[Thrifty Angler]

So.....I've been noticing small thin pieces of Bloodworm variety Fishbites left by anglers on pier railings.
Seems the color and size is way off from what I'm use to buying. I did some checking on the company's site and
have seen the 2 different varieties now available for the Bloodworm aka Bag O' Worms type.
There is a "fast acting" and a "long lasting" option.
What I've been seeing left by anglers is a thin yet gloppy looking almost ruby red substance. Question about that is: Is it the narrow 1/4 inch size option that makes it look like that? Or is it possibly because it's the "fast acting" 1/4 type? I did notice netting it was attached to. It just seemed way to narrow to fit the average size hook.

Now...a couple more questions. From user experience, would yall recommend the "fast acting" type as being more effective due to it's increased concentration of "secret formula" or does the "long lasting" type pay for itself in durability? Just how long does a piece of the 1/4 inch variety of fast acting last on the hook on an average summer day/warm water temp day? How about the 3/8 inch fast acting type when it's used in summer/warm water temps?
I prefer to buy the type that attracts/produces more strikes. Yep....I know I have to weed thru the trash fish.
Then again there is the durability factor of the basic long lasting type. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

And for both the long lasting and fast acting types....do yall recommend 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch for #4 and #2 hooks?

Thanks guys and gals

 

[1BadF350]

Get the 1/4" fast acting. The mesh in the long lasting is a real pain to get off your hook.
Try smaller hooks like a size 8.

 

[Thrifty Angler]

Oh my.....I'm gonna need to take my reading glasses to see how to bait up a #8 size hook. Even without the mesh and putting a needle into a haystack, my close up vision ain't what it use to me.

Thanks 1BadF350

 

[surfchunker]

fast acting is for cold water and melts too fast in warm water, best trick for FBBW's is don't cut the piece till after it's on the hook, I carry scissors and snipe it off after it's on the hook

 

[surfchunker]

take said scissors and snip off the mesh if it gets to be a problem

 

[surfchunker]

slow action with a #6 or 8 hook 1/4" size and about 3/8 long

 

[Fish'n Phil]

The fast acting has no mesh so it is easily stolen. Use the longer lasting one. There is supposedly a water temperature guide but I've never had much luck with Fishbites in cooler water anyway. Have seen the wider size still use the narrow one. Like surfchunker said just cut the mesh off the hook.

 

[surfchunker]

I end up using scissors more than a knife when fishing

 

[BasserJim]

I have both and use a double hook rig and have rigged up one hook with fast acting and the other with the long lasting before. Never saw a difference in one getting more bites

 

[ecks]

I end up using scissors more than a knife when fishing

Truth!!

 

[marv1234]

I second on scissors I bring that all the time. If your just catching bait fish like croakers, or spots use a dime size piece on a small hook. I use the long lasting version because it stays on the hook longer.

 

[Thrifty Angler]

Thanks guys. I am going to order some this week. Leaning towards the long lasting variety. Still debating on the narrow or the wider one though.
I especially like the tip about cutting it "after" I have put the hook thru it. Never even thought of that one. As long as the wind doesn't blow the whole piece away and I don't drop it thru one of those holes between the pier boards.....pre hooking will solve that handling issue I've been having. School supplies are on sale so I will pick up a good quality pair of kid size blunt tip scissors with sufficient finger space. I keep a few packs of Fishbites in a slider pencil case. It keeps em dry and crush proof. A pair of small scissors should fit in there with em just fine.

Thanks again

 

[surfchunker]

I think the wide doesn't have the mesh ... I like the mesh

 

[pmcdaniel]

I've always used the long lasting as well. It will last for a good 30 minutes on the hook under most conditions, and if there's fish in the water, and they are biting, they will find it. It turns "ruby red" once it gets wet. I have a small set of Rapala braid scissors in my bag that works great for cutting off the mesh. I just position the scissors so both blades are flat against the bottom of the hook and it cuts the mesh right off.

 

[marv1234]

I use a cheap $2 dollar something scissors from walmart.

 

[ecks]

I use fish bites all the time on the pier. To me, fast or slow acting, thin or wide, any color works equal. I've caught just about everything on them. I like to use paramedic scissors which have small teeth on them. They work well cutting braided line and crabs and squid.

 

[Fish'n Phil]

I use the cheap Fiskars kids school scissors from Wally World. They come in different colors and even have a sheath. They cut braid and Fishbites easily.

 

[surfnsam]

I use it to back up real bws if the bait steelers or crabs get the real thing I'll still have something on the hook.

 

[phillyguy]

I never knew they were so complicated.

 

[George Gravier]

I never knew they were so complicated.

Im with you Phillyguy (originally jersey guy here) let me make this post even larger I precut my fishbites and put them back in the bag and when the stuff melts off the hook I use my teeth to get the mesh off just gotta be careful true story