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Author	Message Text
Mad_Angler	06/04/2020 02:38PM   bump
mooselodge	06/17/2009 04:50PM   thanks
mooselodge	06/17/2009 04:50PM   thanks
Mad_Angler	07/21/2016 01:03PM   Bump
izzy	06/17/2009 09:38PM   Good one Mad Angler - I thought it was simple
z26255	06/16/2009 01:39PM   At $7 a Rapala and my average lure lasting roughly 20 casts, I am pumped to try this method. Question: How slow is the retrieve? Do you let it sit for a second, reel slowly then pause again or is it a slow and steady retrieve?
Richwon4	07/21/2011 03:47PM   This is exactly what I do when shore fishing up and down rapids in the eddies. Great way of Catching not fishing.
NorthwoodsHeaven	07/21/2011 02:54PM   GTO Ive seen your method mentioned several times. Its just a split shot and small hook, and you retrieve it slowly? How far up do you put the split shot? (People seem to love it so it must work!) thanks in advance
NorthwoodsHeaven	07/21/2011 03:01PM   quote The Great Outdoors: "Good to hear you had a great trip, Izzy!! Maybe we can get a few more converts to the plain hook method:)" Never Mind TGO! haha. Read the rest of the thread and got my answer several times. Thanks though for the ideas
ducks	07/21/2011 06:17PM   Worked like a charm on Kawishiwi Lake last weekend. Just drifted between 2 points.
The Great Outdoors	04/07/2012 06:49PM   Boring?? It's hard to be bored when you're catching fish!! Tossing crank baits, now that's boring!!!!:)
Basspro69	04/07/2012 10:35PM   quote The Great Outdoors: "Boring?? It's hard to be bored when you're catching fish!! Tossing crank baits, now that's boring!!!!:)" LOL I would have bet a billion to one that you would respond to that :-)
Highway61	07/21/2011 08:48AM   I have used this method in a variety of situations, but could someone explain the situation it works best for them in the BW? I mean as far as depth, structure, lake features (points, weedlines, etc).
Bdubguy	04/08/2012 01:04PM   That's awesome....
izzy	07/21/2011 11:59PM   IT WORKS !
A1t2o	06/06/2017 02:43PM   What's the difference between a simple hook with a split shoe weight and a jig head? Any real difference in fishing? Does it have to do with where your bait is?
The Great Outdoors	06/06/2017 02:56PM   quote Mad_Angler: "Bump again... I went to Alpine over Memorial Day. It was cold and fishing was pretty slow. I eventually went back to the TGO method and caught some fish. We did get a few on Zulus, taildancers, and jig/slip bobber. But the TGO method was pretty reliable..." Try as I might to teach you great fishing methods, some think they can invent a better mousetrap and return to those icky crank baits. Sigh!!!! I guess the old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink", is true! :)
timatkn	06/06/2017 10:28PM   TGO patting yourself on your back like that must be exhausting, you must follow a strict regimen of arm exercise to maintain your back patting stamina :)
Mocha	06/05/2020 07:35PM   Thank you for bumping this thread! I miss TGO, my good buddy. I also learned this method from Izzy at “Camp Izzy”. Crazy! We headed to breakfast island for a few morning walleye, then someplace else (secret fishing spot, of course!) and got some more, then evening fishing produced a nice double. The best fishing I ever had because I listened to what Izzy was saying. He got tired of me catching more fish than him. His boys are also great fisherman using this method. TGO left a great legacy of fishing Knowledge. I can’t seem to add photos, but in my gallery there is a Fishing with Izzy folder with some nice walleye.
The Great Outdoors	06/07/2017 05:44AM   Merely trying to point out the obvious, timatkn. But time after time , many stray from the guided path and need to be reminded!! :)
timatkn	06/07/2017 06:23AM   Okay keep up the good fight lol
ObiWenonahKenobi	06/07/2017 08:37AM   I fished the TGO method exclusively last summer for six days. I caught two bass total by accident, I was fishing for walleyes. Clearly I wasn't doing something right. Maybe I didn't buy my leeches at the right shop. LOL
The Great Outdoors	06/07/2017 05:53PM   Lures are much faster?? OH, paleeeeeze!!!! :)
The Great Outdoors	06/07/2017 06:07PM   quote ObiWenonahKenobi: "I fished the TGO method exclusively last summer for six days. I caught two bass total by accident, I was fishing for walleyes. Clearly I wasn't doing something right. Maybe I didn't buy my leeches at the right shop. LOL " Cleary you were not doing something right! If in Ely, stop in the shop so we can give you the crash course on fishing. Basspro69 had the same problem several years back until I analyzed his mistakes in his attempt to use the TGO method. It seems he was throwing the rod into the lake, and holding the plain hook with a leech, in his hand. Once I reversed this slight error, he did much better!! :) Bwahahahahaha!
