Casted a grub for 2 hours on the outgoing this afternoon. 8 trout, largest apx. 17"; 1 redfish in the lower half of slot. Smoke silver and new penny grubs. No fast scouting today. The bite was 100% on the bottom and the drop and mostly subtle.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance Agency, Inc.
https://stricklandmarine.net
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Thanks for that report, Lee…Those trout bite very sublte!!..you can barely feel them…almost like a gnat landing on your line!!!
livin life one day at a time!!!
2006 Seafox172
05 Mercury90hp(saltwater)
sometimes when i am working a grub along the bottom i feel a subtle bite, almost feels like a crab, is that it? i was thinking what ever it was, was hitting the tail and not gettin the hook, what if i cut the tail off, would it still work, just wondering
17.5 grady cc 115 yam
I can’t = I am unwilling to try
working on mysteries without any clues
If you cut your bait, DO NOT cut the tail…I sometimes shorten my bait a little by cutting off about 1/4" off the top of the grup…leave the tail alone!!
livin life one day at a time!!!
2006 Seafox172
05 Mercury90hp(saltwater)
quote:
Originally posted by maxroostersometimes when i am working a grub along the bottom i feel a subtle bite, almost feels like a crab, is that it? i was thinking what ever it was, was hitting the tail and not gettin the hook, what if i cut the tail off, would it still work, just wondering
17.5 grady cc 115 yam
I can’t = I am unwilling to try
working on mysteries without any clues
Some people are referring to the “tap” or the “tick” when they say “subtle bite”, but I’m not talking about that. I find those to be classic and hard to miss. A trout will either slam it hard (usually small trout do that), “tap” it (that’s them picking it up in the mouth), “tick” it (same, but much slighter feel to the tap–more of a tick), or just inhale it with almost no ■■■■■■■■ at all–sort of like a largemouth bass on a deep hole with a plastic worm in the winter or a jig bite. Sometimes, it just feels “mushy”. That’s what I’m talking about when I say “subtle bite”. Sometimes, you just lift up, and one is there. All of this is pretty common for trout in my experience.
When you say it “feels like a crab”, I’m not so sure what you mean. You have to kind of develop a feel to know what I’m talking about, I guess. Sometimes, what you may be feeling is little tiny fish, like pinshish and other species, messing with it. You also have to get used to what the bottom feels like in a given place, tide, boat angle, and be able to distinguish it from a bite. When in doubt, though, set the hook.
The best I can tell you is that tf you are working your grub, and everything feels smooth, and out of the blue, you get a very slight “tick” on the line, like a minnow ran into the line, or if you’re on the bottom, and you feel something that feels soft of different, set the hook. (Don’t set it like Bill Dance, tho
In my opinion, you don’t need to shorten your bait for the tail nippers. Those tail nippers are other mostly species or tiny fish. Trout usually seem to inhale a bait. Sometimes, you’re just getting bit and not reacting fast enough before the fish spits the bait. Sometimes, a smaller bait will draw more bites, though. I like them when the water is really clear.
P.S., If you’re talking about the “rat-a-tat-tat” bite (fast series of taps, like a machine gun), that’s usually little trash fish. Ignore them.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance Agency, Inc.
https://stricklandmarine.net
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Good info Lee and thanks for the details. Watched (and heard)the inhale when I caught my personal best Gator. I watched the lure get sucked right off the top. Coolest thing ever.
MaxRooster - If you can keep that bow outa your line, you stand a much better chance of feeling it. Very “smooth” kinda take. Hard to describe because I don’t have a lot of experience with it. One key though is having constant tension on your line during the retrieve. Otherwise, you’ll miss it. Sounds pretty basic I know, but it’s not something I’ve focused on before (I just assumed I was doing it). Learned that from one of the best in the area.
Seafox 187CC
Blue fish will bite the tail of the grubs off. Congrats on your day sir
Local Boy, Just having fun.
You too, Local Boy. I read that you caught some bonafide hogs yesterday. 23" trout and 41" red–very nice.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance Agency, Inc.
https://stricklandmarine.net
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Good day, Lee. Had the honor and priviledge of seeing the breeder trout at DNR being fed and watching them. Like you said, they inhale it. Open their mouth and just huff the food in by pure suction. Just as quick they spit it if they don’t want it. All those grub tails hung up on the hook are just a missed big fish. Pecker trout you feel, bigguns you don’t.
Solid, solid advice sir. Thanks for always willingly sharing your knowledge. I still don’t fully get the feel, but time on the water I think is the cure.
Vinman
19.5 Triumph, 115 HP Honda
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
And YEP! Smokey shad was the bait dijeuor. Today anyway…
Vinman
19.5 Triumph, 115 HP Honda
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
Hey, aren’t you supposed to blur out your lure?
