Coosa River schoolin

Lowe175 invited my son and I down to the river to show us how to properly shoot docks. He conducted a fishing clinic. He said it was a bad day, but we brought home 25 keepers and he probably caught 30 or more shorts. I thought it was a great day. I did contribute to the fish total in the livewell, I caught ONE keeper. rotfl

My son finally caught 2 short fish late in the day and I caught a total of 3 with 2 being short. I watched Lowe175 fish a while and I'm still not quite sure how he was determining he was getting a bite, but danged if he didn't have a fish most every time he set the hook. He said he didn't feel most of the bites but something just didn't feel right a lot of times and WHAM, fish on. I couldn't get a hook set when I did feel a bite and "The Force" must not be with me on reading fishing line, because I clearly suck at that, BUT anything worth doing is worth working for and he said he's been crappie fishing all his life, SO I am still determined to learn how to catch these fish, moreso after the schooling that I got today.

Thanks again Glenn for your hospitality, eagerness to teach others and a great trip. My son and I are very greatful for our afternoon in your company! And that's a sweet Stratos you've got!

I already made this post once, from my phone with a picture attached but something must have happened in the posting process, because it apparently didn't show up. I'll try to post the picture again since I'm posting the thread again.

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Congrats on a great day with your son and with an awesome guy and a tremendous dock shooter and fish catcher .been their and done that he has spanked my butt several times.:Roflbut I have learned from those spankings and I’m still learning. Thanks Glenn for sharing and helping !

Glad yall had a great learning trip.

Glad y'all had a good time. You'll get the hang of it before long.

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Yep hang in there, Glen will make it look easy. If he’s ever busy and you’d like to go give me a pm and I’d be happy to take you and your boy out. Boat in shop, but when she gets out I’m game. Glen will tell ya, I’ll put you on fish like he does.

Thanks so much Cowboy. Glenn spoke very highly of you. I will DEFINTIELY take you up on that. Do you ever fish on Guntersville?

No, that would be Mitch, slabprowler. I have no idea about up there

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Originally Posted by FurFlyin

Lowe175 invited my son and I down to the river to show us how to properly shoot docks. He conducted a fishing clinic. He said it was a bad day, but we brought home 25 keepers and he probably caught 30 or more shorts. I thought it was a great day. I did contribute to the fish total in the livewell, I caught ONE keeper. rotfl

My son finally caught 2 short fish late in the day and I caught a total of 3 with 2 being short. I watched Lowe175 fish a while and I'm still not quite sure how he was determining he was getting a bite, but danged if he didn't have a fish most every time he set the hook. He said he didn't feel most of the bites but something just didn't feel right a lot of times and WHAM, fish on. I couldn't get a hook set when I did feel a bite and "The Force" must not be with me on reading fishing line, because I clearly suck at that, BUT anything worth doing is worth working for and he said he's been crappie fishing all his life, SO I am still determined to learn how to catch these fish, moreso after the schooling that I got today.

Thanks again Glenn for your hospitality, eagerness to teach others and a great trip. My son and I are very greatful for our afternoon in your company! And that's a sweet Stratos you've got!

I already made this post once, from my phone with a picture attached but something must have happened in the posting process, because it apparently didn't show up. I'll try to post the picture again since I'm posting the thread again.

Attachment 277711

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What rod u all like for casting a jig ?

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We weren't casting, we were shooting docks. I was using a 7' Lews and he was using a 5'6" or 6' casting rod. He was pitching jigs just like a bass fisherman would pitch a pig and jig. He could get em WAAAAY under the docks and make about 2 casts to my one. I've never seen anybody pitch a crappie jig like that and he's a pro at it.

Casting a jig ? What’s that ! :Rofl

Eveybody to their own but I just purchased a pro angler rod 5’5 for shooting docks and multi purpose.and will be purchasing a couple more . It’s the best feeling rod that I have ever owned .and it’s super sensitive and had a back bone like a saw log.:twocents

FurFlyin.i have the same problem detecting bites.i have always just fished spring spawn where theres no problem now i think at times im missing fish because i cant feel the bite.

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Glad you had fun. I love taking my kids with me. Nothing like it.

@ Fur, are you using high-vis line? Yellow? You will see the line twitch, move or jump and then set that hook! I've personally never been dock shooting, so I'm limited in that area. I have watched videos on Youtube on it. I mostly fish the Guntersville area bridges at night tight lining minnows/jigs, or trolling.

Fur, I'm quite certain he explained all that to ya, but line weight makes a HUGE difference in getting that jig where it needs to be (and bite detection.)
4# test outshines 6#...

Lots of luck, and keep at it. It's addicting, especially when they "thump" it!

And #2 outshines #4. ;)

I'm glad you and the boy had fun. Your fishing with some good people.

