Live minnow, Banjo minnow and all things swim baits!

CZfool68

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Open discussion of your swim baits fetishes. Someone here claims live minnow supremacy, while trashing the world famous banjo minnow. What say ye?

And are we talking real live minnow as in an actual lifeform or some cheesey plastic bait?

I am a huge fan of the modern swim baits. I started using the original Castiac baits when I lived in CA. They made trout patterned baits to imitate the stocked trout in many of the CA reservoirs. They were hugely popular for people chasing huge bass. And in CA we're talking 15-20 lb bass in clear water. I didn't fish most of those lakes so ended up buying smaller baits than the original 8-12" swimbaits. I'd use 6-8" baits and nail lots of 5-10 lb bass.

I have used a few different swim baits up in NY and VT in the last few years for smallies. I fish them just like a spinnerbait. Big smallies crush those things.
 
I have never had much luck with them, which I've never had luck with anything other than plastic worms and jigs. Something with the retrieve I just can't get right. I've got a tackle box full of Cranks, spinners, and buzz baits but I'd much rather throw a worm or a jig and work it near cover to draw bass out.
 
I have had the most luck with a Berkley swim shad. 3" and shad colored. Have some bigger swimbaits that just don't produce well. Chatterbaits still are my #1 go to in ponds though.
 
I am partial to original #3 Rapala's on light spin outfit to do sight fishing. I haven't wet a line in a few years tho since I left FL. All the line on my rigs is brittle dust by now.
 
You are from California? That explains it.
I am not a "bass fiserman" I actually eat fish. Yes I catch and KILL those fabulous game fish....Even bass.

I never said I didn't use swim baits, the banjo Minner wasn't the first swimbait, or actually anywhere close.. The lil fishie from the Creme worm company(one of the oldest by the way) predates the banjo Minner by a good while by my memory and it's a pretty good one.
I'm familiar with Castaic, they didn't reinvent the wheel, they simply reintroduced it. It's called matching the hatch, fishermen been doing that for at least 200 years.

The gun industry has gotten like fishing industry. It is market and gadget driven. People need new reasons to buy the newest thing.
Most things that are marketed are designed to catch customers.

Only a mental patient would suggest that a plastic minnow is better than the real thing. Only a snooty elitist, commy, pinko would suggest a fisherman who uses live bait is less of a fisherman, or somehow some kind of poacher. Reminds me of holier than thou gun grabbers.
 
Bailey Boat;n96818 said:
Only one I use is an un-weighted worm with a light hook......

I have used that set up a lot in shallow water with weed growth. Good rig for post spawn bass.
 
DCGallim;n96819 said:
I have never had much luck with them, which I've never had luck with anything other than plastic worms and jigs. Something with the retrieve I just can't get right. I've got a tackle box full of Cranks, spinners, and buzz baits but I'd much rather throw a worm or a jig and work it near cover to draw bass out.

Sounds like me. I never had much luckmwith them until my buddy from CA schooled me one day with them. So the next trip I took with my brother I soent a whole day with one. Caught a few decent fish and learned a lot. Sacrificed a day for a new skill.
 
CZfool68;n96993 said:
Sounds like me. I never had much luckmwith them until my buddy from CA schooled me one day with them. So the next trip I took with my brother I soent a whole day with one. Caught a few decent fish and learned a lot. Sacrificed a day for a new skill.

That's my plan with Jigs this year. Gonna really practice flipping and pitching, getting into tight spots and pulling bass out of them. Of course that means I "need" a new rod and reel combo specifically for flipping and pitching.
 
The Green Heron;n96945 said:
You are from California? That explains it.
I am not a "bass fiserman" I actually eat fish. Yes I catch and KILL those fabulous game fish....Even bass.

I never said I didn't use swim baits, the banjo Minner wasn't the first swimbait, or actually anywhere close.. The lil fishie from the Creme worm company(one of the oldest by the way) predates the banjo Minner by a good while by my memory and it's a pretty good one.
I'm familiar with Castaic, they didn't reinvent the wheel, they simply reintroduced it. It's called matching the hatch, fishermen been doing that for at least 200 years.

