Thanks to Brian and Chip for a great presentation! Very informative, and very useful going forward.
Covered everything from where and how to catch big baits to how to rig them, how fast to troll, how much weight to use, etc.
Great job guys!
Rick K
Brian and Chip did an excellent job with the program tonight. It was very informative and presented in a way that all understood. I had a chance to fish with some 16-18 inch bait last month and turned it down because I thought it was to big. If I am offered it again I will certainly take it. Thanks to Shawn for lining up this program and well as the other excellent programs he has brought to the club.
Marshall
Concur with the excellence of the program. I probably will not actually do anything that was presented last night, but it’s still nice to know. Thanks, guys.
I really enjoyed the presentation, also. I just wish that I had asked a couple of questions, though. First, how can the average weekend angler who doesn’t own or know how to throw a castnet, get just a few of these big baits every now and then to try? Personally, I own several nets but, with all my shoulder problems, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to throw a castnet again. Second, is this an all year technique or just in the spring? I.E. - what is the best time of year to do this?
Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013
Charles it’s more of a late fall thru late spring season. Basically when ever boards are being pulled. Any other time the baits are just not available and if you can find them the warm water has them so fragile it’s just not worth the effort. Also a lot of people who are using thus fishing style are usually trying to release the big fish, so we target them in cooler months. All but 2 of the fish I showed last night were released after weigh ins. Those 2 are on my wall and a buddy of mines wall.
I am no where near the caliber of Brian when it comes to catching bait…lol…that video made it look easy but Brian didn’t also tell ya the time he puts into it and how many times he throws that net and gets 0 baits…ha… but I try and catch what I can. Work doesn’t allow for to much time so I have to buy when I can. Many shops that sell shad will have big ones but don’t always keep them in the shop. Jimmy Jones, Joey bagwell, ned, 34 bait will have them from time to time. But be prepared to pay anywhere from 3-5$ each for these baits. If they are hard to find you will see that price go up.
I really wish we had more time last night. There is a ton of info that I wanted to talk about but just didn’t have the time. If yall wanna post questions I will try and answer them.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
quote:
Originally posted by MurrymakerCharles it’s more of a late fall thru late spring season. Basically when ever boards are being pulled. Any other time the baits are just not available and if you can find them the warm water has them so fragile it’s just not worth the effort. Also a lot of people who are using thus fishing style are usually trying to release the big fish, so we target them in cooler months. All but 2 of the fish I showed last night were released after weigh ins. Those 2 are on my wall and a buddy of mines wall.
I am no where near the caliber of Brian when it comes to catching bait…lol…that video made it look easy but Brian didn’t also tell ya the time he puts into it and how many times he throws that net and gets 0 baits…ha… but I try and catch what I can. Work doesn’t allow for to much time so I have to buy when I can. Many shops that sell shad will have big ones but don’t always keep them in the shop. Jimmy Jones, Joey bagwell, ned, 34 bait will have them from time to time. But be prepared to pay anywhere from 3-5$ each for these baits. If they are hard to find you will see that price go up.
I really wish we had more time last night. There is a ton of info that I wanted to talk about but just didn’t have the time. If yall wanna post questions I will try and answer them.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Thanks Chip. Like you, work limits the time that I have to try and catch these baits, but I will go and at least try sometime. But, after 3 shoulder surgeries and the constant pain in them, I don’t know if I can throw a net anymore (there goes my shrimping also). I would like to try the techniques, though. Another question that I have is about location. Do you fish the same areas
Outstanding program Brian and Chip! Well prepared and well presented!
I agree. Great presentation! especially for those of you guys playing " hero or zero" and going after the big purse and of course have fun doing so. I fish mostly for fun and lots of catch n release make it for us. However, lots of good info and easy to understand. Thanks guys!
Sportsman Heritage 229 CC
Yamaha 200 HP
Tidewater 170 CC
Yamaha 115 HP
Jeremiah 29:11 !!
