Bed Fishing

[5bites]

15 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

The gun issue seems perfectly comparable to me. It is you who went all NRA --- "you guys are gonna rule us all out of fishing" --- at the mere suggestion that some new/revised regulations might help the bass fishery in our aging lake.

Incidentally, I support the Second Amendment and the right of everyone (except convicted felons) to bear arms. And I do not back PETA.

I'm seeing it a bit different but we can disagree to disagree. 

[5bites]

2 hours ago, DADAKOTA said:

I hate to get off topic, but can you explain how jerkbaits do so much damage?  Never damaged a fish with a stickbait yet.  Senkos, neds, and other soft plastics definitely get swallowed and probably result in ultimately killing a fish.  Back in the day I used to throw an Eagle Claw 45 worm hook.  That is till I noticed about 8 of 10 fish had the hookpoint right up through the eye.  Put them in the trash after that.

I've pulled more eyeballs out of fish over jerkbaits than any other bait. They swipe at them a lot and get stuck on the outside of the head. It stinks but it's part of using one. 

[Smalliebigs]

1 hour ago, 5bites said:

I've pulled more eyeballs out of fish over jerkbaits than any other bait. They swipe at them a lot and get stuck on the outside of the head. It stinks but it's part of using one. 

???? Really? ???....I fish with jerkbaits a ton and I have stuck fish in the face but it has never resulted in the fish looking hurt or not swimming away strong.

Now conversely a long time ago I used to kill a lot of fish with soft plastics and fast deaths, bleeding as they were being  reeled in and dead before I could even try to revive them. I'm  like you though it bothered me but, only to the pint where  I felt the need to keep the fish. That was in my teens and early 20's and I just was stupid about my bites and hooksets. 

I do prefer the MLF style tourney and would say that in a room if Big Cedar was there or Johnny Morris.

After many times of seeing many  many floaters after tourney weigh ins at Baxter or Kimberling and actually  the worst  I have ever seen is at Paris Landing on KY lake....100's of floaters 

[5bites]

Yea it kinda surprises me too. It happened this weekend actually. I don't doubt the fish live just fine but nevertheless I wish it was different. It may have something to do with me working them pretty fast but it definitely happens in the winter too. 

[Quillback]

I've had some jerk baits do some damage to fish.  You've got three sets of super sharp trebles on a 4.5" lure and they can get snagged up in all 3 sets.

[DADAKOTA]

I love throwing a jerkbait and can honestly say I do not recall ever hooking one in the eye.  Closest I have come to damaging one is having the fish take the bait so deep it nicked a gill.  Fish stopped bleeding with a little well time and was strong when released.  Nonetheless, I believe we all try to avoid injuring the fish.  Senkos, and other soft plastics do not allow the luxury of "checking" for a bite.  Anytime I think I am getting a bite I fire with a Senko.  Waiting to see usually ends up with a swallowed bait. Funny how you can check a fish with a jig and he won't swallow it.  

[5bites]

Sight fishing has shown me how often a fish can bite, even a short tight line, and you never feel them. In fact while sight fishing I rarely feel the bite at all. It kinda messes with me honestly lol. I realize the fishes attitude and the circumstances are different but it makes you wonder how many bites you got that you never knew about for every one you did. Things like that could keep a guy up at night. 

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, 5bites said:

Sight fishing has shown me how often a fish can bite, even a short tight line, and you never feel them. In fact while sight fishing I rarely feel the bite at all. It kinda messes with me honestly lol. I realize the fishes attitude and the circumstances are different but it makes you wonder how many bites you got that you never knew about for every one you did. Things like that could keep a guy up at night. 

I can honestly say that I get TONS more bites when a worm/jig/lizard/grub is initially sinking than I do when I'm "retrieving" it.     The most important time to concentrate is the first 5 seconds after your bait enters the water. Guys/Gals that don't even engage their reel until their bait is on the bottom are only catching 1/100th of the fish possible.

[Mitch f]

23 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Guys/Gals that don't even engage their reel until their bait is on the bottom are only catching 1/100th of the fish possible.

I totally get what you're saying, but I guess that depends on water depth. For very shallow water, engaging the reel when the lure hits the water is fine... but If you're in deep water and engage your reel when it first hits the water, it will pendulum back and end up no where near the target you were trying to hit. I'm more of a line watcher myself. I'm not saying wait until it hits bottom, but there is a best time to engage.

[Wart 57]

On ‎4‎/‎27‎/‎2016 at 3:47 PM, 5bites said:

I can say this with complete honesty. I believe jerkbaits do as much or more damage to fish than most any other lure or technique. Do I fish them? Yep. Do I think you should stop fishing them? Nope. See how simple and easy that is. Now by some others beliefs I would never throw one and think others shouldn't either for the sake of an imaginary future. This rather than improve the fishery itself with better water levels stability (ya ya a pipe dream) and better/more habit. You are the pot calling the kettle black here. 

OK  What the Hell does Jerkbait fishing have to do with Bed Fishing ?