Will smallmouth hit fatheads and creek chubs like they do shiners?

[Ohioguy25]

17 hours ago, Crackintubes said:

You can use a split shot if you want to sort of " dead stick" and just wait for the bite. Depending weight, it sort of "pegs" the chub in one spot, sort of like tying it too a leash. 

Obviously depending on weight and the length you leave between hook and sinker, it'll also adjust the depth the chub can swim around at. 

I have found it to be most effective when.fishing the current, as in, casting downstream and fishing the bait back upstream. I've had small mouth swim past my legs in the current and hammer it once they got past me. Also works great if you find a deep hole, and fishing the downstream side of the hole. 

Does the drop shot rig or any sort of split shot rig keeping it one place reduce natural presentation any, since the fish can’t freely swim?

[TnRiver46]

16 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Does the drop shot rig or any sort of split shot rig keeping it one place reduce natural presentation any, since the fish can’t freely swim?

They bite them really well with split shot or jighead. A lot of minnows are naturally down in the rocks feeding on aquatic insect nymphs. The only downside is getting stuck on bottom 

[Ohioguy25]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

They bite them really well with split shot or jighead. A lot of minnows are naturally down in the rocks feeding on aquatic insect nymphs. The only downside is getting stuck on bottom 

So bass are more likely to hit a minnow close to the bottom than near the surface or middle of the water column? Does the minnow being stuck in one place diminish natural presentation?

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

So bass are more likely to hit a minnow close to the bottom than near the surface or middle of the water column? Does the minnow being stuck in one place diminish natural presentation?

Nothing is ever black and white, bass don’t always do the same thing from hour to hour day to day. Just fish it and see how it goes! 

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Nothing is ever black and white, bass don’t always do the same thing from hour to hour day to day. Just fish it and see how it goes! 

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Nothing is ever black and white, bass don’t always do the same thing from hour to hour day to day. Just fish it and see how it goes! 

Ok, I tried the split shot, jigging off bottom every few seconds after current w little success. Think drop shot would be different?

 

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Ok, I tried the split shot, jigging off bottom every few seconds after current w little success. Think drop shot would be different?

 

Only one way to find out 

[Sphynx]

A buddy of mine who fished as a co angler for years and studied freshwater biology used to be fond of saying that "If bass had teeth and were the size of sharks, you wouldn't be safe to swim anywhere in North America." Bass will eat anything they think they can eat and or kill, baby ducks, rats, any fish they can catch and eat, all of the gazillions of lures we throw at them, pretty close to any baitfish is fair game to a bass.

[Ohioguy25]

33 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

A buddy of mine who fished as a co angler for years and studied freshwater biology used to be fond of saying that "If bass had teeth and were the size of sharks, you wouldn't be safe to swim anywhere in North America." Bass will eat anything they think they can eat and or kill, baby ducks, rats, any fish they can catch and eat, all of the gazillions of lures we throw at them, pretty close to any baitfish is fair game to a bass.

Yeah I’d even say with or without teeth if they were the size of sharks I wouldn’t get in the water! Those thin teeth they have already feel pretty sharp. But yeah they are swimming garabage disposals, esp largemouths.

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/2/2020 at 12:35 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Only one way to find out 

Had a decent day fishing from the bank w my dad, caught 8 smallies between both of us and 1 sucker unfortunately. Gonna hit up his friends pond tomorrow, gonna try some top water action, see if I can get anything to hit this whopper plopper.  Got a bunch of leftover chubs and shiners too, any idea how to fish those for largemouth in a pond? Apparently along w bluegill shiners are the top live bait for LMB.

[Sphynx]

Good luck with the plopper, I have a love hate thing with those

[Ohioguy25]

On 9/30/2020 at 9:52 PM, Crackintubes said:

I tend to use weighted techniques more so in the areas I fish, but, that's due to fishing faster currents in the rivers and streams I fish. 

It also depends on bottom structure, if the bottom is all sharp rock, brush, heavy weeds etc..I'll employ the free swimming technique, so I am not hung up constantly. But, again, most of my waterways are sandy bottoms or small river stone. 

 

 I dont necessarily think it is less effective, I just employ other tactics first. I'd say it's more just due to how I was taught by my father and grandfather than anything else. Old habits die hard they say. 

But, I have used them all effectively. 

