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Catching panfish on artificials can be frustrating at times, especially with sunfish, as they "nip" at their prey ... trying to dismantle it into pieces, rather than engulfing the whole thing (like a Crappie or Bass usually does). One thing that can be done is go to a smaller bait. Scents may attract more interest in your baits, but don't always guarantee they'll hold on longer. Putting a piece of live offering on the hook is usually a better solution ... something like a piece of worm, wax worm, a cricket, or even a strip of skin/meat from a previously caught fish.Originally Posted by csen147
Around here, a Cabin Creek popeye jig with a waxworm threaded on the hook & suspended under a small bobber/float & fished along cliff walls or deep rocky banks, during the spawning period of Bluegills & other sunfish, is usually pretty productive and may also tempt Bass & Catfish.
On lakes that have a good population of Redear Sunfish (Shellcrackers), many people use a jig with a small plastic body (with legs) and tip the hook with a piece of worm/nightcrawler. I've caught them (& Bluegill) on a plain jighead with a section of nightcrawler threaded on the hook ... with and without a float.
The bigger the panfish species you're after, the bigger the bait/hook that can be used .... but, even very small baits can be tempting to larger species.
I prefer to use & catch fish on artificials, but I am by no means a "purist" when it comes to how or what I catch fish with. If the situation dictates it, I'm not averse to feeding them a little "meat" along with my plastics or other artificials.
... cp
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Minnow
Thanks say I got a trout magnet and I am drifting it. I just cover up the exposed hook? Also, do scents help the fish hold on more to the bait? Thanks.
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Thanks say I got a trout magnet and I am drifting it. I just cover up the exposed hook?
Do NOT cover up the exposed hook.
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If you are referring to "covering up the exposed hook" with a piece of worm or other live offering, then yes .... that's all you need to cover. You are, in effect, "scenting" the jig with the "smell/flavor" of the live offering. The biggest difference in this and "scents" from a bottle or package, is the length of time it will last.Thanks say I got a trout magnet and I am drifting it. I just cover up the exposed hook? Also, do scents help the fish hold on more to the bait? Thanks.
If, like DB4D seems to be assuming, you're referring to "covering up the exposed hook" to make the bait "weedless" ... then IMHO that's debatable and comes down to a personal choice. All of my jigs, that are used for casting or dock shooting, are weedless jigheads w/plastic bodies added. I have no problems getting hits on them, or setting the hook securely in the upper portion of the Crappie's mouth, nor do I lose fish on account of the weedguard. I don't target sunfish, as a rule, but I have caught some near 8" in length while targeting Crappie with a 1/16oz jighead & 1.5" plastic body. Most of those plastic bodies were solid bodied & stinger shad shaped. The only result I ever obtained when using hollow bodied tubes was to have the sunfish nip off most or all of the skirt pieces, or yank the tube down onto the hook bend.
I've used the "Magnet" bodies several times, but have yet to have a hit on them. They now reside in the deeper recesses of one of my "less often used" tackle containers. My 1.5" plastic body preferences are CrappiePro Slugs & Panfish Assassins. My 2" body preferences are Slabanator Shad & Mr Crappie Shadpole.
... cp
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As somebody who uses the TM a lot, I just don't think the jig head or the plastic body is suited to Texas rigging (if that's what he's talking about.) A crappie slider with a spider slider head is a different story.
Minnow
No, I want to cover the hook with some bug meat or dough. I also am thinking about dipping the whole thing in garlic powder before. casting.
Minnow
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I often tip with mealworms or wax worms.
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Just not necessary, IMO. Tipping the jig with a small piece of worm is more than enough.
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