This thread is for sharing new information that you have learned..
1. This year has crystalized the fact for me that fisihng 3-4 days before the full and new moon is no doubt the best times to fish..The best time to try out those lures you don't usually fish but are in your tackle bag/box.
2. Something else..and this is weird but has been consistant. one of those days..generally the 3rd day from the full moon I catch very good fish..they are all about 2 pounds plus..the following day I seem to get 1 1/2 pounders and smaller.This has happened all summer.
3. HUGE LESSON..braid is nearly unbreakable EXCEPT { IMHO} on the hook set. then, I've had it snap like thread. and I don't cross thier eyes..siad all that..I now have my drag set much less. I barely touched a 4/0 hook this year and it buried in my finger costing me 1100 dollars to get removed..so I know it doesn't take a lot to set the hook..so my drag is
much less...and I've had no more line breaks.
4. Setting the hook..this year I visualized each fish to be 20 inches and 5 pounds. I don't over set but I do imagine driving the hook through the tough jaws of a quality fish..my worm hook sets have been the best I've evern had at about 90%. ..this happened after I lost 2 nice fish in Feb. I don't beleive I had anymore throw the hook since I made the mental adjustment.and yes.,..NOW on my hook sets the drag is activated..before it wasn't and I had many line breaks..
5. Learned from my depth finder..ALL structure is holding fish...if there is a flat area with one small clump of weeds..there will be fish in those weeds.
6. Rod length is not that important..you will mentally adjust to any lenghth ..I have them in the boat form 6' to 7' I 've been setting the hook well with them all ...I just keep imagining that they are 5 pound bass and set the hook accordingly..
7. Oh yeah..[ -; nearly forgot..Can't afford shiners? Bluegills work just as good if not better..Bluegill sstay alive MUCH longer and swim toward the bottom and not the top..Hook them in front of the dorsel fin..They do work [-; remember the recent world record was tied in Japan on a ..bluegill..I tried them once this year..I should of had bigger bobbers..it stayed down alot..I was at spot #1 I threw out the bobber /bluegill and put that rod down..and then began bumping a worm with my other rod...I caught a couple..I then noticed my bobber had been out of site..I reeled in the slack..OH NO!! fish on..and reeled in a nice 3 pounder..so they do work.
8. I learned how a downrigger works..[ -;
9. I learned in a jon boat it's best to keep both seats the same elevation..or the boat gets tipsy. I lowered my back seat for that one big guy I took out.well yesterday Matt and I had amuch unsteadier boat..I plan to put it back the way it was.