jb in the wild	05/25/2011 12:51AM   Izzy what outfitter did you go through and how much did they charge for the tow per person. Just might have to go up in the next few weeks and try my hand at some of them there wally. Dose Alpine still look like the dark side of the moon? Shoot me an email for some reason I can't send one out to you. JB
Mad_Angler	05/25/2011 07:45AM   I'm not Izzy but... I have used Seagull outfitters with great success. Seagull is a nice outfit. The folks are very knowledgeable and friendly. And Deb runs a tight ship. You will not be disappointed Actually, I am almost packed and heading up there about 4pm this afternoon. I am getting towed to Red Rock and camping on Alpine. Our tow is $75 per person, round trip. It is the best $75 I spend on each trip... Here are the rest of their rates: Seagull tows
Amok	05/25/2011 09:52AM   Have a great trip, Mad Angler! I had one planned for this weekend... but it got cancelled for obvious reasons.
Jeriatric	05/25/2011 11:20AM   quote The Great Outdoors: "Good to hear you had a great trip, Izzy!! Maybe we can get a few more converts to the plain hook method:)" A few converts is OK but the idea of a lot of converts troubles me a bit.
AndySG	05/25/2011 01:00PM   No conversion needed. I learned this method many years ago from the "Lunkers Love Night Crawlers" book from Fishing Facts. I have used it successfully with all types of live bait including crawfish. Always use the lightest line and smallest hook you can get by with. The only variations I've used are replacing the hook with a small floating jig head if the bottom is snaggy, or add a slip bobber if I want to dangle the bait over a brush pile. The more natural the bait appears, the better.
ckb	02/10/2012 10:10AM   All right, you have me sold. I am definitely trying this. I'm going weightless first, then clipping on a small bb size later. It really can't get any easier. Step one, let it sink to the bottom. Step two, reel. How slow of a retrieve? Just barely turning the handle? Constant, or like one revolution, break, another revolution...?
MOgirl	02/09/2012 08:12PM   I've fished with Izz using this method it works ; )
izzy	02/10/2012 01:04PM   The retrieve will vary day to day depending on the "mood" of the fish. Somedays a steady retrieve , somedays a stop and go retrieve - that part you have to determine.
izzy	02/09/2012 05:02PM   If you want to consistently catch walleyes you be on or near the bottom. Snags are part of the game. But you will have less chance for snags with small or no split shot. Even if you do snag , chances are you can pull it off the bottom better. Good Luck !
The Great Outdoors	02/09/2012 10:11PM   quote ckb: "So how does this not get hung up on the bottom??? Even a tiny split shot could get wedged between rocks, and the tip of the hook is a bit exposed waiting to get caught on a rock or submerged brush/branches. I like the idea - much simpler than even slip bobber - but have to wonder about dealing with snags." If you use a split shot, place a BB size about 3-4 feet away from a plain hook, tied on directly. Trolled or retrieved very slowly, it will seldom snag on the bottom, as the line and leech/crawler acts like a "kite" (for lack of a better term) and keeps it lifted off the bottom. If you use the next larger split shot, you will be on the bottom many times. There's a fine line between the two sizes.
Mad_Angler	02/09/2012 11:32AM   It settles so slowly and naturally that it doesn't spend a lot of time on the bottom. You also reel in very slowly. In that case, the bait never really makes it to the bottom. I also didn't use a split shot..
ckb	02/09/2012 10:41AM   So how does this not get hung up on the bottom??? Even a tiny split shot could get wedged between rocks, and the tip of the hook is a bit exposed waiting to get caught on a rock or submerged brush/branches. I like the idea - much simpler than even slip bobber - but have to wonder about dealing with snags.
Mad_Angler	02/09/2012 11:32AM   It settles so slowly and naturally that it doesn't spend a lot of time on the bottom. You also reel in very slowly. In that case, the bait never really makes it to the bottom. I also didn't use a split shot..
Cedarboy	06/16/2009 12:51PM   Thanks izzy,I dont even want to think about the $$$ to be saved on lures,LOL! CB
izzy	06/16/2009 01:54PM   z - Try all retrieves you described. They will work. Somedays a different speed retrieve is what they will respond to. Also, just cast out some line , close the bail and drift with the wind. Hang on because they will hit it when you least expect it. The heavier the split shot during the drift or cast and the deeper you will go. Good luck. As TGO syas - you will catch more fish this way. Good Luck - Izzy
mooselodge	06/16/2009 03:39PM   so one hook one sinker one leech?
mooselodge	06/17/2009 01:34PM   would you use a split shot weight or bullet sinker. and if split shot. then how high up would you place the sinker?
izzy	06/17/2009 04:05PM   Small Split Shot about 8 - 12 inches above the hook.
lundojam	06/17/2009 07:36AM   I don't know; sounds complicated :)
Mad_Angler	06/17/2009 09:19PM   too complicated and not enough information... What size line do you need? Do you prefer mono or braided line? Do you need a cheap split shot or one that can be removed? Does the split shot need to be lead? What kind of knot works best? Do you hook the leech in the head or the tail? Do you use large, medium or small leeches? Do you use leeches bought in Ely or Grand Marias?
