The skunk still stinks at UL

[cdbrc]

Three of us went to Lincoln beach today and the skunk Was still in the area. We got 6 bits but only one 22 inch cat. Onr cat two stinks. All bites but one were on TD s fligs tipped with wb. TD I am wondering doses the diameter of the gorilla flig keep the hook from setting? As I think about it I have missed 2/3 of my hits on th GF. HELP....
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I miss very few strikes on the fligs. There are several things that affect the success ratio.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]1. Size of the bait and how it is hooked. The GFs have large sharp hooks, but if the hook point is covered or the bait is too big or too dense you reduce the "bite" of the hook. I always check to make sure the hook point is exposed enough to grab the fish.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]2. Length of line between rod and fish. Fish them too far back and you do not have as direct a connection to the fish when they hit. And keep the line tight.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]3. Rod backbone and type of line. If your rod flexes too much or your line stretches too much you lose some punch. I use at least a medium to medium heavy rod with some power...and I use non-stretch braid for the main line.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]4. Activity level and aggressiveness of the fish. When the fish are really "on the chew" they "gulp and go". They get the baited flig well inside their mouths and the hook pulls into the corner of the mouth as they surge away. But if they just chomp and nibble in place you have to guess when to set the hook and it is easier to pull it out of the fishes' mouths without a good hookset.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]5. Leader length between sinker and flig. I have experimented a lot with that. And I seem to do best with about 12 to 14" of leader. There have been days when adjusting leader length has made a definite difference.
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[#0000FF]On my last two trips to Lindon, I only put on a flig during the last part of the trip...as I was kicking back in at a fairly brisk pace. And on both trips I caught my last three fish on fire tiger gorilla fligs...baited with carp meat. Carp meat (without skin) is firm enough to hold on the hook well, but is soft enough that the hook will pull through for a hookset. All the strikes were powerful surges that set the hook on the munch. But I still usually give a couple of followup whacks to be sure.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I suspect that for some reason Lincoln Beach has not yet attracted the number of cats that usually show up for spawning in the rocks and reeds in that area. Other cataholics who fish LB have also experienced slower action than usual. If you can find another area with more fish...and more aggressive fish...your luck should change.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]And, although some reports have mentioned that they did best on white bass, I usually don't do as well on it until after the white bass spawn and there are a lot of young white bass in the food chain. On my last successful trips I did better on either large chub minnows or carp meat strips. I have only caught two cats so far this year on white bass.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]It is still early. Some of the cats are just coming out of their winter torpor...and may not remember how to grab a hook and hold on. Keep on keepin' on and you will have better days.
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[Boatloadakids]

What Tube Dude said.

I have had one good catch day at Lincoln this year and on other days I have struggled to find fish in some of their usual haunts and when I have found them they ain't hungry.

I believe the last three paragraphs of TD's response are especially relevant. The cats will move in to Lincoln as the water warms (if the water warms??) and then we will have those banner days when it is difficult to fish with two rods. The fish I have caught this year did not really give a good account of themselves, sluggish and not real line stretchers. When they get serious about love and food we will begin to see those pole-ripper bites that big cats are famous for.

It will come... soon.

BLK
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[cdbrc]

Regarding the bait I used, white bass on flig jigs, I used a piece about 2to3 inches square, but I make sure that I keep the hook exposed. Pole is med. ugly stick 6.6 ft. Line is fire line crystal. I think some of the problem is that I use a 18 inch leader (10) I also probably leave to much slack in the line.. I will try a shorter leader and tighter line and will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the help.
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