Letting A Lure Get To The Bottom 2024
Head423 reply :
I am fairly new to bass and baitcasting fishing. When you guys are fishing a lure that works the bottom how do you let the line fall? Do you disengage the spool immediately after the cast and wait or do you let the line spool off after water contact with the spool still engaged?
Catch and Grease reply :
If fishing shallow I just disengage the spool and don't worry about it, if I'm fishing deep which is very rare around here, I'll throw it out then pull some more line out to get it to fall straight down.
Jrob78 reply :
It depends. If I'm casting or pitching to a specific area or object I will feed line so the bait falls on a slack line. If I'm fan casting or in really shallow water I don't worry about it.
HoosierHawgs reply :
Same here. If I'm pitching a jig to a standing tree, I want that bait to fall vertically right to where the bass are, rather than swimming away from them. If I'm casting around to drag it on the bottom or whatever not as big of a deal because I'm looking for fish, and trying to get a decent idea of bottom composition.On 6/25/2015 at 10:17 AM, Jrob78 said:It depends. If I'm casting or pitching to a specific area or object I will feed line so the bait falls on a slack line. If I'm fan casting or in really shallow water I don't worry about it.
AdamsEye reply :
If you are casting on a tight line, the bait will fall on a curve towards you. When you are casting past your target this is not a real big factor. When you are trying to hit a target deeper, or with a long cast, you want that slack line to keep the bait falling where you put it.
Hope that helps!
BIGDFISHERMAN reply :
I usually only give slack by lowering the rod tip, that is just how I have always fished. Works for me, results may vary.
WRB reply :
Bass are not bottom feeders, they will strike lures on or near the bottom sometimes.
You need to keep in touch with your lure from the moment it hits the surface until it comes to a rest on the bottom. Sometime you want the lure to fall vertically by feeding controlled slack to the lure, keeping a feel of the controlled slack at all times. Bass may strike the lure at any moment and you need to detect that strike.
Tom
Catt reply :
Bass are not bottom feeders?
Interesting!
How do they eat crawfish?
bassinyea reply :
On 6/25/2015 at 12:12 PM, WRB said:Bass are not bottom feeders, they will strike lures on or near the bottom sometimes.
You need to keep in touch with your lure from the moment it hits the surface until it comes to a rest on the bottom. Sometime you want the lure to fall vertically by feeding controlled slack to the lure, keeping a feel of the controlled slack at all times. Bass may strike the lure at any moment and you need to detect that strike.
Tom
Im pretty sure bass feed on the bottom as well as the top of the water and everywhere in between.
I think what was meant is that bass are not bottom feeders....except when they feed on the bottom.
Shanes7614 reply :
On 6/25/2015 at 12:12 PM, WRB said:Bass are not bottom feeders, they will strike lures on or near the bottom sometimes.
You need to keep in touch with your lure from the moment it hits the surface until it comes to a rest on the bottom. Sometime you want the lure to fall vertically by feeding controlled slack to the lure, keeping a feel of the controlled slack at all times. Bass may strike the lure at any moment and you need to detect that strike.
Tom
Please explain how a jig and Texas rigged baits are considered by most fishermen as two of the most productive baits for ALL size fish?!?!?
Catt reply :
Bass are not bottom feeders in that they do not eat dead things like a catfish will.
Bass will sit on the bottom and feed on any available prey that is on the bottom.
When fishing water deeper than 15' I will on occasion strip a couple arms lengths of line to ensure a vertical fall. One occasion would be fishing timber & I want my lure to fall next to the tree.
I never ever let any lure lall on slack line, I always follow it down with my rod.
papajoe222 reply :
Welcome to the board and this awesome sport.
WRB's statement is correct. Bass' including smallies, are not bottom feeders. Their eyes are positioned for optimal viewing above and in front of them. In order to view something below their line of sight, the have to adjust their body position, or the object needs to be at a distance that allows it to enter their field of vision. This is the reason most hits occur as the bait is falling.
This fact is a little off topic, but does pertain to the OP's question. A lure falling on slack line is difficult to detect a bite on. Whether the reel is engaged or in free spool, some tension on the line is paramount to success. If casting to a specific target, cast past it whenever possible. You can then maintain some tension on the line as your lure falls toward you. The more tension (reel engaged), the more it will move toward you
Raul reply :
On 6/25/2015 at 12:24 PM, Catt said:Bass are not bottom feeders?
