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DrizzyDrew
member (23)member
  
03/09/2017 12:10PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm heading to the BWCA for the second time this August. Our last trip, we fished primarily for smallies with artificial baits. This year, since we are going in early August, I'd like to bring live bait along. I was thinking nightcrawlers and leeches. I'm primarily a bass guy and I'm not as familiar with using live bait.

What deeper water presentations for live bait do you like best in the BWCA? After reading a few threads here, I'm intrigued by the lindy rig with a floating jighead presentation. What other options would you suggest?
 
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03/09/2017 12:38PM  
Night crawler and hook. Maybe a small be split shot 18" up or maybe a blown crawler with air from a syringe off bottom. Sometimes I just use 4# line and a mosquito hook thru the band on the crawler. Casts longer with the wind at your back. :). Cast it, feed it more line for a bit and wait a bit before flipping the bail. Be patient.
 
missmolly
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03/09/2017 01:28PM  
I just use a hook and sinker over the side with a leech hooked through the sucker. However, I don't fish this way until later in the morning, around eight a.m. or so. From four to eight, I can catch more bass on the surface because I can cover more territory. I fish barbless and usually use circle hooks. Don't wait long to take up slack!
 
03/09/2017 04:30PM  
I guess circumstances dictate my "best live bait presentations" love a leech or half a crawler working under a slip bobber . Either a plain hook and split shot, or a jig head when wind and conditions allow it. Also like drifting or slow trolling a lead head jig , or a phelps floater. Again conditions dictate when and where. I get snagged a bunch in certain places, but if your not getting snagged up, your not where the fish are. Again, slip bobbers will help with not getting snagged, but not always practicl. A lindy rig is also a handy set up to have in your arsenal .
 
WTer123
member (20)member
  
03/09/2017 08:09PM  
quote missmolly: "I just use a hook and sinker over the side with a leech hooked through the sucker. However, I don't fish this way until later in the morning, around eight a.m. or so. From four to eight, I can catch more bass on the surface because I can cover more territory. I fish barbless and usually use circle hooks. Don't wait long to take up slack!"


Sounds a better way to do it. Good success!
 
QueticoMike
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03/10/2017 10:57AM  
quote missmolly: "I just use a hook and sinker over the side with a leech hooked through the sucker. However, I don't fish this way until later in the morning, around eight a.m. or so. From four to eight, I can catch more bass on the surface because I can cover more territory. I fish barbless and usually use circle hooks. Don't wait long to take up slack!"


+1 Just use a sharp, thin wire, strong hook like the ones Gamakatsu manufactures. Maybe use a red colored hook? A medium sized split shot about 18 inches up the line.
 
mastertangler
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03/11/2017 08:28AM  
DizzyDrew.......are you the same cat on the Everglades forum?

In my mind the diffinitive work on live bait fishing for big fish in clear water is "Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers"......,last I checked it was still in print.
 
03/11/2017 05:33PM  
quote mastertangler: "DizzyDrew.......are you the same cat on the Everglades forum?


In my mind the diffinitive work on live bait fishing for big fish in clear water is "Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers"......,last I checked it was still in print.
"


Great book. Good info on keeping and conditioning crawlers as well
 
missmolly
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03/11/2017 07:54PM  
quote QueticoMike: "
quote missmolly: "I just use a hook and sinker over the side with a leech hooked through the sucker. However, I don't fish this way until later in the morning, around eight a.m. or so. From four to eight, I can catch more bass on the surface because I can cover more territory. I fish barbless and usually use circle hooks. Don't wait long to take up slack!"



+1 Just use a sharp, thin wire, strong hook like the ones Gamakatsu manufactures. Maybe use a red colored hook? A medium sized split shot about 18 inches up the line. "


That's the ticket, Mike. I use a slender red hook with the split shot just as you described.

I learned a lot about live bait once when I was fishing a quarry pond where you could see the fish and the fish you see you. There was a pair of largemouth that kept circling the lake and every time they appeared, I tossed something new at them. They wouldn't even hit a nightcrawler on a single hook with a splitshot for casting. Finally, I cast a nightcrawler on a hook with no weight and BAM, they couldn't attack it fast enough. Now, Canadian smallies aren't that fussy, but I do try to use as little tackle as possible.
 
