RiverEyes at RedWing with RingWorms

When fishing ringworms, shad tails and twister tails on light jigs, are you pouring over sized hooks (1/0 or 2/0) in light jig heads like 3/32, 1/8, or 3/16 oz.? Thanks again.

Depends on the size of the plastics used really… we’re just looking to maintain a reasonable hook gap after the bait has been threaded on. Go with a little panfish sized hook on a 1/16 head and thread on a 5″ tail and you’ll see what I mean. My hook size prefference varies…. too big is just as bad as too small because the extra snag will drive you batty! Most of the time those 2/0 would be a bit too big except for when I’m using REALLY big shad bodies or tails. Then that extra gap comes in handy.

James Holst

Moving Waters Guide Service

http://www.movingwaters.net

I understand now about the hook size. Talking again about big plastics, how big is too big when fishing for walleyes with plastics? Thanks for the hook info.

I don’t know…. can’t find baits that big!

Seriously.

Of course, all applications have their place. This fall we had 16″ walleye stuffing 6″ tails in their little mouths on the strike so tight we could not remove the tails in one piece due to the fact that a walleye’s teeth tend to point back towards their throats. We had to pick the plastics apart with a needle nose bit by bit to get to the hook. If a 1.25 Lb fish can do that….. a 5 LB walleye can eat anything you could ever throw on the end of a med. weight spinning rod.

James Holst

Moving Waters Guide Service

http://www.movingwaters.net

I really should’nt be surprised. I’ve caught small walleyes fishing for muskies on big baits like Suicks and Believers. But it does amaze me that walleyes readily take big plastics like 6″ twisters and shad tails. I’ve fished plastics for a long time for walleyes, but of the 2″ to 3″ size, I’ve got to try this big stuff, it sounds like a lot of fun !!! Thanks a lot!!

Once you really take a look at the size of the shad a 5# walleye tend to urp up in your boat, often much larger than an adult man’s hand, you start to look at those 2″ tails as more of a single stale cracker than a full blown meal to these fish. Even a 5″ – 6″ tail is small by comparison. Its all about perspective I guess.

Fish these larger baits and you will catch fewer fish than you would running jig/minnow. Guaranteed. But the ones you do catch! Much nicer. And we still usually see 20-40 fish a day on a good day.

James Holst

Moving Waters Guide Service

http://www.movingwaters.net

~H20~

Thanks for the advice, I’ll be sure to try some of the jumbo plastics. Thanks again !!