Went out last night after work to give it another go at this new hobby (sure to become obsession) of mine. Did... Eh ok. I got 4 little trout and a nice lady fish at the end. Caught them on a variety of things. I was using the Cajun thunder with about 15-18" of braid leader with shrimp/mud minnows. Caught one trout with each. I also had a Carolina rig with a 1/2 oz weight with about 20" of braid leader with a mud minnow. One trout on this setup. Then one trout and the lady fish on a skitter walk. It was high tide and could see and hear the fish in the grass line. I am pretty sure they were reds. Had on hit the skitter walk but wasn't ready and missed the hook set. SO... any advice on what I could of done better please, I am all ears!! I love me some constructive criticism!!

Lad

You mentioned using braid as a leader material, I would suggest that you use a flurocarbon leader. Fishing the high tide under the cajun thunder I would use a leader length of 24" to 30". On the carolina rig, you should also use flurocarbon leader and I would only use 10" to 12" to hold that bait close to the bottom. I like to tail hook my baits in both of these cases. Your catching fish so you are on the right track, hope this helps.

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Kevin

Hobie Outback
Native Mariner 12.5 (Propel Drive)
Diablo Paddlesports Adios

When reds are in the grass i've done well on gold spoons and spinner baits.

Good info! Thanks! It makes sense with the longer leader on the thunder, and I was thinking about the fluoro leader but wasn't sure. With the Carolina rig, I was thinking with a longer leader the mud minnow or shrimp would have a bit more room to swim around and be more natural. But I will give it a go with the shorter leader. I was tail hooking my shrimp but lip hooking my minnows. Is there a better time to hook from the front vs the back?

Dang! I didn't even think aobut that! I would of thought my bass skills would have kicked in on that. Will def give that a go! You jigging the spoon, or just cranking down the edge?

Well if you have the bass experience....you can catch those reds in the grass.
Two words~ horny toad.

8-)8-)

~ Dave ... now with Tapatalk !

I use fishfinder/carolina rig only when I am soaking bait. Why not use a 1/8 - 1/4 jig head and slowly bounce your shrimp/mudminnow along the bottom.

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Hobie Pro Angler 12

Ohhhhhh! Its on now! Didn't think they would hit something like that.

I did try that last night with a 1/8 oz chartruse jig head and a 4" gulp shrimp in rootbeer gold flk, but no luck. Will have to try it with the live stuff.

I catch at least 1 flounder evertime i use a mudminnow on a jig head worked along the bottom. Look for moving current/steep drop offs and cast ahead of the current and work it back toward you, flounder will position their head looking into the current for fish coming by.

O, and use a net or you will not land the big flatties

I hope this isnt a stupid question, but i am assuming that the minnow is dead rigged like that? How are you rigging it?

I know most in Jax use a jig head for their live muds and shrimp. I use a slightly different rig. I put a split shot about 4-6 inches above a circle hook. This gives the bait some room to move about and keeps it more active IMHO. A home made mix between the carolina rig and jig head. Works for me.

Nope its alive.
I rig mine through the bottom of the lip, like the 1st example here.

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After extensive, diligent, and scholarly research, there is NO evidence that life should be so serious.

The Original HP Outback

Are you free lining this or is it under a thunder rig?