So have you guys heard of the Pits Rig?

Didn't realize we could post videos here or I would have shared this a couple weeks ago. So.. this has a hundred different names I'm sure, but up here we call it the "pits rig" since we use it to fish deep super clear water sand pits. It works anywhere there's clear water though, like here for these pre-spawn bluegills up shallow in super clear water. Surprisingly the yellow line actually didn't hurt as far as I could tell, usually they shy away if you dont use clear line in these situations in my experience.

What you didnt see in the video is that I tried them with a normal split shot rig, a small jig, and a float rig and they ran away from it every time. 100+ big bluegills all in schools up shallow and they would all take off the opposite direction.

Sorry about the long video, I know they are supposed to be short but its hard to get the fish catches in and still have it be short!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtxww8bWP0M&t=1169s

After you cast your worm, does the worm sink down to the grass and you can see the worm? Is that what is happening because you are seeing the fish take the bait. And, do you feel the bite or no?

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Originally Posted by livemusic

After you cast your worm, does the worm sink down to the grass and you can see the worm? Is that what is happening because you are seeing the fish take the bait. And, do you feel the bite or no?

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The worm slowly sinks on slack line just from the weight of the hook and itself, and wiggles as its falling (why the worm has to be alive!) and this natural fall is what rings the dinner bell for the fish. The water is so clear in this video that with my polarized glasses I can see the fish suck in the worm, then I set the hook (just by reeling) when I see the whole worm go in the mouth.

If I cant see the bite, like when we fish the real deep water (20-30 feet) I just watch my line for the bite. The bite will be one quick jump of the line as it sucks in the bait half way, then another jump as it sucks in the worm the rest of the way before it swims off. There is no feeling, as you want the bait to fall on completely slack line so it looks as natural as possible. If the water is clear, the fish will see the worm falling from 20-30 feet away and come get it- God gave them those big ol giant eyes for a reason!

The natural fall is what attracts the fish and makes them eat, so if it goes all the way to bottom with no bites I do one or two small drags (6-8") just incase one is looking at it, then reel up and cast again. This is why if you add a split shot, or a float above it they won't fall for your trick! The natural fall is altered and they know something isnt quite right!

If you are fishing dirty water, this is a REALLY REALLY good technique for fishing structure. The natural fall through a tree, brush pile, or along a bridge pillar/wall is killer. I fish a lot of dirty water which is why that reel has yellow line on it, I wasnt expecting to fish that clear water that day.. it was a last minute decision due to the wind. With hi-viz line you can line watch for bites which makes it real easy and effective!

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Originally Posted by Kevin22

Sorry about the long video, I know they are supposed to be short but its hard to get the fish catches in and still have it be short!

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You can easily edit out the first three minutes.

Interesting

Real good information there!

I am spoiled fishing soft plastics but I might do this with worms just to try it now that they are off the beds. My lake does not have clear water like that but I am a line watcher. However, I find that wind makes that a bit problematic, the line bows with the wind. Of course, I try not to fish on real windy days but even a light to moderate wind does that.

no sound ?

Should have sound. Plays for me

I used to target monster black bass in a gin clear gravel pit 50 years ago using what best I can tell is that technique .
the biggest night crawlers I could ketch , just hooked thru the collar so they go bananas on just a hook and pitch it to them (visually located big bass) and watch them follow it as it sank to the bottom and then pick it up .
if this is similar to what you did it is in fact deadly as heck , those clear water big girls wouldn't touch anything else .
they would fall for that one EVERY time , didn't know this even had a name , interesting .

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

I used to target monster black bass in a gin clear gravel pit 50 years ago using what best I can tell is that technique .
the biggest night crawlers I could ketch , just hooked thru the collar so they go bananas on just a hook and pitch it to them (visually located big bass) and watch them follow it as it sank to the bottom and then pick it up .
if this is similar to what you did it is in fact deadly as heck , those clear water big girls wouldn't touch anything else .
they would fall for that one EVERY time , didn't know this even had a name , interesting .

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Exactly right! I've used it to catch bedding bass many times when I am panfishing and see one. They eat it almost every time.

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Originally Posted by Kevin22

So.. this has a hundred different names I'm sure, but up here we call it the "pits rig" since we use it to fish deep super clear water sand pits.

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We call it... free lining live bait.

I Call it finnese fishing

Sent from my E6910 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

"free lining" real bait is my favorite of favorites if I am not jigging , well almost , floats are the bomb
we target big catfish in ponds with a just a hook and a front half of a bluegill .
used to carp fish a lot when I was a kid and we "free lined " carp baits the same way .
love to lay a rod down and open the bail and wait for the line to go peeling off it .....
nothing beats a pick it up and flip the bail and lean into em like a lumberjack hook set .
snapped a rod or 2 doing it , hard on the equipment to hit a running away big fish full steam ahead .
but REALLY good for the soul :highfive

Sounds like you needed a bait runner reel there Ketchn!

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Originally Posted by Fishfishwish

Sounds like you needed a bait runner reel there Ketchn!

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… or a centerpin. ;)

1988 “ Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers” [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Originally Posted by pescador

1988 “ Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers” [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Yeah...a whole book written about sticking a hook in a live Nightcrawler and fishing with it.

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Originally Posted by Techno2000

Yeah...a whole book written about sticking a hook in a live Nightcrawler and fishing with it.

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it was my go to trophy bass bait back in the early 70 late 60 years , don't know how many times I got my line broke by whale big ole bass back then , but long forgotten as a method to the madness it seems

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Originally Posted by Fishfishwish

Sounds like you needed a bait runner reel there Ketchn!

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bait runner reel ? like a "clicker" type ? we use them on stripers with live bait

Two drag systems, one for letting the bait run, and one for when you hook a fish.

Fishing Reel Types Explained | Different Varieties of Fishing Reels

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Originally Posted by Fishfishwish

Two drag systems, one for letting the bait run, and one for when you hook a fish.

Fishing Reel Types Explained | Different Varieties of Fishing Reels

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i think them are like them ambassador clicker reels we use when we down rig live bluegill for striper
we set it with the clicker on for when a fish takes the bait , the bait isnt typically strong enough to run off the line
then we flip the lever on the reel to get busy and lean into them .
but opening the bail and letting 14 inch live sardine "TRY" to swim thru a pack of albacore off the baja coast is pretty good stuff
we watch the line fall off speed , when it goes from about 5 to 10 mph to 55 to 60 mph it is ON ! :Rofl

The baitrunners are spinning reels.