Wanaflatsfish Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 So, slowly but surely, I am changing to fishing purism, meaning only fish artificial or fly. I want to be a minimalist like my buddy COTO. As a shrimp - a - holic and popping cork guy for over 17 years since I got my first flats skiff, it has been a long road....when fishing on my buddy's boat, COTO of the forum, shrimp are prohibited....only anything metal or plastic may be used to illicit the bite. When we fish Chokoloskee in his boat, and we pass the bait store, my body tenses and hands begin to shake, my throat goes dry and my eyes water as I see the Everglades City bait shop fall into the distance out of the side view mirror. Will he stop? No, not even for a glimpse of the queen of Chokoloskee, the Bait Babe, Alina of Everglades City Bait Shop (in all seriousness, she has created a GREAT place to buy artificial or live bait) - and she's a bit cute as well so that helps. So, give me your thoughts on what do you use and prefer....do we need to start a forum called - Shrimp-a-holics, please help us? So, in fun, here's a video I made for my good fishing buddy, in tribute to the shrimp BTW, it might take a moment load as it was on an iphone and pretty large.. IMG_8279.MOV 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coto Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 lol...I don't mind shrimp use in the winter on jig heads or for bonefish. The rest of the time make em eat plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shallowminded6 Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 I used to do solely artificial. This year I have switched to almost solely live bait trying to figure it out so I can have more consistent fishing when taking my boys out. Not sure which one I enjoy more. Both have their cons/pros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wahoossi Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 Up here in Georgia the water is so murky tannin stained most everyone fishes with shrimp. Artificials are a great way to come home with a nice , slime free clean boat. Occasionally in the winter when the water is clearer and the bait is scarce they will turn the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jh141 Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 I was taught many years ago from a few of the greats how to hunt the fish in ENP and it entails using shrimp. Once we gain the confidence that we are in the right areas we switch it up for the challenge and fun. Plugs of many types, soft plastics etc..... We are also match the hatch minded so I carry cast nets. In ENP There are so many options that I have learned to be very flexible. Going out in the gulf we cast net. Working the banks, points and passes we start with old faithful. Lots of wood around we are throwing plugs and soft plastics. Water up and fish buried in tight we are skipping soft plastics. I always support my local tackle store. A stop by Dons is a must. PS Using Gulp is cheating.....same as live shrimp IMO LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coto Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 49 minutes ago, jh141 said: PS Using Gulp is cheating.....same as live shrimp IMO LOL Ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted October 25, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 38 minutes ago, Coto said: Ditto Oh, so now you are banning my gulps on your skiff Am I supposed to use a bare hook with a strip of my T-Shirt Do you not remember my famous words, as I pulled 4 reds out of a "secret spot" before you got rigged up...tying so many fancy knots to your plastic thing-of-a-jigs "It gives me no pleasure to catch these fish in front of you with these gulps" LOL Zoom conference calls are costing me a fortune:) DC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coto Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 LMFAO!!! Thanks for the laugh I needed it. I’m dealing with a roof leak in the house and also one in my Ram 1500 because of all this freakin rain!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 Two weeks ago I fished with my buddy. He used shrimp I used artificial... came out even on keeper fish and I think I caught more shorts than him... he took time to rebait while I was casting. Last week same area same friend plus one guy the shrimp kicked my butt, and it was my dang boat!!! I will be headed out in the morning and plan to try the artificial vs live shrimp yet again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coto Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 What Dino won’t tell you is his percentage with sailcat hook ups using da shrimp....lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shallowminded6 Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 1 minute ago, HoneyB said: Two weeks ago I fished with my buddy. He used shrimp I used artificial... came out even on keeper fish and I think I caught more shorts than him... he took time to rebait while I was casting. Last week same area same friend plus one guy the shrimp kicked my butt, and it was my dang boat!!! I will be headed out in the morning and plan to try the artificial vs live shrimp yet again. I did some similar tests and watched a few others. Seems you present your bait to way more fish with artificial, so you have the ability to get more bites. More fish will go after live bait when presented it so the numbers will be close to a wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 FYI The bait shop is expanding its operation . Soon will have gas and a ramp with parking . Going to be giving the bearded one a run for his money . As far as fishing . This weekend was the most insane two days of fishing in years . Did not even unpack , goin right back in a few days . Life is great ! 🇺🇸🏴☠️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 On 10/25/2020 at 6:20 PM, THE OUTLAW said: FYI The bait shop is expanding its operation . Soon will have gas and a ramp with parking . Going to be giving the bearded one a run for his money . As far as fishing . This weekend was the most insane two days of fishing in years . Did not even unpack , goin right back in a few days . Life is great ! 🇺🇸🏴☠️ Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 4 hours ago, Shallowminded6 said: I did some similar tests and watched a few others. Seems you present your bait to way more fish with artificial, so you have the ability to get more bites. More fish will go after live bait when presented it so the numbers will be close to a wash. I thought so on week one. Trust me week two I got my *** kicked by the live bait... got the boat ready for round three in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Skif Posted October 25, 2020 Report Share Posted October 25, 2020 Everglades & 10k’s.....Shrimp winter; plugs/jigs/flukes any other time. Pilchards and mullet when i can get them consistently. Nothing beats an early morning topwater 💥. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smilemaker Posted October 26, 2020 Report Share Posted October 26, 2020 People with artificials think they are the purest. All I buy is a hook and float. Catch my bait first. Shrimp, mullet or poggies. Then begin to catch fish. So in reality who is really a purest or minimalist/purest. But to be honest I do use artificials at times as a backup. Kind of like deer hunting in SC. Is it really hunting if you sit over a corn pile vs, scouting walking and then setting up a stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted October 26, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2020 4 hours ago, smilemaker said: So in reality who is really a purest or minimalist/purest. Oh, I forgot to consider.....where does a nice 2" piece of ladyfish on a 6/0 on the bottom qualify? Live - errr no it's dead Artifical - errrr...not plastic Must be chunk category Now if you add a bit of pro-cure stink to the ladyfish chunk or a spray of gulp juice on a live shrimp....is it a hybrid dc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted October 26, 2020 Report Share Posted October 26, 2020 Artificial made a comeback today.. caught as many fish as the shrimp .. total 10 trout 8 reds . There were plenty of short trout released and one 26” red. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RacerxV6 Posted October 27, 2020 Report Share Posted October 27, 2020 Has anyone tried Salt Strong Slam Series? I got a free pack of 7 for only shipping costs. I used them this past week in my freshwater tourney as a trailer on my buzz bait. they Killed it!!! Sorry I don't have a picture http://saltstrong.com They claim great results..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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