I've made the effort over the last couple of years to find ways to fool pellet trained fish. The bigger, smarter pellet pigs are virtually impossible to catch. Granted, these are fish that have very little competition from younger fish, so they can be very selective--but just the same, we throw every thing we can at them and the very nicest ones won't bite.
Anyway, here's a listing of some of the attempts, and a small evaluation.
1. Poking a hook through a dry pellet.
Strangely enough, this is one of the better methods in respect to fooling the fish. The problem lies in the fact that you'll crack open about twenty pellets for every one that the hook goes through. And the pellet never lasts very long.
Ranking: D
2. Poking a hook through a wet pellet.
Pretty much worthless. The pellet will fall apart every time. Even in those rare, rare cases that the pellet doesn't collapse, you can't cast it without looking like you were born without a shoulder joint.
Ranking: F
3. Pom-Pom fly
This method involves buying a craft shop pom-pom, and sticking a hook through the hole. Not a bad method considering that it has the advantage of easy hooking, and the fact that it catches fish regularly. The only problems are that the attractor isn't actually a pellet, so it has no smell, and it won't float.
Ranking: B
4. The "soften, then dry out" method.
This method provides for systematically wetting, then drying the pellets. The goal is to get the pellet to a play-dough type consistency during it's drying process so the hook goes through without breaking it. It works really well, and catches fish, but has a big disadvantage in that one caught fish, or one bite even makes the pellet fall off and you have to re-tie a new hook, which is a huge hassle.
Ranking: B-
5. George's PH foam fly
Best fly for BG and HSB when stored in Ziplock bags with ground up fish food.
Use AQMX 600 size to �cull� small BGs � just right size for large BG.
Fish closer to feeder for BG and outer edges of feed �cone� for HSB.
Disadvantage for HSB is hard strike �wake� pushes fly away from fish�s mouth.
BG and HSB don�t get hook shy when feed has been limited for a couple of days and they are on a competitive feeding frenzy.
When on normal feeding schedule, in calm water they are more leader shy than hook shy.
One thing I've discovered is that this pellet seems to do really well for me right at dusk. I've had some very picky fish that wait until the last light to feed, and one of George's flies, properly placed really seems to fool the big fish that are hitting right at dusk.
I've been using this deception exclusively with my fly rod. It seems to work best this way.
Ranking: A
6. Cecil's pantyhose fly
Very pleasant surprise here. Just tried it the other night. It involves wrapping one, two or three actual pellets in some panty hose. When I first looked at it I was slightly skeptical because it didn't really look like a pellet. It took me exacly fifteen seconds to hook a fish on it though. Performed beautifully. It had the advantage of the fish attacking it, then even after catching three or four fish there was some pellet left in the pantyhose. Eventually the pellet dissolved out, but it was extremely simple to put on a new attractor. Just snip off the hose with some fingernail clippers and put on a new one. Very slight problems, with the fact that you actually have to construct these little fish killers, but it's a small price to pay.
Ranking: A+
7. Bill Cody's softened pellets.
I haven't tried this yet, but it's next on my list. Maybe bill can edit this post with a description of the method.
Ranking: none yet.
8. The NEDOC pellet presentation.
Haven't tried this one yet either, but NEDOC describes using a segment of a brown tube jig and "stuffing" it with a pellet, then running a hook between the pellet and the rubber body. Theo has already confirmed it's success, and I plan to try this in the spring.
Ranking: None yet
