Fishing Forum

Completely new to fishing, and have to learn from online advice or books since I don't know anyone who fishes.

I got my tackle and bait, and the pond I go to is obviously full of fish because I get bites on nearly every cast, but I've only actually hooked one fish (a sunny) in four visits. I have no real idea what to do here. The fish starts to bite, and and I yank on the pole and reel it in but most often it gets away and my bait is gone.

Am I being impatient, or is there some method to actually getting a fish caught on a hook that I am unaware of?

Thanks!
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[quote NJBeginner]
I got my tackle and bait, and the pond I go to is obviously full of fish because I get bites on nearly every cast, but I've only actually hooked one fish (a sunny) in four visits. I have no real idea what to do here. The fish starts to bite, and and I yank on the pole and reel it in but most often it gets away and my bait is gone.

Am I being impatient, or is there some method to actually getting a fish caught on a hook that I am unaware of?

Thanks![/quote]
Forgot to ask..What kind of rig are you using? You useing a bobber or no bobber? If your using a Bobber best way when you see it biteing Slowly reel it till the line gets tight and that way you can feel it bite as well and then follow what i typed down below.[:p]

Well if the pond is full of different sunfish then im thinking your being impatient with them. Plus if that is what is mainly biteing then your hook is to big.
Just do what I usually do for people I teach.I tell them

" I don't care if the fish is biteing I do not want you to set the hook on it. I just want you to sit there and feel how the bites are and try to feel the difference from a nibble to actually putting the bait in there mouth and takeing it."

So yah just sit there untill you feel the difference in how fish bite. Usually you can tell if its something small like a bluegill compared to something big takeing it like a bass.

Hope that helps
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the advice you got so far is right on..ill just add dont set the hook till you feel weight or the fish pull
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Thanks for the advice. Yes, I am using a bobber, and I don't really have the basis of comparison to tell if my hook is too big, but it does seem like these fish are capable of eating the nightcrawlers off the hook without having the hook in their mouths. I'll try again with a smaller hook.
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[quote lurtch]the advice you got so far is right on..ill just add dont set the hook till you feel weight or the fish pull[/quote]

hehe I was hopeing he would experience this while feeling out the process.[] But what is said is true.[fishin]

[quote NJBeginner], but it does seem like these fish are capable of eating the nightcrawlers off the hook without having the hook in their mouths. I'll try again with a smaller hook.[/quote]

Well it is also possible you are useing to much worm. If you have to much hanging off the hook usually the sunfish will bite on that instead of everything on the hook. They will usually pull and pull till they rip alot of it off. Then alot more will hang and they will also pull on that till its off your hook. also if you try to set the hook while they are doin this it will help rip the worm off the hook as well.

Just judge the amount of worm you are useing and experiment. If i fish on top with a bobber I will usually use just enough worm so there is only like 1/4 inch hanging around. sometimes ill hook more on there but slip it longway up the line. have alittle hang off and such. really depends on how there biteing and whats around.

Hope that helps as well
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Most bluegills and sunfish are caught with the baited hook on the pond bottom since they feed daily on the worm like larvae there.

In the evening and early morning, bluegills and sunfish take bait a little closer to the top, they also take artificial flies on top of the water or just below it as they would any insect that drops to the surface.

Since their mouths are small, use hook size 12, 10, or 8.

You might also try using red worms instead of night crawlers for sunfish bait. You won't lose as much bait that way. If you only have access to night crawlers then pinch off a little over a inch or two of the crawler and use that and make sure you get most of the worm on the hook. You like to leave a little dangling off the hook but at least 60% of the worm should be on the hook.

Hope this helps you out. Good Luck!
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im going to share the way i completly own sunfish caught 150 in 2 hours you get very small mustad hooks the smallest you can find put 1 salmon egg any color and throw it out under a bobber and even if its a nibble the hook is so small it will hook them
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I will add this. If you are fishing for sunnys, a smaller hook and smaller bait is the right way to go. Sunfish go for just about anything on a hook. Wonder Bread works wonders for small fish like bluegills. Pinch a small piece and ball it up on the end of your hook till the hook tip is just peeking out. BTW it needs to be Wonder Bread brand. Other white bread just falls apart.