The Great Outdoors	07/07/2011 08:02PM   Yup, use the smallest split shot that conditions will allow, about 3-4 feet away from the hook. Some like a shorter distance.
Benjamin27	04/10/2012 01:31PM   quote BearBrown: "Im going to give this method some more time on the water after it worked fairly well landing some nice smallies in wisconsin. #6 hook, medium leech, and a piece of split shot probably 20 inches up the line. Was casting the set up while anchored and letting it sink to the bottom, then working it slowly on or near the bottom. We tried other methods as well, but this was the most effective. Proof: " Those are largemouth
The Great Outdoors	06/15/2009 02:48PM   Good to hear you had a great trip, Izzy!! Maybe we can get a few more converts to the plain hook method:)
GrampaMike	06/16/2009 09:08AM   TGO.....does this method work year round? I'll be up in the middle of August (entering at Snake River) and will be visiting you for some live bait.
Wally13	07/09/2011 07:01AM   TGO....what do you recommend when fishing in Quetico where no LIVE Bait is allowed. Do you replace your piece of nightcrawler with a piece of GULP nightcrawler or Gulp leech? My catch rate in Quetico has been reduced by 30% when I had to quit using live nightcrawlers on Lindy rigged floating worm harnesses for walleye. I just got back from a 10 day on Darky/Brent/Comnee and did well on walleye. But I still feel that live worms would still have given me more fish vs. using GULP. I would appreciate your input on fishing with the TGO method in Quetico.
BearBrown	07/09/2011 09:28PM   Im going to give this method some more time on the water after it worked fairly well landing some nice smallies in wisconsin. #6 hook, medium leech, and a piece of split shot probably 20 inches up the line. Was casting the set up while anchored and letting it sink to the bottom, then working it slowly on or near the bottom. We tried other methods as well, but this was the most effective. Proof:
Grumpy	07/10/2011 11:11AM   I read about this method hear at BWCA. We stopped in and talked with Jim a TGO. Baught a lb of leeches and a leech tote from him. Best way ever to strt a trip out. My son was also very impressed the way we caught fish.
schweady	06/17/2009 06:22PM   We call using this rig 'caveman fishing.' Spoken mostly as a slam on all of the new-fangled stuff that the pros convince us that we need. But it works quite well, actually.
The Great Outdoors	06/16/2009 09:59PM   Also, when fishing is slow (ie, calm day) no retrieve, no sinker. Let it sink to the bottom and work it's magic. This is used with a 1-2 inch piece of crawler or a smaller leech (so it cannot suspend the hook)
The Great Outdoors	06/16/2009 10:04PM   PS-I like to use a #6 or #4 Salmon hook, tied directly. However, a #6 or #8 Kahle style hook works very well (but is quite a bit larger than the salmon hook) Most fish are lip hooked with this.
izzy	06/16/2009 01:13PM   CB - Not to mention the space and weight it will save in our packs !!! Izzy
Cedarboy	06/16/2009 11:32AM   How far up do you put the split shot?
izzy	06/16/2009 11:51AM   Anywhere from about 8 to 12 inches or so worked for me. Good Luck. Izzy
timatkn	06/16/2009 02:32PM   Although I love my Rapalas this is a very effective method.
izzy	06/16/2009 03:40PM   moose - You are correct.
SINCE1975	06/16/2009 10:20AM   Sounds like alot of gut hooked fish to me.I dont use a hook that small for bluegills and perch.I know it would work but my choice would be a #4 aberdeen at the smallest.
wcummin1	06/16/2009 07:19AM   Where in Duluth? St. Lous?
chadwick	06/15/2009 11:51PM   this was the ticket for us today in duluth as well for walleyes. small split shot, hook and leech/minnow.
Monnster	06/16/2009 05:13AM   this is just a plug for #8 hooks and split shots :)
The Great Outdoors	06/16/2009 10:14AM   Yes, this works year around, and is the most efficient way to catch fish. Especially when they are biting very lightly. If you can get by with it, do not even use a sinker. This works best with a piece of crawler, as it can't swim and keep the hook too high in the water column.
izzy	06/16/2009 10:45AM   SINCE1975- None of the fish I caught this way were gut hooked. And I believe the reason for this is that you feel the initial hit and set the hook before the fish has a chance to swallow it. Most fish were lipped hooked and swam away immediately after I released them. Izzy
wcummin1	06/16/2009 07:19AM   Ummmm or St. Louis
izzy	06/15/2009 09:18AM   Just got back from my trip to Alpine. Caught over 90% of my fish on TGO's method - single # 8 hook , tiny split shot , and a leech. Casting and retreiving and drifting worked well. Caught walleyes , smallies and northerns this way. Great system , not much tackle to take next year and you get to feel the fish hit the bait. Thanks TGO ! Izzy
Mad_Angler	02/05/2012 09:46PM   Bumb. This is definitely the easiest, best way to catch a bunch of fish. It works for beginners and experts alike.
