I've been tipping the Grass Shrimp like This

Comment

Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on December 18, 2012 at 11:32am

Well done Jeffrey and Jim!!! A simple ultra effective bait, JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT!!!!

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on December 18, 2012 at 10:06am

One of my favorite jigs to fish this year evolved when the recurring pink/grass shrimp theme came up and Jim Gronaw graciously afforded me the opportunity to employ the "Gronaw Grass Shrimp" jig with the brass head, red collar and pink body.....I was able to get these in late May and this pattern accounts for nearly 1000 freshwater fish to date.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on June 19, 2012 at 1:28am

The fish are still bedding in many areas Jim......The last few weeks the pattern has been on and off the beds because of changing air temperatures and water level........Been able to locate them with this combination.....

Comment by Jim Gronaw on June 18, 2012 at 9:31pm

I think that the pink color has to draw attention of those curious gills and warmouths in that dark water environment. . Are they still bedding?

I must admit that I have had my best luck on the shrimp patterns, pink or olive, in dark, tannin-stained waters on the Eastern Shore rivers and millponds in Maryland and Delaware, and at Richmond Mill. In clearer lakes and ponds further inland, my success rate with them has been just average, even poor at times compared to other color options.

Famous fisheries biologist Bob Lusk, the man most responsible for creating the world-class fishery at Richmond Mill, informed me that the lake had an abundance of grass shrimp...a natural forage for gills in many coastal plain and tidal waters where the waters are black, yet clear. I tied up a few simple patterns and have found them to excel in the blackwater situations.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on June 18, 2012 at 8:29pm

This was the method for today's catch....Very few strikes on the jig alone....the combination out fishes a cricket fished solo as well......

Comment by Tony Livingston on June 15, 2012 at 1:05pm

Thanks for the kind words Jim. My family and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to tend to these ponds for a few years. It is a lot of work, but it has it's own rewards.

As far as tipping an artificial w/live bait, I tend to do it for a couple of reasons. First off, I usually tip with waxworms, or spikes. This time of year, I fish topwater with a size 8 popper on many occasions. Since I'm using spinning gear, I can get an easy 10' of extra casting distance simply by hanging a couple waxworms off the hook. A little bit of weight can make a big difference. If I'm fishing a sinking fly, then not only will the tip get me more distance, but I can adjust the sink rate somewhat by adding a waxworm, as they tend to float..... a beemoth buoyancy control.

I also think that tipping will sometimes allow for a second attempt at a fish. If I miss a hookup, then maybe the fish will try again if my lure left it with a  pleasantly delicious taste in its mouth!

And certainly, the added movement of a live bait tip is a big plus. I personally feel that a slow sinking lure, or fly, tipped with a couple of lively spikes held on by some of Leo's bait glue, would be near impossible for a Bluegill to resist. If there were no takers on the way down, then once it hits bottom there is always the chance a big Redear wil be unable to resist it.

I suppose that I see tipping as an extension of an artificial lure, or fly. The entire purpose of fishing artificial is to try and mimic something living. And nothing says "alive" more than movement..... The more pronounced commotion of fishing a jig, or fly, lures the fish from a distance, then the live bait tip takes over when the fish gets close enough to study the lure, hopefully clinching the deal.

Comment by Jim Gronaw on June 14, 2012 at 9:30pm

Tony...it's always been my dream to one day have a pond filled with big bluegills and to figure out the best way to catch them throughout the year. The closest I can come to that is to have the opportunity to assist in managing a couple of my neighbors ponds, with hope of steering them in the 'big-bluegill' direction. I envy you and all the lake and pond owners on this site who have the chance of customizing their pond for the fish they loved. I probably won't get the chance to own my own pond , but I can always dream!

Most of the pond owners I know could care less about what is in their lake or how big it is, most of them don't even fish! I can certainly understand that the effort put into making a quality fishery can be heart-felt and consuming. And it looks like you have done an excellent job in the hard work you have put into your ponds.

Of course there's no hard feelings of any kind, this makes for good discussion, and just opened my eyes to the passion of private lake management. And I'm sure you are knockin on the door of 2 pound hybrids!

So the question remains...is it the color of the jig, or the cricket? I think both, but a real aggressive bite will have them taking the plain jig while neutral or negative gill might just have to have some bait.

Comment by Tony Livingston on June 14, 2012 at 2:19pm

I care.... things change when you have your own water, filled with your own fish that you've poured your heart and soul, not to mention a great deal of time, sweat, and cold hard cash into. I realize that I am in the minority here, as I probably care more about the how's and why's than most folks. When you're goal is to grow the biggest Bluegills you can, you look for any and all advantages. Including  how BG's react to forage, and food.

No hard feelings here, I know that most BBG members are content to buy their fishing licenses and harvest what the state has to offer. Not a thing in the world wrong with that, and I respect their decision. It is my belief that there is room for all of us here at BBG, from those who just love to post pics, (which I enjoy featuring), as well as those like myself who are searching for answers.

Comment by Jim Gronaw on June 14, 2012 at 1:29pm

Hey...you know what?...who cares!!! Jeffrey's pounding gills on the pink jig/cricket combo and, for now, that's all that matters!

Sometimes, I try to be a little too engrossed with the 'how' and 'why' instead of being just plain satisfied with the end result, which is successful bluegill catching! And that's what it is really all about.

Three cheers for Jeffrey, and finding a dynamite tactic that just won't quit! The only problem I have with it all is that I'm not in the boat with him to enjoy it all in absolutely stunning surroundings.

But...that day is comin'!

Comment by Tony Livingston on June 14, 2012 at 12:15pm

This runs right along with my recent discussion.... Which aspect is producing fish? There's no denying the success you've been having with it, but I'm sure most of us would consider a jig/cricket a somewhat unusual combination. I believe that most anglers, myself included, tend to use what has produced in the past. But if we really break it down, is it necessary to stick with that exact combination?

I know what I need to do to satisfy my own curiosity. The next time I find myself in a situation like Jeffrey speaks of, where the fish are cooperating and slamming my bait, (I'll use Jefferey's as an example, a jig/cricket combo), I need to switch off to a non-tipped jig, which Jeffrey says has produced fish for him, fish it, then switch to a plain jighead with cricket, and fish it. Does any one produce more or less fish than the other?

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