Interesting!
How do they eat crawfish?
C'mon Catt, you should already know that they won't eat crawfish since craws walk on the bottom and bass are not bottom feeders.
Catt reply :
On 6/25/2015 at 7:15 PM, Raul said:C'mon Catt, you should already know that they won't eat crawfish since craws walk on the bottom and bass are not bottom feeders.
Well dang I guess I need to throw away all my jigs,craw worms, worms, & every lure that sits on the bottom!
Fisher-O-men reply :
On 6/25/2015 at 9:47 AM, Head423 said:I am fairly new to bass and baitcasting fishing. When you guys are fishing a lure that works the bottom how do you let the line fall? Do you disengage the spool immediately after the cast and wait or do you let the line spool off after water contact with the spool still engaged?
Pretty sure you got your engaged and disengaged confused, but we know what you meant. Whatever you do you need to watch your line.
WRB reply :
Yep, throw them away!On 6/25/2015 at 8:59 PM, Catt said:Well dang I guess I need to throw away all my jigs,craw worms, worms, & every lure that sits on the bottom!
You will only catch carp, suckers and other bottom feeders.
Bass like things that look alive, not dead laying on the bottom.
Make your cast, strip off line in a controlled manner watching and feeling the line all the time. Casting out and leaving a lot of slack line in the water letting the lure sink can work, like picking out a backlash, it's usually a good technique. Yes we have all had bass eat a lure falling on slack line and didn't know it until reeling in slack only to find a bass swimming off with it. Even a dead stick bite, the bass knows the lure is there, it didn't swim by and discover it laying there.
kingmotorboat reply :
On 6/25/2015 at 8:59 PM, Catt said:Well dang I guess I need to throw away all my jigs,craw worms, worms, & every lure that sits on the bottom!
Hold on I'll give you my a dress you drop them off too me and I will discard them for you
Raul reply :
On 6/25/2015 at 8:59 PM, Catt said:Well dang I guess I need to throw away all my jigs,craw worms, worms, & every lure that sits on the bottom!
No need to throw them away because bass will hit them when they are not sitting on the bottom ya know, so, keep them off the bottom 
.
HoosierHawgs reply :
I'd like to get in on this deal as wellOn 6/26/2015 at 1:41 AM, kingmotorboat said:Hold on I'll give you my a dress you drop them off too me and I will discard them for you
Catt reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 1:46 AM, Raul said:No need to throw them away because bass will hit them when they are not sitting on the bottom ya know, so, keep them off the bottom
.
The ones I got must be broke!
When I pull em off the bottom they fall right back down!
According to fisheries biologists in almost every state bass are bottom feeders which is why we have warnings issued for contamination from mercury poisoning.
Raul reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 2:50 AM, Catt said:The ones I got must be broke!
When I pull em off the bottom they fall right back down!
I don´t know how many times I´ve told you to stay away from the cheap stuff and clearance bins.
Uncle Leo reply :
I remember a day on Choke Canyon that on every cast I landed a bass deadsticking a senko. I wonder how that dang senko floated?
Shanes7614 reply :
I'd like some of whatever WRB is smoking please!!!!
WRB reply :
Bass eat demersal prey doesn't mean they are bottom feeders, look at the mouth, is it turned down like a sucker bottom feeder...no it hinges upward. Do you see bass rooting around the bottom, turning over rocks, digging up mud and weeds, no!
Do you think OP is confused by now?
Tom
Uncle Leo reply :
Seems I read somewhere that a bass can suck a bait In.Even seen video proof of it. Seems to me that provides for the ability to feed off the bottom. At least that seems logical.
HoosierHawgs reply :
Seems like you're all arguing over something trivial. Bass tend to eat upwards, rather than downwards, but that does not mean they will turn their nose up at a sculpin or crayfish. Bottom feeders are like plecos. Ever seen a bass that looks like a common aquarium pleco? I think not.On 6/26/2015 at 6:33 AM, Uncle Leo said:Seems I read somewhere that a bass can suck a bait In.Even seen video proof of it. Seems to me that provides for the ability to feed off the bottom. At least that seems logical.
Shanes7614 reply :
I guess small mouths don't eat helgremites either... Nobody here is claiming they are designed to bottom feed. Although something caused evolution to force them to eat more nutricious food that lives on the BOTTOM.
