MYTH #1-"Strippers have to mouth the bait"

[Rock N Roll]

I was taught you have to let the fish run with the bait so they can mouth the bait and swallow it to get the hook way down in the fishes throat.This year I switched to circle hooks with a 3way swivel and a sinker snap,with about 2' of leader and 6 oz sinker, rods in holders with fighting drag on.
Probably about 1/3 of fish boated have the circle hook down deep in the throat at the gullet.this shows me that the fish often inhales the bait and sends it right to the stomach.The longer the fish runs the more time it has to spit the hook and bait out.
Fishing on the Stalker with Skip he taught me when you feel a tap on the line raise your rod until you feel the weight of the fish and set the hook,no run off needed.
Most of the run offs everyone talks about could be caught fish they could be talking about.But as long as they keep having run offs there will be more fish in the water for everyone.

"MYTH BUSTED"

[Darrin G. DGREENEMACHINE]

I think some strippers may mouth the bait, but for the most part I think they pretty much just gulp it down ;)

[ReadyJettyGo]

I think some strippers may mouth the bait, but for the most part I think they pretty much just gulp it down ;)

But only if you give them another $20. :D

[reel thing 25]

This is just so wrong...:D

[RodFather]

Rock N Roll I agree that most of the time a bass will just inhale the bait, however there are those days when they are a bit finicky and will definitely play with the bait. Is mouth it the right word, who knows. I noticed this in the first couple days after a full moon, when the bite is lite and there is no big schools swimming by (less competition), when using large baits/whole bunker and as well when the water is not as clean. I recently experienced missed opportunities with Partnership until we figured out we needed smaller chunks and to be a bit more patient. In this particular instince it was right after the full moon.

[Younger]

I was taught you have to let the fish run with the bait so they can mouth the bait and swallow it to get the hook way down in the fishes throat.This year I switched to circle hooks with a 3way swivel and a sinker snap,with about 2' of leader and 6 oz sinker, rods in holders with fighting drag on.
Probably about 1/3 of fish boated have the circle hook down deep in the throat at the gullet.this shows me that the fish often inhales the bait and sends it right to the stomach.The longer the fish runs the more time it has to spit the hook and bait out.
Fishing on the Stalker with Skip he taught me when you feel a tap on the line raise your rod until you feel the weight of the fish and set the hook,no run off needed.
Most of the run offs everyone talks about could be caught fish they could be talking about.But as long as they keep having run offs there will be more fish in the water for everyone.

"MYTH BUSTED"


The real key is NON OFFSET circle hooks. Sometimes they are hard to find. An offset circle can gut hook almost as easily as a J hook......

[boostedcpe]

AHHH, Once again my favorite topic. Strippers.


I agree Darrin, I think they actually gulp down the baits, most of the time when there is something with a little green involved. Strippers like green

[striper13]

Nowdays it cost you $5 to get into the joint and $4 a beer and you can't even put your hands on them :( If you know of a stripper that mouths your bait, please let us all know :D

[Darrin G. DGREENEMACHINE]

Rock N Roll I agree that most of the time a bass will just inhale the bait, however there are those days when they are a bit finicky and will definitely play with the bait. Is mouth it the right word, who knows. I noticed this in the first couple days after a full moon, when the bite is lite and there is no big schools swimming by (less competition), when using large baits/whole bunker and as well when the water is not as clean. I recently experienced missed opportunities with Partnership until we figured out we needed smaller chunks and to be a bit more patient. In this particular instince it was right after the full moon.

OK now that I half derailed the thread, I agree woth Rod Daddy and have observed the exact same behaviors and at roughly the same times. I'm not sure what the moon has to do with it but this last full moon I thing the cold water was playing a part in the finicky nature of the fish. I also think dirty water has them more tenaive beause they cant redily identify the object they are eating. It smells good but is it what I think it is? Let me check it first before I just eat it and it turns out to be a rock...

