Needlefish Hit

[The Dad Fisherman]

I've been messing with needles this year and what I've learned is...

Different needles have different sink rates from the fast sinkers (i.e. Superstrike) to Floaters (i.e. Gibbs)

You need to play with a few different ones to figure out how they sink. Now the depth of the water being fished will dictate the retrieve speed, Fast sinkers will need to be retrieved faster than slow sinkers to maintain the same depth. so If you are fishing in 10 feet of water and the heavy ones are hitting bottom try a slower sinker at the same speed or speed up the retrieve of the fast sinker.

Current/Waves will also affect how you work the water column. the stronger the current/bigger the waves the slower you can go with the heavier needles to work the same depth and the lighter needles may end up being floaters if the current is to fast as well as if the water is too big the lighter ones will just get tossed around like twigs......you will need heavy needles to keep them running "True".

again this is what I'm figuring out about them....my needle knowledge is in its infancy. Hope this helps. And as I'm learning when it come to fishing......there is no such thing as "The Only Way to do It"

Originally Posted by GonnaCatchABig1

oh so confusing.. i have limited access to needles. the only one i have in my arsenal is a super strike i found in some rocks. and of course (as woody stated) habs' statement is ringing in my head every time i use it. "if you think your goin too slow, go slower." "if you arent bored fishing a needle, you're doing it wrong.".

but now yer telling me the one i have is best suited for fast retrieves. uggg! while we are here. could some one please try to explain the most sought after presentation. and NOT how to reel and twitch ect. but more of what i should be looking for it to do. i can figure out how to make it do it easier that way. than trying to count so many spins of the reel or time between twitches.
i've heard top water leaving wakes, slow drags on the bottom. dead straight in. with a slight wobble. and i'm sure they all have their own moments on certain days. but what is the standard? the results the get speak for themselves. so i would really love to figure these things out.
(sorry for the hijack. but its still about how needles work right?)