I Don't Catch Fish

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Back to Lake Okhissa today.  Almost a week of warmer weather, cloudy and rain last night, overcast and scattered showers today.  AWESOME Fishing Weather.  I brought what I call my "SpinFly" rod...a 9', 9/10 wt. Fly Rod I converted to a Spinning Rod...it sports a Penn Battle 2000 with 8 lb. Clear Ande Mono.  I made some "Leech" imitations out of half-mold Gliders, in a Dark Smoke remelt, which has .008" Red flake, .040" Blue flake, .040" Copper flake, and a Very Light Silver Pearl Hue.  Starting out, I rigged the "Glider Leech" on a 1/0 light wire worm hook and a small Split Shot, maybe 2'-3' up the line.

1st Strike...hook-set...HEAVY fish...rod bent double...2-3 seconds, hook pulls out.  Gone.
Several Strikes into the day...a few misses that came up with a curled-down plastic...1 broke off at the Split Shot, everything gone.  2 Bass ate a half-mold 5" Skinny in the same color as the "Leeches"...1st one I fought almost to the bank, 3rd jump, gone...that one was 3 to 3.5 lb's...2nd fish on the Skinny shook hard and came off.  These were on the Owner hooks.  Back to the Leech...same thing...they WOOPED me today.  I "set the hook" on 7...SEVEN...Solid Strikes.

Lessons Learned...

#1, Don't exalt Yourself...I did..."I catch fish...BlahBlahBlah...Bl ahBlahBlah...I catch fish".  EVERY Strike, and EVERY fish we land is Granted, and is a Blessing..."Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from Above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights".  Humble Yourself...for YOU are ALWAYS in the Sight of the Lord.

#2, a SpinFly rod does NOT have enough Backbone for Bass Fishing, and should be reserved for fishing Softer-Mouthed Species.

#3, Southern Bass LOVE them some Leeches!!!

[andrewlamberson]

Ok...try this....

1. Go get some circle hooks (Eagle Claw L7228) and rig it the same as you mentioned with the split shot about 2-3' up the line (we call it a "Poor Man's Lindy Rig" !) Alternate Hook: Eagle Claw L141 Kahle Hook.

2. "Nose hook" the Glider...or small Carrot...

2. When the fish hits it...let him run with it and say...slowly..Ohhh...myy yyyy. Iiiiiiii...Have....aaaa. fffish  (or just count to 10 !)...and then SLOWLY PULL the line tight with a sweeping motion (NOT a hook set!).  Kind of like an exaggerated wacky worm hook set).

3. That will pull the circle hook into the corner of the fishes mouth...a your on! 9 out of 10 times the fish will hook themselves as they swim off with the Glider.

You Spin-fly should work fine...maybe even too stiff! Remember...DON"T set the hook....use a gentle sweeping motion!

We call in "Lindy Rigging" up here....I think you southern bass guys call it Carolina Rigging...it's the same concept.

[BassDetective]

Tooo.....Funny.

Least you are getting some bites.  I got out today for a bit and didn't even get a sniff.  We have had mostly full sun, no rain, highs in the 60's for weeks.    

I think the fish are staying on vacation no matter the weather.  They must figure they did their time in the spring, summer, and fall and now its time to rest.  WE must remember it is still January.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Thank You, Andy, Bro!  I've been thinking about doing something similar, but I didn't have much time today and figured I'd "Go Hard or Go Home".  Owner makes an SSW hook that I like alot.  The SSW's are a short shank bait hook, with a slight inward curve in the point.  I've used the 2/0 and 3/0 SSW's Offshore, catching Snapper and Grouper.  My biggest Red Snapper was caught on a 2/0 SSW...that fish was guess-timated well over 30 lb.s.  I have some non-digital pics of that fish.

I'm thinking either a 1/0 or 2/0 SSW on a Nose-Hooked Glider, whole or half.  Being a small bait, I wouldn't think a CountDown would be necessary, but I'll definitely try to remember to utilize it.  The SpinFly Rod flexes alot...ALOT...before any backbone is realized.  I've seen through the years, that setting a hook that's exposed (jighead) happens quite nice, but I've also gathered that setting a hook that's basicly buried (Weightless, Texas, Carolina) takes more force.  You've got to "fight" over/around the plastic to expose the hook enough to get a bite inside a fish's mouth.

It's ok...I will be diligently working to not make THESE (plural) same mistakes again.  I'm working on a "Full" Custom Casting Rod...a 7' 10" MHX MagBass Blank that will sport a Calcutta 200GTB with 10 lb. mono...this 1 is geared towards Lighter Bass Tackle, and Castability, which is why I went with the GTB...it's got a drilled/ported spool (less start-up inertia required).  All that's left is to clear-coat the blank and get the guides on it, and it's ready.  Until then, the 7' 6" Teramar will be the Flavor, the next time I'm home...it's plenty fast and Loaded with Backbone.  My other Casting Bass Rod is loaded with 12 lb. and would not cast these light rigs well...it's set up for the heavier tackle.

I also will be working on "tootin' my own horn", like I'm somethin'...

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Thinking on it a bit more...this whole deal...I got smoked by Dale on Saturday, then got bit like crazy on Tuesday on my own Homemade-Bomb Bait.  This Scent Thing seems to definitely have some merit.  I'm very glad to see UpperHandScents on here!  Maybe They have a scent that will immulsify and keep me out of Divorce Court!!!

New Bait...Earthworm and Strawberry Sundae...short-curcuit the senses