[Krazy8]

Nowdays it cost you $5 to get into the joint and $4 a beer and you can't even put your hands on them :( If you know of a stripper that mouths your bait, please let us all know :D



They use to at Lou Turks , But that was a long time ago ;)

[VDAWG]

I agree with Rod Father ! and Darrins last post
Mouth wouldnt be the right word ...
when using a whole dead bait ,or Head They will pick it up inhale it as you say ,But Turn the fish head first to swallow it ,Thats why we let um run !!
aslo with smaller pieces they may suck it in and spit it back out if they feel the hook or taste something they dont like ,here the idea of letting um run is making sure they havent spit it when you swing for the hookset ..

are you talking about rip fishing when you refer to the STALKER, If so then of cource you dont let um run when using Bucktails ,or how about live spot ? dont give them anytime at all ,as soon as you feel a tap or your rod get heavey ,You set the hook ??? im pretty sure i seen where Skip is using shimano baitrunners ,gotta be a reason ...

[HOTRODS]

I have spent too much time this fall reading about all the different ways to set the hook on a striper. And have tried a few methods from not letting it run at all with J hooks, to letting a fish run forever, to locking up with a circle hooks.

Bottom line is I got away from what was comfortable for me and what I have had success doing in the past. This has led to alot of missed fish this year. This weekend I will be doing what I am comfortable with and what feels right for the situation.

[ack789]

Wednesday - Tried the first few with the 'let-em-run' technique. Went
back to the set it before leaving the dock and 'don't touch it' drag setting.
Works for me and alot less nerve racking. I use Penn 704Z, 20LB line, 8.0
circle hooks & 60LB fluro leader. Heavy, I'll admit...but NO RUNOFFS!

P.S. My fishing partner used a serv-pro swivel/snap (BIG) and the damn thing opened on his 34" striper! :eek: Mirrical fish! landed him with the leader
hung on the little crook of the snap - bent wide open! I only use the swivel...NO SNAP.:D

ACK

[pgoins]

Myth Busted??? You're kidding right? You're right sometimes they inhale the bait. But, sometimes they will only grab part of the bait and swim away with it and make sure it's what they want before they inhale it. It's not the norm, but that's the nature of fishing isn't it.

Sometimes they hit like frieght trains. Sometimes, they seem to play with it before committing suicide. Either way, put to guys with little experiance on a boat. One with a fishfinder setup and the other a 3 way swivel and the fishfinder will definately put up bigger #'s everytime. Remeber with the 3 way swivel rig you only have one option. Hit and swing. With the fishfinder you can hit and swing or let'em run then swing. Why limit yourself to just one option? Now that's a myth worth bustin ;)

[VDAWG]

Myth Busted??? You're kidding right? You're right sometimes they inhale the bait. But, sometimes they will only grab part of the bait and swim away with it and make sure it's what they want before they inhale it. It's not the norm, but that's the nature of fishing isn't it.

Sometimes they hit like frieght trains. Sometimes, they seem to play with it before committing suicide. Either way, put to guys with little experiance on a boat. One with a fishfinder setup and the other a 3 way swivel and the fishfinder will definately put up bigger #'s everytime. Remeber with the 3 way swivel rig you only have one option. Hit and swing. With the fishfinder you can hit and swing or let'em run then swing. Why limit yourself to just one option? Now that's a myth worth bustin ;)

nice post !!! :)

[Reel-ality]

My brother and I fished the last full moon, we used small chunks and we had lots of run offs. It seemed when we had one just playing with the bait it was a skate. We were using circle hooks and they basically hooked themselves. Our rods were in the rod holders.

[Rock N Roll]

[/QUOTE]The real key is NON OFFSET circle hooks. Sometimes they are hard to find. An offset circle can gut hook almost as easily as a J hook......

Younger, I was using OFFSET hooks and snelling them.I will try the non offset. Thanks for that info.

[Rock N Roll]

AHHH, Once again my favorite topic. Strippers.


