06-07-2018, 12:11 PM
"My only question is how the cats take the bait. Do they just grab it any old whichaway? Do they take it head first or do they turn it before they try to swallow?"
[#0000FF]No standard answer. Some days they are more aggressive and just "gulp and go". Other days (or finicky individual fish) may pick up and drop the bait a couple of times before getting it all in their mouths.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]As a general rule, the larger fish (with larger mouths) are more likely to suck in the whole bait...but generally swallow it head first to avoid the backward pointing spines.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]There are two important factors when fishing whole larger fish for bait. First is hook size and hook type. You want a hook that is large enough to securely hook and hold the bait during a savage attack. Sizes 1/0 to 5/0 are about the right range. Second is that you want to place the hook so that the hook point is exposed and will not get wrapped or tangled inside the bait and prevent solid hooksets. No matter how clever I think I am I still bring in mangled baits (and no fish) when the munch attack repositions the hook and the point gets covered before I set the hook. That's where a tandem hook rig can help.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]By the way, the only "dumb question" is one you don't ask and it costs you time, money and/or fish.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]No standard answer. Some days they are more aggressive and just "gulp and go". Other days (or finicky individual fish) may pick up and drop the bait a couple of times before getting it all in their mouths.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]As a general rule, the larger fish (with larger mouths) are more likely to suck in the whole bait...but generally swallow it head first to avoid the backward pointing spines.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]There are two important factors when fishing whole larger fish for bait. First is hook size and hook type. You want a hook that is large enough to securely hook and hold the bait during a savage attack. Sizes 1/0 to 5/0 are about the right range. Second is that you want to place the hook so that the hook point is exposed and will not get wrapped or tangled inside the bait and prevent solid hooksets. No matter how clever I think I am I still bring in mangled baits (and no fish) when the munch attack repositions the hook and the point gets covered before I set the hook. That's where a tandem hook rig can help.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]By the way, the only "dumb question" is one you don't ask and it costs you time, money and/or fish.[/#0000FF]
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