Tackle Opinions

[thatjohnkid]

Hi Guys, new member here

I recently got back into fishing about 3-4 months ago, first couple months was saltwater, so haven't been fishing to long in freshwater. I fished a lot on and off up until I was like 14 then after that I didn't have enough time to go with my Dad and I started working you know how it goes. Never was very good back then just had fun doing it.

I've picked up a Shimano Scimitar 5'6" UL, BPS Microlite Reel and 4lb Spiderwire Mono.

Will this combo be good for panfishing from shore? I need to find a different line, had luck with the Spinerwire Mono in the past, but the 4lb has no abrasion resistance whatsoever. Fishing in really open areas, most was a little grass, the line would start getting ruff after a few casts. Should I go up to 6lb in another company or stay with 4lb from another company?

Would you suggest just sticking with worms on like #6 or #8 hook under a bobber? I picked up some artificials, had one solid bite on an Uncle Bucks Dragon Fly, drag was set too loose, had dropped right next to the dock, fish hit it like a train and flew right back under the dock and broke me off.

Can't wait to share information and pictures with you all once I start catching fish. :icon_cool:

[Illinoisgiller]

thatjohnkid- First of all-- Big welcome to the WIF family. So refreshing to hear you are in quest of those great Florida panfish.:icon_cool::icon_cool::icon_cool:
The bait I have heard of being consistantly good in those florida waters is the Roadrunner w/ yellow-black body. I don't see any reason that the worm/ long shank #8 wouldn't work also. If they are available, try the large red worms. They are sometimes called panfish-trout worms. Those things go nuts on the hook when hooked twice sideways through the body on a long shank #8 hook.:confused0068::confused0068:
The line I have used for a few years now is Fireline and Power Pro in 8 lb. test. I like the loud colors like Fireline Blaze Green or Power Pro in Hi-Vis. Power Pro is a bit cheaper and I think a bit better. The only time I use mono any more is with very tiny jigs on 2 lb. test and I think it is Yo-Zuri .( Selected because there was enough to fill the spool lol ) With 2 lb. test I fish from a float tube and don't try that in Florida. lol
I happen to like longer rods. My go-to is an 8'6" BPS Micro Lite, but might be too light for those bigger Florida Coppernose gills and Red Ear.
I'm saving my pennies for an Acadia in the 6' ultralight model. :party0045: I seen one at a local gathering and it is a sweet sweet rod.
I also pick my spinning reels determined by the size of the spool. With Power Pro line you should get be ok with smaller spool reel, but ALWAYS have more casting distance with larger spool. Most of my reels are Shimano Sedona and
Symetre, but if I ever buy another new one I'll try the Acadia reel also. They are beyond smooth, and great quality.
Sure looking forward to hearing of your experiances down there from time to time . Please post pictures if you can.
You can be sure that I'll enjoy seeing any you post. lol

[Catbird]

John, first off I'm not really into the artificial baits so I almost always use live. I don't know if they have them down your way but a good bait to use that they sell up in the panhandle is wiggle worms. Another good live bait for panfish in that area is crickets. You can either fish them under a very small float or just let them slowly sink to the bottem. Both techniques work pretty good just depends on what the fish wants that day and how far they are off the bottem. Good Luck!

[thatjohnkid]

What time of day is the best for going after gills? I'll probably get out tomorrow around 10:30, I have to take my girlfriend to class and run to Walmart (need some floats and some worms).

[thatjohnkid]

One more question for right now.

I'm going to pick up some worms tomorrow, if I don't use them all what would be the best way to store them for the next day or two? I live in an apartment, the only thing I can think of would be in the shade on my balcony, know gf won't want them in the apartment :)

[Timotha7]

John
Best bet is the fridge, if you can't store them there maybe small cooler with some ice

[ho_shi]

coffee grounds every cpl days not a bad idea either. I can keep walmart worms alive weeks if keep cool when i out

[Sharon]

I store mine in the crisper and sprinkle with a little grits to keep them fed, make sure the dirt doesnt dry out, sprinkle with water if necessary. Little piece of worm on a #4 red hook works for me catching them gills. And Ive gotten some pretty good size ones. Good Luck!

[gofish]

less ya want ta waste a lt of money yer gonna have ta put em in the fridge...yer girlyfriends jus gonna have ta understand.......ifn a mans gonna fish ....hes gotta have bait!:icon_biggrin: make a deal with her....if any git out in the fridge youll eat em yerself........then tape the lid on sos she aint tempted ta set em free on ya.....lol

[ho_shi]

I store mine in the crisper and sprinkle with a little grits to keep them fed, make sure the dirt doesnt dry out, sprinkle with water if necessary. Little piece of worm on a #4 red hook works for me catching them gills. And Ive gotten some pretty good size ones. Good Luck!


grits

girls
raised
in
the
south


can i be in your frigde???

[Sharon]

grits

girls
raised
in
the
south


can i be in your frigde???

:113c: NOOOOOO, I got it reserved for someone. :evilgrin0039:

[thatjohnkid]

Well I didn't get out today, but hopefully tomorrow morning. This weekend both me and the gf are going to go out fishing, not sure if she's going to wanna fish, but if she does I'll have to get her a license.

[wewamohawk]

Good Luck John And Gf And Have Lots Of Fun ;;;maurice

[hootowl]

Another good bait for panfish is grass shrimp. Get a long handle dip net with small mesh. Rake it along on the underside of moss and weeds. You will get plenty of them. They are small so hook 2 or 3 at a time.

[hushpuppy]

Grass shrimp are the best bait, hands down.

[Pegleg]

If you don't have a net just pickup water lettuce plants or hyacynths and shake em over your bait bucket. Shrimp, crawdads and all kinds of critters live in the roots.

[CrappieKeith]

Hey ThatJohnKid,
I'd be using a weighted casting bobber and 4 test mono like something that Stren or Berkely make in the XT variety.
I'm a no meat kinda guy and I'll catch 1000's of fish without meat every year.
It does not matter what state you live in.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Mikes165inchslab.jpg
A non meat presentation can be deadly.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/TroutonTHE.jpg
It does not matter the species either.
All fish feed and some days you'll need to get small.
Using small plastics or hair jigs can & will put a ton of fish in your hands.
I tie my own small hair jigs ,but there are others out there that will work depending on water temp and barometric pressures.
On some days you can use 2or 3 inch plastics and on other days you'll reall y want to get small.
Loby's bait,Little Atoms are some good small baits in plastics.

So no matter the condition's,no matter the state you live in fish can get negative.
Being able to fish with small baits will enable you to pick up more fish more often.
These next picks are during ice off(water temp 40 degrees)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/IMG_0158.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/MallardMarcfishinpics-24.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/MallardMarcfishinpics-35.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/crappies061.jpg

Then there's the early fall period when the pannies are eating hard getting ready for winter.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Picture224.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Picture225.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Picture216.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/HPIM2568.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Picture237.jpg

This was just a taste of what I'll catch & guide others into.
Everyone of those fish were caught with my hair jig or Loby's Drag-n Mag plastics.

[Illinoisgiller]

Good informative post CrappiKieth. But---(isn't there always a "but"?)you need to add one of those click on things to go to order info. for your jigs. :icon_cool: I know what your jigs look like and that they work. I have also coppied off your order sheet forrrm another site because I don't want to have to chase it down. Check with Schoe or Tim and if it is ok would be helpfull to some. Mmike

[CrappieKeith]

I'll add my link.
Yet this post was not intended to sell my jigs.
I am trying to show the concept of getting small works.

Well now to add the link.
Thanks for the heads up.