Conference wahoo::fishing

    Ed,
       I suggest that you use some sort of float, if the bottom is weedy
    the shiner will more than likely dive right for the bottom and hide
    in the weeds.  If you decide to use a bobber/float, keep the shiner
    just above weed level to make him a easy visible target, I havent 
    shiner fished in a while but thats what I use to do, when I didnt use 
    a float I would usually end up with a shiner full of weeds.
    
    Goog Luck
    Les
     

    Thanks Les. I didn't consider the possibility of the shiner diving
    into the weeds to hide, but it makes perfect sense. After all, I
    do want the bass to be able to see the bait, don't I?? I'll try
    it!
    
    Ed
    

	I've been luck enough to have fished the big "O" in Florida    
	using shiners.  You need at least 20lb line.  They use 30lb.
	I would also use a weedless wook, the ones with a thin wire
	loop that cover the hook.  Be sure and sharpen the hook first.
	We let the fish take the shiner back into the weeds before 
	setting the hook, that's why you need the heavy line.
	Set the hook as hard as you can and hang on!  We didn't catch 
	anything worth mounting, but we had a blast.
	I forgot to mention we also used large bobbers.  Just let the 
	shiner swim around, but keep them out of the weeds.  You will 
	know when there is a bass around.  That sucker will go nuts 
	trying to get away.  It gives me goose bumbs just to let you 
	about it.


	Good Luck, and keep us posted.

						Jim

    
    I was watching the "Bassmaters" last weekend and they were using
    the same technique as .3 but they used small balloons instead of
    a bobber. He said that they cost less, and were easier to pull
    through the weeds. Just blow them up to the size of a small tennis
    ball, tie em' on and lob it out.
                                    Walt
    

    I, too, have fished Okeechobee and other Fla lakes with shiners.
    
    (As a matter of fact the first time on Okeechobee I fished with one 
    of the pros who did one of the Bassmasters Okeechobee shiner fishing 
    shows, Steve Daniel.  I think the show that was on last week was the
    one with Chet Douhit guiding.)  
    
    We used balloons, 25lb test and poolcues, but personally, that sounds
    like a little overkill for around here.  Your not going to catch a
    15lb bass at winni, and your not going to be fishing in the dense weeds
    that they do down there.  The wild shiners that they use down there are 
    bigger than 1/2 the bass up here.  
    
    Winni is real clear water and little weeds.  I'd think 14lb test would be 
    more than enough, I normally use 8lb test up there.  Earlier this year 
    I pulled a 7lb12oz largemouth out of heavy structure with 12lb test, you 
    don't need much more than that unless your fishing real think stuff.  
    Just make sure your line is in perfect shape.  
    
    If I were going to go after a big bass with live bait around here, I'd go 
    to a small river and catch some big chubs and use them for bait.  The 
    typical tackle shop shiner can be taken by a big perch.  If you want a 
    big bass, use big bait.
    
    just my opinion, donmac
    
    ps: artificials are alot more fun

>    If I were going to go after a big bass with live bait around here, I'd go 
>    to a small river and catch some big chubs and use them for bait.  The 
>    typical tackle shop shiner can be taken by a big perch.  If you want a 
>    big bass, use big bait.
    
    I agree. Those bass ignored all my lures, but when that pickerel
    was struggling, they were right there waiting. I *would* rather
    use something bigger than a shiner. Those chubs sound interesting,
    how do you catch them?
    
    Ed

    They'll hit just about anything.  I've caught them on the Souhegan
    trout fishing, drowning worms and casting spinners/spoons.  I've caught
    them on the Merrimack (only in the northen most section) while fishing
    for smallies with small Rapalas and grubs.
    
    donmac

    RE:.6 >>How do you catch them?
    
    How do you keep from catching them?  The Westfield river and Housatonic
    river are full of them.  I find they feed close to the surface.
    They ought to be fun on a dry fly if you're inclined to mix sport
    with filling the shiner bucket.  Small bait will definitely do the
    trick ... half a worm, lawn grubs, small piece of baloney.  Try
    it unweighted if you've got a light outfit that can cast any distance.
    If not, add a bobber.   Look for them in riffles and fast water.
    
    -SSS-
    

    Last year, I spotted a bunch of rises on the Merrimack river (hudson
    area). I put on a black gnat (dry fly), and proceeded to catch about 40
    of the little buggers in about an hour and a half. Some of them were
    nearly half a pound. It was fun, good casting practice, and allowed me
    to regain my feel for setting the hook (missed a hundred takes easy).
    
