Rayraff Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 Over the summer I go fishing in a small pond in a neighborhood around the area. It was stocked 10 years ago and holds some monster bass (12+ pounds) The problems is getting them to bite. I have tried every lure, every method, and due to rules in the ponds you can't use bait fish bought from a store. So, I bring a ultra light and catch a couple of bluegill to fish with. The blue gill work great and you get a bite ever 5 minutes or so but the problem is hooking the bass. I've tried hooking the bluegill everywhere....the tail, the lip, the back..... but whenever I set the hook the bluegill always pops out of the bass's mouth. I've tried waiting for 2seconds, 10 seconds, even 2 minutes when a monster took the bluegill but it never seems to hook. So my question is, how can I hook these fish so that I get a pretty successful hook percentage.
Other. Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 You might want to find out this is legal before attempting this.
Low_Budget_Hooker Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 Yea, careful, It's not legal in RI. MattLures Bluegill swimbaits are though....
Super User Bassn Blvd Posted February 24, 2008 Super User Posted February 24, 2008 Try using a 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook. Hook the Bream in the nostrils or just under the dorsal fin. Depending on the size bluegill, give the bass time to eat it. The MOST important thing to do when using the circle hook is to NOT set up. Just raise the rod tip and start reeling.
jjbassjj Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 I've done this a few times for big Flatheads and while i was doing I'd catch some big bass and i mean big. It may sound crazy...but bring some scissors along and cut the real sharp part of the breams dorsil. I always do this when fishing with bream. The results show. I'd just tie a big treble and leave a 4 or 5 inch tag end. Then I'd tie a a big single hook(I'd use a 4/0 kahle). I'd hook the treble through the nostrils and the kahle under the dorsil. The key is really letting them eat it and dont set the hook like a worm or jig. Try that and bet you'll catchem Good Luck! ;D ;D ;D Tell us if you catch her.
HesterIsGod Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 if they dont let you fish with bait bought at a store i highly doubt it legal to fish with live gills. instead try lipless cranks or swimbaits in bluegill colors.
SDoolittle Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 if they dont let you fish with bait bought at a store i highly doubt it legal to fish with live gills. instead try lipless cranks or swimbaits in bluegill colors. In many places it is legal to use live fish only if they are caught from the waters you are fishing. The reason that store bought minnows are illegal is to keep from introducing fish that are not native to that body of water.
Super User .dsaavedra. Posted February 24, 2008 Super User Posted February 24, 2008 i emailed the fisheries guy at my local DNR to ask him if it was OK for me to use live bluegills as bait where i was fishing. in a very prompt repsponse he said it was perfectly legal. so after that i went to the local park which is OVERRUN by bluegills about 3-4" long and i'd just drop a hook w/ a pice of white rubber (the best bait for them) in the water and catch a small bluegill. then i'd hook it in the back just under the dorsal fin. make sure the hook is fully exposed. alot of times the hook will turn around and penetrate the bluegill instead of the bass on the hook set. then i'd do a technique used on the chesapeake bay for striper called "live lining". what you do is you cast out your little fishie and wait for a bite. when you get a bite, open your bail or click into freespool. then let the fish run w/ your bait for about 30 seconds. after that close the bail or engage the spool and just crank down on it, dont set the hook with your rod. works well for me. i get great hook up ratios.
SenkoBasser Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 I just don't see the point. If the water is over populated with bluegills (which is unheard of up here) then eat them! Bluegills are delicious. Not a big fan of catching bass with live bait. Sorry.
F150FishinNC Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 I'm a big fan of catchin bass with anything....gotta be more sporting to catch em with LIVE bait I'd think....shoot, I've caught some little ones on worms and bobbers before fine by me lol
Rayraff Posted February 24, 2008 Author Posted February 24, 2008 Not a big fan of catching bass with live bait. Sorry. I live near Chicago where its almost impossible to find 10+ pound bass because the lakes are all over fished. The bass in the pond don't bite anything but bluegill, I've tried a bluegill lipless crankbait and that didn't work
SenkoBasser Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 But you're fishing for 10+ pond bass. What's wrong with 5 or 6 pound bass? I'll fish for the rest of my life and will porbably never catch a 10 pound bass.
