[scottdd1]

Finished up with cleaning up the chutes and after I hung 16 or so in the rafters, I realized that maybe I was pulling too many 12" baits.

I know they say big baits = big fish, but was curious as to the opinions of the board.

Out of the 16 or so I pull, 6 of them were 12" Is that too many? Put away or changed out all the 6 inchers in the late season. Caught something like 25% of my fish on the bigguns, but can't be sure it didn't deter some bites.

Wife says they look decorative hanging in the rafters of the shop. She offered a Christmas tree to decorate in '09. I'm thinking that will require many additions to the collection. :yes:

Does size matter?

Thoughts?

 

[iFishMD]

I have found that the 12"ers cost too much, dont catch as many and dont produce any bigger fish than the 9"ers. I always have a few 6"er (trailer baits in tandem rigs) at all times. My two biggest bass ever have hit on 6"er trailer baits. It also helps in catching a couple under 28"ers in the fall.

 

[billsharkey]

I like to rig the teasers with 9s and put the 12s in the back with the hook. The larger slower bait in the back is always the one the bass go for. Now if the bluefish are around see ya one and all shads. 12s on the entire rig must make for a real heavy rig.The largest bass I have seen from Chessy (35lber) was on a small umbrella 6s with the weight right at the umbrella not the way I rig but it is a fact so go figure. After the event I have shortened my line between the weight to the umbrella somewhat I used to run about 25-30 feet but now I cut it down to 15-20 makes for less handlining too.

I would also not discount how mant times your larger rigs enticed a fish that may not have eaten the larger rig. That is I think the larger rigs attact more fish so I like pullen then even in the late spring early summer. This is a good question and I would like to see others responsed. I also find the 12s harder to come by and more $

 

[aafinest]

I have found that the 12"ers cost too much, dont catch as many and dont produce any bigger fish than the 9"ers. I always have a few 6"er (trailer baits in tandem rigs) at all times. My two biggest bass ever have hit on 6"er trailer baits. It also helps in catching a couple under 28"ers in the fall.

+2 There are 2 theories, the Big Bait, Big Fish theory and the Elephants Eat Peanuts theory. Best suggestion I can give you is to mix them up. I fish mostly 9" in the spring and fall and use 6" as teasers on umbrellas, but I do mix in some 6" trailer baits. My bigget fish (46 lbs) was caught on a beat up 3 oz chute with a 6" sassy shad in the fall a few years ago. IMO don't think 12" shad justify the additional cost.

 

[Francis]

I like the big shads down deep, when the water is dark and fish go mostly by feel I think having a lure with a larger displacement is a good thing. For board and roof rods, I don't think it matters too much. Out of between 20-30 baits in the water, normally 4 or 5 are 12" shads. I have caught some big fish on them, but not a lot.

 

[27 sailfish]

I use to use a lot of 12 inch shads.Never really saw an increase in bigger fish and as they wore out- I replaced them with 9 inchers.Some of the 12'' swim funny.I still have 1-2 MoJo's rigged with 12'' shads and they catch Rock as small as 30 inches.
One of my bigger Rock hit a 1 oz bucktail and porkrind bottom bounced :yes:.

I think the biggest trick is using a shad about the size of the bait the Rock are feeding on.In spring/late fall - the 9 inch shad matches a lot of the baitfish size.

 

[trophypro]

C & K Saltwater Fishing Tackle

Chris has some nice 11 inch twister tails that work pretty good

 

[chugbugger]

Match the hatch.:thumbup:

 

[tolmaz]

We always have a few 12" in the mix....I have played around with this 12 and it THUMPS! The thing weighs 6 ounces and has an extra fat tail. Alot of the guys have starting rigging it with 3 hooks. I rigged this one for the pic with 2- 9/0 stinger hooks on an 8 oz. chute.

...Another way to get action out of the bait and acts more like a Mo-Jo is to hang the stinger off the jig hook...You can use a 6", 9" or 12". The one shown is a 4 oz. chute and 6" shad...I found that is productive...

Dont mind the flash on the one chute...that's in the future ;-) Still have some trials to do with it but it does shine

We took it out as is but I think it needs more "bulk". We are working on that part and hope to have it ready by the Judge Yacht show

 

[mosgo]

I use to run them but as said before really didn't catch as much as the 9's . I didn't like all the distance from the tail to hook so I made a few calls and found some 9/0 super long shank hooks for using whole squid and fit perfectly. But it never really caught like others. One of my biggest rock was on a 4inch live squid Off AI.

 

[capt.george]

---Elephants Eat Peanuts theory---# 2 on my list

 

[scottdd1]

Guys, been away for a while and thanks, they're all good thoughts and ideas.

Greg - I agree I need to cut back on the number and like Francis and Skip, I agree with the benefit on the deep running Mojos. By the way, enjoyed your write up while you were on the build of the Judge. Man, I am so envious. SOmeday....................................

aa - agree that they are considerably higher and they don't seem to last as long.

Tolmaz - like the stinger set-up on that one chute, hope to see you at Judge Open House.

Captain George - sage advice as you always give.

OT - stopped into Tyler's on Saturday, got some great deals and chatted up Captain Wayne for a bit. Thanks for the advice and was impressed with the prices and selection. Tyler's is a must stop for me now.

 

[goinsfishin]

Elephants eat Peanuts #2........my 2 largest fish over the last 2 years, 42" and 44", both hit 6" Storm shads.......go figure.

 

[catman]

Just an observation:
I have run alot of tandems off UMB's using 9" baits with 6" trailers. I would say 90% of the fish that bit took the trailer.
Whats that tell you?.....................)