I once read that scented plastics (twister tails and so on) are not effective in Kipawa. I tend to agree. That said salted plastics seem to work well.
Has anyone ever simply salted their own plastics? Sounds crazy but I am tempted to try it.
Add a bit of Garlic Salt with Lemon Pepper to make it more appealing to the Walleye with a refined pallet.
nice one Rhybak. Smoked paprika too.
Not sure I agree with your first statement "not effective in Kipawa"... I have caught many walleye on kipawa with a plastic tail on a jig head, and a leech, or small part of a worm, on the hook - always seems to work fine for me!
Also, this summer was the first time I have used powerbait minnows and we caught 50+ out of our ~70 on those...
None of these have ever had salt, garlic salt, pepper, paprika, etc... :)
Greg
I think the whole thing about using plastic it to get away from the bait.
So , my question is, have you caught walleye using plastic ( anything) without tipping it with worm or leech.
In my opinion, if your using worm or leech, why waste money on the plastic.
My choice of bait is pretty much lures, spoons or jigs/spinners with night crawler. I have plastic bait but have never really used it because we have the crawlers available. Incidentally, I've tried leeches but seem to do better with night crawlers. My other problem with plastic bait is that it seems to me it would tear easily from the teeth on the walleye and pike.
RHYBAK - point taken - have I caught walleye using only plastic? yes.
But it was more because of 1) the worm or leech fell off and I set the jig head on the bottom to setup another rod or 2) because I ran out of bait in the boat and we just decided to fish anyway... but the numbers definitely do not compare than if you just use worm or leech as bait on a jig-head.
Now - comparing to pike, or bass, in the Ottawa river (where I live & usually fish) - adding a bright coloured plastic to any hook (spinner, crank bait, buzz bait, etc.) always gets you more fish than going with nothing on the hook... probably a factor of the dirty water... maybe it is just habit....
Quote from: RHYBAK on September 07, 2016, 04:00:53 PM
Add a bit of Garlic Salt with Lemon Pepper to make it more appealing to the Walleye with a refined pallet.
You're a dork, Mr. Rhybak...but I did laugh when I read that! ;D
I truly believe this business about scented plastics or salted plastics is solely designed to catch fisherman, not fish. We didn't use scented anything or salted whatever...caught a ton of fish. For all I know the scented and salted may not smell or taste good to the fish...no matter what the bait maker says. It's all Marketing with very little evidence (if any) behind it, I promise you as I do it for a living.
If I can use live bait for walleyes or any species really, I'm using it. If you want to put the odds against you, don't use live bait. But in general, I'm fishing to catch fish...not to see if I can handicap myself and still have some level of success. Now, if you're on a lake that doesn't permit live bait? My choice would be to find another lake. ::)
323... :(
On a lake like Kipawa,where the fishing pressure is next to nothing,I believe in the "KISS" method ! (keep it simple,stupid)
Quote from: T-Bone on September 08, 2016, 04:05:28 PM
Quote from: RHYBAK on September 07, 2016, 04:00:53 PM
Add a bit of Garlic Salt with Lemon Pepper to make it more appealing to the Walleye with a refined pallet.
You're a dork, Mr. Rhybak...but I did laugh when I read that! ;D
I truly believe this business about scented plastics or salted plastics is solely designed to catch fisherman, not fish. We didn't use scented anything or salted whatever...caught a ton of fish. For all I know the scented and salted may not smell or taste good to the fish...no matter what the bait maker says. It's all Marketing with very little evidence (if any) behind it, I promise you as I do it for a living.
If I can use live bait for walleyes or any species really, I'm using it. If you want to put the odds against you, don't use live bait. But in general, I'm fishing to catch fish...not to see if I can handicap myself and still have some level of success. Now, if you're on a lake that doesn't permit live bait? My choice would be to find another lake. ::)
323... :(
Hey , it's September.
We all need a laugh or two once in a while
Hah... Countdown clock says 280 days Trip one walleye fishing
Trip two next year will be October Moose hunting
All I use is plastic on Kipawa, Berkley Power Minnows in smelt colour.
