Spoonbill Float?

[Seth]

I'll keep you updated with how things go for us when we are down there. I go down and snag right when season first opens but after that I only go down under special circumstances (ie super low or super high water in April).

[Flysmallie]

A couple of years ago we were seeing some big spoonbill up the James during the summer. They seemed pretty lethargic. I don't know if they got trapped up there or what but it was weird to see them up that far in July.

[MeatintheFreezer]

Seth - I have always been chasing crappie by the time season opens, so I have never taken time to learn the details of snagging. Besides that the last time I tried it my motor wouldnt troll slow enough to get the weight on the bottom because of my prop pitch. I have since switched to braiden line on my snagging rods which should help that issue.

I plan to be out on opening day this year trying to snag a couple for the smoker, so if you see a red on white Ranger that is trolling way to fast, it's probably me!

If that doesn't work I am moving upstream and waiting for them in the kayak.

Good luck.

[Wayne SW/MO]

MITF, you might look into a drag sail or into building something.

[MeatintheFreezer]

I have picked one up half a dozen times at BPS, but always talk myself out of it. I always tell myself I dont troll enough to mess with it, but if I had one, I might do more of it.

You are right, thanks for the advice.

[Seth]

How much weight you dragging Meat? The faster you can move and stay on bottom, the better. I think most trollers don't use enough weight and move way too slow. On LoZ where there aren't so many snags, we run dipsy divers in place of lead and buzz around at 4.5mph. The James has too much junk in it for me to try using divers though. Lose a few of those at $13 a pop and it stings the pocket book!

[MeatintheFreezer]

I went up to a 10 oz sinker, that's the is the biggest I had. I think the giant mono I was using had so much drag it was lifting the weight. I really think that going to the braid will help a lot, since it is much smaller diameter.

I never checked my speed, I am sure someone could run the math for a 26" prop X 10% slip X gear ratio X RPM X etc. It would be easier for me to just gps it this year and see. 4.5 is cruising pretty good. If you run a heavy drag you better be hanging on if you snag bottom!

I will bring enough lead this year to experiment and figure out what works for my set up. I really want my boy to hook into one of these.

[Seth]

Switch over to a low diameter braid in the 80-150# range and run a 16 or 24oz sinker and you should be golden.

[MeatintheFreezer]

Wow, I never imagined I would need that much weight. I will stock up and give it a shot.

Thank you!

[Seth]

Wow, I never imagined I would need that much weight. I will stock up and give it a shot.

Thank you!

I would try the braid and the 10oz weight first. You may not need that heavy of a weight. On LoZ, you are usually snagging water that's 40-55' deep, much deeper than the James on average, and people use some pretty hefty weight to stay on the bottom.