What is dead sticking

[Murray]

well...what is it?

[roadwarrior]

It's doing nothing. For example, with a soft plastic or jig, "dead sticking" is when your bait is sitting on the bottom, usually on slack line, doing nothing. If it's me, I'm lighting a cigarette. For other guys who are fishing the wrong gear, it's when they are asking themselves why they are using bait casting equipment when they should be using spinning gear and picking out their third backlash.

[KYbass1276]

Most generaly it applies to soft plastic's and maybe some other baits as well but it's when you just let the bait sit and use none or very subtle movement.  Some leave the bait sit for up to a minute and some leave it sit up to 5 or more mins,  If you can stand to let it sit for a long time it is productive.  Big fish always seem to bite if your deadsticking.  Easy way to put it I guess is if you have ever tossed a bait out and backlashed your BC and sit there picking it out for a few minutes only to start reeling in and have a fish on the other end thats what deadsticking is without  the backlash

[Murray]

sounds like being lazy to me

[roadwarrior]

I have caught some of my biggest bass dead sticking, including two 10's.

Not "lazy", patient.

[Murray]

is it like a last resort thing to do?

[Guest avid]

I think deadsticking is a valuable technique.  There is no question that it works.  Here are my theories as to why.

1.   Inactive fish are not about chasing anything.  Not lures, not natural bait, not nothing.  But when a juicy morsal is just sitting there in front of them, after a little while they mosey on over and have a bite.

2.   Pressured fish are wary fish.  They have been caught before, probably by something moving so they are cautious.  A bait just sitting there barely moving for a few minutes does not trigger avoidance behavior.

Sounds good to me?  

Any other thoughts?

[KYbass1276]

is it like a last resort thing to do?

No I wouldn't say it is.  I often let my bait soak a while and it produces.  Bass are curious in nature and are going to investigate anything that sparks an interest in them and sometimes that happens to be a bait just sitting there doing nothing at all.   I agree with avids comment statement number one.  Its like having a steak sitting in front of you eventually your going to eat it. Bass fiqure why chase food when it's right in front of them for the takeing.  Anyways RW is right it's about patients.  For me sometimes it works great sometimes it dosen't  I find that it's good in the winter when bass aren't active and aren't willing to chase something.  

[Redtail]

I caught one of my biggest bass earlier this year answering my cell phone.  I had just thrown my favorite bait, Fat Eeeeeeeka, when my cell phone rang.  I put my rod down for a minute while on the phone and whamo.  It proves to me that I fish soft plastics toooo fast.

[NJfishinGuy]

yeah i cought my biggest doin it by accident this year also, i threw my fat ika out under a tree and then turned around to look at some rowers goin by real fast, well i thought i got snag and was just pulling on my from drifting, but then i seen my line shoot to the side and wham a nice bass and my biggest this year

[senile1]

is it like a last resort thing to do?

It's not a last resort at all.   Dead sticking for most of us involves letting the lure sit for at least a minute, and most of us use the term to refer to letting a plastic bait sit.  In fact, a number of lures produce by letting them sit for awhile.  I allow my jigs to sit for awhile if nothing hits them on the fall.  I rarely throw a minnow plug that floats when stationary without letting it sit close to 30 seconds before I make my first twitch.  Many topwaters work best this way.  Patience is key.

[Troutfisher]

Dead sticking works for me as well. I have caught some of my larger bass on a senko or fluke after I've twitched it a while and then let it sit on the bottom as I clean up some of my strung out gear, get a drink, etc.

One of my largest bass came when I had a senko on the bottom, went and got a drink, came back and felt weight on the hook. Set the hook, and BAM, fish on!

[Siebert Outdoors]

RW,  I thought dead sticking with a soft plastic you had to use spinning gear. LOL.  

Yep just cast it out and let the bait do all the work.  It takes no effort to fish.  Its an excellent way to catch fish in a sluggish mood.  What bass cant refuse a senko shaking real slow in front of its face.

[roadwarrior]

Yep, my post was tongue in cheek, "For other fishermen who are fishing the wrong gear", i.e baitcasting equipment.

I use spinning tackle for all soft plastics.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Dead sticking on weedlines is an excellent fish catching tool.  Just thinking about it gives me fishin bumps all over.  Clear water, weed line, watching a fish dart out of the weeds and grab the bait and run back.  

Ahhh crap I thought I was fishing.  Nope still at work.

[senile1]

Gman, get one of your co-workers to throw a glass of water in your face to give you the feel of the wind and spray.  

[wacky rig]

GMAN, you just summed most of my time on the water in two sentences.  

[Sam]

Since I am a classic Type A personality, I throw out the worm and let it sit.

I then take an ultra light and throw it trying to catch just about anything that will hit a white Rooster Tail.

I fish the ultra light by feel; I keep looking at my slack line with the worm sitting on the bottom.

Does it work?  Well, I have not had to jump out of the boat which is a good sign.

Catch anything dead sticking?  No, not yet.  It is still hard just to let the bait sit on the bottom and not move it or mess with it.

Since I don't smoke or drink, the only thing I can do is either listen to a football game on the radio or fish the ultra light.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Does deadsticking result in alot of gut hooks?

[JiggaMan512]

Is it safe to say that a Senko is the best deatsticking plastic or would something with a little life be better, like a ribbon tail, or a brush hog or a tube?

[Captain Cali]

Dead Sticking has produced a lot of nice bass for me. I wouldn't say it's last resort. Sometimes thats what I  start with (especially if I have a pattern). Dead Sticking a worm on a drop shot can be killer! Gives me chills just thinking abou it.  

Swimbaits too!  

[Murray]

i think ive been doing it all all and didnt realize i was "dead sticking" it. thanks for the tips and happy fishing,

murray

[KYbass1276]

Yep, my post was tongue in cheek, "For other fishermen who are fishing the wrong gear", i.e baitcasting equipment.

I use spinning tackle for all soft plastics.

I wouldn't say wrong just a preferance.  What works for one dosen't mean it will for another.

[edbassmaster]

I cast out a 5" senko and let it sit while I go home, have dinner, take a nap and then come back to set the hook. Thats dead sticking!! ;D

[Guest the_muddy_man]

It happens to a lot of fellas after they reach 60,, OOHH Darn I misunderstood the question again