Needlefish Hit

[doc]

I have been concentrating on fishing needles this past week almost exclusively...have hooked into many fish (nothing super large) but last night i had a hook-up with a fish that i could not stop...felt a couple of 'bumps' prior to the big strike...and some of the hook-ups were real subtle...typical? seems like the 'take' on needles is different than many of the other plugs i use...thoughts?

[steve]

Most the hits on needlefish are weak or the fish is just"there". Lost fish and treble hooks go together unfortunatly!

[afterhours]

have had all types of hits on needles from the subtle fish on out of nowhere to all out hammered...

[Mr. Krinkle]

Originally Posted by afterhours

have had all types of hits on needles from the subtle fish on out of nowhere to all out hammered...

I agree 100 percent.

[Flaptail]

Think what you will but most of the needlefish in my bag are Gags. The earlier models with a slightly stubby nose have produced very well for me over the years, this year especially.

For the areas mostlyI fish they fit the bill nicely, I do carry an extensive assortment of others in my truck at all times though and for the outer Cape, at the tide I favor, Gibbs standard seven inch work very well. I will tell you this year white and yellow have been the top producers new moon or full.

Often times a quick snap of the rod tip during that oh so slow retrieve will get a following fish to take when you know fish are there but won't commit.

My personal favorite needle presentation is cutting a small vee wake across the surface.

I am a needle addict. Once you figured out the routine, it's just amazing how productive they can be.

[doc]

was just amazed at how subtle some of these hit and bumps were...

[DZ]

Doc,
Takes on needles can vary depending on many circumstances. They can vary depending on whether you’re using braid or mono or whether your line is tight or has a belly. I’ve found that when the prevalent baitfish is sand eels the takes can be very subtle. When forage is larger bait the takes tend to be more aggressive. A good friend of mine was using a Gibbs needlefish and thought he was hung up in bubble weed – the bubble weed started to pull back and a short time later he landed a 49 lb bass. He never felt anything but slight pressure as that bass slurped down that wooden sand eel as gracefully as a trout sipping a midge. Expect all sorts of takes on needlefish.

DZ

[GonnaCatchABig1]

great i cant even figure out how to work the damn things right. and now yer tellin me if i did i might never know?

[WoodyCT]

Originally Posted by GonnaCatchABig1

great i cant even figure out how to work the damn things right. and now yer tellin me if i did i might never know?

You DON'T work a needle.
Just drag it through the water as slow as you can and try to stay awake. Every now and then you can give a little twitch or pause, just don't fish it fast or active.
As Hab's says, "If you aren't bored fishing a needle, you are doing it wrong."

[DZ]

Originally Posted by WoodyCT

You DON'T work a needle.
Just drag it through the water as slow as you can and try to stay awake. Every now and then you can give a little twitch or pause, just don't fish it fast or active.
As Hab's says, "If you aren't bored fishing a needle, you are doing it wrong."

Woody,
In all due respect I think Hab may have been talking about fishing with his own brand of needlefish. Conventional wisdom may say to fish needles slow (and I do most of the time) - but there are often times when an unconventional approach is the way to success. There are a few needles that actually shine when fished at a quick pace, most notably the Super Strike. Needles are a versatile plug - those using them should also be versatile.

DZ

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by DZ

Doc,
Takes on needles can vary depending on many circumstances. They can vary depending on whether you’re using braid or mono or whether your line is tight or has a belly. I’ve found that when the prevalent baitfish is sand eels the takes can be very subtle. When forage is larger bait the takes tend to be more aggressive. A good friend of mine was using a Gibbs needlefish and thought he was hung up in bubble weed – the bubble weed started to pull back and a short time later he landed a 49 lb bass. He never felt anything but slight pressure as that bass slurped down that wooden sand eel as gracefully as a trout sipping a midge. Expect all sorts of takes on needlefish.

DZ

That is the most perfect description of needlefish hit types. DZ is a needle master.

