Shrimpo's/Ratzo's action?

[Tripleplay]

After the Medicine ICE Series event we ended up fishing for crappies and most everyone was doing OK with minnows/jigs, Go Devils, etc..

Matt J. mentioned he was using Shrimpo's without any bait on them and had caught a mess of fish. Now that I own some of them, I'd like to understand what type of action(s) I should be using to trigger those type of fish to bite.

They were very finicky fish and I'm guessing it was some sort of quiver type of action to make that tail shake, especially with no actual bait on the hook. Maybe a raise and lower would work? I understand that sometimes you just have to experiment, but I'd like to get an idea of what type of actions everybody else would use to trigger those bites. Thx!

[Note from Admin: Want to find Ratso's & Shrimpos?

You can find Custom Jigs and Spins by CLICKING HERE

[Deitz Dittrich]

Trip- You have it exactly... A quiver is the best way to describe it. The biggest tip I have for you is to keep the bait moving, even if a fish is looking right at your bait.. Too many people watch thier eletronics and stop jigging when a fish is there.. Keep up the quiver and you will feel the bite with practice!

[Matt Johnson]

Shrimpos and Ratsos are very productive without bait. 9 times out of 10 I'll use them without adding maggots and just fish them plain.

The key is in the finesse tail. That finesse tail is designed to really "quiver" and trigger fish into biting. First off, you need to have confidence in the jig. Too many ice anglers feel that they have to have on live bait in order to catch fish, and I personally don't believe that to be the case. Pannies are big on appeal and visual stimulation, even more so then scent. Sure, live bait will excell in the "natural" scent category, but with visual stimulation and appeal, I'll put the finesse plastic one step ahead of live bait. The reason for that is because the live bait isn't controlled, it does what it wants to do (to an extent) and you are at the mercy of the maggot to give off the right action desired by the leary crappie. Maggots will often times "over-act" and as a result with turn away fish. The finesse plastic however, does exactly what you want it to do. If you want it to bounce, it will bounce, if you want it to quiver, it will quiver, and so on. There is just something about that thin finesse tail that triggers fish into biting, both negative and aggressive fish.

I prefer a noodle rod or spring bobber when using Shrimpos and Ratsos. And for two main reasons...

1) I get the desired action I want from the jig. The sensitive tip of a spring bobber or noodle rod won't cause the jig to "over-act" and jump all awkwardly. The give of the rod tip will keep the jig in control and incorporate subtle movements. Something that is of the utmost importance when targeting negative fish.

2) It acts a phenomenal strike indicator.

I like to work Shrimpos and Ratsos in very short, pulsing motions. I'm not aggressively fishing these jigs, especially when fish are finicky. These finicky fish are used to feeding on microscopic organisms that have very little to almost no movement, so they can pick up the tiny vibrations and quivers that the shrimpo or ratso gives off. Even when you try to hold the jig completely still, the little finesse tail is still pulsing and quivering, and fish WILL sense that. The spring bobber or noodle rod will also help in that by the sensitive tip. You don't want to fish these baits with large hops and bounces when the fish are finicky. If you do raise or lower the bait in large increments, you want to make a steady, constant movement. Quick hops are meant for drawing fish in, but once a fish gets close you want to keep things simple. Don't stop jigging though, thats a no-no, keep the jig moving, but just slow things don't.

There is no real magic way of working a jig, it all depends on the situation. When fish turn finicky, there's no telling what they will want. Somedays I'll make up some totally off-the-wall technique that triggers them into biting. And other days it won't take much at all. Let the mood of the fish be your guide and have faith in the finesse tail. Think small and simple when the fish turn finicky. The two biggest mistakes I see by anglers when fish turn finicky is that they either jig "too" much (too aggressive) or they let the bait stop and sit still when a fish gets close.

One last thing I'll mention... you are going to have to down-size more often then not as well. I'm talking a size 10 or smaller, and most of the time its smaller.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Note from Admin: You can find Ratso's & Shrimpos. along with other high quality tackle by CLICKING HERE.]

