Big WP subtle bites.

[SALMONEMIA]

Have a few years now under my belt where I have gotten some very big winni wp . The 1st year I found the magic spot it was an all out blitz literally a frenzy of lakers, and wp all feeding and competing for the jigs. it didnt matter what it was they hammered it all and viciously . I have certainly never seen it like that again but those big wp always seem to be in the same spot year after year so i know they are around. It seems to me more often the big boys  seem to roam in singles or in small groups of 4-6 fish. the wild thing is how soft they take the bait. The bite is so soft its almost impossible to detect sometimes so much i downsize to  2lb and a spring bobber, yeah its crazy but it works. Once hooked up though they change there tune real quick and get feisty. Wondering what others have experienced in terms of bit subtleties? 

[fishinator]

Never been there but if the water is clear enough I would try a camera. I have a lake near me that is known for a crazy light bite.  I always marked fish there but rarely caught many. I bought a camera and realized they were biting the entire time,  but wouldn't even move my spring bobber. It's now my favorite lake.

[SALMONEMIA]

Never been there but if the water is clear enough I would try a camera. I have a lake near me that is known for a crazy light bite.  I always marked fish there but rarely caught many. I bought a camera and realized they were biting the entire time,  but wouldn't even move my spring bobber. It's now my favorite lake.

yes i understand that as you describe it. I have gotten to the point that once i see the fish move to my jig and is on it i will watch rod tip and spring bobber only so my full attention is on the rod tip, and bobber .its tough for sure.

[800stealth]

I don't fish Winni but there's a few spots that I chase Crappie that hold white perch as well and they're definitely light biters like crappie. A lot of times I'll notice a bite not from the rod tip moving but because the rod tip stopped moving.. Years of smashed knuckles and broken fingers have left my hands a bit unsteady so when I'm holding my rod still the tip is still moving a tiny bit, not much but an 1/8" of movement around is normal for me.. If I notice that my rod tip has stopped moving I set the hook and there is usually a Crappie or white there... I think part of that is because they are just sucking in the bait instead of biting it so there's no real contact to detect.

[Lv2hunt]

I don't fish Winni but there's a few spots that I chase Crappie that hold white perch as well and they're definitely light biters like crappie. A lot of times I'll notice a bite not from the rod tip moving but because the rod tip stopped moving.. Years of smashed knuckles and broken fingers have left my hands a bit unsteady so when I'm holding my rod still the tip is still moving a tiny bit, not much but an 1/8" of movement around is normal for me.. If I notice that my rod tip has stopped moving I set the hook and there is usually a Crappie or white there... I think part of that is because they are just sucking in the bait instead of biting it so there's no real contact to detect.

Agreed 100%  it's always a crap shoot lately on if it's a white or crappie

[Hottuna5150]

yes i understand that as you describe it. I have gotten to the point that once i see the fish move to my jig and is on it i will watch rod tip and spring bobber only so my full attention is on the rod tip, and bobber .its tough for sure.

I’d buy this if I hadn’t regularly jigged up smelt in 50+ fow. I admittedly don’t have the patience for cameras as I like to bounce around. I used to use a spring bobber but have recently found the flat tip rods superior for light bites. Granted I’m newer to the white perch game but negative crappies don’t seem miles different to me.  If you can’t see up bites on your gear, whether you’re a tight liner or ultra/light guy, it’s rough either way.

[SALMONEMIA]

I’d buy this if I hadn’t regularly jigged up smelt in 50+ fow. I admittedly don’t have the patience for cameras as I like to bounce around. I used to use a spring bobber but have recently found the flat tip rods superior for light bites. Granted I’m newer to the white perch game but negative crappies don’t seem miles different to me.  If you can’t see up bites on your gear, whether you’re a tight liner or ultra/light guy, it’s rough either way.

Yeah man I hear you.  Check out the HT big eye spring bobber there the best. Thanks scott for the info on that they slay fish and are very inexpensive.  I'll never use anything else but those

[Hottuna5150]

Yeah man I hear you.  Check out the HT big eye spring bobber there the best. Thanks scott for the info on that they slay fish and are very inexpensive.  I'll never use anything else but those

Hey Wayne, my apologies. I meant to quote the fella speaking about using a camera to see bites.

[SALMONEMIA]

Hey Wayne, my apologies. I meant to quote the fella speaking about using a camera to see bites.

I knew what you meant just wanted to share this tip. They work great. 

[fishingeek]

Last week I got into a nice white perch bite before sun down. They were feeding aggressively up until dark. I had to switch my presentation to dead sticking with a pin minnow on a jig. They would bite it very light and subtle. I had to switch over to my glass noodle rod to see the subtle bite. Also, I noticed these were the bigger WP that were feeding like this out of the bunch.

[SHaRPS]

Going smaller when the bite is delicate is not always the best move......    

[Hottuna5150]

Going smaller when the bite is delicate is not always the best move......    

Very true. There are some days you can turn the bite on by upsizing. It’s contrary to my normal urge but it works often.

[PoolGuy]

Going smaller when the bite is delicate is not always the best move......    

Agreed !!!  When I’m jigging late afternoon early evening, I’m dropping bigger jigs down the hole