99% of my fishig after July 1st is needlefish at night, once you have mastered them, there is nothing like them after dark.

[doc]

thanks DZ! that describes my experience perfectly..that was what that fish that i could not stop did..slow steady weight on the end of the line, thought it was weed at first, lifted the rod...and the drag started singing...

[MassBass]

I've never had a subtle hit when fishing a needle. I use braid and never give too much slack but then again I only use them about 50% of the time.

[UserRemoved1]

If you fish my stuff in the 2.5 oz and below, I and many others been very successful slow reeling, pause, twitch, continue reeling. Mix it up. Walk it like a dog and create some commotion then sucker them in with the seductive twitch. The 3.5 is a fast sinker so it works better on the bottom.

DZ said it all in his post.

[Pete F.]

Go to a place with current in the daytime and dangle it in different speeds of current. Watch what it does.

[kenyee]

slow sinkers include the afterhours, choopy's, and small salty's...

[The Dad Fisherman]

I think Afterhours also makes a line of floaters...

and after all this needle talk I'm heading out tonight for a couple hours with nothing but needles in the bag...... we'll have to see what happens

[GonnaCatchABig1]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

I think Afterhours also makes a line of floaters...

and after all this needle talk I'm heading out tonight for a couple hours with nothing but needles in the bag...... we'll have to see what happens

sounds like a plan to me! i had about $200 worth of needles ready to check out. with exactly that plan in mind. didn't press the nuke launch button. not yet. trying to work out some logistics. want to get a set of like sized lengthwise. but not sure what weight sizes to get on the different brands. i want to build an arsenal of similar size and colors. then go figuring out which works best and when. maybe i can finally ween myself off jointed every things.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by GonnaCatchABig1

sounds like a plan to me! i had about $200 worth of needles ready to check out. with exactly that plan in mind. didn't press the nuke launch button. not yet. trying to work out some logistics. want to get a set of like sized lengthwise. but not sure what weight sizes to get on the different brands. i want to build an arsenal of similar size and colors. then go figuring out which works best and when. maybe i can finally ween myself off jointed every things.

You might want to take a different approach and start off by buying some needles of different sizes, sink rates, weights, etc... You don't need a bunch of all the same size.

I usually carry a stubby, a floater a moderate sinker and occasionally a fast sinker for the conditions I fish. That way, I have different profiles and different depths covered.

[GonnaCatchABig1]

Originally Posted by fishbones

You might want to take a different approach and start off by buying some needles of different sizes, sink rates, weights, etc... You don't need a bunch of all the same size.

I usually carry a stubby, a floater a moderate sinker and occasionally a fast sinker for the conditions I fish. That way, I have different profiles and different depths covered.

well thats my plan (minus the stubby) i want them all the same size length wise though. different sinks rates and actions. but all relatively the same size with some matching colors. (basically using the bottom of the DZ's article. as a base collection) then once i find something that produces something in a certain situation. i can start experimenting with sizes and such. instead of having one big floating green one or one small sinking black one. because then being new i cant really determine what cause the bite. was it the size? was it the color? was it the depth? i dont know cause each one was completely different.

where as if they are the same size. thats a factored out. then i would assume find the color that gets the most attention. then figure out depth. though i suppose that could be worked in reverse. and once i find out best combination of those two for a spot. i can get more of that color and depth in a different length and find the magic size.
its just how i gotta do it. cause i gotta start from scratch.

p.s. boy i'm gabby today. i havent talked much all season and now its all bursting out. getting excited for fall since things are finally starting to happen around here.

[UserRemoved1]

That was either a predator or a turquoise fire. I've not ever seen anyone use this stuff on wood before. It's very expensive but you've seen the results Dennis. I'll wait and ask for a report of how it worked for you at the next RISAA show. I figured you'd like that needle.

I kinda liked the full moon special aspect

[Nebe]

#^&#^&#^&#^&- Sam's bait and tackle in middletown has them