Highway61	07/25/2011 08:23AM   hopefuly it was smatter of simply being missed -- not that my question was that dum. But I would like to ask again: This method (which I think all of us who have fished have tried at some point) -- is it best used at certain depths or near certain lake features (creek mouths, ledges, beaver dams, humps, etc)? Or is it pretty all-purpose? I'm trying to simplify things for a group I'll be travelilng with with little to no fishing experience. We'll be fishing in very late August.
aandrew	07/25/2011 08:35AM   Sorry for the sizing on this pic. Used this method this Saturday and snagged a quick Walleye, perch and this northern right before heading off the lake. Not sure how I was able to keep this on as I used no leader and he had swallowed the entire hook.
izzy	07/25/2011 09:31AM   Hiway61 - It's pretty much an all purpose type thing. Should work at any depth - but the deeper you fish the longer it may take to sink to the bottom. Call ahead that time of year for leeches as they get more difficult to get as the season progresses.
Bushwacker	07/25/2011 09:39AM   I agree it's a good technigue, keeps the bait in the fish zone a long time but it's boring. I use it as a last resort.
Basspro69	07/31/2011 03:26PM   quote Bushwacker: "I agree it's a good technigue, keeps the bait in the fish zone a long time but it's boring. I use it as a last resort." +1
Basspro69	07/31/2011 03:25PM   1
Bdubguy	04/07/2012 09:58PM   Ouch... First you're a fwannabe, now you're a caveman. No respect... :)
Hawkeye2010	04/06/2012 04:14PM   Sounds like everyone is catching a large number of fish on this method, does this work well for linkers too?
Bdubguy	04/06/2012 05:24PM   Thanks for the bump. I've seen reference to the TGO method, but hadn't seen this tread before, very informative. Definitely add this to my quiver... It seems like this would be a presentation for using a circle hook. TGO or others, have you tried the circle hooks with this method? I'm itching to give them a try...
Hawkeye2010	04/06/2012 04:16PM   *lunkers
izzy	04/06/2012 04:27PM   ummmmm ...........yes
Otzi	04/07/2012 10:23AM   What kind of line are you guys using - Mono, Fluoro, Fireline? Does it matter?
Arlo Pankook	04/07/2012 12:20PM   X2 Effective but boring. Caveman fishing.
Basspro69	04/07/2012 11:47AM   quote Bushwacker: "I agree it's a good technigue, keeps the bait in the fish zone a long time but it's boring. I use it as a last resort." +1
The Great Outdoors	04/07/2012 09:07AM   I've used Kahle hooks, and seem to find they are better at hooking fish than the standard style. They are much bigger than a straight shank, or salmon hook of the same number size, which are hooks that I prefer. A Circle hook is nothing more than a pregnant Kahle, for lack of a better description.
Moonman	06/06/2020 05:25AM   The Great Outdoors: "Also, when fishing is slow (ie, calm day) no retrieve, no sinker. Let it sink to the bottom and work it's magic. This is used with a 1-2 inch piece of crawler or a smaller leech (so it cannot suspend the hook)" I’ve got to underline this piece of the TGO method. This is the real secret - as small a sinker as possible but no sinker if you have the patience and conditions (wind) allow. The fish pick it up and feel no resistance at all. It’s the deadliest method for really big fish. So start with no sinker and only add one if you really need to. It’s also a presentation where 6-8lb trilene xl excels... Moonman
missmolly	06/06/2020 07:33AM   Moonman: "The Great Outdoors: "Also, when fishing is slow (ie, calm day) no retrieve, no sinker. Let it sink to the bottom and work it's magic. This is used with a 1-2 inch piece of crawler or a smaller leech (so it cannot suspend the hook)" I’ve got to underline this piece of the TGO method. This is the real secret - as small a sinker as possible but no sinker if you have the patience and conditions (wind) allow. The fish pick it up and feel no resistance at all. It’s the deadliest method for really big fish. So start with no sinker and only add one if you really need to. It’s also a presentation where 6-8lb trilene xl excels... Moonman" I once fished a quarry pond that had a pair of largemouth bass circling it. The water was so clear I could easily them and they could see every bit of my tackle. I cast everything at them and didn't even elicit a sniff. Not even a worm, hooked in the head, with a tiny sinker provoked a strike. However, when I removed that sinker, they immediately struck the worm. Zero hesitation. So, I've seen what you assert. you are right. Less means more.