Super User Grey Wolf Posted February 24, 2008 Super User Posted February 24, 2008 Not a big fan of catching bass with live bait. Sorry. I live near Chicago where its almost impossible to find 10+ pound bass because the lakes are all over fished. The bass in the pond don't bite anything but bluegill, I've tried a bluegill lipless crankbait and that didn't work That's hard to believe that they won't hit any thing else.
Jake. Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 You've tried large swimbaits? 10-12" plastic worms? Big jigs?
Rayraff Posted February 24, 2008 Author Posted February 24, 2008 I have tried everything...Crank baits, Worms, Jigs, Spoons, Night crawlers, top waters, spinner baits, the only other thing that worked was a fly, but I'm not that big of a fly fisherman. Their feeding habit is really weird as well. They only eat until 8 a.m. and then they stop. You'd think they'd go into deeper water because of the water temperature but they stay shallow and whenever you walk along the shore you see them.
Guest avid Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 In Florida fishing with Bream is legal provided you catch them yourself. try using a 3/0 Kahle hook, and hook the gill up through the bottom lip and out the top through the nose. Use a Heavy rod and low stretch line (braid is ideal) Using a cork is the easiest method. Let the cork go under, allow the bass to start to swim off with the bait. Tighten up the line and keep it perfectly straight between you and the bass, then set the hook like you mean it. I also use a regular offset worm hook, typically 4/0 owner and have a good hook up rate with these as well. bass will take the bait head first, so don't worry about him having the hook in his mouth. The problem is usually too soft a rod (this is not the place for that nice flexy tip) or a less than determined hook set. cross her eyes bubbha.
dave Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 I once fished a small private pond with a friend. It was his uncles' pond and they had stocked it years before. I tried and tried with a majority of lures. Nothing. He caught bass after bass on big shiners. He said they had been feeding (fishing with only live shiners) for years since they were kids and the fish were conditioned to only hitting live shiners. I tied on a jerk bait and started catching fish. My friend was shocked. Match the hatch. Use a blue gill imitator.
Super User grimlin Posted February 24, 2008 Super User Posted February 24, 2008 Try these...close as you are gonna get to match the hatch. http://www.mattlures.com/bluegillswimbait.htm
SenkoBasser Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 I'm a big fan of catchin bass with anything....gotta be more sporting to catch em with LIVE bait I'd think....shoot, I've caught some little ones on worms and bobbers before fine by me lol What? More sporting catching them on live bait?
F150FishinNC Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 well maybe i mis-spoke....but I don't see anything wrong with it...
AKFerzy7 Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 anyone ever tried fishing with field mice? ive caught some monsters on them. cant force myself to hook one but rubber band them to the hook and toss em out and let em swim.
F150FishinNC Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 ok stupid question here but does it kill the field mouse when the bass hits it? lol do you wait a minute and let it breathe after a cast? this is just so hilarious to me but i bet it does work
AKFerzy7 Posted February 25, 2008 Posted February 25, 2008 yea it kills the mouse when a bass hits usually. but the mouse usually doesnt live long enough to drown. watch these videos ones of a chipmunk the others a squirrel
fishizzle Posted February 25, 2008 Posted February 25, 2008 Its legal in CT to use bluegill Illegal to use bass and trout Bass hit bait from behind then turn it around in their mouth and swallow head first. I have seen a dead 4 lb. bass with a big bluegill in its mouth that got stuck. Yes heavy equipment and swing for the fence after a 10 count or so. Hook the bluegill in the mouth Use a bobber to keep fish off bottom if weedy Just like Avid said
Rayraff Posted February 25, 2008 Author Posted February 25, 2008 I have a mouse shaped top water lure thats black and i've caught a load of bass on it.
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