Beginners advice on retrieving HB's

[fushlups]

Hiya peoples,

I'm very new to fishing with HB's infact I have never really put any hours into it......yet

I've got some SX40's, atomic Hardz, Zipbait Khamsin Jr etc that I want to give a whirl, I'm quite "competent" with SP's now, and have had quite a bit of success lately with the bream, BUT need some advice on retrieving HB lures.

Are these 3 lures suspending or floating? I get confused

I believe the key is "SLOW" retreival? Any tips? I've read the following link:
http://www.marukyu.com/eng/ecogear/p.../sx40f_oz.html
so I have some understanding of them, but wanted other peoples opinions. I would mainly be fishing the flats and around snags etc. Need to put the hours in and get my first bream on a HB - can't wait for that! :P

Thanks - appreciate the advice

[Bones]

i use the retrievse in that link, but some times i find just a steady slow roll works well.

Hi Fushlups,
The most affective retreive i use for hardbodys SX 40 - Atomic Hardz is a slow twitching retrieve with a few short pauses 3-5sec.Most of the fish will normally hit it on the pause or the first slightest movement of the lure after a pause.

Hope this helps you


Cheers

[vibefreak]

The key is to always remember the pause

[LongReach]

In a short time i have relised putting in quite a bit of random variations has snared a few. The other day I had not caught anything for a while so i thought i would do a slow retrieve and shake the rod tip vigorously......and got the one and only bream for the day. haha.

This is not the first time putting something different in has got a bream.

I basically twitch and pause and every now and then add a variation. Smaller twitches ..larger twitches.. shaking...sharp short rips etc.

[fushlups]

So sounds like a bit of variation seems the way to go, try a few different things and see what is working on the day.

2nd question my main type of fishing will be bank fishing as I don't have a boat/kayak, how important is my rod angle when fishing? Ie, I normall fish with SP's with my rod quite high, lifting and dropping the plastic off of the bottom. With a HB I would have my rod tip down low to the ground in front of me I assume and twitch the rod tip down as opposed to lifting the rod like I would with SP's?

Hope this makes sense

[Squidgee_Man]

If your fishing a bank that it relatively high, keeping your rod as low as possible will allow you to keep your lure in the water for longer. You can twitch your rod sidweways and still keep your rod tip low. Twitching the lure dropping your rod tip vertically is ok but i think you will find if you have a strike its easier get a hookup by moving the rod sideways then upwards whilst twitching than it is if you were dropping your rod tip vertically and had a strike. When your rod tip is at its bottom most point when twitching vertically, to come up and strike you line will go slack for a split second before the weight comes back on. This could lose you a fish. Hope this makes sense.

[Da'Breamer]

Howdy mate, I always used a twitching retrieve but lately have been cleaning up on just a very slow wind that just lets the lure do its thing, but fishing the onk in the flow of the tide they seem to like it a bit quicker

You will love the way the biggins slam them

D'B

[echo1]

I once had similar questions. There are so many retrieves that work; 'slow' roll, roll, shake, twitch etc. All this mention of 'slow' does not explain the actual retrieval speed. I generally slow roll by keeping my rod tip fairly still and ensuring that the bail arm is moving just fast enough that your eyes cant focus on it.

Try different retrieves together in a single retrieve to see what happens. When alive animals use erratic movements to escape being eaten, make your lure do the same.

But my best advice would be to get out there, with someone who has experience if you can, and try different things till you find one thats working. Just because it works on one day doesn't mean it will work again in different or the same circumstances.

Keep working at it and let us all know when you get that stonka.

[Da'Breamer]

If the retrieve is slow and the rod tip is moving and you can "feel" the lure working u have the right speed

D'B

[fish_e_man]

Dont fall for it mate, its a trick.

I tried a quick twitch with a little jerk, then walked the dog, had a long slow roll after a slight pause, finished off with another quick jerk and a smoke.
After all that, I was covered in grass and dog sh1t with a heap of people laughing at me.

I explained to them (maybe I was shouting at them) that it was a recommended method for lure fishing...even more laughing...I gritted my teeth and threw my HB in...still nothing.

Not being one to give up easily, I persisted another two times, varying the order of elements, but still finishing with a jerk then a smoke. Thats when one of the audience whispered to me that he thought it might be a joke and should try something different.

I then tried rubbing my belly, patting my head and holding my tongue right. Chucked in again, and caught a small bream about 30cm. Its not as time consuming between casts, not as embarrassing, and it works for me.

Mozza.

[Mr Music]

Generally I would have to agree that thew slow roll is about the best possible retrieve, however, in saying that I have caught Bream while throwing metal slices around for queenies and trevally at times on a flat out retrieve. It really is just a matter of trying everything you can think of until you find something that works.

[fushlups]

I think the key for me is going to be to leave the SP's at home and just take some HB's with me, I am used to fishing SP's so this is really going to be interesting to get into.

I'm armed and dangerous, look out! Can't wait to have my lure hammered by a big bream, any will do for now tho

When I pause, the lure should just pretty much sit where it is in the water and slowly rise I assume?

[LongReach]

Originally Posted by fushlups

When I pause, the lure should just pretty much sit where it is in the water and slowly rise I assume?

This 'slowly rising lure on the pause' thing. I read it in the book 'catching bream on lures and flies'. I will never read that book again. I should have burned that book and got on BM earlier.

I have been getting bream on lures that slowly sink too. My favourite lure at the moment slowly sinks low tide and at high tide it slowly floats(in the same spot i been fishing heaps).........because the salinity changes and effects the lures boyancy.

I have met and fished with a guy from this site that use stick minnows that sink on the pause...........and bream hammer them! This does not happen for me yet, lol dam shirasu minnows I haven't learnt to work those yet.

[nereus]

Originally Posted by Da'Breamer

I always used a twitching retrieve but lately have been cleaning up on just a very slow wind that just lets the lure do its thing, but fishing the onk in the flow of the tide they seem to like it a bit quicker

Worth taking note of the above comment i reckon,retrieves can vary depending on where your fishing.I've found twitching H/Bs in a "heavily fished location" will make the fish run a mile also a lure that rises too quickly seems to spook them.
You will see this for yourself when they follow your lure up twitch it and there gone imo.If your gonna twitch make it a micro twitch.
The pause is important but i don't hook many on the pause itself usually they hammer it just as the lure starts to move,that is if i don't re-start the retrieve with a twitch.Water clarity can also be a factor if its murky then you can add a bit more action as the extra vibration will help.
But after saying this i'd like to add that if a fish is in competing/hunting mode or hasn't seen a hundred lures the the more likely they will just grab it no matter what retrieve you use but when they are not in the mood or are educated then that is when a slow rolling subtle retrieve is best.
cheers nereus