yogi59weedr	07/21/2016 11:58PM   I prefer placing the split shot 3-4 feet from the hook. On a controlled drift you just have to raise and lower the rod tip. No real jigging required. Just let that lively minnow or leach swim naturally with the current
Mad_Angler	06/06/2017 12:55PM   Bump again... I went to Alpine over Memorial Day. It was cold and fishing was pretty slow. I eventually went back to the TGO method and caught some fish. We did get a few on Zulus, taildancers, and jig/slip bobber. But the TGO method was pretty reliable...
thegildedgopher	06/06/2020 05:41PM   Good to see the cult of TGO is alive and well. :) So...How long does it take a small hook with a piece of crawler and no weight to sink 25 feet? Keep in mind monofilament floats... just seems like it’d be quite the waiting game. More so with a leech or live minnow that can swim?. I’ve learned to use barrel sinkers and a tiny swivel on my slip float rigs and had great success. When the fish grabs the worm, the line pulls thru the barrel with no resistance. Picked that up from somebody ice fishing sucker minnows under ifishpros.
northallen	07/07/2011 11:03AM   What size split shot is best? Should I use the tiny ones (1/32) as depth, wind, current dictate?
The Great Outdoors	07/09/2011 07:27AM   Try using the "Slimer" brand of 3" grub/leech or their 6" dew crawler (which you could cut in half) They're very flexible, and the most realistic brand of artificial I've seen. There is a fiber strip in each one that you must pass the hook through to get them to stay on. You WILL know when pushing the hook through because there is some resistance.
Wally13	07/09/2011 07:57AM   Thanks for the tip on using SLIMERS. I will have to give it a try.
Fisherman65	07/31/2011 11:52AM   So all you do is cast it out and wait until it hits the bottom, and reel in slowly?
missmolly	05/27/2011 06:20PM   Well, I'm open to new methods, so I will give it a whirl.
Mad_Angler	05/24/2011 07:57AM   quote Boarstalker: "...But up in the BWCA, how do you get away without using a leader when pike are around? Or just no worries there since hooks are cheap? " In my experience, the smallies and walleye will get it before a pike. But if a pike did get it, you'd just lose a hook.. Tim
Mad_Angler	05/24/2011 07:27AM   Bump to the top. If you really want a sure-fire way to catch fish, use the patented TGO single hook method. It even works with gulp or trigger leeches. As a reminder, the method is very simple: tie on a single hook with no wieght, hook on a big leech, cast out. When a fish takes off with your leech, set the hook and reel him in...
Boarstalker	05/24/2011 07:49AM   This is the exact rig I use for trout fishing out in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. Except I use a #12 hook, no weight and a piece of a crawler. But up in the BWCA, how do you get away without using a leader when pike are around? Or just no worries there since hooks are cheap?
The Great Outdoors	05/24/2011 09:02AM   quote Boarstalker: "This is the exact rig I use for trout fishing out in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. Except I use a #12 hook, no weight and a piece of a crawler. But up in the BWCA, how do you get away without using a leader when pike are around? Or just no worries there since hooks are cheap? " Number one rule, you catch more fish with the lightest tackle, so your chances are best with no snap swivel or leader. Just a plain hook or small jig tied on directly, tipped with a piece of crawler, minnow, or a leech. Use the lightest sinker (BB)with the plain hook pinched on about 3-4 feet away, or if possible, no sinker at all. Most pike are hooked in the side corner of their mouth, and are usually lost by an incorrectly set drag, or while trying to net them by the canoe. The smaller ones normally are the hook swallowers and line cutters. (not always, but most of the time) A little tip: NEVER put the landing net into the water until the fish is ready to be landed. A fish can only swim forward, so never try to net one going to the left, right, or swimming away from the boat or canoe. Wait until the fish is tired out, faces the canoe, and the angler has the rod tip high in the air so the pike's head is slightly elevated. Then slip the net into the water, just in front of his jaw, and scoop it in. Most people try to guide the fish into a waiting net. They sense the net, and will try their best to swim away from it, so do not do that!!
TheBrownLeader	05/24/2011 08:01AM   I just finished packing my tackle. One thing I added this year were some Salmon flies, particularly the egg sucking leech. I intend to Carolina rig them with split shot 12-15 inches up the line, and then the fly tied to the end. All the patterns I packed are leech patterns. I expect that this will work.
MGD	07/25/2011 09:14PM   My dad and I fished hard with a lot of different baits on our trip last year but nothing came close to producing like a plain hook (I swear by Gamakatsu hooks, they're well worth the extra money) and a leech. We found that the smaller the splitshot and the farther up from the hook (3-4 feet), the better we did. We concentrated on moving water, just tossed the rig in and let it go, keeping tension on the line, and tap tap tappy there you go, smallies, pike and walleye (including a 29 inch walleye, which peeled half my spool off before I got her up to shore).
