01-17-2011, 06:32 PM
[cool][#0000ff]About using FRESH bait...[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are a lot of "triggers" that contribute to getting fish to bite, or to bite more aggressively. When fish are active, and the visibility is good, they will often move in quickly from several feet away to chomp a tipped jig...no matter how fresh the bait. But, when they are slow and neutral or inactive, it often takes the very best fresh bait to get them to "yawn". They move in slowly and inspect the bait closely...giving it the "sniff test". And they munch only if it smells good enough to eat. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Probably the biggest appeal to fish, when it comes to larvae like waxies, mealworms and spikes, is the natural insect odor that escapes when they are impaled on a hook. The longer the larvae are on the hook...and the more they have been abused by fishies...the less of that attractive flavor exudes out into the water. Makes sense to keep a fresh bait on. Sure, it costs more to keep adding fresh bait. But, did you come to catch fish or save money?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are a lot of seasoned iceaholics that simply plan to go through a ton of bait on any given trip. I know of some that use two or more fresh waxies or spikes after every fish...or even after a couple of hard bites that did not produce fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I gotta chuckle when you are so adamant about the use of vertical presentations. I have gone in the complete opposite direction. I only make and use jigs that hang horizontally...and I usually manage to do quite well with them...especially on Pineview.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Diff'rent strokes (jigs) for diff'rent folks.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are a lot of "triggers" that contribute to getting fish to bite, or to bite more aggressively. When fish are active, and the visibility is good, they will often move in quickly from several feet away to chomp a tipped jig...no matter how fresh the bait. But, when they are slow and neutral or inactive, it often takes the very best fresh bait to get them to "yawn". They move in slowly and inspect the bait closely...giving it the "sniff test". And they munch only if it smells good enough to eat. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Probably the biggest appeal to fish, when it comes to larvae like waxies, mealworms and spikes, is the natural insect odor that escapes when they are impaled on a hook. The longer the larvae are on the hook...and the more they have been abused by fishies...the less of that attractive flavor exudes out into the water. Makes sense to keep a fresh bait on. Sure, it costs more to keep adding fresh bait. But, did you come to catch fish or save money?[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are a lot of seasoned iceaholics that simply plan to go through a ton of bait on any given trip. I know of some that use two or more fresh waxies or spikes after every fish...or even after a couple of hard bites that did not produce fish.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I gotta chuckle when you are so adamant about the use of vertical presentations. I have gone in the complete opposite direction. I only make and use jigs that hang horizontally...and I usually manage to do quite well with them...especially on Pineview.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Diff'rent strokes (jigs) for diff'rent folks.[/#0000ff]
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