Scents make a huge difference, if a walleye holds on to bait for a second longer so you can set the hook its in your favour. Cheap unscented baits walleye can spit faster then you can set a hook.
I wouldn't even fish without proper scent, I'd rather sit on a deck without a rod as your chances are the same.
Bass fishing background and scent most days makes a huge difference.
Fishing is all confidence.
Best scent is a piece of night crawler or leech. Can't wait till next year and do it all again!
My understanding is the scents main purpose is to cover up the smell of the fisherman.
But if they work for you, go for it.
Quote from: Canuckbass on September 12, 2016, 10:57:16 PM
Scents make a huge difference, if a walleye holds on to bait for a second longer so you can set the hook its in your favour. Cheap unscented baits walleye can spit faster then you can set a hook.
Fishing is all confidence.
Sometimes the fish is faster...sometimes not, I believe it wholly depends on how closely you're tuned-in to the bite that outing. Night and day difference sometimes in our group with regard to who's catching and who is not. Almost without fail, those not catching are missing nearly every fish because they're simply not paying close attention to the jig...or inebriated, which is commonly the case. :P
Well...like Sarge said, if that's what gives you confidence stay with it; just guessing, but I'd say fish will grab and hold a live leech on a small unscented plastic body longer than an artificial scented plastic body without a leech. Who knows. Unless you're wholly against using live bait for some reason, I can't see why you wouldn't. And why pay the extra to Berkeley for the scented baits versus using the cheaper basic plastics if you are using live bait.
Canuck...do you tip the Berkeley Power Minnow with live bait?
Quote from: T-Bone on September 23, 2016, 11:31:13 AM
Quote from: Canuckbass on September 12, 2016, 10:57:16 PM
Scents make a huge difference, if a walleye holds on to bait for a second longer so you can set the hook its in your favour. Cheap unscented baits walleye can spit faster then you can set a hook.
Fishing is all confidence.
Sometimes the fish is faster...sometimes not, I believe it wholly depends on how closely you're tuned-in to the bite that outing. Night and day difference sometimes in our group with regard to who's catching and who is not. Almost without fail, those not catching are missing nearly every fish because they're simply not paying close attention to the jig...or inebriated, which is commonly the case. :P
Well...like Sarge said, if that's what gives you confidence stay with it; just guessing, but I'd say fish will grab and hold a live leech on a small unscented plastic body longer than an artificial scented plastic body without a leech. Who knows. Unless you're wholly against using live bait for some reason, I can't see why you wouldn't. And why pay the extra to Berkeley for the scented baits versus using the cheaper basic plastics if you are using live bait.
Canuck...do you tip the Berkeley Power Minnow with live bait?
Great thoughts Tbone.
I do not tip with live bait. I can't tell your the last time I've bought live bait, maybe 15+ years.
I agree, being in tune with your gear and presentation gets way more hookups then not paying attention. Most bites don't move rod tip, have to feel a nibble and set hook.
Using plastic I can control presentation and cover more water.
Most times plastic works best for me, some days I get my butt handed to me by live. It's all preference.
I'll be up this Wed to Sun, time to close up island.
Quote from: RHYBAK on September 07, 2016, 04:00:53 PM
Add a bit of Garlic Salt with Lemon Pepper to make it more appealing to the Walleye with a refined pallet.
Lol! ;D
Later in the season I was getting short strikes, changed to 3†Powerminnow and non stop catching. 1/4oz plain lead jig head.. easy set up and lots of walleye.
Can’t wait for opening weekend!
Quote from: Canuckbass on November 28, 2017, 05:14:44 PM
I was getting short strikes, changed to 3†Powerminnow and non stop catching.
What did you change "from"?
Quote from: T-Bone on November 29, 2017, 09:25:11 AM
Quote from: Canuckbass on November 28, 2017, 05:14:44 PM
I was getting short strikes, changed to 3†Powerminnow and non stop catching.
What did you change "from"?
4†PowerMinnow
I was just talking to a guy whose had a camp on Ostaboningue lake for 25+ years and he was told by the ministry that now that the minnow ban (live or Dead) is on, next up is the ban on worms and leeches so you guys better get good at jigging a Power bait.
