Head423 Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I am fairly new to bass and baitcasting fishing. When you guys are fishing a lure that works the bottom how do you let the line fall? Do you disengage the spool immediately after the cast and wait or do you let the line spool off after water contact with the spool still engaged? Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 If fishing shallow I just disengage the spool and don't worry about it, if I'm fishing deep which is very rare around here, I'll throw it out then pull some more line out to get it to fall straight down. Quote
Super User Jrob78 Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 It depends. If I'm casting or pitching to a specific area or object I will feed line so the bait falls on a slack line. If I'm fan casting or in really shallow water I don't worry about it. Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 It depends. If I'm casting or pitching to a specific area or object I will feed line so the bait falls on a slack line. If I'm fan casting or in really shallow water I don't worry about it.Same here. If I'm pitching a jig to a standing tree, I want that bait to fall vertically right to where the bass are, rather than swimming away from them. If I'm casting around to drag it on the bottom or whatever not as big of a deal because I'm looking for fish, and trying to get a decent idea of bottom composition. Quote
AdamsEye Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 If you are casting on a tight line, the bait will fall on a curve towards you. When you are casting past your target this is not a real big factor. When you are trying to hit a target deeper, or with a long cast, you want that slack line to keep the bait falling where you put it. Hope that helps! Quote
SchlottyD Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I usually only give slack by lowering the rod tip, that is just how I have always fished. Works for me, results may vary. Quote
Super User WRB Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 Bass are not bottom feeders, they will strike lures on or near the bottom sometimes. You need to keep in touch with your lure from the moment it hits the surface until it comes to a rest on the bottom. Sometime you want the lure to fall vertically by feeding controlled slack to the lure, keeping a feel of the controlled slack at all times. Bass may strike the lure at any moment and you need to detect that strike. Tom Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 Bass are not bottom feeders? Interesting! How do they eat crawfish? 3 Quote
bassinyea Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Bass are not bottom feeders, they will strike lures on or near the bottom sometimes. You need to keep in touch with your lure from the moment it hits the surface until it comes to a rest on the bottom. Sometime you want the lure to fall vertically by feeding controlled slack to the lure, keeping a feel of the controlled slack at all times. Bass may strike the lure at any moment and you need to detect that strike. Tom Im pretty sure bass feed on the bottom as well as the top of the water and everywhere in between. I think what was meant is that bass are not bottom feeders....except when they feed on the bottom. Quote
Shanes7614 Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Bass are not bottom feeders, they will strike lures on or near the bottom sometimes. You need to keep in touch with your lure from the moment it hits the surface until it comes to a rest on the bottom. Sometime you want the lure to fall vertically by feeding controlled slack to the lure, keeping a feel of the controlled slack at all times. Bass may strike the lure at any moment and you need to detect that strike. Tom Please explain how a jig and Texas rigged baits are considered by most fishermen as two of the most productive baits for ALL size fish?!?!? Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 Bass are not bottom feeders in that they do not eat dead things like a catfish will. Bass will sit on the bottom and feed on any available prey that is on the bottom. When fishing water deeper than 15' I will on occasion strip a couple arms lengths of line to ensure a vertical fall. One occasion would be fishing timber & I want my lure to fall next to the tree. I never ever let any lure lall on slack line, I always follow it down with my rod. Quote
papajoe222 Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Welcome to the board and this awesome sport. WRB's statement is correct. Bass' including smallies, are not bottom feeders. Their eyes are positioned for optimal viewing above and in front of them. In order to view something below their line of sight, the have to adjust their body position, or the object needs to be at a distance that allows it to enter their field of vision. This is the reason most hits occur as the bait is falling. This fact is a little off topic, but does pertain to the OP's question. A lure falling on slack line is difficult to detect a bite on. Whether the reel is engaged or in free spool, some tension on the line is paramount to success. If casting to a specific target, cast past it whenever possible. You can then maintain some tension on the line as your lure falls toward you. The more tension (reel engaged), the more it will move toward you Quote
Super User Raul Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 Bass are not bottom feeders? Interesting! How do they eat crawfish? C'mon Catt, you should already know that they won't eat crawfish since craws walk on the bottom and bass are not bottom feeders. Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 C'mon Catt, you should already know that they won't eat crawfish since craws walk on the bottom and bass are not bottom feeders. Well dang I guess I need to throw away all my jigs,craw worms, worms, & every lure that sits on the bottom! Quote
Fisher-O-men Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I am fairly new to bass and baitcasting fishing. When you guys are fishing a lure that works the bottom how do you let the line fall? Do you disengage the spool immediately after the cast and wait or do you let the line spool off after water contact with the spool still engaged? Pretty sure you got your engaged and disengaged confused, but we know what you meant. Whatever you do you need to watch your line. Quote
Super User WRB Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 Well dang I guess I need to throw away all my jigs,craw worms, worms, & every lure that sits on the bottom!Yep, throw them away! You will only catch carp, suckers and other bottom feeders. Bass like things that look alive, not dead laying on the bottom. Make your cast, strip off line in a controlled manner watching and feeling the line all the time. Casting out and leaving a lot of slack line in the water letting the lure sink can work, like picking out a backlash, it's usually a good technique. Yes we have all had bass eat a lure falling on slack line and didn't know it until reeling in slack only to find a bass swimming off with it. Even a dead stick bite, the bass knows the lure is there, it didn't swim by and discover it laying there. Quote
kingmotorboat Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Well dang I guess I need to throw away all my jigs,craw worms, worms, & every lure that sits on the bottom! Hold on I'll give you my a dress you drop them off too me and I will discard them for you Quote
Super User Raul Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 Well dang I guess I need to throw away all my jigs,craw worms, worms, & every lure that sits on the bottom! No need to throw them away because bass will hit them when they are not sitting on the bottom ya know, so, keep them off the bottom . Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 Hold on I'll give you my a dress you drop them off too me and I will discard them for youI'd like to get in on this deal as well Quote
Super User Catt Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 No need to throw them away because bass will hit them when they are not sitting on the bottom ya know, so, keep them off the bottom . The ones I got must be broke! When I pull em off the bottom they fall right back down! According to fisheries biologists in almost every state bass are bottom feeders which is why we have warnings issued for contamination from mercury poisoning. Quote
Super User Raul Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 The ones I got must be broke! When I pull em off the bottom they fall right back down! I don´t know how many times I´ve told you to stay away from the cheap stuff and clearance bins. Quote
Uncle Leo Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I remember a day on Choke Canyon that on every cast I landed a bass deadsticking a senko. I wonder how that dang senko floated? 1 Quote
Shanes7614 Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 I'd like some of whatever WRB is smoking please!!!! Quote
Super User WRB Posted June 25, 2015 Super User Posted June 25, 2015 Bass eat demersal prey doesn't mean they are bottom feeders, look at the mouth, is it turned down like a sucker bottom feeder...no it hinges upward. Do you see bass rooting around the bottom, turning over rocks, digging up mud and weeds, no! Do you think OP is confused by now? Tom Quote
Uncle Leo Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Seems I read somewhere that a bass can suck a bait In.Even seen video proof of it. Seems to me that provides for the ability to feed off the bottom. At least that seems logical. Quote
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