I am very new to the fishing sport. I really enjoy it! What is the proper way to use the roadrunners. I strickly bank fish. No access to any boats. Thanks
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I am very new to the fishing sport. I really enjoy it! What is the proper way to use the roadrunners. I strickly bank fish. No access to any boats. Thanks
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Don't know if there is a wrong way to use it. Put a plastic on it and put it in the water.
What type of lure would you put on it?
Greg ... according to the "advertisement", you can't fish them wrong ... as long as you fish them slow.
Now, taking out the obvious PR hype in that statement ... I'm a believer that you CAN fish them too slow. Once you slow the retrieve down to a certain point, the blade stops spinning and tucks itself under the body or just "flutters", rather than spins. At that point, IMHO, you're not really using a "Roadrunner" ... but, just a jig. Now, that may be a harsh assessment ... but, that's my opinion on the matter.
I've seen people catch Crappie "vertical jigging" with Roadrunners, but I've caught them in the same area by using regular jigs (jig head with plastic body) ... so I'm not convinced that's the optimum method for this bait.
What I do consider the "optimum method" for this bait, is to cast it & then retrieve it at a steady pace at moderate speeds. If you need depth, you let the bait sink (countdown method) prior to retrieving ... assuming a fall rate of about 1ft per second, for a 1/16oz bait on 4-6lb test mono. You cover an area of water by direction & depth ... covering an area by direction simply means using half a clock face implied over the area & starting at one side (say 9 o:clock) and casting towards each hour until you get to the opposite side (3 o:clock) ... covering an area by depth simply means letting the bait sink 1 second longer than on the previous cast, thus covering the depths from surface to bottom. This can be used in conjunction with the "direction", either by covering depth from surface to bottom at each "hour", or sequencing the 1sec fall delay back & forth over the area. This is known as "broadcast" casting, plus the addition of the countdown method (to cover depth ranges, while the broadcast method covers area).
Running a Roadrunner close to or over wood/weed cover is likely to get you bit. Casting around boat docks/piers (with relatively deep water) is also likely to get you bit. Very early in the AM, just before dark, and even after dark (around docks with lights shining down into the water) are going to be your prime times ... if fishing from the bank. Spring spawning time is prime time, simply because the fish are going to be "next to" the bank, then, more so than most other times of the year (& especially during the midday period). But, even in the Winter months, you can find them close to the bank ... if the bank is steep & drops off to 15-20ft deep within a short distance, AND has a downed tree running out into those depths (or a brushpile, or standing timber within casting distance).
Take that pink Roadrunner head & put on a pink plastic shad stinger type body ... or chartreuse plastic body ... and get out there & start slinging it. :twocents
... cp :kewl
Wow nice information! What about being on an pier? I am from Tennessee. So freshwater all we have. I caught a few crappies, I think by luck. Lol... Caught them on crickets to say the least.
If you're talking about a "pier" ... as in a stationary walkway ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_Mathis
I'd work the pier as though it were a dock. It offers shade (ambush) and cooler water temps (comfort) ... which are prime factors to fish. It may also have algae growth, which is sometimes eaten by baitfish species, so it may also offer a food source ... another prime factor.
The depth of the water below the pier will dictate whether or not the fish will be there ... and when they're likely to be there. Any cover that has been placed there, or washed in & lodged there, will be a spot to give greater consideration than the "empty" areas around/under the pier.
... cp :kewl
Attachment 172114Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
Slab I caught off cricket near the dock. Maybe I just got lucky. Lol
Do you think this type of shad would work?
Attachment 172115
Also is any particular season to fish for crappies or this type of weather is fine?
That shad stinger body is fine & should look good with the pink Roadrunner jighead.
While this time of year is generally "slow", due to the water temps being high, the fish still eat. As the water temps drop, they will eat more often. Hopefully, the water levels at your lake won't be dropped down to Winter Pool for another month or two, giving you time to try out your Roadrunners.
... cp :kewl
Oh, by the way ... there's always a little "luck" involved when you're fishing, whether you're using live bait or artificial. You have to put it in the right place, at the right time, at the right depth, and moving at the right speed (that the fish want at that particular time) ... or you're just "fishing" and not "catching".
All my fish this year has came off of roadrunners fished just as Pappy said ..... Tight lines to you.
The stinger or curly tail will work fine on them even a small tube. Tied with any tying materials work well also. I'll cast and retreive them slow and fast and let the fish tell me which one is best. In the pond I fish I'll even put them under a float and use 6-8 inch pulls and let it flutter down, usually it's by floating mats of grass.
X2 on to slow of a retreive it will just flap and not spin.
What you have head to this point I agree with pretty much, but would add maybe trying a Roadrunner that has a Marabou tail as nothing has the action that marabou does! I troll mine with my troll motor, but since you are not able to do that then casting and reeling is one of the better ways, but you can also fish one under a cork and then you can reel slow or even stop and go. Personally I like the 1/32 oz most, but have sold a lot of 1/16 as well. When using Soft plastics just pick colors that are best for your lake and there are a lot of different kind, i.e. paddle tail or even curly tails are really good.