Canuck is right. Once you get good at "feeling" for a bite and when to hook up, the walleye catching gets easier. My FIL used to be on the Northeastern Ontario Bass circuit and when I started dating his daughter, all he fished with was plastic. I followed along and it took several outings before I caught up to him but it was practice, practice practice.
The bans on live wouldn't hurt me one bit. It would hurt the occasional fisher like you guys most likely.
We will just have to get out of our bait rut and start using our expensive jewelry that we lug back and forth each year.
Cast shallow running plugs in the spring.
Buy some plastic leeches
buy lots of Powerbait minnows.
Troll with plastic worms
Etc.Etc.
Start using artificial s as they were intended to be used.
Quote from: limacharley on December 01, 2017, 10:09:24 AM
next up is the ban on worms and leeches so you guys better get good at jigging a Power bait
Well...if that's the case I'm fairly-confident the outfitters will have something to say about it. Let's face it...90%-95% of the people fishing Kipawa are weekend (at best) fisherman and don't have the skills or knowledge to succeed without live bait. I wouldn't be too concerned with it, though it does make it easier. So...no live bait...you're a weekend fisherman...you catch next to nothing...you never come back. Like I said...the outfitters will have something to say about that.
Is that proposed ban for Ostaboningue only, the ZEC lakes, or for Lac Kipawa? Or all?
If they did that, I think many customers of the Quebec outfitters would look elsewhere. I know I would, and I've been taking yearly trips to Quebec for the past 26 years. The economies of the local towns would also take a hit-restaurants, motels, bait stores, leech and worm suppliers,gas stations, food markets, and more. I would think the minnow ban and slot limit should be enough to ensure the lakes stay healthy. I hope that the ban it doesn't happen, I would really miss Kipawa.
Buddy at work was fishing Quinte with his family using worm harnesses. Someone left the worm container in the hot sun and they went mushy. Well it just so happened that his daughter had a pack of black licorice with her so they hooked them on the harness and still got more Walleye. Go figure.
Cheers
I'm a newbie but this was my experience. My last night on Kipawa in July was a stormy night. Once things settled a bit, we headed out and had our best fishing of the week. It was on so strong that baiting hooks was none stop. Pretty much every time my jig went down a walleye would bite. That's when I got the idea, switch from live bait to plastic. I had a pile of gulp bait to choose from, I started with leeches since that was what I was using live. Not one bite! Switched to gulp minnows, not a bite. Switched back to live leeches and it was back on again.
This experience soured me on plastic, I will give it a try again but I will have to be completely out of live bait.
@Hodgey1 I love hearing that but hate it at the same time. I'll try and get up while your there and get a fish in.
You always have to keep bait moving, but less is more...
If the ministry does pass a law banning live bait, worms and leeches, I wonder on what scientific basis this decision would be made. Have worms and/or leeches developed some new diseases that we have not been made aware of, that are transmitted to walleye, lakers, etc. and are killing them off? Maybe the plastic baits manufacturers, ( Berkley, Yamamoto and company ) are lobbying/pressuring the Ministry to ban plastics. IF this ban should be implemented, heavens forbid, they had also better force all plastic baits mfgs. to make them biodegradable or they will have a more serious problem on their hands with thousands of pieces of plastic in the bottom of OUR lakes killing off fish.
All great points; in the assessment of this I think Lima was pulling our chain...or his buddy is pulling his chain and he's pulling our chain. I guess that's what they'd call a chain reaction. :o
Can't recall if I've ever heard of a popular ecotourism destination that centers on fishing 'banning' worms and/or leeches. Wait...I can recall that I have NOT ever heard that. The whole thing seems silly...and in the end, what is gained by effecting this ban?
Maybe that ministry guy was just implying a worst case scenario...who knows.
I was just relaying gossip that was passed on to me.
FYI-there's lots of places that have banned this kind of live bait but it's usually found
in correlation with Brook trout and Salmon fishing streams and rivers to encourage fly fishing.