    The Doctah
    
    ps- In the Merrimack and Souhegan, a good way to catch them is with a
    red 1/8 oz jig head with a trout worm on it; you can get 4 or 5 of them
    on a single worm that way.

	How about using so called "pike" shiners ?  The ones over 6'' long...

	/Ken

    
    
    
              Pike shiners is what I would use!! Also try cutting off
              the tail and some of the other fins.This will slow the
              shiner down and he will look and swim as a wounded fish
              does...Maybe a little more tempting to that Bass than one
              that is swimming circles around him.Remember they want to
              use as little energy as possible for a big meal!!
    
    
                                            The Keg

    The Keg is right about clipping the tail!  When fishing shiners,
    I always clip off the lower half of the tail ... forces the shiner
    to swim his butt off (ha ha) just to stay in one place.  I can't
    take credit for it (old Taps tip) but can attest to its power.
    
    -SSS-

    
    
     Re .12
    
            That should read "Kegs Tap Tips"
    
    
    
                                       Who else

    1. Take a 10" yellow perch, trim the tail from the bottom up
    75% of the way. This slows him to a crawl, cut off one side-fin
    behind the gills, this puts him in a circular swim pattern then
    open a gill and put a small slice in a vein.  Tied to a small 
    bobber to keep him just over the weeds will make him look like
    a 2 lb. prime rib dinner.
    
    2. At night, either a live GOOD SIZED frog with a #4/0 hook
    put thru the skin of his back just in front of the legs then
    layed along his back and held there with a rubber band behind
    the front legs.  Remember, they swallow head first.
    
    Fred

    Fred,
       Isn't it illegal to use perch for bait?  I thought you couldn't
    use game fish for bait, I am not sure though
    
    Les

    In NH I believe it's illegal to use any spiny back fish for bait.
    
    donmac - who still hasn't found his 89 rule book

 re: Donmac

 Correct. it is illegal.

 the Doctah

    Yeah, I read it too. Perch are not legal bait.
    
    Ed
    

    In Mass I thought ypu could do it as long as you caught them with
    a rod and reel and not a net?
    
    Bassin Bob
    

I believe there are very few states (if any at all) that allow "spiney-back"
fish to used as bait.  Of course, if you happen to catch a small perch or
sunfish and take your sweet time reeling it in...and...a big ole bass comes
along and swallows it ... well what is one to do??

-HSJ-   

    Mr. Moderator---
    Please move this to the appropriate note if this is not the one.
    
    Two anecdotes some of you might find interesting:
    
    1. Dropped one of White Pond's anemic crayfish in 10 feet of water to
    see its free-fall behavior, which was minimal. However, blue gills and
    small largemouth, who had been circling around me out of curiosity,
    chased after it as it dropped. When it reached the bottom, it scooted
    over to some rocks, and the fish kept pecking at it. Then
                               BOOM
    an enormous largemouth passed through. The smaller fish scattered and
    the crayfish was gone. I would have missed it if I had blinked. I'm
    convinced it was the activity of the smaller fish that alerted the big
    one, since I saw other large bass bypass solitary crayfish sitting in
    the open.
    
    
    2. Found the corpse of a large, once-healthy crayfish. It had large
    blue-green claws and looked to be intact. There were a couple large
    smallmouths hanging out, looking me over. I held up the crayfish corpse
    and let it fall. The bass charged it and then veered off. I did it
    again. They approached it and studied its fall. I speculate that they
    were uninterested in this crayfish because it was clearly lifeless.
    (Tumbling as it fell.)
    
    
    FWIW
    
    John H-C

    I moved the previous reply from the rathole to here...
    
    I agree that the larger bass may have been attracted due to the
    activity of the smaller fish.  Here's a similar observation:  
    
    Often, while fishing small minnow type baits, if you let the lure lie
    still small panfish will smack at it, or a small bass may bump it.
    
    When ever I see this happening I'll leave the lure right where it is.
    
    Occasionally, while the little fish are playing with it, all of a
    sudden the little guys will scatter and WHAM, a good sized bass will
    nail the lure.  
    
    I have always suspected that the bass came in after the other smaller
    fish - when the small fish scatter - all that's left is the lure and
    the bass hits it. 
    
    -donmac