Yakdaddy	05/25/2011 02:58PM   quote Mad_Angler: "I'm not Izzy but... I have used Seagull outfitters with great success. Seagull is a nice outfit. The folks are very knowledgeable and friendly. And Deb runs a tight ship. You will not be disappointed Actually, I am almost packed and heading up there about 4pm this afternoon. I am getting towed to Red Rock and camping on Alpine. Our tow is $75 per person, round trip. It is the best $75 I spend on each trip... Here are the rest of their rates: Seagull tows " Mad_Angler, I'll be heading to that exact area in a couple of weeks, I would appreciate a water and fishing update if possible. Thank you...
missmolly	05/25/2011 03:27PM   @ TGO I just bought some number eight hooks and I'm going to try it, but I'm scared. They're so little! Won't a big fish straighten them? I've had 40-inch pike straighten far bigger hooks.
shr2807	05/25/2011 03:32PM   quote missmolly: "@ TGO I just bought some number eight hooks and I'm going to try it, but I'm scared. They're so little! Won't a big fish straighten them? I've had 40-inch pike straighten far bigger hooks." I'd say if you hook a 40+ inch pike with one of these hooks, you will need to loosen you drag and let the fish run till it's too tired and just slowly bring him in.
izzy	05/25/2011 01:22PM   Andy - I read the same book when I was in high school. Except that it was written by Bill Binkelman. I think he was originally out of Milwaukee and used this technique on Okauchee Lake west of Milwaukee.But the same concept works today.
4fishin	05/25/2011 06:54PM   been using this method since I started going up there 5 years ago. I buy new lures every year and they end up sitting in my tackle box because this is truly the only thing you need. If you want to catch a lot of fish, for sure, this is the way to go. The group I go with uses it every day we fish up there and there have been days when each of us have caught over 70 fish in one day and probably close to 100 per guy. Now that is fishing for minimum 8 hours a day but still, that is a lot of fish and a lot of fun. Personally, I wouldn't go on the trip without knowing this method anymore... It is that effective. HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!!
izzy	05/25/2011 04:35PM   shr is right - loosen the drag up. That little hook will hold !I have caught fish up to almost 20 pounds on a # 8 hook.
missmolly	05/25/2011 04:47PM   I don't think the drag's the problem. I always fish with six-pound test. It's the moment of fury that some pike and most musky muster. I'll see. I'm excited to try something new.
The Great Outdoors	05/25/2011 08:51PM   quote missmolly: "@ TGO I just bought some number eight hooks and I'm going to try it, but I'm scared. They're so little! Won't a big fish straighten them? I've had 40-inch pike straighten far bigger hooks." missmolly, I normally use a #4 or #6 Salmon style hook for the most part, some prefer smaller. I also use small lead head jigs at times, tipped with a leech, bit of crawler, or a minnow. A large fish can straighten a smaller hook if the drag is set too tight, or just the tip of the hook is stuck in a boney part of the jaw.
missmolly	05/25/2011 09:28PM   @ boarstalker Wow! That's a fish and a half!
missmolly	05/25/2011 09:26PM   @ TGO I bought some 4's and 6's too, but I'm going to try the 8's. I do love to try new methods, lures, and lakes. When I was younger, I wanted to pound one lake, learn it, and catch as many fish as possible. Now that I'm older, I want to fish the next lake.
lundojam	05/25/2011 09:00PM   A couple of years ago Al and Jim Lindner fished the Wavewackers walleye tournament on Mille Lacs and were in the lead after day one with a new technique they had developed called "split-shotting" with night crawlers. They didn't end up winning, but in the next Walleye Insider magazine there was an article about split-shotting. Take a guess how one goes about split-shotting.
Boarstalker	05/25/2011 09:18PM   quote missmolly: "@ TGO I just bought some number eight hooks and I'm going to try it, but I'm scared. They're so little! Won't a big fish straighten them? I've had 40-inch pike straighten far bigger hooks." No...they will not :) I've never been to the BWCA but I've caught some pretty big fish on small hooks. The below pic is of my 48 lb King Salmon caught in the Feather River in California on a size 12 hook, 5x tippet (about 3 lb test). With the drag set correctly, it was a fight, but the fish did not pull free nor did it straighten the hook. And I released him to swim away and finish his spawning duties further upstream. Small hooks and light line are a real blast and can catch tons of fish....I'm just leery of the pike cutting me off but I guess I'll find out when I head up later this summer.
AndySG	05/26/2011 01:51PM   If worried about hooks being straightened, its not only the drag but the flex of the rod that will save you. If using light line 8lb or under, it should be paired with a light to med-light rod. When a fish runs the flex of the rod is the primary shock absorber and the drag second to keep pressure off both hook and line. This why fly rodders can land huge fish with those tiny fly hooks and 2 lb leaders.
larryb	05/26/2011 09:48PM   If anyone has one, could you post a picture of this setup?
missmolly	05/26/2011 09:54PM   quote AndySG: "If worried about hooks being straightened, its not only the drag but the flex of the rod that will save you. If using light line 8lb or under, it should be paired with a light to med-light rod. When a fish runs the flex of the rod is the primary shock absorber and the drag second to keep pressure off both hook and line. This why fly rodders can land huge fish with those tiny fly hooks and 2 lb leaders." I do fish with stiff rods. I have a hard time hooking big bass at great distances with light action rods. Big bass have thick jaws.
