Bluegill - Big Bluegill
Not losing Fish with right Gear and Technique
The thought that made me think of starting this interactive group was losing fish and why it happens . Many reasons I suppose but sometimes the gear itself doesn''t match up to the task and blaming yourself isn't always fair .
Also lengthy casts are great to cover water but perhaps harder to get a good hookset with that much line out to the fish ,especially with stretch in mono which I use . So figuring a max distance for casting that still is a safe distance from spooking fish but a better more reasonable distance to increase solid hook sets is something to consider .
However my wife's explanation as to why people lose fish is;"because their stupid" Ha ha , so lets discuss this and be less stupid friends!
Preventing Pickerel exit Strategy
The problem is Pickerel like thin profile 2-3"swim baits a LOT and bite through the thin monos and co-polymers in their cutoff exit strategy. Landing the hardest fish to land that I encounter frequently, has become an obsession for me . Often I resign to using longer hooks and longer hard baits which have a better success rate of getting these amazingly fast and exciting fish into the boat .Sure I've landed and boated plenty of Pickerel on 4#, Ultra light monos ,co polymers and gear using small baits but like Dick Tabbert ,Slip Sinker and I have experienced ;and I am sure others here, they know how to escape by cutting the line with their razor teeth and leave you disappointed . Pickerel have large mouths and appetites and can easily engulf a 3" or more lure past the knot and escape, and often do . Using 2,3" swim baits or even small thin spoons in search of Bluegills with 4,6, 8# test mono or co polymer i get cutoff too often to not recognize this as a big problem for my style of fishing for Pickerel .It's because they hit those swim baits so often and want them so much that I have to find the way to fish them while Preventing Pickerel Exit Strategy Success.
Attached are photos of 5" and 9" FIRELINE leaders I've made up to see if they will work . I am trying to avoid a heavy wire leader for fear of ruining the action on small spoons and swim baits.
This Fireline method may be a feeble attempt so I also have to consider making guitar string leaders out of .012 gauge or lighter .
carl hendrix
JOHN;; I THINK I HAVE THE ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEM !! YOUR BROTHER;; GREG;; IS NOT DOING HIS PART FAST ENOUGH ! HE IS ;; ACTUALLY ALLOWING THOSE BIG PIKE TO ESCAPE;; BY NOT NETTING THEM FAST ENOUGH ! LOL
Oct 21, 2016
John Sheehan
Picked up three Eagle Claw Micro Wire Leaders 18 # test and 5 "length. I am hoping the Pickerel wont be stealing small spoons from me this year when I am fishing cold water small baits. I have been looking for very thin gauge wire leaders that wont interfere with 1/12th and 1/10th weight spoons.
Mar 30, 2018
Mikey-D
John I have seen pike don't cut braid very easy I have used that leader like the one you have but try the white braid they cant see that as well and tie a double uni knot instead of a barrel swivel similar to a shock leader. I have used that and had good success with that.
Aug 12, 2022