How do I get these BG to bite during the day when they are in deeper water?

[Craig DuShane]

Hey guys,

I have been catching BG pretty good just before dark when they are in the shallows feeding, but I can't seem to catch them during the day when they move out to the deeper waters.

I have access to a rowboat and a depthfinder. The depthfinder was saying they were all around us when we were anchored in about 7-9 ft of water casting in to about a foot away from cattails on the shore. I tried everything trying to get something to bite in the deeper water, but nothing would even take a nibble.

I want to be able to catch these guys in the deeper water...what do I have to do? I'm in West Michigan if that matters...I'm thinking about buying a waterproof thermometer so I can find out the water temp out deeper.

Hoping some of you have better experiences with this and can help!

Thanks,

-CD

[Allen Morgan]

What were you using?  Live bait?  Artificials?  How deep were you fishing?

Honestly, I don't normally fish "deep" for sunnies, with one exception.  Last year, I was actually fishing for catfish, bouncing a catfish-sized drop-shot rig on the bottom in about 10 FOW.  I caught more Shellcrackers than anything.

Have you thought about using a small slip-rig?  Say, a 1/4 oz slip-sinker or bell sinker, threaded onto your mainline, a small split-shot on the line to act as a stop, leaving a leader of about 6", with a hook tied on the end.  Use small worms, waxies, or other typical bait.  Cast out, let the weight hit bottom, reel in the slack, and wait for that tap.  A tiny circle hook would be great.  I've got some Gamakatsu size 8 Octopus Circles that should work the bigger 'gills, shellcrackers, green sunfish, etc.  Otherwise, I'd go with a size 8 bronze Aberdeen cricket hook.  I like the small size and the long shank.

If you want to use some artificials, well, jigs are your friend.  Especially if you're in a boat casting to shore.  Let the jig hit bottom, reel in the slack, and lift the rod up.  The jig will swim towards, into deeper water, cruising along the bottom.  Keep this up until the jig is directly beneath you, or you just can't get it to move much.  Soft plastics are your friends.  Small sassy shad, Berkley Gulp! minnows in 1 - 2" size, curly-tailed grubs in 1 - 2" size, etc.  Mr. Twister has many different panfish-sized plastics that work with small jigs.  You could even tip the jig with minnows, small worms, waxies, etc.

[Craig DuShane]

Cool, I'll try some of your suggestions. I'm not sure exactly what a "slip-rig" is, but hopefully I can find that on youtube. I've been mostly trying with slip bobbers at various depths...with no luck. There are a ton of weeds already where I've been fishing, so I haven't really been trying the cast and retrieve too much.

Is there a certain weight jighead you need to use in order to keep (or be able to tell when) the slack out of the line? I have a few small jigs, but it seems like they take a few minutes before they sink all the way to the bottom.

[Allen Morgan]

Basically, it's just like I described.  Thread a bell (bass casting) sinker onto your mainline.  Or, a larger bullet sinker for Texas-rigging a plastic worm will also work.  You can also get oval-shaped slip-sinkers that will do this.  Even a "walking sinker" used for Walleye fishing will work.

Once you have the sinker threaded on, tie your favorite hook onto the line.  Now, crimp a split-shot onto your mainline, between the slip-sinker and the hook, leaving about 6" of line between the shot and the hook.  You're ready to go.  Bait up, and cast out.

[John Sheehan]

that's my bullhead rig

[John Sheehan]

I usually use an 1/8th oz egg sinker

[Dwayne Denison]

slip float or drop shop rig, great choice Allen

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Man, I sure wish I knew the answer to that question, at least reliably. Ive yet to find them - I think they all went to Santee-Cooper from my part of the state.

I was also thinking drop shot rig, but I like the sound of a slip float set up, too. Mealworms or earthworms as natural bait, ballhead spinner jigs with 1" curly tails as artificials.

A bottom slider, too, might be the ticket. They could be feeding on bottom dwelling critters right now, since it might be a bit early for an insect buffet in MI. A slider rig with worm bait might do it.

Regardless, Id say those are the Big Three tactics you should be ready with ALL THE TIME, anyway.

Thanks Allen and Dwayne.

[Dwayne Denison]

If feeding on bottom try jigging a Charlie Brewer 1" slider off bottom, use a telescopic pole. I have been looking for small hooked football and standup jig heads for doing this. I cannot find any small enough.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Cane poling is something I haven't tried yet from the kayak. That big old pole from that seated, low water position ought to be a hoot!

The more exotic jigs for anything besides bass are basically nonexistent in small sizes. Which is why I'm always tinkering with shrinking what already exists.

Crankbaits have gone 'micro' in recent times, I've noticed. I got a Rebel ultralight "Tadfry" yesterday no bigger than a quarter. And flys have always been there.

But jigs are basically lagging the pack. You could figure out a way to hammer form/swage a ball head jig into a stand up shape, I'm sure. That'll be my next experiment, as Ive about got my Micro Slider process sorted into workable models.

[Dwayne Denison]

David, You will probably drag fish across water,trying to get in boat, with cane pole. Since I cant cast a fly rod, I use my pole as a sort of fly rod. Great for lilly pads and cane.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Yeah Dwayne I was thinking something like that - cane pole as tenkara rod.

Its often how I use it, anyway!

[Allen Morgan]

David, do you have a lead pot?  Do you know any machinists?  If both questions are "yes", ask the machinist if he would be willing to machine out a custom-made jig mold.  I know Do-it sells "blank" molds.  Of course, getting the weights correct might be a problem.  There might be a C.A.D. program that will do that.  Or, you could just bring a jig of the appropriate size for reference.