If you know there are Bass or Pickerel or other larger fish in that pond or lake, then know that if the sunnys are constantly nibbling and stealing your bait, the big one ain't around there. The small fish will flee if the big one comes along.

Find the dead tree, or lilypads or weeds and you will find the bass. Cast in the clearer open water and you will find the sunnies. usually...anyway IMHO

My dad would tell you that "you're not holding your mouth right." But, me being a smart azz isn't going to help you. []

You've got some good advice, and some that doesn't really matter either way. (IMHO) I guess it really depends on what you want to catch, and how big you want them to be.

I've seen more than one recommendation to use tiny little hooks. If you care about releasing the fish after you catch them, I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. If you use a medium size hook, I like a #8, you've got a lot less chance of gut hooking the fish. I don't know how big the panfish get up your way, but down here in the carolinas, we target the big ones. (unless we're looking for catfish bait) The only advantage to using a tiney hook is that you can catch the little fish. If you use a larger hook, you're more than likey narrowing down to a more desirable size quarry.

Keep your rig simple. It's not rocket science. Panfish are very simple to catch. If you're not hooking the fish, it's because they are little. Move on. During this time of year, when it's blazing hot, you need to get IN the structure. Someone mentioned fishing on the bottom during the day, and in the upper water column during the early and late hours. That's good advice, and you should follow it. Also, if you can find a few spots on the lake that stay shady, and have structure, you can get them in the upper water column during the day there as well. If the water is deep, keep adjusting the depth of your bait. They may not be right on the bottom, rather, a few feet off of it. Their strike zone is going to be much smaller during the heat of the day. So, you'll really have to experiment with your depth and location until you find them.

Don't just throw your bait out and leave it either. Forget all the bull sheet you hear about bobber fishing. When it hits the water, give it a light twitch every now and then. Give the reel a couple cranks, then twitch it again. (don't reel your line into the structure though) Bream are attracted to movement, and you might trigger an impulse strike even if they are not hungry. Bream are stupid, so cator to that charractor flaw. Use shiney hooks, like those neon yellow looking ones.

Next, spool your reel with braid. You'll gain sensitivity and you'll be able to get out of snags a little better with out having to re-rig every few minutes. I like 10 pound power pro or Suffix. I'm actually becoming partial to Suffix based on it's performance offshore. (I primarily fish offshore along the SC coast) It's very strong, very castable, and I like the colors it comes in. I also noticed it doesn't fade like Power Pro does, atleast not as rapidly. But, don't think i'm bad mouthing Power Pro, because it's also an exceptional line. Make sure you know your knots if you're going to use braid though. If you use the wrong knot, or fail to tie it properly, you'll start loosing your terminal tackle.

Lastly, the least important aspect of panfishing is the bait. Anyone can tell you what they want, but remember I said that panfish are stupid. I've caught them on bare hooks, on bread balls, bacon, fatback, bloodworms, smoked sausage, and what the hell ever else you can think of. The exception to the rule would be Crappy, which are a prized catch, in my opinion. They are an excellent target species and have very tastey flesh. They are in my top three of favorite fresh water table fare. If I were to target panfish, there are two baits I wouldn't leave home with out though; that's wax worms and crickets. And if the caterpillars are out and about, there isn't a finer bait. Shake some off a tree and head out. The biggest of the fish will fight for live catapillars, rather they are hungry or not.

Don't be affraid to cast out in the open water either. I've caught some of my biggest panfish 15' off the bank, no where near a hole or structure. During the time of the year when the panfish are bedding, you can actually smell the fish when you get close. It's freaky, but effective. If you're walking along the bank, and smell fish, that's your spot. Give a few minutes, and more times than not, you'll snag a few.

lastly, if the fishing gets really tough, go buy a cast net.
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