Panfish on a weedless rig?

[OmegaDPW]

I picked up some 3 inch finesse worms the other day from one of the overseas sites and found some #4 offset round bend hooks that work perfectly with them. They're too light to cast weightless so I'm going to use a simple split shot rig to help cast 'em out. I have never fished for bluegill/crappie with a hook set up like this- always an exposed hook on a small jighead, etc. Seems the bluegill like to "snap" at the bait and basically hook themselves. Does anyone think this set up will actually work? Will I have enough time to feel the bite and then try to set the hook like my favorite TX rigs for bass? 

 

 My local pond is full of stumps and weeds and whatever else. I've lost hundreds of dollars in Beetle Spins over the last 20 years out there, which is why I thought about trying this weedless set up. The bass there have a tendency to go after whatever bait I throw, so I'll hopefully catch something, regardless. Guess I'll find out Saturday morning... 😁

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings!

Based on your description it looks like you are prepared to enjoy a new year of angling adventures! Yes, you'll be positioned well using the configuration described. You will most likely find more than bluegill interested in that rig. 

 

I often use a similar rig frequently, and I use it pretty much all year round. I do mix it up between the hook styles, small fine wire extra wide gap hooks, or the fine wire offset worm hook. I usually prefer the EWG hooks as there is a greater than 90 degree bend available with those to better hold the soft plastic in place.

 

As for the soft plastics I use it is a collection of salvaged bits and pieces. Usually it is some segment of a torn or used worm that is 2 - 4 inches. Sure I can purchase like the small 3 inch version of cigar worms, I do have a few packages of those handy. During my angling adventures I'm forever picking up garbage along the way. Some of the discarded soft plastic bits get recycled by me for this type of ultra lite angling. I'm more about catching that casting. I'm good with any fish on-line.

 

During the warmer months I send it out weightless using either a UL spinning, BFS, (when not too windy), or spin cast  (Zebco Omega Pro, which works great regardless of wind.condition). During warm season, there is plenty of shallow activity, so going weightless is very successful in the shallows or in cluttered areas. The strikes generally occur rather quick so no need for a fast fall or to get tangled up either. 

 

During the cooler months, depending on the location, a 1/32 oz or 1/16 oz bullet weight is used just to reach the depths a tad quicker or to provide more bottom contact feedback. This past weekend this accounted for a couple of bass and whole bunch of trout. I did not manage to find any bluegills in my regional lake. The water temperature was on the cold side.

 

Realize fish of all sizes will be interested in that size and type of offering, just be sure to give them time to realize it is there before them. It is one of those baits that does not require much input to be successful. 

 

Have a great time this weekend! We'll be looking for your posted results. Happy New Year! Cheers!

[OmegaDPW]

22 hours ago, Fishing_Rod said:

Have a great time this weekend! We'll be looking for your posted results. Happy New Year! Cheers!

 Thanks much for the detailed reply, buddy. I'm going to try something totally different and ditched the split shot for a free rig. I found one old free rig weight at the bottom of my tacklebox and may as well try that out. Rain is supposed to be coming in tonight but out at the early morning. I'll give it a shot!

[Mobasser]

Do a Google search of the Charlie Brewer weedless crappie Slider. It's been around for many years, and catches most everything.

[OmegaDPW]

15 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Do a Google search of the Charlie Brewer weedless crappie Slider. It's been around for many years, and catches most everything.

Thank you. I will. 

 

Tried my luck today with zero results. I used a free rig weight instead of the split shot and every single cast came back with weeds and grass on the weight. The split shot wouldn't have been any better, though. Gotta figure something else out there. 

[Bankbeater]

You will have to find where the panfish are holding.  When the bass bite gets tough I fish with a Texas-rigged 3" Stik-O on a split shot rig.  The green sunfish, bluegill, and warmouth love that thing.

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

Yeah the fishing vs catching thing. I typically fish pretty slow all the time. Cold weather times, I have to go slower, often tortuously slow. All the bites I've got recently here in SE AZ where we've had some pretty cold storms go through with early morning temps in the upper teens and low 20 F range, have been had during a pause segment. Even when I'm moving the bait, it is only about a 2 -6 inches slow drag, then a healthy pause 15 - 30 seconds (length of short commercials). 

 

Because it is a deliberate working over and area, I'll stick to areas that are near the deeper edge of known submerged weed clusters. I will target the interior deeper portion of the weed ring about the shorelines. Of course this is easier using watercraft but it is somewhat doable from shore too. You just have to pick where you can reach. From shore there is a higher risk of snag hazard. 

 

This time of year I'm using the fishing rigs with more sensitivity as the bites are often very subtile. Here is where the very low mass delicate graphite UL rods work well. You don't get a peck or a thump to indicate interest.

 

The bites typically occur after a good pause. I have observed, as you begin to add tension for the next dragging movement, you'll simply feel some slight additional drag, like weed resistance. When I feel that, I'll simply pause while holding that minimal tension just to see what happens next. Often you will feel either a slight movement or change. You can often feel it in the line if your finger is touching it, possibly through the rod blank too. Otherwise you can simply look at the rod tip to see if there is movement (deflection). At that point you confirm activity, then a simple simultaneous combination of reel winding and rod sweep (lift in some cases) is all that needed to pin them. Then let the games begin. Yes, I'm using fine wire hooks so not much effort is needed to stick. Besides I'm also using 4 pound mono too so there are limits to my hypocrisy.  

 

I hope these observations and experiences help on your next angling adventure. Let's be careful out there and dress appropriately.  Be well, and Cheers!