Thanks for all the replies. I was using 6# yellow line. It was the Wally Marshall stuff. I don't really like it, it's too stiff. I got some Berkley gold line and some Cajun Red line in 4# yesterday and I'm going to re spool and try those. I have not found any yellow line that I like yet. I've tried 4 lb Vicious and 6 lb Wally Marshall. The Vicious was too weak and the Wally Marshall was like fishing with weed eater line. If Berkely sold yellow XL that's what I'd use.

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Originally Posted by Damion Kidd

FurFlyin.i have the same problem detecting bites.i have always just fished spring spawn where theres no problem now i think at times im missing fish because i cant feel the bite.

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I'm gonna figure it out. I guarantee that. It may take a long time, but I'm going to do it.

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Originally Posted by FurFlyin

I'm gonna figure it out. I guarantee that. It may take a long time, but I'm going to do it.

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Lol.im trying.i think part of it is talent.but im not giving up either.i love a good challenge. Lol

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If you put the time in y all will get it. Take cowboy up on his offer and go with him. He is a outstanding fishermen and a great guy. He knows Neely Henry as good as anyone you well meet and he may point out some things I missed.

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Ive been invited and planned on going with cowboy.but work or family or something always comes up when i plan on it.im gonna make time to go with whoever i can to learn this thing.

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I would advise you to buy good line for dock shooting casting e.ct. Cajun Red is strong but has a lot of memory, Wally Marshall is flat out garbage. Vicious is good line for the money. I would suggest fluorocarbon. Ultra sensitive, very little memory and invisible. It is pricey but I think it is just what you would want for what your doing

Coach your spot on line make a difference. I would go with 4lb or 2lb at first, makes feeling the bite easier

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Yep, try 2 lb, what I use, just have to set your drag properly. I’ve caught as big as a 24.7 flat head on 2 lb. I grew up finesse fishing so I’m accustomed to the small line , it all boils down to knowing what you’re gear will take

If I go with fluro, isn't it going to be really hard to see the line move? All I've ever seen was crystal clear.

EDIT: If I'm looking for something ultra sensitive would I be better off going with a very light braid? I know a guy that fishes with it on spinning gear. I'm not sure how bad it twists.

Im in for trying suffix orange next. I used to use mr crappie .then I switched to vicious,( junk) noting but memory and then I tried the more expensive stuff Gama Worse ( junk) broke way too easy if suffix isn’t any better than the ones I’ve tried. I may go back to Mr crappie. That has been the stoutest of the ones that I have tried so far. I think that it matters where the line comes from and I may have gotten some older spools . :twocents

This is one I've been having good luck with and will by again but I had to order it from the factory.

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Well I can't post a picture for some reason any it's Berkley XT solar/Solaire. It's hi via. Green and I'm likening it a lot.

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Thanks! will check it out !

Braid has it's place. I salt water fish for trout and red fish a lot. I often use braid with a fluorocarbon leader. Braid is super sensitive has no memory and no stretch. There would be three concerns for me dock shooting or casting braid. No stretch makes it easy to rip through the paper mouths of crappie. Two, It's visible, I would tie on a leader if I used it. Third it floats and the wind blows it around some. Most of my Penn reels I salt water fish are spooled with 12lb stren. I also use stren or fluro on my reels that I cast with for crappie and shell crackers. Stren is old reliable, its soft, strong and has less memory than all those cheap lines. One thing I learned years ago and it helps a lot is when you cast a spinning reel flip the bail shut using your hand rather than the reel handle. It helps avoid line twist and adding memory to your line

Glenn mentioned flipping the bail closed with your hand Saturday. If someone would have asked me if I did that I would have said no, but after he mentioned it I paid attention and I do it every time. I have fished with spinning tackle all my life and I guess I've flipped the bail closed with my hand so long that I do it as a reflex now. I think I probably started doing that as a kid because the crappy spinning reels back then wouldn't flip the bail closed from the handle being turned.

I ordered some some of the Berkely Solar last night. I'm going to give it a try. I know our local Walmart has Stren that's yellow and I'll try that too. That will give me 4 dollars different new lines to try out and I'll see which one I like the best.

Good thing is that the jig bite is going to really come on here for a couple of months and run into the spring so you'll have plenty of time to catch up to it. Like folks said, #4 is better and #2 is better yet. Might try the Bass Pro Crappie HV Yellow line also. I use a lot of that. Cabelas also has their own brand of line and it comes in a HV Yellow as well. If I can find Ande I'll use that too, but it's hard to find in those weights around here. Up north where they do a lot of walleye fishing you can find it.

Power Pro #15 in high vis is great braid. Braid = no twist
Stren Gold mono at walmart is good too. It will be on the bottom rack by the lures, not on main line wall. Also, to lessen the twist, you can also set your spool in a bowl of medium hot water for 10 mins then spool it up. Also, walk about 100 ft at tie it to a pole, then tug on it a bit. Good luck on the water!

Thanks for all the replies! I've now got 4 different types of 4 lb test mono line. I'm going to spool one reel with each and see which one I like best.