I agree Darrin, I think they actually gulp down the baits, most of the time when there is something with a little green involved. Strippers like green

I grew up in Fla. diving and spearfishing. The color red is the first color lost, and it is lost in about 6' depth. When you spear a fish deeper than 6' the blood is a pale green when the fish bleeds. That could be why fish like the color green.

[Rock N Roll]

OK now that I half derailed the thread, I agree woth Rod Daddy and have observed the exact same behaviors and at roughly the same times. I'm not sure what the moon has to do with it but this last full moon I thing the cold water was playing a part in the finicky nature of the fish. I also think dirty water has them more tenaive beause they cant redily identify the object they are eating. It smells good but is it what I think it is? Let me check it first before I just eat it and it turns out to be a rock...

Fish can be finicky at times and it is hard to guess what they are thinking. Is there thinking that involved or are we over-thinking there ability to think. At the base of our brain is a primitive part of the brain that is called the fish brain, but I don't know that it does much.

[Rock N Roll]

I agree with Rod Father ! and Darrins last post
Mouth wouldnt be the right word ...
when using a whole dead bait ,or Head They will pick it up inhale it as you say ,But Turn the fish head first to swallow it ,Thats why we let um run !!
aslo with smaller pieces they may suck it in and spit it back out if they feel the hook or taste something they dont like ,here the idea of letting um run is making sure they havent spit it when you swing for the hookset ..

are you talking about rip fishing when you refer to the STALKER, If so then of cource you dont let um run when using Bucktails ,or how about live spot ? dont give them anytime at all ,as soon as you feel a tap or your rod get heavey ,You set the hook ??? im pretty sure i seen where Skip is using shimano baitrunners ,gotta be a reason ...

We were fishing in the bay anchored using clam. Fished 3 trips in bay for stripers and drum,1 trip in the rips with buck-tails. By the way Skip's favorite spot in the Rip's in on the Bow of the Stalker;)

[Re-Bait]

I would say she must have least mouth it, to collect. Even tunnel bunnies come clean.....

[Rock N Roll]

Myth Busted??? You're kidding right? You're right sometimes they inhale the bait. But, sometimes they will only grab part of the bait and swim away with it and make sure it's what they want before they inhale it. It's not the norm, but that's the nature of fishing isn't it.

Sometimes they hit like frieght trains. Sometimes, they seem to play with it before committing suicide. Either way, put to guys with little experiance on a boat. One with a fishfinder setup and the other a 3 way swivel and the fishfinder will definately put up bigger #'s everytime. Remeber with the 3 way swivel rig you only have one option. Hit and swing. With the fishfinder you can hit and swing or let'em run then swing. Why limit yourself to just one option? Now that's a myth worth bustin ;)

I am not sure I agree with this, if the limited fishing ability angler is using the fish finder setup they will have a lot of runoffs because they wont know if they should count to 3 or 5 or is it 8.If the pole is in the holder , drag locked down most of the time by the time you get the pole out the fish is hooked and the fight is on.

[Bluecollar $]

I say its like drinking beer.Some times ya sip it and some time ya guzzel it.Then and again maybe its more like sex.Some times ya mouth it and some times ya pounce on it all depends on the mood.;)

[TWIN D'S]

I was taught you have to let the fish run with the bait so they can mouth the bait and swallow it to get the hook way down in the fishes throat.This year I switched to circle hooks with a 3way swivel and a sinker snap,with about 2' of leader and 6 oz sinker, rods in holders with fighting drag on.
Probably about 1/3 of fish boated have the circle hook down deep in the throat at the gullet.this shows me that the fish often inhales the bait and sends it right to the stomach.The longer the fish runs the more time it has to spit the hook and bait out.
Fishing on the Stalker with Skip he taught me when you feel a tap on the line raise your rod until you feel the weight of the fish and set the hook,no run off needed.
Most of the run offs everyone talks about could be caught fish they could be talking about.But as long as they keep having run offs there will be more fish in the water for everyone.

