09-11-2020, 10:42 PM
Properly baited and presented, fligs work a lot like circle hooks. They pull into the corner of the fishes' mouths as the fish powers away and they hook themselves...usually. For that reason, you need to leave the reel in gear...or bail closed...but with enough drag to both set the hook and allow the hooked fish to take line without breaking line or a rod. Takes a bit of adjusting but that is definitely the best way to fish them. I fish both spinning and bait cast from my tube and both work well.
On the other hand, if you are dragging minnows...without a flig...and want the fish to take a little like before you set the hook then the clicker is a good thing. With a spinning rod and plain bait I leave the bail open but tuck a loop of line under a plastic clip on the rod. Then when the fish hits it can run off line without drag or pressure.
On the other hand, if you are dragging minnows...without a flig...and want the fish to take a little like before you set the hook then the clicker is a good thing. With a spinning rod and plain bait I leave the bail open but tuck a loop of line under a plastic clip on the rod. Then when the fish hits it can run off line without drag or pressure.