The gun industry has gotten like fishing industry. It is market and gadget driven. People need new reasons to buy the newest thing.
Most things that are marketed are designed to catch customers.

Only a mental patient would suggest that a plastic minnow is better than the real thing. Only a snooty elitist, commy, pinko would suggest a fisherman who uses live bait is less of a fisherman, or somehow some kind of poacher. Reminds me of holier than thou gun grabbers.

Not from CA. Just lived there and fished a ton. Not just bass. There is some great striped bass and salmon fishing where I lived too. Really a great place if you could move out 1/2 the people.

Of course live bait works better. That is why they don't let bass pro's use it. I grew up dragging crawdads over shoals and sunken islands for bass. Turned to minnows on weed edges when I hit high school and could afford to buy bait. Usually one day per fishing trip now me and my brother bait fish with huge minnows for northern pike or big bass. Or we get baby minnows and catch a ton of pan fish for dinner. Nothing wrong with some fresh fried fish for dinner.

Oh, and are you grumpy again tonight? Someone take away your favorite bobber or something? Yes, it does take less skill to fish with live bait. But that is ok. If I am fishing for dinner I use bait. If I am fishing for sport I use artificials. Time and place for both. Kinda like scopes vs iron sights. Use the tool that best accomplishes your task Eeyore!
 
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There is a tailrace somewhere...Maybe Georgia, where they fish stripers with live rainbows and Castaics.
 
DCGallim;n97003 said:
That's my plan with Jigs this year. Gonna really practice flipping and pitching, getting into tight spots and pulling bass out of them. Of course that means I "need" a new rod and reel combo specifically for flipping and pitching.

I could never pitch well with a 7'6" flipping stick. Ended up grabbing a 6'10" rod for pitching. That little extra length of the flipping stick cause me to hit the side of the boat and deck and lose control. But I'm about 5'11. Your mileage may vary. I also liked rigging two different baits for different cover.
 
The Green Heron;n97011 said:
There is a tailrace somewhere...Maybe Georgia, where they fish stripers with live rainbows and Castaics.

We always used to joke about catching the little stocky trout for bait. But of course that wasn't legal in CA. :mad:
 
CZfool68;n97017 said:
I could never pitch well with a 7'6" flipping stick. Ended up grabbing a 6'10" rod for pitching. That little extra length of the flipping stick cause me to hit the side of the boat and deck and lose control. But I'm about 5'11. Your mileage may vary. I also liked rigging two different baits for different cover.

At 6'6" I think we are having different problems.
 
CZfool68;n97005 said:
Yes, it does take less skill to fish with live bait. But that is ok. If I am fishing for dinner I use bait. If I am fishing for sport I use artificials. Time and place for both. Kinda like scopes vs iron sights. Use the tool that best accomplishes your task Eeyore!

No I'm not grumpy, I'm always like this.
There it is, the elitist attitude. Explain this:
A pier full of fishermen using natural bait, only a few catch fish. A bridge full of fisherpersons, some using natural bait, one using artificial and natural, only one person catching fish.

A man that unnecessarily narrows his success, by some skewed moral standard of accomplishment, is insane.

On the range, it's the guy who could outshoot you if he had your equipment. "Well sure he hit more bull's-eyes than me, he has better equipment."

"Oh well, if I was using live/natural bait like him I would be catching fish too. I only use artificial, it's more sporting."

People who know how to fish, catch fish. It is the Indian, and not the pole.
 
And then there is this:

10% of the water, holds 90% of the fish. Study on that thought a while, while you think more on the Indian.
 
DCGallim;n97003 said:
That's my plan with Jigs this year. Gonna really practice flipping and pitching, getting into tight spots and pulling bass out of them. Of course that means I "need" a new rod and reel combo specifically for flipping and pitching.

