keeping them hooked

[axemaker]

well guys soft plastics realy work, but i have trouble not with them being hit but keeping the fish hooked, i have had quite a number just biten off just before the hook, is this just placement of the jig, or just small pickers attacking the lure. is reeling in speed a factor to concider? any thoughts really appreciated

[Bustlinbarry]

I have the same problem Axemaker!, I'm constantly losing the ass end of my small grubs even with the smallest of jigs. Most times I just assume its blowfish!
L8tr
Barry

[Grant]

If you are chasing bream and getting tails bitten off the usual culprits are blowies, but around my way there are none but if i get detailed it is tailor they usually hit fast but should still hook the odd one.

Grant

[ChrisN]

AtomicGrant you are certainly right about the Choppers. Yesterday morning my brother a friend and I spent about 4 hours on the little jetty on the Collie River and caught tons of them. Though if the tail is bitten off we found that the tailor would still take it any way if it is twitched enough.

Fishing for choppers with softies is fun but try and use the second time tried softies that haven't worked before. If they hit (probably biting off the tail) just stop the retrieve, let them take it and you've probably hooked one. As far as I'm concerned this is the best way for 12-13 year olds to spend 4 hours. Just have to watch the sunburn.

[LakeConjolaFish]

I got smashed for hours today and couldn't even get my SP's to the bottom without having tails bitten off by 3 inch long tailor, moving the boat repeatedly didn't help either, and I agree the lil' blighters keep on hitting as long as they are moving tail or no tail!

Jim

[Matt]

Little Tailor are the bane of plastic tossers the little biggers can turn a session into a very expensive lesson. Not much you can really do about them except move to another spot!
Little Spikey Flathead may also be the culprit, the have a habit of hanging onto the tail of a jig until they bite it off, although you normally hook a few throughout a session.

Cheers
Matt

[LakeConjolaFish]

Matt, I've had a lot of little spikeys on and they either let go or take the tail after being dragged for up to 5 metres, they certainly are keen and hold on!

Small squid can also be a pain in the proverbial!


Jim

[LakeConjolaFish]

Matt,

Just had to add one other thing, I have so many SP bodies in perfect condition, some company should market a tail making kit or they should sell packets of tails for at home repair jobs.

I for one would buy packets of them in all the colours and patterns.

I remember an add in a US magazine years ago about making your own SP's they used to sell kits and you made your own with moulds, do they sell these in Australia I wonder?


Jim

[mike_mad_fisho]

gday guys
i ahev the same problem with those little choppers at raby bay therer heaps in the pilons and i was wondering where do u get those 1 inch sliders i reckon the bream would got nuts over them.
thanks michael

Hey guys have you thought of making the change to hard bodies when the tailor are about? This might do the trick in shallow water, but wont work in deep water unless you have a poltergiest or tilsan bass.
At one spot, which i fish from, the tailor are so easy to catch, that when the tailor aren't on, i flick out and go for tailor to keep me interested!!!

[LakeConjolaFish]

Yes I do Kingpin, but I have a couple of the really small silver wonder wobblers and the choppers luv 'em.

Jim

[axemaker]

thanks for all the feedback guys, you have given me some idears
on that, i guess i will be more atuned to whats happin , will even try a couple of hard lures. regards rick