Thread: Experimenting

Sunday I was fishing around the bridges in Mountain Creek and tried something a little different I fished minnows under a split shot basically letting the minnow swim free. I caught fish this way the water was 28-30 ft.

Earlier in the day I started out tightline trolling with the trolling motor set to the lowest speed using a Capps and Coleman rig getting only one hit. Has anyone tried the split shot free swimming method in open water or around docks?

I also watched some fellows in another boat casting small jigs at the bridge pillings and reeling up very slow.

For night stalking I use a #4 split shot about 8" - 10" above my hook.

My father caught a 15" and two 14" crappie on Jordan a couple of weeks ago using a split shot and a single hook about 8" down. The bite was so sensitive that day that he could not use our regular double-hook rig. It all depends upon how aggessive the fish are on a given day.

Originally Posted by Joe Tilghman

Sunday I was fishing around the bridges in Mountain Creek and tried something a little different I fished minnows under a split shot basically letting the minnow swim free. I caught fish this way the water was 28-30 ft.

Earlier in the day I started out tightline trolling with the trolling motor set to the lowest speed using a Capps and Coleman rig getting only one hit. Has anyone tried the split shot free swimming method in open water or around docks?

I also watched some fellows in another boat casting small jigs at the bridge pillings and reeling up very slow.

Were they catching any fish using that method, reeling up slowly? I have done that before, but I thought it was too early yet for that, works good in the dead of winter.

I did see them catch a few but nothing to shout at. I plan to try that next time out, will probably try next week. Doing something witht he wife this weekend got to keep her happy.

Joe, that is how I always fish. The trolling or wind speed determines the size of the split shot.

Joe,

That's one of my primary tactics for the "Raleigh area lake." Also, when the fish are <5' down, casting a minnow w/out any weight can work exceptionally well.

Good luck to you, and keep those reports coming!

joe, i use BB shot keeps them down just enough and still lets them swim freely.i fish up by the state park launch.caught 30 yesterday. 6 were 13'' two were fourteen.good luck. ken

Thanks all for your input and help love it when people share information