When ya throwing baits in tight spots, have a hollow body frog on a rod. The hits are some of the most exciting I've ever seen
 
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:p

I fished for the only fish that swims, in my humble opinion, in the late 80's - late 90's for a living.
Truth be known, I can catch bass on just about every type bait made. So yes, swim baits catch fish.
When the fishing is on and you can pattern them, artificial baits produce more fish quicker then live bait.
When it's tough, live bait will produce but where is the fun in that.
 
The Green Heron;n97087 said:
And then there is this:

10% of the water, holds 90% of the fish. Study on that thought a while, while you think more on the Indian.

That is not always true. There are times when the fish scatter more than others. The great thing about fishing is that it is called fishing and not catching. Even with depth finders, sonar, and now even freaking electronic fish callers the fish are not always predictable.

My guess is you have fired a billion more bullets than I, but made far fewer casts. :p
 
Tailhunter;n97222 said:
:p

I fished for the only fish that swims, in my humble opinion, in the late 80's - late 90's for a living.
Truth be known, I can catch bass on just about every type bait made. So yes, swim baits catch fish.
When the fishing is on and you can pattern them, artificial baits produce more fish quicker then live bait.
When it's tough, live bait will produce but where is the fun in that.

Yep. I have had days where I had live bait out with no hits. Throw on noisey top water and bam. Fish. Gotta know the current audience.
 
CZfool68;n97256 said:
That is not always true. There are times when the fish scatter more than others. The great thing about fishing is that it is called fishing and not catching. Even with depth finders, sonar, and now even freaking electronic fish callers the fish are not always predictable.

My guess is you have fired a billion more bullets than I, but made far fewer casts. :p

your guess may be right. I'm sure I've made fewer casts. I wouldn't bet I've caught less fish though.
 
Burt Gummer;n97173 said:
When ya throwing baits in tight spots, have a hollow body frog on a rod. The hits are some of the most exciting I've ever seen

I've had decent luck with frogs over the last few years. That's probably the one swim type bait I've actually caught fish on.
 
The Green Heron;n97316 said:
Bass fishermen; The bench rest shooters of fishing.

I'd say Tournament Bass fisherman are the bench rest shooters of fishing. When I was in a club you should have seen the crap guys did and bought to win $50 at the monthly club tourney. It was funny.
 
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Tailhunter;n97345 said:
Everyone knows the elitist snobs are trout fisherman.

:p:p:p

Fly fisherman! Yep. Not trout as a whole. I used to fish a lot of little streams with my trusty Cardinal spinning reel, fiberglass rod and little Mepps spinner. And I've sat on a pier throwing spoons into Lake Ontario for more hours than I care to remember. No glory in those endeavors.
 
Being from Ca, I've thrown my share of swimbaits. I loved the original basstrix with weighted hook. Caught tons of Clearlake 5-7 lbr. Delta 3-5 lbr. And a few Stripers thrown in for good measure.

What was the question?
 
Mirac;n97475 said:
Being from Ca, I've thrown my share of swimbaits. I loved the original basstrix with weighted hook. Caught tons of Clearlake 5-7 lbr. Delta 3-5 lbr. And a few Stripers thrown in for good measure.

What was the question?

Ah, Clear Lake and the Delta! My old stomping grounds. Clear Lake might be my favorite Lake. Caught my only bass over 10lbs at Clear Lake. But lots of 5-8's there. Although Lake Champlain has the big smallies I love. Plus I once almost sunk a boat night fishing Clear Lake. Lived in Brentwood so pre-kids fished the Delta 2 or 3 times a week back then. Launched out by Frank's Tract.

For some reason I am not as good with the weighted hooks as I am with the jig head versins. Just feel and experience I think. Need to do a trip this Spring or Summer and work on that.
 
And, Friday night fights started on Wednesday! As usual, the prime instigator would be none other than The Green Chik'n :D. You can tell it's an early spring when we get more worked up about fish bait than the best twist rate for the new AR barrel.
 
Stick;n97524 said:
And, Friday night fights started on Wednesday! As usual, the prime instigator would be none other than The Green Chik'n :D. You can tell it's an early spring when we get more worked up about fish bait than the best twist rate for the new AR barrel.