Most important thing is to take all the information from everyone, and try it, adapt, and see what you like. 

You never know, you could figure out a whole new way to fish em that works flawlessly. 

 

There are countless of ways to fish em. 

I've hooked them through the mouth and "jerkbaited" them with small pops and twitches, threaded them onto underspins, etc etc. 

The fish will tell you what they're into

So I have fished w minnows a few times now, with great success. They seem to produce better results than crawdads or nightcrawlers by quite a margin, catching smallmouth in spots where I would normally get nothing or small panfish. They must really love minnows.

 

I have found it difficult to cast most of the smaller minnows far enough with the free rigging method, so I tried using a split shot but was frequently getting hung up. Do you think the slip bobber is my best option? What brand/size and how exactly do I do it again? Going tomorrow.

[Crackintubes]

2 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

So I have fished w minnows a few times now, with great success. They seem to produce better results than crawdads or nightcrawlers by quite a margin, catching smallmouth in spots where I would normally get nothing or small panfish. They must really love minnows.

 

I have found it difficult to cast most of the smaller minnows far enough with the free rigging method, so I tried using a split shot but was frequently getting hung up. Do you think the slip bobber is my best option? What brand/size and how exactly do I do it again? Going tomorrow.

Sorry, didn't get notifications to new posts until just now, glad to hear you were having success. 

That is one of the downfalls to dragging anything along the bottom, just the nature of the game.

 

A slip bobber setup will work well, or even a regular bobber. 

Here is a generic video of setting up a slip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out Rocket Bobbers, they are pretty slick. 

I'd post a link but don't think I can because they are not a sponsor. 

They absolutely fly.

[Ohioguy25]

2 minutes ago, Crackintubes said:

Sorry, didn't get notifications to new posts until just now, glad to hear you were having success. 

That is one of the downfalls to dragging anything along the bottom, just the nature of the game.

 

A slip bobber setup will work well, or even a regular bobber. 

Here is a generic video of setting up a slip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out Rocket Bobbers, they are pretty slick. 

I'd post a link but don't think I can because they are not a sponsor. 

Cool thanks!

[Ohioguy25]

50 minutes ago, Crackintubes said:

Sorry, didn't get notifications to new posts until just now, glad to hear you were having success. 

That is one of the downfalls to dragging anything along the bottom, just the nature of the game.

 

A slip bobber setup will work well, or even a regular bobber. 

Here is a generic video of setting up a slip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out Rocket Bobbers, they are pretty slick. 

I'd post a link but don't think I can because they are not a sponsor. 

They absolutely fly.

Why exactly do some people rig live minnows on jig heads, is this more effective? I thought the whole idea of live bait was natural presentation?

[Crackintubes]

2 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Why exactly do some people rig live minnows on jig heads, is this more effective? I thought the whole idea of live bait was natural presentation?

I can't say for sure. Most likely personal preference, but, you also get weight from a jig head. 

I use jig heads when I'm vertical jigging for walleye and panfish with minnows, but that's because I'm trying to get to the bottom in normally 10ft+ of water, and it also helps control rate of fall. 

[Ohioguy25]

7 minutes ago, Crackintubes said:

I can't say for sure. Most likely personal preference, but, you also get weight from a jig head. 

I use jig heads when I'm vertical jigging for walleye and panfish with minnows, but that's because I'm trying to get to the bottom in normally 10ft+ of water, and it also helps control rate of fall. 

For casting long distances is split shot a good choice? If so, do you then jig off bottom or just let it sink?

[Crackintubes]

6 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

For casting long distances is split shot a good choice? If so, do you then jig off bottom or just let it sink?

Depends on what you're trying to do. 

There's lots of rigging styles you could use to adapt. 

If you're just trying to drag a big shiner along the bottom of a river and impart action yourself, you could use a modified tokyo rig. 

 

Another option would be a "horizontal" drop shot.  Tie on a 3 way swivel, then tie whatever length leader you want plus the hook off one side. 

Then on the bottom swivel tie on a cylindrical dropshot weight. 

Drag the bottom and let the chub do its thing. 

Best thing to do is look up different rigging techniques, not even specific to live bait. Pick ideas and techniques you like, and adapt them to your style. 

 

 

 

[Ohioguy25]

2 minutes ago, Crackintubes said:

Depends on what you're trying to do. 

There's lots of rigging styles you could use to adapt. 

