Favorite bait (non fly category)

A buddy and I are heading up this week.  We are hoping to hit the shores and maybe a few holes in the creeks.  What's everyone's bait of choice when spinning? 

We plan on bringing the following....

Cleos, rooster tails, powerbait, minnows, jigs with maggots. 

Your choice?

I guess the best thing to do is just throw it all and see what happens?

sponge

Wow...didn't know mice was in a steelhead's diets.

Use anything and everything.

As far as motion lures, it is hard to beat a flatfish.  Use the smaller ones F-4 size.  3" Gulp minnows have also proved themselves this year for grouped up fish in slow water.  Use a size 8 hook through just a sliver in the nose, fish weightless and let it dart/sit in a bunch of fish, the more spooked they are the better they take in this situation so don't worry about plopping it in easy.  We did best on Smelt, Rainbow and Silver Pearl.

Sacs are a mainstay no matter what the color of water, if clearer tie smaller.  Get yourself a few yards of petticoat mesh from Wal-Mart fabric department, better and cheaper than the spawn netting they sell, just don't get carried away and make yourself a skirt w it.

Hopaishelpa

What # line do you use on your spinner?  I was rolling with 6#, but if you are using a 4# leader, I imagine you can go bigger on your spool?

ORIGINAL: SteelSlayer77

My favorite bait for both spinning and fly rod:  Swinging live medium size fatheads threaded onto a 6lb floro leader using a needle with a size 14 treble!  A couple tiny split shots, depending on the flow, and absolutely no indicator.    Usually I'll let it drift through a pod a couple times first and then start swinging right in front of their face, if the fish are visible.  If fish aren't visible just drift it through any kind of current or faster water.  I have great success doing this, and more success with medium fatheads than emerald shiners. 

I rarely ever gut hook or snag anything, not sure why everyone assumes people using bait gut hook all their fish?  When it's super low, like walnut guage less than 20cfs, I'll switch to single eggs from poor richards and a 4lb floro leader.  

i prefer not to see them
because i always fish them not snag
i was simply saying that is how i see most people going after them

What # line do you use on your spinner? I was rolling with 6#, but if you are using a 4# leader, I imagine you can go bigger on your spool?

On my spinning setups, I spool 8lb mono and use a 6lb floro leader 90% of the time.  If it's super low and clear then I'll switch to a 4lb floro leader, but I find that 4lb is rarely ever needed.  4lb definitely won't be needed this week. 

If the water is high and brown, then sometimes I'll just use my 8lb mono for a leader and use semi-large size bright colored egg sacks.  Like loomis said, sacs are a mainstay and they definitely work.  Check out Poor Richards for sacs and single eggs, there eggs are better than anything you can buy from a sporting goods store.

Also, don't forget to loosen your drag after fighting a fish for a while if you tighten it down.  I've lost to many fish on their initial run by forgetting to do that!

Remember....we are rookies!  Those of you doing this for years know what's going on...

One thing I can appreciate is trying different things.  If the bite is slow, we'll move around and see what trouble we can get in....change different baits...maybe find the closest pub.

Thanks for everyone's info!!!

ORIGINAL: SteelSlayer77

I just don't see how a spinner can be successful in the flats compared to a fly fisherman.  Sight fishing with a spinner has to be very challenging.  I'm looking for deeper holes!!!!

Don't get hung up fishing deep slow holes containing big pods of non-active fish all day.  You'll have much better luck fishing the top and tail end of deeper holes for fish holding in the current even if there's less fish holding there.  I always have more luck fishing moving water than the middle section of deep slow holes.

A spinner can be very successful sight fishing in the flats.  It depends more on the angler at the end of the rod, than the gear being used.  Don't walk right up on top of fish in shallower runs if the water is clear, try to spot them and then back off a little first.

I'll remember that next time...thanks!  I have 6# spooled, I'm going to stick with it and see what happens.  I've landed Pike with 6# in the bay, so we should be alright.

We will be stopping at Poor Richards to get an idea of what is hot....I just hope we can stop there after we are done and trade in for some of that smoked salmon!

ORIGINAL: SteelSlayer77

What # line do you use on your spinner? I was rolling with 6#, but if you are using a 4# leader, I imagine you can go bigger on your spool?

On my spinning setups, I spool 8lb mono and use a 6lb floro leader 90% of the time.  If it's super low and clear then I'll switch to a 4lb floro leader, but I find that 4lb is rarely ever needed.  4lb definitely won't be needed this week. 

If the water is high and brown, then sometimes I'll just use my 8lb mono for a leader and use semi-large size bright colored egg sacks.  Like loomis said, sacs are a mainstay and they definitely work.  Check out Poor Richards for sacs and single eggs, there eggs are better than anything you can buy from a sporting goods store.

Also, don't forget to loosen your drag after fighting a fish for a while if you tighten it down.  I've lost to many fish on their initial run by forgetting to do that!

Am I getting excited for nothing?

ORIGINAL: capcity_tim

Good luck on the smoked salmon........

Aaaahhhh....I didn't even notice that slip.....D@mn new guys......

ORIGINAL: Jenna James

I think you meant Smoked Steelhead. He was just giving the usual smart reply.

This thread actually contains some helpful info...pay attention to it Billy35.

I am not a very good flyfisherman, but i like using flies instead of constantly putting new bait on the hook. Try drifting a crystal meth fly on your noodle rod, or jigging a wooly bugger. Sometimes that works for me.

Good luck!

Eppinger......