Drifting shiners for smallmouth

[MadBomber]

Well, it's that time of year again.  I have read several posts about this method and I want to put in my .02 worth.  The primary concern of many people is the potential of deep hooking fish.  The short answer is DONT LET THEM RUN WITH IT!  I have been drifting shiners  for over 10 years now.  What I wound up with is using a 2/0 aberdeen hook with the shiner hooked through the lips.  Usually, I use a teeny splitshot, (1/32 oz)A foot or so up the line.  As soon as you feel the strike, SET THE HOOK!  The fish you miss I believe are small spots trying to kill the minnow before they try to eat it.  Don't cast the bait, just gently pitch it a few feet or just lower it into the water and use your trolling motor to gain some separation from the bait.  I don't like to have my bait right under the boat.  I rarely use a float although that's just a personal preference.</p>

OK, guys, let's hear some other ideas.</p>

 

[Guest]

A lot of people will grab the hook by the shank, and pull, and wiggle, and usually do a lot of damage that way. I had an ol timer in FlA show me a better way to dislodge hooks. You VERY carefully lift up on the gill plate and gently slide between the gills with the needle nose pliers and grab the hook in the bend. It will push back through a lot easier than this is to explain....
As you get ahold of the hook in the bend, gently roll the hook as if you were trying to back it out, and generally it will pop right on out. Release it with the pliers, and gently pull the pliers back out, then carefully reach into the fishs mouth, and retrieve your hook. PRESTO.

I would be glad to demonstrate on the water, if you are out and need some help. Dont kill a fish over a .50 hook, or because you are in a hurry.emoSmile

 

[TKbigbass]

Circle Hooks ! I've never seen a fish hooked deep with a circle hook, they seem to always catch right inside the lip.

 

[fishinpreacher]

So, are you just drifting downstream with your shiner behind the boat? I've never tried that. Where's a good place to try it?

 

[MrWiskers]

TKbigbass - 9/12/2007 2:50 PM

Circle Hooks ! I've never seen a fish hooked deep with a circle hook, they seem to always catch right inside the lip.

I have hooked spots deep with circle hooks. Just not as often as j hooks.

 

[Fat Albert]

fishinpreacher - 9/12/2007 3:56 PM So, are you just drifting downstream with your shiner behind the boat? I've never tried that. Where's a good place to try it?

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<font color="#ff0033">FP,  get right on the edge of the river channel below the dam..... you can start right there at the ramp at river park...FA</font></p>

 

[EricM]

Wormhook, that's also a terrific way to unhook the striped bass when live bait fishing and they take it deep, and it causes no additional damage - just use a lot of care around the gills. As for the circle hooks, I love 'em and use them most of the time, but for bass I like to use kahles (2/0 and 4/0) and since I fish tightline below the boat, I set the hook immediately. The only fish that seem to get hooked deeper are the little ones that can't hold the whole shad in their mouth and swallow part of it right away. A little patience usually gets them unhooked safely.

 

[honkytonker26]

How well does this method work when using spoons, or drop shot with realistic minnows? Has anybody tried small swimbaits for this method?
Channing

 

[MadBomber]

TKbigbass - 9/12/2007 2:50 PM Circle Hooks ! I've never seen a fish hooked deep with a circle hook, they seem to always catch right inside the lip.

</p>

The circle hooks I have seem to be fairly heavy.  I like the light weight of the aberdeen style hooks.  I just believe the minnow can swim better with the light weight hooks. Circle hooks would probably be a good choice if you like to use rod holders and let the fish load up the rod before you pick it up.  I like to hold my rod and set the hook myself. </p>

 

[MadBomber]

honkytonker26 - 9/12/2007 7:42 PM How well does this method work when using spoons, or drop shot with realistic minnows? Has anybody tried small swimbaits for this method? Channing

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I have some minnow type plastic lures that I have considered using like a drifted shiner, I just haven't tried it yet.  In fact I special ordered them for that very purpose. </p>

 

[sharphook]

eagleclaw style 42 hook big bait 3/0 small bait 1/0 3 foot leader with black barrel swivel use it freeline or put a balloon on him. Works for me. Good rule of thumb, if he take's off with it he ain't got it in his shoe. Reel up the slack throw the steel to him. My best striper with this setup is 56 lbs, largemouth 14.4 and smallmouth 8.2. I spent most of my year's fishing using this type setup. Hope this helps. Also, when hooking your bait, if it is a shiner or a shad, try hooking it through the nose holes or right behind the dorsal fin. This will prolong the life of you bait tremendously! Anytime you hook a bait down throught the nose and the gill, he can't breathe as good and you take a chance on foul setting the bait when the fish takes it.

 

[Liveliner]

TKbigbass - 9/12/2007 2:50 PM Circle Hooks ! I've never seen a fish hooked deep with a circle hook, they seem to always catch right inside the lip.

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I have been a big user of ciecle hooks for many years.  I do not think circles work on bass due to the way a Bass will lip the bait in the front of their mouth. And especially when they will just sit ther lipping the shinner to kill it and not turn and run.  The hook I use is the 1/0, 2/0 or 3/0 Kahle smaller for smallies and spots and larger for Bucket mouth.</p>

 

[Gator]

A technique used by a friend of mine that guides on Picwick Lake is to hook the live shiner w/o a sinker using a spinning rod, let it drop down and leave the bail open, holding the line between the rod handle and your 1st finger. When a bite is made he immediately reels to close the bail and sets the hook. He catches a tremendous amount of smallies like this. This is effective even in areas besides below the dam.

 

[Liveliner]

The best way to get a deep hook out of a spot is to remove the head and take out the back.

 

[enigmatico]

Drift live baits are great but you cant let them eat it or they get gut hooked, no easy way to extract the hook, if your keeping them thats OK if not to bad for the fish. Circle hooks work well, if your heavy handed floats systems can give you early warning to the bite, to get ready. Found a site www.allboatingfishingstuff.com that lists fishing and boating manufacturers, you may find a unique float or rig system, terminal tackle to help you out.