fishing ringworms

how do most of you pitch and retrieve ring worms. Do most of you drag it a few and sit let current do the work or slow retrieve. Lets hear what works best for the rest of you.

I will assume that with the higher flow you are talking about fishing them in current seams and go from there. I like to anchor up and cast quartering behind me in the current. Watch the line till it touches bottom then slowly lift the rod and let the current sweep the bait back. When it touches do it all again till you are behind the boat. Reel up and do it all again. The key to this is getting the right weight jig. Too heavy and you will snag up almost every cast and too light and you don’t stay in the walleye zone. That’s what I do anyway but I am sure there are other ways and they probably all catch fish.

Redneck has the right techneque when casting a ringworm. A simple lift and drop while quartering the current. The thing to remember about ringworms is “Less is More”, don’t try to over work it or try to fish it like a jig. The presentation should be more horizonal than verticle. There are times I’m pulling it like a three-way or a crankbait. Let the tail do all the work. Pick it up about three inches off the bottom and sweep the rod slowly forward till it gets perpendicular to the boat, then drop it back till you hit bottom and start the process all over again. The great thing about ringworms is the way fish hit them. They always take them head first and they always have the whole thing in thier mouth. Alot of guys think that you need a long shank hook to prevent short stikes. This is not the case with ringworms. Standard jig hooks work just fine. As a matter of fact, long shank hooks inhibit the action of a ringworm. When your casting, the stikes are usually a light tick just before the jig hits the bottom, so try to drop it back on a tight line or be a good line watcher. When your pulling it, there is no dobt about it. It will be just one good solid “THUNK”. Don’t hesitate on either bite. As soon as you feel it – set the hook. Good Luck.

Amen with the statement, “Don’t overwork it”. I fish from shore a lot on a smaller Iowa river, and what I do is cast it out, wait till it hits the bottom, and work it back. Like was stated, I simply pick it up and put it back down. I have a lot of luck sometimes, when I get the jig to the top of the pickup, holding it for a second or two. Sometimes they will just smoke it then. But mainly, fish it slow and don’t over work it. Also, make sure to find a weight that will get you to the bottom, but won’t get hung up.

I have often likened it to Steelhead fishing in streams. You basically quarter the current and “Steer” the jig down stream dropping the tip on a tight line to feel the bottom…and raising it to continue the drift on a tight line. Do this until you get to a location right behind the boat. Getting the weight right is the key. You do not want it driving into the bottom and causing a bow in your line. You need intimate contact with the jig at all times to be successful. And when you get bit…trust me, you will KNOW it if you are doing it right! Fish put the to ringies and blades this time of year.

With the risk of sounding stupid I have a couple of questions. Where do you anchor? (current side,slack side,or right on the seam) What makes one current seam better than others? How does this work with multiple people in the boat. Thanks!

Ryan

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With the risk of sounding stupid I have a couple of questions. Where do you anchor? (current side,slack side,or right on the seam) What exactly do you mean when you speak of quartering? Thanks!

Ryan

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http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/767664/fpart/1/seam-fishing

Exactly,weight is critical

Like others have said jig weight is very important. To much and you may need to work the jig to fast threw a area to stay out of the snags. To light and you just dont know where it is at down there. Most times with to light the current will either just blow the jig out of the area or it will snag up with out you knowing. Dont worry about loosing a jig or to to figure out which weight is working in a area. This may be needed when you are new to jig pitching or a new area.

Areas with lots of snags it may not work to have a lot of bottom contact. Getting familiar with these areas and letting the jig drift threw just above bottom may be key.

Not sure if I completely agree with you guys on the less is more idea. Yes little movement in the ring worm does work but there are certain times they want a pause or snap to the drifting action. I have had trips where this was key to getting them to bite. Guess you just need to try different approaches and give them what they want.