[Stratosman]

I had good luck this weekend using them, just the slightest and obscure wiggle I could produce seemed to work the best, but experimentation was the key, I often change presentations of specific lures, even when one style seems to be working, just to see how they will react. An aggressive jigging motion to bring them in and then just a wiggle to trigger the bite. The trigger is the important part or the scenario. For me, sometime they want it motionless, sometimes a steady rise or controlled fall will trigger, other times its a little wiggle. Last weekend the sunnies would hit it no matter what I was doing, I even dropped it on the bottom and they would sometimes pick it off, lifting the rod and they were there. The crappies however seemed to want it motionless, continuos jigging would keep them in front of it, but they would not hit, it was only when I stopped they would just grab it and swim away, like Matt stated, this is where a noodle rod or spring is key to detect these subtle pick ups. Try hooking the body wack style, check the action in your hole when using a slight wiggle, the bait kinda swims in a small circle or dances around while the tail wiggles to beat the band, sometimes this is killer too.

The thing to remember, and not just with these baits, is to always vary your presentation, their moods change daily and even throughout the day, so be versatile.

[CrappieJohn]

If you see a fish studying your bait, try just tapping the rod lightly with a finger....just enough to make the rod tip wiggle. Your line and lure will do the rest. As some of the others have suggested, don't quit with the movement when a fish approaches.

[RandyR]

I have been experimenting with those plastics all winter and have found them to be very effective. The quiver is good, also try a tiny darting motion upward an inch or two, pause, repeat, then allow to free fall or slowly lower the bait to the original start point, pase again then repeat. Even non aggressive crappie and bluegill will smack it hard, and from what I've seen, the bigger fish tend to hit the finesse plastic.

I have been sight fishing with these all winter in about 6 feet of water so I have been able to study the fish and how they react to the bait movements. Subtle movements are better, the bigger panfish tend to be more cautious and like to take a look before they decide to bite. I was fishing with eurolarvae and had a good bite going so I decided to try the finesse plastics without bait. It works so well that now it is my presentation of choice!

[Tripleplay]

Thanks everybody!

I was hoping I'd get a couple of responses just to guide me in setting me straight on how to use. I did throw one on for bluegills this weekend but couldn't entice anything until I added a Eurolarvae. Probably I was over working the lure.

I have a couple of the rod tips (spring bobbers) that attach but I've never used them. Definitely need to get out fishing more to try all of this.

[RandyR]

Matt made an excellent point about using spring bobbers with finesse plastics, it is a must if you want to impart the subtle action needed, too aggressive with the jigging and it spooks the fish.

[MinnesotaMuskie]

CT...I started using the finger tap 2 winters ago...my buddy thinks is a waste...fish on the ice indicate otherwise:)

[Note from Admin: You can find Ratso's & Shrimpos

along with other high quality tackle by CLICKING HERE.]

[Beef46]

I've been using both Shrimpo's and Ratso's this winter as well but have been tipping them.

Looks like I have another option. Haven't tried them stand alone yet.

I really like these baits.

[Matt Johnson]

One of the best parts of using a plain Ratso or Shrimpo without bait is that you don't have to worry about rebaiting or even have to buy bait at all. I can also usually catch a dozen or so, if not more, fish on one fineese plastic before I have to change it out. You don't have to worry about keeping bait alive and you won't be frustrated if you forget the bait at home

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Tripleplay]

Matt,

Not necessarily with these lures but every now and then someone mentions rigging wacky. I'm guessing when you have to put another body on these you could possibly do that but what do they mean exactly?

[delmuts]

hey matt or one of the other guys; have any of you tried the J&S wedge/wedgee this winter ?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Tripple- Wacky rigging is rigging the bait perpendicular to the hook with the hook going threw the middle of the plastic body. So it looks like an upside down T if you know what I mean. SO that when you quive the bait it really undulates!

[Tripleplay]

Kind of figured that since you really only have a couple of options if not rigging regular. (backwards or sideways)

Somebody has to be the "newbie" on here and ask those type of questions! I'm learning more every day.

