07-08-2016, 05:57 AM
Hello PrzZ,
Just try and catch some bluegill or other panfish to start with.
Use worms, just about any kind. To make it easier for small fish to get on the hook, don't thread the worm all the way up the hook. Just use a small piece of worm to cover from about the point of the hook and part of the bend of the hook. I try to leave the point of the hook showing.
I just pinch a piece of worm off with my finger and thumbnail. Some people use a small pair of scissors to cut them.
Tie a relatively small snap swivel on the line. Size 10 or 8 I would think. Get some size 4, 6, and 8 snelled aberdeen hooks.
To start with, put a size 6 aberdeen hook on the snap swivel. Put a 'small' float anywhere from 14 inches to 24 inches above the hook. You don't need any weights.
Have a pair of long-nose pliers handy go get out hooks that the fish swallow.
If too many fish swallow the hook, change to the bigger size 4 hook. If the fish keep biting at your worm, but you can't get them hooked, change to the smaller size 8 hook. If you still can't get them on the hook, they are probably pretty small fish. You might want to go to the smaller size 10, or even size 12 hooks. But, be ready for the fish to be swallowing the hook more often.
Watch your float in the water and learn what it looks like when nothing is nibbling at it. When something does nibble at it, it will bounce up and down of course. Maybe only slightly, or it may go all the way under the water. Or, the float may only sit a little farther down in the water because the fish has hold of it but, is only pulling on the hook a little bit. If the float is only bouncing up and down slightly, wait and see if the fish will 'take' it. If the float goes under the water, set the hook. If the float is sitting a little down in the water, meaning it looks different than normal, set the hook.
If there are mainly smaller panfish around, many, many times you will only pull the hook away from the fish. But, some of them you will get.
Setting the hook when it looks like the fish might have a good enough hold on it will keep the fish from swallowing the hook so often.
You will always miss fish whether big or small, but especially the small ones that are barely big enough to get on the hook.
Hope this helps. And, if you have any questions, let me know.
Harry
[signature]
Just try and catch some bluegill or other panfish to start with.
Use worms, just about any kind. To make it easier for small fish to get on the hook, don't thread the worm all the way up the hook. Just use a small piece of worm to cover from about the point of the hook and part of the bend of the hook. I try to leave the point of the hook showing.
I just pinch a piece of worm off with my finger and thumbnail. Some people use a small pair of scissors to cut them.
Tie a relatively small snap swivel on the line. Size 10 or 8 I would think. Get some size 4, 6, and 8 snelled aberdeen hooks.
To start with, put a size 6 aberdeen hook on the snap swivel. Put a 'small' float anywhere from 14 inches to 24 inches above the hook. You don't need any weights.
Have a pair of long-nose pliers handy go get out hooks that the fish swallow.
If too many fish swallow the hook, change to the bigger size 4 hook. If the fish keep biting at your worm, but you can't get them hooked, change to the smaller size 8 hook. If you still can't get them on the hook, they are probably pretty small fish. You might want to go to the smaller size 10, or even size 12 hooks. But, be ready for the fish to be swallowing the hook more often.
Watch your float in the water and learn what it looks like when nothing is nibbling at it. When something does nibble at it, it will bounce up and down of course. Maybe only slightly, or it may go all the way under the water. Or, the float may only sit a little farther down in the water because the fish has hold of it but, is only pulling on the hook a little bit. If the float is only bouncing up and down slightly, wait and see if the fish will 'take' it. If the float goes under the water, set the hook. If the float is sitting a little down in the water, meaning it looks different than normal, set the hook.
If there are mainly smaller panfish around, many, many times you will only pull the hook away from the fish. But, some of them you will get.
Setting the hook when it looks like the fish might have a good enough hold on it will keep the fish from swallowing the hook so often.
You will always miss fish whether big or small, but especially the small ones that are barely big enough to get on the hook.
Hope this helps. And, if you have any questions, let me know.
Harry
[signature]