Ammo for Reel Foot

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Comment by Tony Livingston on October 24, 2014 at 7:33pm

Love me some spikes for taking bluegills.......

Comment by dick tabbert on October 24, 2014 at 4:26pm

That will work

Comment by Johnny wilkins on October 24, 2014 at 4:22pm

Throwing spikes by hand is the best. You can pitch in just 3 spikes once the fish are there over the top of your target (float) or fishing area. These falling grubs trigger the fish to begin moving in at your bait - they also usually put more than one fish in the area - once you have more than one fish - they fight over your offering and BAM - easier fishing. You need a buddy to order these in bulk. Yes you can make your own, but they will be smaller and really smelly.

Comment by Johnny wilkins on September 10, 2014 at 8:48pm

The cats really slammed these little grubs. The scent must be something they "tune" into. Any floating, bloated fish will have these dripping from that carcass and as csh bump dead fish that have been there a while, the same chumming occurs. I think all fish sense that this type of food is attacked quickly and the feast ends fast.

Once you get multiple fish in the area with the flashing and thrashing, the action heats up and whammo, you get crisp, fast bites. Try a clump of 4 on a small hook, this was working for me even in daylight and in the hot water!

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 10, 2014 at 12:07pm

Johnny,

Since you first proposed this form of freshwater fishing, I’ve been a fan. Chumming was something we did as a matter of course in the salt water of my native SoCal. It seems only natural that it should also work in fresh water.

I’ve not tinkered around with a catapult, however, pretty much going with your pinch-and-toss method of distribution. I’ve always summed up your notion as, “Close, and never too much.” So, it’s always been a tactic I use when pole fishing.

Lately, I’ve taken up the fly rod. I can see the value in working an area with a catapult, to get the fish in a feeding mode. I see it as maybe a kind of “zone approach,” where I fire some chum to a few select spots, and cast “fine and far” with a fly rod.

You’re right about one thing – it sounds like a ton of fun!

Comment by Johnny wilkins on September 10, 2014 at 11:52am

David-

There are bigger slings and elastics for lobbing chum out into the water at long distance.

Really fun, cool and effective on all fish. There are also smaller catapults used to loose spray grubs at a distance. If you have any wind in your face or if you are casting - most-likely, you will need a small catapult to launch out spikes, seeds or small baits. These sprinkle down over your float and Bingo - artificial hatch.

When the bugs are falling around your hook bait - the fish start hunting and feeding -if you do it right, they regularly hit your hook bait and the bites become more powerful.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 9, 2014 at 3:04pm

Here in the Carolina's, guides consider white perch a good catfish bait in the large lashes where they teem. It's not as highly regarded as shad, but catfish are accustomed to feeding on them.
As a cut bait they are plentiful and easy to catch.

Comment by John Sheehan on September 9, 2014 at 1:49pm

Sounds like a good idea there David

I fished for about 50 minutes down at the end of my road ,minutes after my last comment on this post .Caught small fish but I would like to try the small White Perch ,cut in half for Catfish or maybe even whole .Been catching tons of very small white perch and lesser amounts of very small Gills and Yellow Perch .I am thinking of freezing some cut strips to put on spoons come ice fishing .The bigger white Perch (only about 9" )were the most aggressive ;swimming faster ,pulling harder and taking deeper than the Yellow Perch , One Pseed , the few Gills and the one small Crappie .

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 9, 2014 at 1:37pm

Johnny,
When you first mentioned all this 3-4 years ago, I tried it. I use three-finger pinches of dampened chum, and toss them within a short distance.
Wilkins' Rule: "Never far and never too much."
I mix dry car food with water and the oil from canned tuna. Moist, never mushy. Then I mill it through a 1/8" mesh, spread it out and let dry. Stored in plastic bags, I put a little water in while fishing to make it stick together, like I the Euro guys do.
Since I'm back in a boat now, I'm pondering a floating dispenser. Here in the South, there's an old adage:, "The best place to fish us under a piece of cornbread!"
So I'm envisioning an anchor tethered chum station.
Pick your spots, deploy the filled canister over the side and let the anchor pay out. Move on and set one or two more. Then come back to the first and work them in a circuit. Stationary cornbread.

Comment by John Sheehan on September 9, 2014 at 12:00pm

Thanks again Johnny ,for your info. Great metaphors explaining the process too ! "Fish condos", "Street Fair"  On my home lake , I got several spots I gotta try chumming like  this  .I often find I can catch fish close where  I'm fishing ,if the wind has been consistent to the position I'm fishing from . Particular areas on my lake are rip rap and cement wall positions .I often have found good Gills and Pseeds right up on the wall, which can be at my feet and no need to cast .If I'm in a boat, I cast to the wall like I would to structure being used by the fish .

For Catfish ,I've chummed flicking off a spoon I've mixed with and called them in towards my hook .  

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