Boarstalker	05/26/2011 10:52PM   @MissMolly...easier to set the hooks with smaller hooks and lighter rods. Just my experience in the world of fly fishing. Give it a whirl and try it (light rods, not fly fishing :)
520eek	05/26/2011 11:01PM   quote larryb: "If anyone has one, could you post a picture of this setup?" I second this ... I want to use this method and want to know how to set it up as well.
bruceye	05/26/2011 11:07PM   The river run salmon is a good comparative here. Most salmon anglers use hooks as small as 10 or 12 and pull in 25# fish against current. Your greatest advantage will always be, knowing how to fight the fish. Keep your drag just tight enough to set the hook and once you do, time is on your side. Let it peel some line. Keep a firm arm but limber in your wrist and elbow when he lunges. When he does lunge, let him run. Tighten the drag in small steps ONLY as he tires . If you boat him, you had a good experience. If you loose him, you had a good experience.
izzy	05/27/2011 08:11AM   I don't have a picture but it's very simple : tie a hook to the end of your line, about 24" above the hook pinch on a small split shot. Tip the hook with a leech , minnow or piece of nite crawler. Cast it out , let it sink and retrive it slowly. Many times the fish will hit as the bait sinks so pay attention. It's that simple.
missmolly	05/27/2011 09:24AM   quote bruceye: "The river run salmon is a good comparative here. Most salmon anglers use hooks as small as 10 or 12 and pull in 25# fish against current. Your greatest advantage will always be, knowing how to fight the fish. Keep your drag just tight enough to set the hook and once you do, time is on your side. Let it peel some line. Keep a firm arm but limber in your wrist and elbow when he lunges. When he does lunge, let him run. Tighten the drag in small steps ONLY as he tires . If you boat him, you had a good experience. If you loose him, you had a good experience." It sounds like a forumla for exhausting fish. Sure, I like the fight, but I love the fish. I want them to swim away with some energy remaining.
missmolly	05/26/2011 11:34PM   quote Boarstalker: "@MissMolly...easier to set the hooks with smaller hooks and lighter rods. Just my experience in the world of fly fishing. Give it a whirl and try it (light rods, not fly fishing :) " I'll be fishing barbless this year. I've been pinching barbs for years, but this winter I bought the barbless hooks and made the switch. I expect that'll help too, but I will be trying the smaller hooks too.
Boarstalker	05/27/2011 11:13AM   @MissMolly....when I posted pics and the story of my salmon on the fly fishing boards I took an absolute beating because of the very issue you mention. I was called irresponsible, raper of natural resourses and quite a few other things. People thing that extended fights exhaust fish to the point of death. They do not. If you play them correctly, even with light line and light rods, the fight will be a bit longer than had you been using 17-pound test and a stiff rod. However, the fight really is not THAT much longer. I've never had a fish go belly up from a long fight. The flexible rod, correct drag setting and fighting techniques probably have something to do with that. You won't be fighting the fish for 15 or 20 minutes. There is not that big of a difference. But...that's just me. Give it a whirl and you'll see
The Great Outdoors	04/08/2012 08:57AM   quote Bdubguy: "Ouch... First you're a fwannabe, now you're a caveman. No respect... :)" Thank you!! Ode to the Plain Hook A caveman and proud, with fish on the stringer. Using crank baits? You ain't got no dinner!! :) Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
john 800	04/08/2012 09:25PM   I have to admit that I dont use plain hooks a whole lot, small simple jigs with live bait is my go to standard though. I kind of giggle that people are just learning this for the first time, like its something new. TGO you need to file a patent for "weightless stealth jigs" they are jigs that have no weight attached to them, that way you can put the weight on the line away from the bait so it is harder for the fish to detect! brand new only available here...
The Great Outdoors	04/08/2012 10:08PM   john800, The plain hook, small sinker idea is new to many who do not fish a lot, attend sport shows, and fall victim to some salesman. The strangest thing I ever saw was a large, floating, Furry Muskrat with two big treble hooks, and a propeller driven by a small electric motor & two D cell batteries. The young guy had attended a sport show in the Chicago area.
shock	06/11/2017 12:28PM
shock	06/11/2017 12:28PM   Some friends of mine just came out of the sawbill area and did very good with this setup , simplicity at its best .