If you're just trying to drag a big shiner along the bottom of a river and impart action yourself, you could use a modified tokyo rig. 

 

Another option would be a "horizontal" drop shot.  Tie on a 3 way swivel, then tie whatever length leader you want plus the hook off one side. 

Then on the bottom swivel tie on a cylindrical dropshot weight. 

Drag the bottom and let the chub do its thing. 

Best thing to do is look up different rigging techniques, not even specific to live bait. Pick ideas and techniques you like, and adapt them to your style. 

 

 

 

I mean I guess I’m trying to catch the most/biggest fish lol

 

If I’m trying to keep it as simple as possible is a split shot 8” above a hook plenty adequate or will I have a lot more success w the drop shot?

[TnRiver46]

11 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Why exactly do some people rig live minnows on jig heads, is this more effective? I thought the whole idea of live bait was natural presentation?

I love a minnow on a jig head. Why do it do it? Because it catches fish of all species very well

[Spankey]

On 9/29/2020 at 7:00 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

Caught a bunch of them in a separate watershed. I assume they will work, but I might buy a couple dozen shiners just in case.

What type of system do you have to keep your shiners alive between trips?

[Ohioguy25]

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

What type of system do you have to keep your shiners alive between trips?

https://engelcoolers.com/products/7qt-live-bait-box

 

https://www.amazon.com/KEDSUM-Aquarium-Rechargeable-Portable-Transportation/dp/B07SB4MLJ6

 

works pretty well, change water every 12 hours, toss a few ice cubes in when water warms above 60.

[Spankey]

44 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

https://engelcoolers.com/products/7qt-live-bait-box

 

https://www.amazon.com/KEDSUM-Aquarium-Rechargeable-Portable-Transportation/dp/B07SB4MLJ6

 

works pretty well, change water every 12 hours, toss a few ice cubes in when water warms above 60.

That is pretty sweet. I have an Engle cooler that size. Not the Live Bait version and love it. That’s real nice man.  

And that inner mesh liner is cool and eliminates a dip net. 
 

Great set up. Real professional. 

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

That is pretty sweet. I have an Engle cooler that size. Not the Live Bait version and love it. That’s real nice man.  

And that inner mesh liner is cool and eliminates a dip net. 
 

Great set up. Real professional. 

Thanks man, yeah it is really well made. A little pricy, cooler itself was $60 but worth it, keeps water relatively stable temp and most importantly seals. I first tried using aerator w a regular cooler and by the time I got to my fishing spot I was soaked. The mesh liner is especially handy if you don’t use all your bait and have to keep them over night or a few days, makes changing the water incredibly easy. 

 

The aerator is great too, I wanted one that afforded me the ability to plug in at home and take on the water without having to buy batteries forever, this is the best of both worlds w the USB chargeability.

 

I mostly kayak, so I am going to buy this for next season to lighten my load as I already have 50 lb of **** on my boat and the cooler/aerator are nice but cumbersome, but I will definitely still use it for bank fishing and keeping minnows alive at home and in between spots:

 

 

https://baitshark.com/

 

[Ohioguy25]

On 9/29/2020 at 7:20 PM, TnRiver46 said:

They work better than shiners in my neck of the woods. Mainly because they stay alive much longer. Careful moving them from watershed to watershed or you’ll have the Minnesota minnow mafia after ya...... just kidding fellers! Couldn’t resist 

I just set a trap a couple days ago in a tiny creek by me. I know it’s full, can I leave it another day or do I need to go get them so they don’t die or the trap doesn’t rust? It’s one of the Gees 40 silver ones and it was kinda pricy so I’d rather not ruin it as I just bought it. My foot is injured and I’m on crutches so I’d rather wait until Iplan to fish to go get them, rainy here today.

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I just set a trap a couple days ago in a tiny creek by me. I know it’s full, can I leave it another day or do I need to go get them so they don’t die or the trap doesn’t rust? It’s one of the Gees 40 silver ones and it was kinda pricy so I’d rather not ruin it as I just bought it. My foot is injured and I’m on crutches so I’d rather wait until Iplan to fish to go get them, rainy here today.

I don’t know how long they take to rust but minnows can escape and a water snake can get in there and eat some of the minnows. I’ve trapped many snakes in a minnow trap and the initial “oh €%#*” factor is pretty high on those scenarios .