maybe if water is dirty but otherwise IMO don’t think so. If a fish is hungry it will eat.
Floats or no floats on bottom rigs?
When fishing for pompano or even sea mullet do y'all prefer floats on your rigs or not? I've always fished without floats but I see them more and more it seems. Do y'all think they make a difference?
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They are even popular down in Florida though, which typically has more clear water. My train of that was that pompano and mullet are bottom feeders. Why use something that lifts it off the bottom? But they obviously work to some extent or people wouldn't use them. Just an interesting debate to me.
If you have crabs.......they work great. I have seen them work many times and of course others not. I build a lot of my drop rigs that I use for pomps, etc that have a combination. Especially the 3 drops. I'll use that as a test bed to see whats working. Got back from Florida....not a great fishing trip by any means.
I agree with retired, it's something that you have to try & see. Floats for bait rigs can serve different purposes, but also can simply be an attraction to get the bait noticed, especially with grass on the bottom. I think the trick is using an appropriately sized float for the baits your using. You want them to be big enough to keep the bait off the bottom, and somewhat suspended in the water. Too big and they can lift the bait too high (depending on your leader length) and too small and the bait might still be on the bottom. So, experiment and see if it's an advantage for you.
Remember that floats like that are also popular for various types of fishing. They're used for Striper Rigs, Salmon Mooching rigs, Walleye rigs and Catfishing. Stripers & Walleye will grab baits in the current, and the float keeps the bait off the bottom, and away from the crabs as was mentioned, and in some place snags. Even though catfish are bottom feeders, they'll find the bait with it suspended in the water near the bottom, as well most fish species that feed on or near the bottom.
BTW, you can get those foam floats in various sizes, shapes & colors. Check hagensfish.com they sell a variety of tackle & lure making components.
Remember that floats like that are also popular for various types of fishing. They're used for Striper Rigs, Salmon Mooching rigs, Walleye rigs and Catfishing. Stripers & Walleye will grab baits in the current, and the float keeps the bait off the bottom, and away from the crabs as was mentioned, and in some place snags. Even though catfish are bottom feeders, they'll find the bait with it suspended in the water near the bottom, as well most fish species that feed on or near the bottom.
BTW, you can get those foam floats in various sizes, shapes & colors. Check hagensfish.com they sell a variety of tackle & lure making components.
I tend to let the fish dictate what they prefer on any given day. I put out rods with floats/beads and rods without. Some days they want a certain color and some days they prefer natural. It is best to be able to adapt to the conditions and fish preferences.🎣
Any particular color float y'all prefer?
When fishing for pomps, sea mullet, croakers, and spots, I haven't noticed a difference using floats. I have caught fish with them and without them. I think, floats increase the strikes with blue fish. The larger blue fish get, the less tendency they have to feed on the bottom.
I'll probably order some and give them a shot. Can't hurt anything.
Tie my own, and agree with Retired......both work, have to see which one is good for the day. I always put out both just in case. Naked, floats, colors etc
For the guys who use floats, do you always put a bead with them as well?
Been wondering ....... and waiting for a report, Retired.Got back from Florida....not a great fishing trip by any means.
Sorry to hear this one though.
I'd be anxious to see a full report of your trip, if you wouldn't care to post.
Plan to go back anytime soon ?
I was tentatively planning to follow your lead.
Thanks
In my experience floats don't work well for Sea Mullet .... I use Naked 95% of the time but I've tryed every color and size bead there is (except for the new Coquina bead) and my faverite by far is a #6 Orange bead ... now floats work for Pomp but it's according to the depth water your fishin in ...
I use floats about 99% of the time for pomps. If fishing for whiting, almost never. Yes floats help with bait thieves like crabs. More important I use floats as a attractant for pomps. Favorite color is white then lighter colors or mixed colors. Pink and white is deadly combo. BTW I often notice floats being chewed and bait untouched. Many videos of pomps grabbing floats and not eating bait. The biggest floats I use are 1gram , which is quite large, but my favorite size for big pomps. I also jig for pomps with goofy jigs, often color will make a difference , but it's the jigging action( movement) that gets bites, many grab jig as it is sinking.. IMO there's nothing worse than a pomp bait laying motionless on the bottom. Just my .02 worth. BTW killed the big pomps yesterday morning on jigs, 16 (11" fork length in fla) and a dozen short throw backs. Fished 2 and half hrs until tide change.
Good to hear. I actually tie my own "river rigs". I use fairly long leads on them like 1-2 foot to the hook. Would you keep them the same if using floats for pomp's or shorten them up? It seems like you wouldn't need/want the long leads with the floats up there in my mind, but I have nothibg to actually back that up haha.In my experience floats don't work well for Sea Mullet .... I use Naked 95% of the time but I've tryed every color and size bead there is (except for the new Coquina bead) and my faverite by far is a #6 Orange bead ... now floats work for Pomp but it's according to the depth water your fishin in ...
In my experience floats don't work well for Sea Mullet .... I use Naked 95% of the time but I've tryed every color and size bead there is (except for the new Coquina bead) and my faverite by far is a #6 Orange bead ... now floats work for Pomp but it's according to the depth water your fishin in ...
I do the same using a "River rig" , I use the orange pearl mostly but don't have any issues running them naked either. My leads to hooks are 6 to 7" with a #6 EC Kahle
While we are at it. What rod are y'all using for general purpose sea mullet and pomp in the surf?
Big difference. 13' long distance for pomps. Sea mullets are usually very close, most any small/ medium rod.
I would shorten the top lead/drop to about 6", that'll keep that float off the bottom,the bottom lead/drop I keep around 13 inches. Most of my friends are doin this and we gettin lots of Pomps here on Hatteras.Good to hear. I actually tie my own "river rigs". I use fairly long leads on them like 1-2 foot to the hook. Would you keep them the same if using floats for pomp's or shorten them up? It seems like you wouldn't need/want the long leads with the floats up there in my mind, but I have nothibg to actually back that up haha.
I make my own rigs as well and can confirm the pink/white floats almost always do better than any other color or color combo I experiment with that day. I generally use medium size peg floats and pomps seem to love the half pink half white floats.I use floats about 99% of the time for pomps. If fishing for whiting, almost never. Yes floats help with bait thieves like crabs. More important I use floats as a attractant for pomps. Favorite color is white then lighter colors or mixed colors. Pink and white is deadly combo. BTW I often notice floats being chewed and bait untouched. Many videos of pomps grabbing floats and not eating bait. The biggest floats I use are 1gram , which is quite large, but my favorite size for big pomps. I also jig for pomps with goofy jigs, often color will make a difference , but it's the jigging action( movement) that gets bites, many grab jig as it is sinking.. IMO there's nothing worse than a pomp bait laying motionless on the bottom. Just my .02 worth. BTW killed the big pomps yesterday morning on jigs, 16 (11" fork length in fla) and a dozen short throw backs. Fished 2 and half hrs until tide change.
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