I was gonna challenge that boy to a fish off, but didn't want to drive all the way to the mountains and get humiliated on his home turf. I've only fished Jordan, Harris and Gaston around here so my local knowlege is limited. I'll just stay with my rod is bigger than yours arguments. Seems more fitting.

But those kayak videos of the Chik'N do cast some doubt on his prowess around water. :D
 
Boy played in Tarzan, cause Cheetah got runned over by a jeep.

I'll come to Kerr and fish against you. None of this target species bass pro bull either. Pounds of fish, that is the deal. Hook and line only. Or how bout I come up there and we just fish together like two friends.

Don't let the kayak videos fool you. My ability to paddle around in a glorified bathtub, is in no wise related to my fishing abilities.
 
The Green Heron;n97626 said:
Or how bout I come up there and we just fish together like two friends..


This sounds WAAAAYYYY better
 
The Green Heron;n97626 said:
Boy played in Tarzan, cause Cheetah got runned over by a jeep.

I'll come to Kerr and fish against you. None of this target species bass pro bull either. Pounds of fish, that is the deal. Hook and line only. Or how bout I come up there and we just fish together like two friends.

Don't let the kayak videos fool you. My ability to paddle around in a glorified bathtub, is in no wise related to my fishing abilities.

Ha! Just messing with you. I've kayaked exactly once, but it was off a beach into water like glass. Not too bad.

I've never fished Kerr. What I would like to do is get out on the New at some point this year. Once I get through my kids' volleyball season and get a free weekend plans will have to be made. Kayaks, shore or boats I need to fish the New. I'd even be willing to host a small fishing contingent up in W. Jeff for a weekend. Might take me a bit to put it together, but this can happen. Beer battered fish freshly caught sounds good. There are some decent trout in the stream right below our place up there.

Speaking of competitive fishing, here's a story. I had a friend that liked to gamble on everything. So he flew to CA one year and I took him to Clear Lake. Clear Lake has some huge bass and some excellent dock and weed fishing. We were there right around the spawn so I started him out with a spinner bait just to give him a chance to hook into something. Well, it turned out almost everything was on a bed. He got frustrated that he couldn't hook into anything so he stayed at the cabin for lunch while I headed back out. I put on a white plastic worm, found some beds and tormented a nice 5 fish limit into the boat. I went back to the dock and made him come look at me empty the livewell. I had 5 fish that were all between 5-8 lbs. Told him I couldn't get a hook into the truly huge one I saw. It just kept nudging my bait off the bed. He got all excited and wanted to go back out and bet on who could catch the most fish. So I proceeded to fish beds and run the trolling motor while his dumb ass was in the back fishing empty water. Caught 5 more nice fish and watched him drink beer all day.

After that we developed a system. $5 for first fish of the day. Any fish. $5 for first target species. $5 for most fish. $5 for biggest fish. And throughout a trip we'd add new things that pertained to the lake or fish we were targetting. We once met at Dale Hollow in TN and just about got shut out for a day and a half. Then we said next fish that is a bass is worth $50 and $5 per lb. We also added a penalty for losing a fish that was hooked. He shanked a massive smallie that day and I won $$ without catching a single fish.

Moral of my long winded rant is fishing is best done for fun.
 
The Green Heron;n97316 said:
Bass fishermen; The bench rest shooters of fishing.

I heartily disagree. I figure them to be the Remington 7400 shooters of the fishing world.
 
Specialization is for insects......... Use what the fish want to eat. Hook a minnow, a night crawler, a crawdad and canned corn on the ass end of a Bang o Lure if you feel it will catch the fish.

Same crap at the coast. For years and years we pulled man-o-wars with a strip, number 3 drone spoons, Clark spoons and ballyhoo. We drifted with big ass blue fish and mullet. Then all the sudden here comes slow trolling. Most damn boring method of fishing I ever did. Run like hell all over the ocean only to damn near stop and start fishing again. Yep I caught some slow trolling but what a pain in the ass.
 
What was the name of that worm/jig that was on TV and it swam away from you? I have some in a box somewhere. They were great but I cant find them anymore. Ill take a pic when I get a chance.
 
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