Thread: Bundick's 4-3-16

good report.....as a kid we would dig up those clams on sandbars along the river & use them for catfish bait.....

About 25 years ago at bundicks in the creek with my pawpaw, I got hung up and couldn't get loose. We were fishing "needles" vertically over a brush pile and he had just show me the technique to get unstuck. I tried everything and couldn't get loose. My paw paw even took the pole and tried. When he got upset and jerked it loose, it came up with about a 6" clam clamped over the bait and part of the needle. I never heard of anyone catching another one like that til now. Still makes me smile thinking about it.

Originally Posted by jasonf

About 25 years ago at bundicks in the creek with my pawpaw, I got hung up and couldn't get loose. We were fishing "needles" vertically over a brush pile and he had just show me the technique to get unstuck. I tried everything and couldn't get loose. My paw paw even took the pole and tried. When he got upset and jerked it loose, it came up with about a 6" clam clamped over the bait and part of the needle. I never heard of anyone catching another one like that til now. Still makes me smile thinking about it.

Hey jason, first off welcome to the board. 2nd, what do you mean by fishing "needles"? Never heard that term before. Thanks

Originally Posted by shadow

Hey jason, first off welcome to the board. 2nd, what do you mean by fishing "needles"? Never heard that term before. Thanks

I don't know if they have another name as my grandfather was the only one I ever saw use them. He made them basically from about a 8" piece of straight metal coat hanger which he hammered flat on the tips. He then drilled a hole in each side and inserted a swivel. Then he tied his line to one side and put a hook and shiner or jighead on the other. We would fish directly over a brush pile and just tight line straight down in the thick of it. You tried to never pull up hard even if you got a bite but if you got hung up, you could just lower the rod and bounce the line a little and the weight of the hanger piece above the hook would dislodge it and you could slowly work it out of the brush. It also kept you from getting hung up and messing up a spot pulling the hook loose. I can't ever remember losing a hook using them, but they only worked vertically. Maybe they are known by another name to others. I can still remember sitting there tight lining with him waiting for that unmistakeable thump. I was in his shop a few days ago and came across a few still hanging from his workbench.

Nice catch, gonna be hard to top a clam on a tube jig.... 👍

Makes me wonder if this clam catch could qualify for the "Golden Shiner Award?" Just thinking. Or, maybe Tracker 123 will design a "Silver Clam Award." LOL.

Jasonf post up a needle pic if you can, please.

what he said

I had to search around a bit and found a couple in one of my old tackle boxes. My pawpaw used paper clips instead of swivels and soldered them shut for these.

learn something new every day.....