometime! 2 Quote
Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 I counted like 8 seconds between when the bite is evident in the video to when you detected the bite, and then another 2 seconds to set the hook - nice one btw. A-Jay I didnt do a countdown, but I beilve it........ it was just so weird. dont know where you started your count, but the more I watch it the more I think the fish had before I lowered my rod the first time (you see it load a bit, but it actually might have BEEN A rock) its a "good" post for others to see IMO, we always seem to get mired in our success, and never acknowledge our failures...... and without the failures we have no room to grow and learn. to err is to fish right? 4 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 I didnt do a countdown, but I beilve it........ it was just so weird. dont know where you started your count, but the more I watch it the more I think the fish had before I lowered my rod the first time (you see it load a bit, but it actually might have BEEN A rock) its a "good" post for others to see IMO, we always seem to get mired in our success, and never acknowledge our failures...... and without the failures we have no room to grow and learn. to err is to fish right? I'd have trouble calling that a failure with a nice bass in the net. I am not busting on you Brian, like I said, that happens to everyone; and anyone who denies it either doesn't recognize it's happening, is in denial or doesn't jig fish. (and probably doesn't own a scale) As I watched it, it looked like the fish picked up the jig at the 25 second mark and you seemed to detect it at or near the 33 second spot. The hook set at 35 seconds sealed the deal. I will say that I'd encourage you to keep that net right at your feet - All the Time. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User Hi Salenity Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 Brian, this would be a good day for you to play the lottery. 1 Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 Next time you target green fish on the ledges, try a purple worm or more specifically a Rage Tail Thumper (bluefleck). You might also consider feeding some smalljaws. Posted May 18 2014 - 09:14 AM Two boats, four fishermen = 74 smallmouth, 8 green fish and a dozen or so "other species". EVERYTHING was caught on a 3" tube, although I threw a variety of hard baits, jigs, soft swimbaits and other soft plastics. Also note: the color was BPS 71 except for one smalljaw I caught on an original Gitzit, baby diaper yellow (chartreuse). 1 Quote
Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 oh I know, I never thought you were busting on me. In the past I was "somewhat" in the "I don't miss fish" crowd...... I guess this is why this is so earth shattering to me, LMAO. even if I was totally asleep at the wheel yesterday, my eyes are open to many things that make sense and things I must change. failure is a strong word, I suppose. Mistakes I made other than the obvious 10 second gap: 1. rod WAYYYYY to high, I don't know why I was doing that 2. when I dropped the net on the deck, I let slack in the line when the fish changed directions (lucky) 3. misplayed the fish. those things don't seem normal to me, but it is AMAZING what you see when you see yourself on film.....just like in golf we say "feel aint real" who you think you do and what you actually do is sometimes very different. 3 Quote
Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 Brian, this would be a good day for you to play the lottery. YAYYYYY, then I can move to Pickwick!!!!!! 1 Quote
Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 Next time you target green fish on the ledges, try a purple worm or more specifically a Rage Tail Thumper (bluefleck). You might also consider feeding some smalljaws. shhhhhh! 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted June 13, 2014 Super User Posted June 13, 2014 oh I know, I never thought you were busting on me. In the past I was "somewhat" in the "I don't miss fish" crowd...... I guess this is why this is so earth shattering to me, LMAO. even if I was totally asleep at the wheel yesterday, my eyes are open to many things that make sense and things I must change. failure is a strong word, I suppose. Mistakes I made other than the obvious 10 second gap: 1. rod WAYYYYY to high, I don't know why I was doing that 2. when I dropped the net on the deck, I let slack in the line when the fish changed directions (lucky) 3. misplayed the fish. those things don't seem normal to me, but it is AMAZING what you see when you see yourself on film.....just like in golf we say "feel aint real" who you think you do and what you actually do is sometimes very different. Yup ~ and what we never want to happen but is much more the norm, when that fish of the year (or life time) presents herself, she will let us know about any & all short comings in our game plan . . . which often results in a good fish story rather than smiles & photos. So this video is a good thing, for all of us - Every sub - PB bass is just practice for the real deal when Slaunch Magnum Momma eats that jig. I'm hoping that the practice is good & done right and will pay off with success. A-Jay 2 Quote
Brian Needham Posted June 13, 2014 Author Posted June 13, 2014 RW I'll say this too....... I don't think they are all the way there yet, I heard Randy Haynes talk about it too last week and I cant say I disagree. In fact the 5.20# I caught if she had been off the bed a week I am not typing this post... bloddy tail, scared up, nicks, rashes on the belly... I think it is all late this year. Hackney talked about catching some pre spawn fish last week, how crazy is THAT! 1 Quote
MemphisFF Posted June 13, 2014 Posted June 13, 2014 Two weeks ago we had a fish full belly on Kentucky lake that's what I was thinking crazy late spawn, I'll try to find that pic 2 Quote
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