Big Time White Bite

[Bill Babler]

Looking at the Jitterbugs on Ebay, it's funny how the sellers always describe them as "Vintage" if they're used. Trying to find some wooden ones, used to fish them a lot at night when I lived on the east coast and the wooden ones seemed to ride a little higher and catch more fish than the plastic ones. I can't remember if they made the jointed ones out of wood before they went to plastic or if the jointed ones have only been made in plastic.

From fishing them the past two years on a pretty steady basis, you do not want a higher ride. It causes much more misses. ON a brighter note, maybe if they miss it they won't swallow it to there A$$$$$.

Push comes to shove, and the fin is keeping me fishing longer with much less stress and pain. It is however nice to visit a friend from the past.

[dtrs5kprs]

It is just amazing they can get it that far down, in the eye blink it takes to eat it. Guess we are probably fortunate it does not happen with other baits more frequently.

[Bill Babler]

It is just amazing they can get it that far down, in the eye blink it takes to eat it. Guess we are probably fortunate it does not happen with other baits more frequently.

Yes, you are right. I really can't figure out why now all of a sudden they are swallowing it. I will tell you I have made some adjustments to the bait and they may be partly to blame. I have taken off the big old dull hooks and of course put on smaller Death Traps, and that may in fact be the key to them being able to take it so far back.

I'm going to try putting a bigger set of hooks on it. Up to size 4 and see what that does. The original hooks are size 4 somethings and I went to the size 6. It is very streamline with the smaller hooks and I didn't have to use a split ring to hang them. I bet the bigger hooks on split rings may keep them on the outside of the mouth.

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and rethink it. I'll let you know how this works.

[TRRANGER]

Bill, and other Redfin Pros, When you guys are fishing the redfin do you fish it on the surface with your rod held up to make it wake or let it dive down and make a very fishy looking wiggle. I was throwing it for the first time this weekend and trying to figure it out. The redfin I have is a jointed and pretty big compared to other jerkbaits am I doing it correctly and do I have the right redfin? Thanks in advanced for yalls help. TR

[dtrs5kprs]

Bill, and other Redfin Pros, When you guys are fishing the redfin do you fish it on the surface with your rod held up to make it wake or let it dive down and make a very fishy looking wiggle. I was throwing it for the first time this weekend and trying to figure it out. The redfin I have is a jointed and pretty big compared to other jerkbaits am I doing it correctly and do I have the right redfin? Thanks in advanced for yalls help. TR

TRRanger...I am neither of those, but this should be the answer. You want to keep the bait up on top and making a "V" wake. It is much harder to get it to do that than to do the dive and wiggle. Big and jointed is the right one. There are some really good older posts that cover a few tweaks to make it run a little better. Big mono or braid helps, and keeping the tip high helps.

Yes, you are right. I really can't figure out why now all of a sudden they are swallowing it. I will tell you I have made some adjustments to the bait and they may be partly to blame. I have taken off the big old dull hooks and of course put on smaller Death Traps, and that may in fact be the key to them being able to take it so far back.

I'm going to try putting a bigger set of hooks on it. Up to size 4 and see what that does. The original hooks are size 4 somethings and I went to the size 6. It is very streamline with the smaller hooks and I didn't have to use a split ring to hang them. I bet the bigger hooks on split rings may keep them on the outside of the mouth.

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and rethink it. I'll let you know how this works.

Have not thrown them yet, but swapped out the hooks on the big jointed bug to #2 gamak on about size 4 rings. That is a real pain to do with those little hangers, they do not like rings. Look to be about like the right size, not sure what it will do to the action. Kind of a scary deal. You would think that bait is much harder to choke down than something like a swimbait or a jig.

[Jason Essary]

Bill, taking a pair of army bound boys out in the morning (one being mine, he ships out in July) to bash the whites. Any update on places or if it still hot?

[fishinwrench]

Most all the whites we are catching are BIG Females that did not spawn. When you try and release them shad and nasty eggs spew all over creation. Fun but for sure messy. Had to take the boat to the car wash 3 days in a row.

So actual evidence of a failed spawn this year for many of the whites? What would you attribute that to, and is that fairly normal ?

A hot post spawn bite on whites is unheard of on my pond but I'm gonna attempt to locate a similar bite going on up here since we had a less than spectacular spawn run ourselves. Males were thick, but females were more scarce than I can ever remember.

I think I'm the only one in these parts that frets over the whites. Everyone else treats them like mushrooms and blackberry's.

[danop69]

dtrs5kprs. I guess you prefer the jointed fin over the non jointed? Why? What about the size? Do like the 5" or 7"? The 7" seems awfully big.

[Sam]

I'm going tomorrow morning, and I guess I'll stick with the Roostertail. Well, Bass Pro's knock-off Micro-Spin version, anyway. When I was catching whites last week, they were hitting hard and swallowing the lure deep. Not as deep as you describe, but the Roostertail was way down in there and a pain to get out with needle-nose pliers.

The way they're swallowing things, I'm going to try something different. I'll cut the treble hooks off a couple of Micro-Spins and replace them with single Kahle circle hooks. I'm betting those big aggressive whites are gulping down baits then closing their mouths, swimming at high speed when they do it. If they're swallowing the lure I'm not going to miss any strikes - but I bet I'll get a good, solid hookset in the jaw as it comes back up. How's that for an idea?

[Jason Essary]

fishingwrench, I believe it is common for the "lake" whites to fail in the spawn. I catch alot of them around easter up smaller creeks than the larger rivers and they are spawning then, but they are very tempermental with weather. One day they are up spawning and the next after a front they are gone for good. And im sure some of the lakers dont even make it up in those arms. Believe it to be kinda common for them.

danop, 7" all the way. Looks big but works, love the jointed. Either in the smokey joe or the one with purple and green scales on the back (dont remember the name). Remember to change the split ring in the front with a stout snap (no swievle) and the hooks for a better action and better hook-up. Redfins are made to go to saltwater without changing anything but hate those hooks for here.

Sam, not a bad idea. Would think you would miss some fish with a circle hook, could be wrong, but in the maylay of fish anouther one will probably hit it again. should work. Keep us posted.

Still wondering if the bite is hot, hope to find them in the morning. Hate when I hear "should have been here yesterday".