03/11/2017 08:32PM  
quote missmolly: "
quote QueticoMike: "
quote missmolly: "I just use a hook and sinker over the side with a leech hooked through the sucker. However, I don't fish this way until later in the morning, around eight a.m. or so. From four to eight, I can catch more bass on the surface because I can cover more territory. I fish barbless and usually use circle hooks. Don't wait long to take up slack!"




+1 Just use a sharp, thin wire, strong hook like the ones Gamakatsu manufactures. Maybe use a red colored hook? A medium sized split shot about 18 inches up the line. "



That's the ticket, Mike. I use a slender red hook with the split shot just as you described.


I learned a lot about live bait once when I was fishing a quarry pond where you could see the fish and the fish you see you. There was a pair of largemouth that kept circling the lake and every time they appeared, I tossed something new at them. They wouldn't even hit a nightcrawler on a single hook with a splitshot for casting. Finally, I cast a nightcrawler on a hook with no weight and BAM, they couldn't attack it fast enough. Now, Canadian smallies aren't that fussy, but I do try to use as little tackle as possible. "

No sinker works for me alot as I posted above. Mosquito hook, light line and patience for the drop. Big wise fish are often fooled. We call it 'catching the drift'. ;). oth
 
03/11/2017 09:49PM  
quote overthehill: "Night crawler and hook. Maybe a small be split shot 18" up or maybe a blown crawler with air from a syringe off bottom. Sometimes I just use 4# line and a mosquito hook thru the band on the crawler. Casts longer with the wind at your back. :). Cast it, feed it more line for a bit and wait a bit before flipping the bail. Be patient. "
+1 i also use a phelps floater. when speaking live bait in the BW , i'm thinking leeches or crawlers. and as we all know here , the TGO method is always money too.
 
Bigbriwi
distinguished member (106)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/23/2017 05:58AM  
leech on a beaver flick under a slip bobber worked great for me!
 
03/23/2017 07:26AM  
One tip with leeches.

Make sure you get a leech locker or other container specifically designed for leeches. Don't use a minnow bucket.

The holes in a minnow bucket are larger than holes in a leech locker, and big enough for the leeches to squeeze out.

I learned this the hard way.
 
03/23/2017 08:24AM  
If SMB are your target species, I would suggest leaving the live bait at home.
Don't have to worry about keeping bait alive or gut hooking fish.
You can move around and fish faster with artificials.
Plus the top water bite should be awesome in Aug.
 
03/23/2017 09:26AM  
I've moved onto live bait as my preferred fishing tool. When slow trolling looking for fish I use a spinner rig and adjust the number of split shots and length of line out according to depth. If I'm ticking bottom occasionally I know I'm in the the zone. Jig and bait for sculling deep holes. Don't use lindy rigs. I've never got the hang of that setup. Getting away from crankbait trolling and using the spinner rigs with a crawler. Jig and a leech most times or minnow in early spring.
 
03/26/2017 08:30AM  
quote johndku: "One tip with leeches.


Make sure you get a leech locker or other container specifically designed for leeches. Don't use a minnow bucket.


The holes in a minnow bucket are larger than holes in a leech locker, and big enough for the leeches to squeeze out.


I learned this the hard way. "


All we've used to store leaches is the Gatorade/Koolaid jars with the screw on top. Cheap and easy to divide up the leaches so you're not passing things around in the boat. Refresh the water a couple times a day and store out of the sun.
 
03/26/2017 09:37AM  

Like Shock I am a big fan of a Lindy Rigged Phelps Floater. been a top producer for me for years.
 
03/28/2017 11:49PM  
quote Wally13: "
Like Shock I am a big fan of a Lindy Rigged Phelps Floater. been a top producer for me for years. "
it is my #1 shore fishing set up when targeting brook trout,,(spring or fall) i add just a pinch of air , gets them wiggling just a bit more. cast out snug up your line , prop your rod up open your bail , put a small rock on your line(i think there will be 1 available) and cut some wood ;) ,,keep your good eye on your line ;)
 
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