Question for Matt

[dnp]

Hey Matt, Maybe you can help me out. I have tried Ratsos and Shrimpos for a couple of years with very little success on Crappies. Any suggestions on how to work the bait and what colors you prefer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks..

[Matt Johnson]

I'm not sure if you're referring to Matt Breuer or myself. Matt Breuer is the Custom Jigs and Spins expert but I'll try and help...

For Ratsos (horizontal) I prefer to work the jig in a kicking motion, only trying to make the back end move. The key with both Ratsos and Shrimpos is to let the finesse tail do most of the work. No need to aggressively jig these baits, the small movements and quivers they give off will trigger the fish into biting on their own. I like to use short quick shakes, I'm talking like an inch or less incriments when jigging. When a fish appears don't stop jigging, just slow it down a bit. When a fish is inpecting your bait you want to keep in moving, but very subtle. Just make that jig quiver and it will trigger a fish into biting. This is the same with a Shrimpo.

For Ratsos I like...

Size 8: Pink head/white body, glow pink, all black

Size 10: Glow (all variations/colors), smoke-sparkle

For Shrimpos...

Size 10: Pink glow, blue glow, green glow, chartruese

Size 8: Glow

Size 6: All black

A lot of colors will work, but those are the colors that I've had the best results with. Make sure you fish these baits with 2 pound test line to get the desired action too...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[note from admin: You can find the ratso, shrimpos, & Nuclear ants at a steeo discount by Clicking Here for Ratsos, Shrimpos, finesse plastics, demons and slender spoons..

[rod bender]

Matt, I have had some success with the Ratso as well but one problem I have is fishing the deep water. I'd like to fish 42' of water with crappies suspended at 36' but it takes a couple of hours for the ratso to get down to the fish. I know I could add a splitshot but that just gives me another blip on the LX-3 that I'd rather not have and keeps the bait from acting "normal". Any other suggestions? Another abnormal find that I ran into this year is crappies and gills wanting nothing but the ratso, no bait! Kind of weird but on one outing the no bait outdid the baited 5:1. Go figure.

[loebs93]

I hardly ever use bait when fishing with the Custom Jigs and Spins lures mentioned above. The fish go crazy for the action that flimsy tail(s) gives off. Its when the fish start to figure out the lure that I'll throw a euro or spike larva on it.

[Matt Breuer]

One trick I heard from Jeff Dosch of Devils Lake is to cut a piece of wire from a coat hanger, about 6 inches or so. Hammer down both ends, drill a hole in each, and tie on as a weight. This won't show up on the flasher due to the streamline construction with the line.

As for Ratsos and Shrimpos without bait, it's the only way to go!

Matt's post is perfect in presenting the bait!

[Matt Johnson]

Try something called a "Dust Shot" for getting the jig down. Dust Shot are made by Thill and they are tiny little weights that just crimp onto your line. I like to spread them out about 2 inches apart. This way they look like other pieces of bait or forage that the panfish are feeding on.

Another technique I like to use is a dropper rig. A lot of anglers use these for perch and they work very well, but they work great on panfish too. Just tie on a 1/16 oz jigging spoon like you normally would and then remove the treble hook and tie on about a 3-4 inch piece of flourocarbon to where the treble was and add a jig to the flourocarbon leader. This way you can get your bait down and also attract the fish with the jigging spoon, but then the jig (Ratso) will seal the deal.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Jim Hudson]

Hey Matt and Matt, do you guys ever use droppers with a drooper loop knot? A few friends from Michigan love this type of presentation for pannies,usually using a ice fly above a larger jig. Just wondering how the success of this type of presentation compares to a dropper rig for you guys.

[HoleHopper]

Great advice Matt! To "keep it moveing" That is something I have never done. I always thought that you want to stop jigging when the fish is inspecting your presentation Cant wait to give her a try!

Thanks Matt

[Matt Breuer]

The fly on a loop knot is very popular in Wisconsin and Illinois! I love this technique, but don't use it nearly enough. When I have used it I've caught several doubles! Many times the finicky fish'll hit the fly, and the aggresives hit the jig.

Another great dropper idea is something I call a finkee dropper. You tie on a 6 inch piece of flouro around the "neck" of a size 6 Ratfinkee, between the head and the body. At the end of that tie on a size 10 Nuclear Ant.

[dnp]

Hey Matt and Matt, Thanks for the replies. Lots of good ideas. I plan on trying out your presentations tomorrow. Thanks again.