Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Help....I Suck At Fishing!

Gflo:

I'm not a good one to give you a recommendation on a spin cast reel (you had it right). I haven't used one since I was probably 8 years old. If I was buying one I'd stick with zebco.

As for a spinning reel, I like the rear drag models, for a heavier set-up, I have a Shimano Symetre 4000 rear drag model on a St. Croix 7' medium power fast action Premier/PS70MF 6-12# line 1/4-5/8 oz lure.

Esshup, 1/100 oz? How do you see it?

I ate a lot of carrots when I was a kid!

I'm mostly fishing that rig in <4' of water, sometimes <2' of water, and I've found that over 50% of the strikes come on the fall as I pause the retrieve. The slower that it falls, the more strikes I get. If I use a 1/32 oz jighead I get virtually 0 strikes because I have to speed up the retrieve to keep the lure up off the bottom. The slower retrieve with the lighter jig head will keep the lure in the strike zone longer, getting more fish.

When the fish are really shallow, the lighter jighead makes less of a splash when entering the water as well, spooking less fish.

1/100 oz jig heads are definitely BG killers...

Tie some black or olive chenille around the hook shank of a 1/100 or 1/125th oz jig head hook, add some rubber legs and you have one of the most famous BG flies ever invented …
The “Cap Spider”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzZekzILGRI

What size is the hook for those little suckers?

Size 10 ... "ya want some?

No kidding? A size 10? Where do you get them?

I found mine in the lure making section @ Memphis Net & Twine, then found them at the Hammond, IN Cabelas. The ones that I have are ball head jigs, they don't have the flattened sides that the ones that George has.

Mine are unpainted as well.

Barlow's Tackle Shop in Richardson ....
I tried them for Cap Spider flies and don't like them - too many deep hooked fish but might be OK for bait.
I'll save them for you to try.

When I get up to central PA, there is a mom and pop shop up there that sells them also. I always stock up big time when I am there. They even paint them a number of different colors. If you order enough they will customize them for you... One of several colors, custom hook sizes, they have down to a size 14(deadly for cold water gills), and they have black or gold hook colors.

If worse comes to worse, you can always try Bass Pro for them.

Should I only be using 1/124th ounce jigheads while fly fishing (I don't have any fly fishing gear yet).

I'm starting to confuse myself.

Cool video george, making your own flies seems like something I could get into eventually.

After trying all these really good and neat techniques, if the action is just a little too slow for you; get some gold long shank mustad #4 aderdeen hooks, some small split shot weights, a styrofoam float with weight made onto the bottom to make it stand up and so you can cast a little further, then put a 1/2 inch piece of night crawler on. Cast it out, chew on a piece of grass or down some of your favorite beverage, but always watch the cork(float,bobber) for telltale signs of your quarry attempting to devour the morsel. When you think he has it in his mouth, pull the rod tip up slightly to lodge the hook into the unsuspecting fishes mouth. Have fun.

ps...you can tie a small swivel on the line and use snelled hooks(they have a leader and loop on them. put the float 2 ft. above the hook and split shot near the swivel. You can put the float a little farther from the hook as you gain proficiency with casting.

I use an ultra light spinning gear to cast the 1/124th oz jigheads.... If you have a light action rod, it should be able to cast smaller baits like that without much problem as long as you aren't casting into the wind. Between the jighead weight and the weight of the plastic bait I use, I have no problem. If you really wanna get fancy you can buy a noodle rod. I use a 10' one that is rated for 1-6 pound test. You can cast out anything with it... It's about as close to flyfishing with a spinning rod as you'll ever get. I'm not a purist, about the only time I use a fly rod are in flyfishing only sections and for dry or wet flies that you can't cast with spinning gear.

Guys - get a fly rod ....

That's your answer to everything, george.

"How should I cast a wooly bugger?" - Get a fly rod.

"What's the best way to present a pellet fly" - Get a fly rod.

"What do I tie this fly line to?" - Get a fly rod.

CATCH A FISH - GET A FLY ROD !!!

"How do we fix the economy?" - Get a fly rod.

How do I get this night crawler into the strike zone-get a fly rod.

How do we fix social security? - Get a fly rod.

How to harass and endeavor to teach young dogs old tricks and live to be an old geezer of 84+ years of age???
GET A FLY ROD!!!!!

Gflo, I'm sorry I missed this thread, I was temporarily out of my mind. First off welcome to Pond Boss and thanks for posting. It's great to have another Californian aboard!

I didn't see this recommended (but then again I have a short attention span) but if you can, fish with a good fisherman. If you don't know one then ask the local tackle shop if there are any fishing clubs (Rod & Gun Clubs or something similar). If you can fish with a patient teacher you will learn plenty! DIED, Bruce Condello and Natester have all taught me quite a bit about fishing by spending just a few minutes with them.

Watch some fishing shows, it sounds corny but tape Bill Dance's show and watch it, you'll learn plenty. In-Fisherman magazine is a good source for information. Perhaps join and post on the Fish Sniffer Forums. I'll bet if you asked there someone in your area would be more than willing to take you out and give you some lessons.

Oh and keep the gear simple at first. Don't spend a ton on expensive gear. When we first started freshwater fishing (in 2006 by the way) my wife and I purchased the Zebco Omega Reel and Rod combo from Bass Pro Shops (a Pond Boss supporter by the way) and we really like it, it is very easy to use, I belive it's the very reel you have bookmarked. I prefer an ultralight pole - they'll handle a good sized fish (I caught a 6.25 pound channel cat on one, thank's to Bruce and Nate, and had no problem with the pole, I don't know what the upper fish weight limit is, anyone?). I like the ultralight poles because you can cast a small lure a very long distance and it has an incredible amount of "feel" to it.

Oh and learn to tie a good knot, practice knots, practice, practice.

Could someone elaborate, again if I missed it, on drag? How to set it, how to work it while fishing, etc.? I was hauling in a fish that was large to me the other day with my MH 7' baitcaster and had no problem bringing him to the shore. But once I tried lifting him up onto the shore and reeling him up closer, it wouldn't budge. Not that it was a big deal, because I'd already landed him, but in a pinch, if I have a big fish on, I'm not sure if I'd know how to handle the drag.

Is it legal to use that many different emoticons in one message?

Omaha, if nobody who really knows how to set reel drag posts good info, I will give you "setting reel drag for dummies".