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 6:48 AM, Shanes7614 said:I guess small mouths don't eat helgremites either... Nobody here is claiming they are designed to bottom feed. Although something caused evolution to force them to eat more EASILY AVAILABLE food that lives on the BOTTOM.
Shanes7614 reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 6:49 AM, jakob1010 said:On 6/26/2015 at 6:48 AM, Shanes7614 said:I guess small mouths don't eat helgremites either... Nobody here is claiming they are designed to bottom feed. Although something caused evolution to force them to eat more EASILY AVAILABLE food that lives on the BOTTOM.
The reason I wrote more nutricious was due to them having the choices of eating NOTHING or eating something from the bottom. Something is way more nutricious than nothing!!! Just ask yourself this question... During the time you've been fishing, have you caught more bass on plastic worms/jigs or on reaction baits? All times of the year included!!!!
HoosierHawgs reply :
Reaction baits. Reason being that the most prevelant food source where I fish is GIANT shad.On 6/26/2015 at 6:57 AM, Shanes7614 said:The reason I wrote more nutricious was due to them having the choices of eating NOTHING or eating something from the bottom. Something is way more nutricious than nothing!!! Just ask yourself this question... During the time you've been fishing, have you caught more bass on plastic worms/jigs or on reaction baits? All times of the year included!!!!
WRB reply :
I will give it up, you want bass to be suckers OK. Or is it bass anglers are suckers for all the lures we buy!
Predator fish get mercury contamination from eating bottom feeders. Don't think a pelagic swordfish ever ate demersal fish, they eat the fish that ate bottom feeders.
Tom
Uncle Leo reply :
Do not think anyone, at least myself, is comparing a bass to a sucker. All I am saying is they will take a bait off the bottom. Probably not the true definition of a bottom feeder. The question did not pertain to them being a bottom feeder in the first place.
kingmotorboat reply :
This escalated quickly. The river bass here must have not got the e mail you sent. They seem to feed off the bottom quite a bit. Did you try turning you're computer off and back on again and re send. Thanks
scaleface reply :
Whats the difference between a bass and a slimy bottom sucker ?
Catt reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 8:47 AM, scaleface said:Whats the difference between a bass and a slimy bottom sucker ?
One is a fish...the other is a politician
Shanes7614 reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 7:17 AM, WRB said:I will give it up, you want bass to be suckers OK. Or is it bass anglers are suckers for all the lures we buy!
Predator fish get mercury contamination from eating bottom feeders. Don't think a pelagic swordfish ever ate demersal fish, they eat the fish that ate bottom feeders.
Tom[/quote
If they get mercury contamination from bottom feeders... Aren't those bottom feeders they eat, on the BOTTOM??? Again. Nobody is claiming they were designed and evolved into bottom feeders. What everyone besides yourself knows is that they WILL eat off the bottom quite often.
kingmotorboat reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 9:30 AM, Catt said:One is a fish...the other is a politician
I rate this 10 out of 10 toasters
WRB reply :
Just look up the definition of a bottom feeder in your favorite dictionary, bass are not bottom feeders.
Tom
Catt reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 10:10 PM, WRB said:Just look up the definition of a bottom feeder in your favorite dictionary, bass are not bottom feeders.
Tom
Do not google "bottom feeder", some biologist list bass as bottom feeders!
Don't agree but it's there in print
papajoe222 reply :
Head423 is currently 23 miles south of Atlanta still running at full speed and wondering why he ever visited this site. Poor guy.
On the upside, as with any diverse group like ours, it's nice to see that we can agree to disagree and do it with a smile on our faces. Too bad he's running so hard, he missed out on the fun.
Raul reply :
On 6/26/2015 at 7:39 AM, Uncle Leo said:Do not think anyone, at least myself, is comparing a bass to a sucker. All I am saying is they will take a bait off the bottom. Probably not the true definition of a bottom feeder. The question did not pertain to them being a bottom feeder in the first place.
Exactly. Bass will take a bait off the bottom.
CeeJay reply :
I've always believed that not just bass, but most sunfish, feed from top to bottom in the water column. Wherever the easy prey happens to be at the time, on the surface or down on the bottom.
I wouldn't label or categorize largemouth and smallmouth bass as "bottom feeders" though.
related Fishing Tackle topic
previous topic
next topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.