I do troll pretty slow with my 1/32 in the spring and usually am moving like .3 to .8 MPH, but slow as CP said you can go too slow and that is for certain! Example is if too slow your dragging the bottom or fishing below where the crappie are sitting. Meaning lets say the crappy are from 3 feet down to something like 8' deep as the bottom of the group of fish, if you bring your jig too slow and its below where they are they will not hit it. Crappie do not feed down, but they do feed at their level or above their level.
I have the 1/32 jig as well. I am still learning. After catching and eat two crappies I am HOOKED. LOL
If you want to learn jig fishing, this article is a good place to start.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_Mathis
Charlie Brewer's Slider Company - ******* Weedless Crappie Slider "Why&How"
The slider is just one type of jig. This method works with any jig.
If you'd like a hard copy of the article, it's included in the current issue of Crappie World (on newsstands now.)
Besides crappies and bluegills, what other type of fish is good to eat. Well I know catfish is very good if cooked right.
Don't know if you have Yellow Bass, some just call bar fish, they are pretty darn good too, but just not a big fish. Catfish for me, I don't want them over 10 pounds and less is better (best is like 14" to 16" long) unless it's a flat head and they are the best IMHO! Where you are there should be Walleye and even though I have never had them, they it know are very good! Some other fish we just don't have here like Yellow Perch a northern fish. Someone up a north should be able to add to this.
that's is a lot of good info Pappy thanks
One more caveat to what's been said, if you fish them fast and just under the surface, you tend to get more bluegill attacking than crappie. As I just posted in the New England section, we drift pretty fast with winds in the 10 - 20 mph range. We stopped using the Roadrunners under these conditions due to the consistent bluegill action. However, using just the straight tails, on 1/8 oz. jig heads, we managed to catch quite a few decent crappie yesterday. The Roadrunner is a fine lure for sure, however you have to remain flexible and adaptable to whatever conditions you are facing.
I live down south so it's quite a bit fish types here. So far I only ate 2 Crappies, Bluegills, Catfish... I haven't caught a big enough bass to keep to tryout on the skillet. I heard there's not an size limit when it comes to Stripe Bass. I have seen Perch here as well. I really enjoy fishing, very new to me. Hopefully my luck gets better. The easiest fish I can catch are Bluegills. I may be fishing at the wrong depth to hook some Crappies.
Greg ... without disclosing any specific docks or areas where you fish, would you mind telling us what lake or body of water you're fishing ??
You might want to check the TWRA website for a couple of important pieces of information : what species of fish are in the waters you fish ... and any Fish Consumption Advisories for those waters and the fish you intend to eat.
... cp :kewl
If you are casting roadrunners pause your retrieve and let it flutter down over the top of structure.Also don't be afraid to let it go all the way to the bottom ,crank a few more rounds and let it go down again kinda like hopping it along the bottom.I catch more fish this way with a roadrunner than any other method and have used this technique for many years.My favorite rig is a 1/16 head with a black/silver swimming minnow.
I caught a large mouth and 4 stripes today! All on a roadrunner!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rdrunner
Yesterday here in SW Ohio my wife and I were spider rigging with 4- 14' Southerncrappie poles, she had double minnow rigs and I had double Roadrunners black with chartruse tails, the Roadrunners caught as many as the minnow rigs, plus as a bonus a 10# Channel cat and then a whale of a Blue cat 20-25#'s yeah, on a 14ft pole with 6# hi vis mono, it was fun!
Can't really say about everyones taste, but stripers are not coming him eight me. Also White Bass are not coming home even though they can be eaten, but you have to cut out all the red meat and there is a lot. They are both a lot of fun to catch though and the White bass as well as Yellow bass and Black bass all can be caught well with a jigging spoon early summer and sometimes all at the same spot and even a few crappie thrown in too! Of course there may also be some gaspergou (fresh water drum) lurking around there, LOL!Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_Mathis
Also Black bass are pretty decent, but never and I do mean never eat one with the skin on, always filet them for good eating!
Can you run a road runner on 14 lb test line? I find it you lose the distance when using that test line.
I believe you can use the. With 15 pound Power Pro Super Slick and still get good distance! I use the 10-2 Super Slick and love the stuff! If I think the fish are getting line shy I can just add a long leader of mono or just go mono, but would prefer just using the leader if I have to, but usually don't unless the water is very clear, like if I can see down 4 feet or more I will start wondering if they are seeing my line if the bite backs off!Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_Mathis
Do you tie Power Pro direct to jig or use a snap hook?Quote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
Either way is good. I do use one of the little quick clips I have especially when water is stained like spring time as I don't see it make much difference, however if clear I would probably go direct with the polomar knot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvfatslabs
Thanks for the info kind SirQuote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
With Skip I usually use a duo lock snap but a palomar knot is quick and easy to tie.