[Beef46]

I've been getting into leaving the live bait alone more and more lately. Especially when bringing out the kids. Something about baiting hooks every .....3 seconds gets old in a hurry.

Hey Matt. Hopefully see you in May. A buddy of mine (Mike Lenz aka Buzzsaw) are sending in our application for the Metro LETS tomorrow. Hopefully there is room for us. We are really looking forward to fishing the series.

[Matt Johnson]

Tripleplay,

That was a good question, I wouldn't think of you as a newbie for asking it. Deitz pretty much summed it up.

delmuts,

Wedgee's are another excellent choice. Custom Jigs and Spins makes a nice one like you mentioned, as does a company out of Wisconsin called T-J's PinPoint PlasTix. They are similar to the wedgee and have like action. Both will catch fish without live bait and can be worked similar to the Shrimpo and Ratso.

The wedgee really imitates a minnow well and it can be rigged on just about any jig style. I like the wedgee in open water too.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[BDR]

I had some very good 9-10" Crappie action yesterday on a #10glow/blue tail Shrimpo. I did add one waxiies kind of smushed onit to give some scent. It out fished minnows by a long shot.

[Bass_Bully]

I have used the shrimpos and ratzos a lot this year tipped with waxies. Haven't got the confidence to try without bait but after the great info here I'm definetly trying it now. Thanks guys

[delmuts]

matt. i was just wondering. i had supper fishing using those last fall in the open water.other guys were using the shrimpo and rastos. since i don't ice fish, i was curious if any one had tried them.

[Coldwater Crappie Guy]

I have been using a shrimpo all of this year and had great luck with it! The color I have been using has been the glow green and I put a pink body on it..I also fish them with a crappie minnow under a ice buster bobber. Easy presentation and fun to watch them pull down that float! Good luck!

[Matt Breuer]

del, great point!

We want everyone to realize that Custom Jigs and Spins baits aren't just for ice fishing!

The Shrimpo and Ratso are great open water choices because of their Finesse Plastic tails. On windy days the Ratsos tail bounces wondefully, alone or teamed with bait, this is a perfect bait under a float. This is also the time when a Shrimpo with the Finesse Plastic tail wacky rigged really shines. The bait bounces and wiggles like a wounded baitfish and is extremely deadly!

The Demon and Ratfinkee are also great choices teamed up with live bait. I've had great success on both under a float, and the size 4 Demon has worked well vertical jigged over suspended crappies on calm days.

Another thing is the explosion of plastics as of late. Custom Jigs has a full line of deadly plastics for you panfisherman out there. From the Micro Noodel to the Wedgee and Finesse Plastics.

When I'm not using a Flu Flu, I'm using one of the above mentioned when chasing pannies in the Summer.

For you fly fishermen out there, don't forget to have some of the CJ&S Nuclear Ants and Purest in your arsenal. The Nuclear Ant has worked very well for me while fly fishing for shallow water 'gills. The Purest has been a great bait fishing 'bows and browns in local streams as well.

[Get Er Done Guy]

Since these are very light, would one use a split shot above them to get them to sink or would you just be patient as they sink themselves??? I have used these for sunnies and have had pretty good luck but I would like to try them on a crappie bite also without bait.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Get er done dude,

I would say that if you are fishing shallow water it would be best if you left the split shot off as it will affect the action of the bait. However, if fishing deep water, sometimes you must hinder the baits action to be able toget it back down quickly to active fish. I say give it a shot, if the fish stop bitting then take it back off!

[delmuts]

one of my tricks for open water fishing with these, i fish them under a float is to put the split shot right below the float ( usually for casting weight) . this allows for much longer cast with #4 line .if the fish are very aggessive then i may move one of the shot down the line to about 18" above the lure to get it to them faster, but many times i need the slow fall to trigger strikes.most time i fish these on a 1/64 or 1/80 oz. jig. like matt said with all of the new plastics that are out for panfish, the options are unreal. i can't wait for open water to try some of new ones !

You can find Custom Jigs and Sins by CLICKING HERE