Post by Andrew Burgess on Oct 28, 2004 18:17:51 GMT
Wobbling (Stillwater and pits))
Retrieving a small dead fish mounted head first on the trace so that pike assume it is alive and grab hold, is an extremely effective way and exciting technique guaranted to keep you casting and thinking all day long, just as in lure fishing.
It is also very versatile, mobile method which provides total coverage of any given area. For instance, if you like to fish with a two rod set up to increase your chances in big stillwaters, but nothing is commong to the static deadbaits being presented on each, reel one in and cover the area in more depth by wobbling a deadbait in a grid-searching pattern. A total blank when pike are not moving around and hunting out your static baits, can be turned into an exciting session by taking the bait to fish through continually searching with a wobbled bait. This situation occurs most commonly in deep, coloured lakes and pits during long periods of low light values, such as day upon day of overcast weather. Unless you almost hit a pike on the head with a wobbled deadbait they simply do not move about much. The situation can, of course, change when the strong rays of the sun penetrate deep, dark water. Suddenly pike are on the move, and in short feeding burst several runs might come to previously untouched static deadbait in as many minutes. Such feeding sprees, however, rarely last more than a couple of hours, and switch to working the wobbled deadbait (still leaving one static on the bottom) could well keep the pike comming to the net throughout the rest of the day.
To mount deadbaits for wobbling, fix the trebles so they are just 3 inches apart by wrapping the wire around the shank of the upper treble, and firmly embed two of it prongs into the bait eye socket. The bottom treble is nicked with the barbed prong only into the bait's flank along the lateral line. See diagram below
The deadbait is now firmly rigged for casting and when retrieved will wobble attractively. When the top hook eventually pulls through the socket, re rig on the other side
For fishing over thick weed or in shallow water do not add any weight to the trace, but to keep the bait down close to the bootom where pike lie during the colder months you will need somewhere between two and four swan shot pinched on to the trace immediately below the swivel. It all depends on the depth and the rate at which you retrieve.
Where the bottom contours vary due to weed beds, shallow bars, snag and so on, you need to retrieve the bait well up lest it catches, say 3 or 4ft above imagagine the bottom to be. In lakes and pits of even depth where the bottom is clear, however, you can twitch the bait along, almost bumping pike on the nose. To do this, allow the bait to reach bottom before starting the retrieve. Then wind erratically, but very slowly; try to 'feel' what is happening down below. Keep the rod tip at an angle to the bait and watch for any indication of taking fish. Every so often give a tip a jerk or a twitch, followed by a couple of fast turns on the reel handle. Then pause, allowing the bait to nose dive for a couple of feet before twitching it back up again. See diagram below.
Remember that the swan shot hit the bottom ahead of the bait, so if you lift it quickley upwards you will not pick up much bottom debris. In the past this technique was called sink and draw because you allowed the bait to sink before drawing it up again.
Now for the strike. DO NOT wait for the pike to grab and then turn the bait in its jaws by giving it free line when you feel a 'take'. Pike react completely different when snatching at a wobbled deadbait from when sucking up a resistance free static from the bottom, when time is given. So unless you want the pike to drop the bait, whack it immediately by winding quickly down until you feel its full weight, and follow through with a long powerful strike to put the hooks home, striking a second time to make doubly sure. At this point the pike tries to eject the bait by opening its jaws and shaking its head, so keep a good bend in the rod or the hooks will drop out. Point the rod directly at the pike while quickly winding down to it prior to striking to minimize slack and the elasticity in the line.
Retrieving a small dead fish mounted head first on the trace so that pike assume it is alive and grab hold, is an extremely effective way and exciting technique guaranted to keep you casting and thinking all day long, just as in lure fishing.
It is also very versatile, mobile method which provides total coverage of any given area. For instance, if you like to fish with a two rod set up to increase your chances in big stillwaters, but nothing is commong to the static deadbaits being presented on each, reel one in and cover the area in more depth by wobbling a deadbait in a grid-searching pattern. A total blank when pike are not moving around and hunting out your static baits, can be turned into an exciting session by taking the bait to fish through continually searching with a wobbled bait. This situation occurs most commonly in deep, coloured lakes and pits during long periods of low light values, such as day upon day of overcast weather. Unless you almost hit a pike on the head with a wobbled deadbait they simply do not move about much. The situation can, of course, change when the strong rays of the sun penetrate deep, dark water. Suddenly pike are on the move, and in short feeding burst several runs might come to previously untouched static deadbait in as many minutes. Such feeding sprees, however, rarely last more than a couple of hours, and switch to working the wobbled deadbait (still leaving one static on the bottom) could well keep the pike comming to the net throughout the rest of the day.
To mount deadbaits for wobbling, fix the trebles so they are just 3 inches apart by wrapping the wire around the shank of the upper treble, and firmly embed two of it prongs into the bait eye socket. The bottom treble is nicked with the barbed prong only into the bait's flank along the lateral line. See diagram below
The deadbait is now firmly rigged for casting and when retrieved will wobble attractively. When the top hook eventually pulls through the socket, re rig on the other side
For fishing over thick weed or in shallow water do not add any weight to the trace, but to keep the bait down close to the bootom where pike lie during the colder months you will need somewhere between two and four swan shot pinched on to the trace immediately below the swivel. It all depends on the depth and the rate at which you retrieve.
Where the bottom contours vary due to weed beds, shallow bars, snag and so on, you need to retrieve the bait well up lest it catches, say 3 or 4ft above imagagine the bottom to be. In lakes and pits of even depth where the bottom is clear, however, you can twitch the bait along, almost bumping pike on the nose. To do this, allow the bait to reach bottom before starting the retrieve. Then wind erratically, but very slowly; try to 'feel' what is happening down below. Keep the rod tip at an angle to the bait and watch for any indication of taking fish. Every so often give a tip a jerk or a twitch, followed by a couple of fast turns on the reel handle. Then pause, allowing the bait to nose dive for a couple of feet before twitching it back up again. See diagram below.
Remember that the swan shot hit the bottom ahead of the bait, so if you lift it quickley upwards you will not pick up much bottom debris. In the past this technique was called sink and draw because you allowed the bait to sink before drawing it up again.
Now for the strike. DO NOT wait for the pike to grab and then turn the bait in its jaws by giving it free line when you feel a 'take'. Pike react completely different when snatching at a wobbled deadbait from when sucking up a resistance free static from the bottom, when time is given. So unless you want the pike to drop the bait, whack it immediately by winding quickly down until you feel its full weight, and follow through with a long powerful strike to put the hooks home, striking a second time to make doubly sure. At this point the pike tries to eject the bait by opening its jaws and shaking its head, so keep a good bend in the rod or the hooks will drop out. Point the rod directly at the pike while quickly winding down to it prior to striking to minimize slack and the elasticity in the line.
