Optiker, Good points.
Here is how I am doing. Cast to the bank area and let it drop for 3-4 sec., reel just a tad to get any slack out, then jerk, jerk upward at about a 45 degree angle, let drop and maybe let it lay there a bit, then reel a bit to get slack out, then jerk, jerk, let drop, etc.
Just wish someone could post a short video. I think that would clear things up a lot.
01 Hewes Redfisher, 90 Yam 2 Strk
Make sure you really work on my suggestion #2 above. I can’t emphasize this enough. Also, are you using braid? For me, this is a huge difference-maker. I recommend 10# powerpro green (original, not slick). I really struggle using mono. To feel the bite using mono is another level - a Bob and Ralph level. In my experience, if the trout are there, they will hit the TT (I’ve only seen rare cases where this is not the case), so if your technique is not right, you will be getting bites but missing them. They will inhale it and spit it our in under a second. If you ever brought one in and the tail is wrapped around the hook or the TT is spun around, … congrats… you missed a bite! Last point. TT’s need clear water to be effective. 12-18" min. That can be a problem in Edisto. If water is not clear, try using sound or scent but that’s true for any bait. The TT’s effectiveness is driven by the trout being able to hunt by sight.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
Optiker,
Thanks, I am using the powerpro 10# braided on nice Tecmar rod. I am heading out to the dock on the tidal creek and try it again, to see if any reds hit it coming out of the little feeder creeks.
01 Hewes Redfisher, 90 Yam 2 Strk
Optiker has it pegged. The bow in your line should not interfere with the lure falling STRAIGHT down. With the proper bow, as Op described, you can detect strikes occurring on the fall. By counting the time it takes the bait to get to the bottom, you have a depth finder. You’ve let it go to the bottom on the initial cast, took four seconds, four feet of water. Point the rod at the bait, reel in all the slack, and give a couple of jerks. Fish will pick it up off the bottom, so your jerk becomes a hook set. As you jerk, jerk, and let fall working it back to the boat all of a sudden it takes an additional amount of time to get to the bottom. You may have found a ledge. Or it doesn’t take as long…a hump. Probably your secret spot. Being a “line watcher” can really pay off.
Bob Sanders
www.trouttrick.com
Back from the dock and a sick guy. Caught a huge redfish after being out for 90min. Got him to the dock, only to lose him as reached for him. He was anywhere from 25-30". However, as the tide was going out of my creek there were a lot of redfish heading out for deep water (my creek goes dry) but none of them would hit the TT. I was doing just like you guys said. I keep the rod tip high, but the other day I was not. These redfish are driving me nuts. 2nd time in a week I have had them all around me and none with me.
01 Hewes Redfisher, 90 Yam 2 Strk
Sorry you lost your fish; So, the above particulars on TT technique are primarily aimed at getting a reaction strike from trout. Redfish will absolutely eat a TT but IMO the technique is different. A slow hopping/dragging along the bottom is better for reds for any baits, for me anyway. Reds also feed more on scent than sight it seems. Put a little pro-cure on it and that will help I bet. Also, as fall approaches, there is less and less live bait around and your success on arties will improve a lot. Keep at it! Don’t get discouraged. Once you get confident in them they will be one of your go-to baits.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
Optiker, this is why we call it fishing and not catching. As a kid I grew up fishing in farm ponds and even had one in my back yard over in Albany, GA and catching bass and bream was like the easiest thing in the world. I could get them out of any old log, ledge, or drop. Use to go out with a guide down in Savannah and this guy, Capt. Jack, could bring us back a limit on any day, rain, fog, or shine. He took me places I could not even imagine getting a boat to and we would just pull the bulls out. All he ever used was shrimp or mud minnows. I am fishing the same way he tought me. It will just come around.
01 Hewes Redfisher, 90 Yam 2 Strk
Great tips. I’ll be trying this evening.
I’ve been thinking about switching my braid to a lighter color for line watching. Pink or red.
Any thoughts on that? I’ll still be using a fluorocarbon leader.