"MYTH BUSTED"

Depends, what size fish, what size bait, and what time of year and where. The variables change constantly.

[RodFather]

If the pole is in the holder , drag locked down most of the time by the time you get the pole out the fish is hooked and the fight is on.

Kinda of takes the fun out it. For me, I enjoy the for play, the anticipation, the challenge to know when to set the hook and the evantual crossing of their eye's. The reeling the fish in part anyone can do lol :D

[smitty919]

this is toooooooooo funny:) :) :D :D :) :)

[Capt Buck]

Depends, what size fish, what size bait, and what time of year and where. The variables change constantly.
Yup, you have to be willing to adapt to the conditions,experiment an bit and do something completely different if needed. Last trip we had to hold the rods,use little chunks and they were biting like bluegills. Small nibbles and tugs, we would just bow to the fish with the rods in mini dropback type of motion and then come back on them and set the hook. We had no big knockdowns all day, but next trip could be we have to do something else.

[eelball]

The bite constantly changes. Adapting to the change is what sepperates the good day from the bad day.

[VDAWG]

We were fishing in the bay anchored using clam. Fished 3 trips in bay for stripers and drum,1 trip in the rips with buck-tails. By the way Skip's favorite spot in the Rip's in on the Bow of the Stalker;)
No Doubt and he is ONe OF THE BEST AT IT ALSO !!!

IMHO Clamming for stripers and Bunker fishing are 2 very different games your playing ,especially when fishing for BOTh DRUM and stripers ...COPLEATLY DIFFERANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[VDAWG]

:D Kinda of takes the fun out it. For me, I enjoy the for play, the anticipation, the challenge lol :D

LOL COOMS I Guess thats why the say Italians do it best :D

[VDAWG]

Depends, what size fish, what size bait, and what time of year and where. The variables change constantly.

Aint that the truth !!!!!!!!!!!!!

he was also talking about when he was fishing in the spring clamming for drum and Stripers and Bucktailing ....

compairing That with chunking bunker is like apples to oranges to me;)

[Jr8]

Who cares about mouthing as long as you are using circle hooks. I fish from the beach with circle hooks and big bait. When the rod dips and shakes the fish is on, period. Caught 4 bass in three weeks 3 of them over 15# on circles.

[wish2fish]

I have to agree with it depends on the situation. Sometimes a striper (not stripper:D) will slam the bait and the game is on. Other times they'll suck slowly on it very tentativly like they're wary, other times they'll pick it up run 20 ft and then chomp it down. You have to be out there and adjust to how they're going to be striking. Does that mean some missed fish ? Yes,but once you've got the pattern down you'll have your hands full. And you'll be ready for the next tide. Artificials? as soon as you feel the hit,nail um before they realize you've given them a plastic and feather sandwich.

[Darrin G. DGREENEMACHINE]

Fish can be finicky at times and it is hard to guess what they are thinking. Is there thinking that involved or are we over-thinking there ability to think. At the base of our brain is a primitive part of the brain that is called the fish brain, but I don't know that it does much.

I don't belive they are thinking. I think Vinnie really has it. They put something in their mouth and it doesn't feel or taste natural. They spit then instead of swallowing and you get this "mouthing" effect. Doesn't happen all of the time. Look at the DB reports and you'll see more freight training starting to happen.

In that regard I think we are going to get a heavy run of very hungry fish just before this water temp shuts the bay down. Hopefully the fan allows us to be on the water when it occurs.

And we'll see if my prediction is right...

BTW some of the best in Cape May LOCK the reels when chunking... And hey don't use no circle hooks either LOL! And I ain't one of them, although I do fish that way more and more each year.

[mayhem]

I say its like drinking beer.Some times ya sip it and some time ya guzzel it.Then and again maybe its more like sex.Some times ya mouth it and some times ya pounce on it all depends on the mood.;)

ABSOTIVELY POSATUTELY 100% !!!!!