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View Full Version : Working the water column,vertically speaking


CrappieKeith
12-03-2007, 10:28 PM
When working a jig though the water column a loop knot will enable a jig to dance more naturally without the line impeding it's action.
All line will create a certain amount of resistance if secured to the eyelet.therefor to get more action from your lure a loop knot works great.

It's actually part of a system. The bigger picture
is that I'll use a flasher to read the whole water column.
The sonar will read a fish as it swims into the sonar cone.
I'll lower or raise my offering to where it is coming in at.Once it is dead center of the cone or directly below me I'll lift my bait trying to trigger it's strike sense.
Depending on the mood of the fish it will raise up 1-5 foot after my bait and swallow it.
I have a spring bobber mounted to my rod which will read even the lightest hit and then I'm rearing.

The flasher will not only show me the depth ,but are there fish under me and how aggressive they are.
For instance on Fri. with the barometer over 30 they were very negative. They came through at the bottom and would only lift 2-3 feet before they would stop and go no higher.
That's what I call the ceiling.Once I determined their ceiling I would slowly lift them to the ceiling and wait for them to hit my jig.
Sat. on the other hand was much different.
The fish were stacked up to 6 feet from the bottom.
They gave chase much faster and hit quicker.
Checking the barometer I saw it was still high ,but it was dropping which triggered a better bite.

As a general rule I'll up size when they are aggressive and downsize when the mood is neutral to negative.

I hope this helps.

CK

Illinoisgiller
12-04-2007, 07:37 AM
Yet another informative read.:icon_cool::icon_cool: Thanks for sharing Keith. Mike

CrappieKeith
12-04-2007, 09:28 AM
You know Mike,if your not working the whole water column you are missing out on a bunch of fish that could potentialy be caught.
Setting a bobber over a hook is only working 1 depth.Why not take advantage of the whole water column?

Illinoisgiller
12-04-2007, 09:48 AM
I don't use a float when ice fishing . My vexilar set's my depth. :confused0024::confused0024:lol
My brother almost always uses the tiny floats. The one to 3 ft. of water he often fishes on the Mississippi backwaters doesn't lend well to vexilars. Mike

CrappieKeith
12-05-2007, 10:28 PM
In my opinion this is a dealy tactic.
When I 1st started to fish with my Vexilar I did not catch many fish,mostly because I just diddled my offering right above the fish.
I never triggered the strike sense that the fish have.

Until I figured out that they react alot like cats and that I had to pull it away from them
before they gave chase .I did not catch much unless the fish were very aggresive.
So put some distance between your bait and the fish.You'll start to see a pattern develope.
I still catch myself fishing the fish the same way every once in awhile.
Remember the mood can change from day to day ,so figure out the ceiling 1st ,then draw them up to the ceiling and be ready for the hit.

Oh, 1 more thing.The fish that come through higher are usually the ones looking to feed.
So if there's a few fish that come into your sonar ,work the top fish 1st.
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