Stringjumper	06/11/2017 06:35PM   Yes...this is the method I have used since the early 1970's here in the south for mostly bass. (I also read Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers, my 1973 copy is still in my book collection.) It is a great method for bass on nightcrawlers here in Georgia, but I wondered if it would work for walleyes on leeches in Minnesota. On my first trip in 2008, it got out-fished by minnows on jig heads. That was an opening day trip, But on every trip since then my method has done considerably better...I think a lot of that is because leeches seem to be more effective in late May and early June. A couple of points... 1. My BB sinker is only 12 inches or so from the hook. I put it there for casting...if I put it 3-4 feet up the line, I can only "lob" the setup. And not very far or accurately. 2. My retrieve is more of a jiggle...I let the leech sink to the bottom, raise it back off the bottom, and then twitch it along for 1-2 feet before letting it sink again. 3. If the wind is blowing, which does happen OCCASIONALLY at BWCA, I will add a second BB shot 3-4 inches away from the first. But I avoid doing that if at all possible. 4. I use a light wire #8 Abeerdeen hook on 6lb test. I have NEVER had a fish straighten one out, but if it gets hung up in the rocks, I can pull it free using steady pressure. Then I use pliers to straighten the hook, rebait, and cast again. I don't lose 5 minutes re-tieing another hook and sinker. Plus I don't lose 10-20 feet of line off my reel every few minutes. Great place this BWCA...hopefully I have another 10-15 trips in me.
The Great Outdoors	06/10/2017 06:06PM   Glad to know that you like to sleep with one eye open!!! Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!! :)
overthehill	06/10/2017 07:40AM   Oh, on a side note; TGO....could you send us another dozen of those "Double D cell Prop Diving Chub Lures" ? You know; the ones you keep on the bow in that big trunk-size lure chest by your swivel seat. (Sample model BR549). We need another dozen of the 7" in the color clear/smoke. They are so purty after they dive way down there and the motor gets damp and sparks and smokes just before it does. That's when you realize the bite! Bwaaaaahahaaaawha haaa! OTH
The Great Outdoors	06/08/2017 05:34PM   quote ducks: "TGO and BP you guys crack me up ;) Great Humor.... My daughter caught her 1st walleye memorial day weekend on Swan. She wasn't catching anything w/ her slip bobber set up and looked back at me and said..."this isn't working for me, I want to be a professional" and had me set her up using the TGO method like I was. A few minutes later she had this........ I guess little duckling thinks you're a professional TGO ;)" With a statement like that, one can safely assume that her membership card for MENSA is in the mail!! :)
Basspro69	06/08/2017 09:06PM   quote ducks: "TGO and BP you guys crack me up ;) Great Humor.... My daughter caught her 1st walleye memorial day weekend on Swan. She wasn't catching anything w/ her slip bobber set up and looked back at me and said..."this isn't working for me, I want to be a professional" and had me set her up using the TGO method like I was. A few minutes later she had this........ I guess little duckling thinks you're a professional TGO ;)" Awesome picture congrats. Thats a cool looking fish if I didnt know better Id swear that was a Saugeye a Walleye Sauger mix.
overthehill	06/08/2017 06:34AM   Since a teenager (61 now), I had mostly fished "deadline" with just a crawler, hook, and maybe a bb split shot. Seldom could I convince myself to pinch an inch off a crawler. TGO is right though; often that is all you need. Ten years ago I had not fished BW but a couple trips years ago. Walleye? I thought they only existed on lake Erie. Had never fished a leech ( except the big yellow striped ones near the Ohio.) I carried a pocket box of small hooks (colored octopus, circles Aberdeen, trueturn, mosquito , crappie hooks.....plenty of variety. And split shots and a couple small bobber. Crick Wader set-up. Now if hungry for fish it is a mosquito hook or Kahle #8, bb three feet up drifting, and a LEECH. The TGO Method works! Thanks Big Daddy!
Basspro69	06/07/2017 05:46PM   In T G Os defense he didnt bump this up and at times it is the most efficient way to get them, even though at times, many many times, lures are much faster :-)
ducks	06/08/2017 05:14AM   TGO and BP you guys crack me up ;) Great Humor.... My daughter caught her 1st walleye memorial day weekend on Swan. She wasn't catching anything w/ her slip bobber set up and looked back at me and said..."this isn't working for me, I want to be a professional" and had me set her up using the TGO method like I was. A few minutes later she had this........ I guess little duckling thinks you're a professional TGO ;)
Wally13	06/08/2017 06:41AM   Ducks, Priceless pic
Basspro69	06/07/2017 08:50PM   quote The Great Outdoors: "quote ObiWenonahKenobi: "I fished the TGO method exclusively last summer for six days. I caught two bass total by accident, I was fishing for walleyes. Clearly I wasn't doing something right. Maybe I didn't buy my leeches at the right shop. LOL " Cleary you were not doing something right! If in Ely, stop in the shop so we can give you the crash course on fishing. Basspro69 had the same problem several years back until I analyzed his mistakes in his attempt to use the TGO method. It seems he was throwing the rod into the lake, and holding the plain hook with a leech, in his hand. Once I reversed this slight error, he did much better!! :) Bwahahahahaha!" OK I laughed really hard at this one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Great Outdoors	06/08/2017 04:11AM   :)