&^%$#@ PowerBait

[marko]

I have been using Powerbait off and on since it first came out. I have never caught even a single fish with it. I can catch fish with any other kind of bait. In fact, when people around me are catching fish with power bait, I cannot. If the fishing is hot and I am using Powerbait I will not catch fish. If I switch to another bait I will catch fish. Anyone else have this problem?

I theorize, my body chemistry reacts with power bait in a negative way for fish. I have decided after a day with my grandkids where fish were being caught all around us on Powerbait and we got skunked that if I use it ever again I will take rubber gloves and not handle it directly. If that doesn't work then …never again.
Marko

[smilesforu]

Marko
You might have a bad batch of power bait. I am not a big fan of it anyway. Are you using a heavier leader when you use power bait? Bigger hook? Bigger bait ball size?
I have seen Trout become leader shy very easy.

I prefer cluster eggs while still fishing.


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Marty
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[This message has been edited by smilesforu (edited 07-24-2000).]

[Son of an Okie]

Marko,

There are a few secrets to the stuff. I use it very successfully down at the Willamina mill pond when feeling lazy or have kids along. No more than 6 pound leader, a number 12 VMC treble, and just enough power bait to cover the hook AND FLOAT it. An egg sinker stopped by a small barrel swivel will allow the trout to take the bait without feeling the weight while the barrel swivel holds everything down. The most important part is to vary your leader length until you find the depth. If by myself, I'll usually start out at 3 feet and work my way down in 6 inch step after 15-20 minutes with no bites. Favorite colors are Chartruse and spring green. The most common mistake I've seen is too big a ball, the trout needs to take and swallow for this method to work. I'll usually fish with a manageable bow of slack in my line and watch for movement. If they are actively feeding, the slack is usually gone by the time the rod is grabbed.

Hope this works. If you're already doing these things and still not catching fish, there's always the old faithful green label!

[NorthRiverS]

Last week my daughter and I fished South Twin lake with green power bait. We only fished for two hours. We had fairly good success dropping the bait to the bottom and reeling it up 3-4 feet. We caught 4-5 nice rainbows and had multiple strikes with no hook-up. Also, my daughter caught the largest fish. http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif So we like Power Bait.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Marko-

My wife likes to use a little melon baller to scoop the stuff and then push a small treble hook into the goo. Then she squezzes the handle and walla- Baited hook and no stinky fingers. Might work for you if there is some reaction to your skin or something like that.

Berkley also has a special rig just for floating power bait. It has very light leader and a rubber stop that is used to adjust the depth.

Favorite colors? Fourth of July (Red, White and Blue), Green, and Orange.

Try it you might like it.

Tight lines,

Ray

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Live to Fish
Fish to Live

[This message has been edited by Mr. Fisherman (edited 07-25-2000).]

[cts258]

try washing your hands in the water before rigging your line. dig down into the mud and use it like soap. this always worked for others that had the same problem
let me know how it works for you.

[Navigator]

A good way to adjust you leader is to put a small split shot between the hook and swival on an 18' leader. Then, you can adjust the split up or down to adjust how high the bait floats. I have also noticed that when the water warms up, the bait will not float as easy.