|
5/16/2001
-
Article/Press
Release
Waking the Dead
Rod
by Rick Olson
Waking
the dead rod When walleye anglers are allowed to fish with more than
one rod, they are given the opportunity to double, and maybe even
triple, their chances for catching fish; Sometimes. Can you double
you’re odds when pitching a jig to shallow rocky points? Do you
cast one, drop the rod, pick up and cast another? Or how about when
you’re dragging a bouncer and spinner through an area that is so
snag infested, that it requires all of your attention, just to keep
from hanging up? The answer is no, and yes; No, if you try to
duplicate exactly what you’re doing ; Yes, if you employ a
technique that utilizes a specialized set up called the dead rod.
 The
dead rod can be a real key to upping you’re odds, and may even
prove to be the most productive method in use. A dead rod, that’s
set up correctly, can get an extra bait in the water, and keep it in
front of walleyes that are hanging tough and playing hard to get.
There’s an old school of thought that if you keep a bait in front
of a fish long enough, it may eventually give in and take what‘s
being offered. A dead rod set up is designed to do just that, and
may be exactly what ol’ marble eyes is looking for. On the other
hand it may mean nothing more than an extra fish or two at the end
of the day, but what’s wrong with that?
The
technique is most often used in combination with a casting or
trolling presentation, and becomes secondary to what you’re
already using. The primary technique may be so effective that you
don’t have time to even monkey with anything else. Those times are
rare, however, and more often than you not you’ll be faced with
trying to scratch out one fish here and one there, and is where the
dead rod can pay big dividends.
Another
advantage of a dead rod is the fact that it tends to find bigger
fish, especially if you keep the rig working in deeper water. In a
casting situation, for example, the boat is usually held in deeper
water while casting to shallower structure. Although that may be the
key to catching numbers of fish, the larger of the species are often
caught just a little deeper, and are missed by most anglers. By
keeping a bait in that deeper zone, you can increase your odds of
nailing a monster, and may prove to be well worth the extra effort
required in maintaining a dead rod.
To
put together a winning presentation, a couple of things need to be
considered, like what type of bottom your dealing with, and how deep
your actually fishing. Absent the presence of rocks and timber, you
might be able to get by with a live bait rig, or a jig. A live bait
rig with a long snell is probably the better choice, as it may buy
you some extra time, allowing the fish to completely take a bait
before he figures out what’s going on and rejects it. Lighter
sinkers and longer snells make for a finesse presentation, and
finesse is exactly what you’re looking for in a dead rod rig.
Longer
rods in the seven to eight foot range with soft actions are also in
order, and can keep fish holding on longer. The dead rod isn’t
going to get all that much attention most of the time, and will get
little more than an occasional glance to see if it is loading up.
Even if you see nothing more than a little extra bend in the rod you
better play it like a fish. Many times a walleye will pickup a bait
and simply hold on, while they get drug along for a ride. If you see
the rod starting to bend over, forget about letting the fish run
with the bait, and simply set the hook. By the time you recognize
the fact that a fish has taken the bait, who knows how long he’s
been holding on, and dropping the bait will probably result in more
missed fish. More often than not the fish will actually hook
themselves, and all that’s left to do is to reel them in.
Snag
filled bottoms are nearly impossible to work with standard gear,
like live bait rigs and jigs, and are probably more effectively
fished with a bottom bouncer and plain snell set up. The key is to
try and keep the bait directly below the boat, allowing the bouncer
to run straight up and down. Lighter bouncers in the ½ to ¾ oz.
range should get the job done, and still afford an element of
finesse. A long snell in the six to eight foot range, tied to a
plain hook, makes for a deadly combination. Another option is
replacing the plain hook with a floating jig head, which can help
give the bait some lift and keep it off the bottom and out of the
snags.
Dealing
with a few snags is part of the program, and something you better be
prepared for. To help overcome part of the problem, try using a
snell that is lighter in weight than your main line. For example,
your reel might be loaded with ten or twelve pound test, and your
snells could be made from eight or even six pound test. Most of the
time it’s the hook that will hang up, and a lighter snell will
break first, allowing you to at least get your bouncer back.
The
dead rod isn’t always going to be in the right place at the right
time, especially if you’re working quick breaking structure, but
not to worry. Just getting a bait close may be all you need to
trigger a response from another fish or two, or three, or four. It
all adds up, and can make the difference between a good trip, and a
truly exceptional one.
Rick
Olson
|