Funny you mention clear water as 12"-18". Coming from Florida, that’s what we’d have in the middle of a hurricane.
Coasttal, We are doing several videos soon and because of your input the first one will be on presentation.
Pure fluro, Seagar Invisex is my first line choice and mono, Ande Backcountry is my second, for throwing any plastic on a 3/16 or 1/8th ounce jighead. I throw a 1/4 ounce jighead on the baitcaster on 20# line. I only use braid for long distance casting, as in sightfishing. When fishing docks and trees, I would rather have a big redfish in barnacle incrusted structure on 20# flurocarbon than 50# braid, because of it’s abrasion resistant quality.
Just my take. Bob
Bob Sanders
www.trouttrick.com
FishingWithBob
Big Fork Farms LLC
Real Estate Sales
803-300-2780
803-259-1374
bob@fishingwithbob.com
www.fishingwithbob.com
www.southcarolinalandonline.com
when Sanders speaks, pay attention. Opti too.
sanders has decades of sperience.
I’ve caught hundreds of trout on his TT and his technique in the years since he taught me. it’s completely changed my fall fishin. out of some undeserved kindness or pity for dumb rednecks, Bob helped me a bunch. pay close attention to what he writes and you’ll catch more trout, I promise
it took a bit, but these two words surfaced: clean water. if clarity is less than say 18", you may want to soak bait for spottail instead. IMO
quote:
Originally posted by OptikerA couple points: Trout like moving water, so if its a slack low you might not have as much success. Trout seem to be on the grass edges on a moving tide at higher tide stages - the difference between casting within 1 ft of the grass and 2-3 feet can sometimes make all the difference. At lower tides they will pull off the edges into slightly deeper water, ie a ledge. Of course there are exceptions. But, if you have a trolling motor, the best way to find them is to keep moving and casting to structure, varying depths, etc till you find them. You WILL find them if they are there, using the TT’s and the proper technique. Catch em up
Went to your website and took a look at the videos. Were you catching the trout using a trout trick? It looked as you were going twitch twitch with your rod almost straight up and pretty much kept reeling in except during twitches.
Nice videos
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
01 Hewes Redfisher, 90 Yam 2 Strk
Any of you ever catch a shark with them?
Today I threw up in a grass flat and the trout trick got hammered on the first twitch. Fish ran like crazy through the grass and then into the shadows of the boat. Turned out to be a. Nice 3’ plus bonnet head. I was surprised that he didn’t bite threw the braid since it was just a jig with no leader.
I bought one pack of tricks to try. So far I have caught a 16" flounder, 25", 20", and 21" redfish, and a huge bonnet head. And I still have 3 left. Still haven’t caught a trout yet though, but not complaining.
I think I got my money’s worth.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Where are you located and fishing? I keep throwing this at redfish and so far only 1 hit.
I throw, let it drop, hold rod almost straight up and go twitch, twitch, let it drop and reel to get slack out.
01 Hewes Redfisher, 90 Yam 2 Strk
I am fishing in Charleston and McClellanville.
I forgot to add that I was fishing with 2 others all day today and they were using strictly live bait. I threw the trout tricks all day except for some finger mullet for about 10 minutes for some flounder.
And I actually caught 4 redfish and the big bonnet, they caught one red on live bait. Mine were 3 upper slot fish and one just over.
I think this picture should be the biggest selling point for these baits. Shark feed by smell since they have very bad eye sight. However, this fish obviously reacted to the vibrations, as it hit it like it was out of control. No scent added to the trick, just a 1/4 oz. jig, 20# braid and a trout trick.
The shark is getting eaten as well.
“Banana Pants”
Indigo Bay 170
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Yes in fact BOSN caught a big bonnet on one last Sunday. It broke the line boat side but i would estimate it at 20 lbs. I was also surprised to see a bonnet hit an unscented lure. Last weekend I tried repeatedly to get one on a gulp jerk shad with only a follow and turn away. Cool stuff.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
Got this one last night on a trick
29"
Plus a trout that made my dinner
10% of the people catch 90% of the fish.
Mako 1901 Inshore-Honda 130