Thank you for the kind words. It was nervous getting up there in front of a big crowd. I’ve been a member for a 8 or 9 years now and it was good to be able to give back to the club.
Catching gizzards can happen year round. Just when the water temp gets cold like 50’s & 40’s the gizzards move out the very back of the creeks and go to deeper water. Anywhere from 20’-30’ deep. When the water is warm, 60’s and up they will be shallow in the back of the creeks. Every creek in Murray has gizzards. You just have to put in time which I know can be rough. Yes there are many days I go out and throw, throw, throw the net for 8 hours for a dozen bait, but this time of year they should be really easy to catch in the back of the creeks. I would start about 8’ deep and work my way to the back to 2’ of water right now.
It is much easier to buy bait when the bait guys have it. I prefer to buy my bait when the bait guys can get it. Just for tournaments you really can’t rely on the bait guys. They are only interested in catching the smaller bait that is much easier to get. Right now every bait I know is having a really tough time catching any size gizzards though. If I can answer any questions about catching or keeping bait just give me a call. 803-370-7334
Great presentation Bryan and Chip nicely done and a super slide and video show.
TOM GITTO
Team Shad Up and Fish member
20ft Sea Hunt cc Red T Top
Bryan and Chip, yall were great! You had nothing to be nervous about. You two are great speakers and were very well organized. I and my team mates have limited experience fishing like that. During a May event on the Hill a couple years ago, we boated a 20 pounder and lost 4 or 5 bigger ones on 14 inch gizzies and suckers. Though we were disappointed to lose that many big ones in the last hour of the event, it was a real rush to get those runs!
I’m really busy during the school year and don’t have the time to track down big bait myself. During the summer off season, I have plenty of time. However, this type of fishing seems only viable through mid-June at the latest. Still, I need to find ways to make it happen.
Your program gave me that “big bait fever!”
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Thanks again guys…I know both said you were nervous but you couldn’t tell it. Great presentation and could tell yall prepared for it.
Chip, here is a link I use to determine if it is worth going to the Congaree or not (I know you told me you were planning a trip to take some folks this weekend)…you might already check this.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/sc/nwis/current/?type=flow&format=pre
I click on / monitor the “Congaree River at Columbia” location. As of this post, the “Gage Height Feet” reading is 8.33. Over the years, I have had my best luck on the Congaree when this reading is between 3.5 and 5.0. I personally have found that when this reading is less than 3.5(and close to 3), there isn’t much water down there and navigation is pretty difficult if you don’t know the river and it is definitely not a day I would want to take the “big boat”. 4.0 is ideal in my opinion and then once over 5.0 its almost like there is too much water and a lot of current.
Would like to hear what others have to say about their luck depending on Gage Height if they monitor this.
I also monitor the “Saluda River Below Lake Murray Dam” location as it is a good indication of when they have been or are releasing water. I have heard a lot of people say that in regards to the Saluda the best time to go is after a good release of water from the dam because there will be new fish that have come up and are in the “holes”.
Just thought I would share.
I have a couple different apps on my phone that I monitor the Saluda, broad, and Congaree with. The info is very useful. As far as the Congaree you are dead on with your water levels versus catching fish. 3.2-5 is best with 4 being great fishing. That trip isn’t happening with what the conditions look like now as well as the solid orange color we have going on. Will probably be on Murray on sunday.
The broad is usually the same as the Congaree with 3-5 being great BUT that just makes it easier to float it. Anything under 4 all the way down to like a 2 is unreal for the smallmouth bite but it’s hard to float it in that and you have to do a lot of dragging the boat.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Figured you had something you used to help determine whether to go or not.
I have actually never fished the Broad here in Columbia. When I was younger and lived in Spartanburg, we would bass fish the Broad in Gaffney/Blacksburg area and that was some pretty good fishing. Closest I get to fishing the Broad now is Parr Reservoir. Had good bass days there and terrible days too. The water fluctuations in the Parr are huge and severely have an effect on the bite.