safety pin

[late night]

A trick my grandpa taught me. Take a big safety pin and unfoald the coils. Straighten it out. Bend it into a U shape. Instant harness.

[bassNspear]

i never thought of that.

[Central Bassman]

That is a good ideal, and cheap

[Pikeslayer]

Some times I will use a safty pin to put a spinner blade on the tail of my live decoy minnow for added flash on a slow day!

[Hammer Handle]

I just use a line harness with a large sinker on top to hold the line tight. The sinker keeps your sucker (bait) in the hole too, and allows you to "play" him a little if you want.

And, the live decoy lives a lot longer.

[bassNspear]

i like the idea about the safty pin. Thats a awesome idea.

[Huey]

 Originally Posted By: Hammer Handle

I just use a line harness with a large sinker on top to hold the line tight. The sinker keeps your sucker (bait) in the hole too, and allows you to "play" him a little if you want.

And, the live decoy lives a lot longer.

HH-

How does a harness like that work? Do you put it between the pectoral fins and the dorsal fins? How big of a weight do you use? I saw one for sale at Fleet Farm made of wire but wasn't sure how to use it. I've been using a pin type harness where you "stick" the decoy in the back by the dorsal fin. That seems to work well but I would guess that a harness like you use is easier on the decoy. ?

Huey

[Hammer Handle]

I make a noose at the end of the line with a slip not. Also on the line is a large sinker (weight of sinker depends on the size of the live decoy).

The noose goes on the fish a little behind the head and behind the bottom fins (where they are attached to the fish).

The noose is pulled tight and the sinker lowered right above the noose. The string can cause a line around the fish...but no hole is put in the bait. I am able to use the same sucker for days unless a northern hits it.

Ever have that bait that runs perfectly? This way, that same "perfect" bait can be used for days.

[TDH]

I used a different method instead of using harness or a pin. My dad taught me this I don't know if it was his idea or not. I take those simple depth finders and melt the lead off. Then I spray paint them black. I just clamp it onto the dorsal fin, the minnow swims very natural and they last a long time. I have the clamp tied onto 4 lb. and thats on one of my ice rods. Set the drag just tight enough so the minnow can't take line out, so when a pike hits it it doesn't just rip the minnow off. I have been able to pull fish back into the hole several times. Never had any problems with the decoy getting off, even when using bigger decoys. I will never use anything else.

Heres a pic, the minnow is a real small one its all I had today, Thats why the clamp looks so big. On normal sized decoys its not much bigger than there dorsal fin would be.

[bassNspear]

the thing i dont like about that setup, is the live decoy cant swim on its own. I like the feeling that the decoy can free swim without the weight

[TDH]

 Originally Posted By: Bass N Spear

the thing i dont like about that setup, is the live decoy cant swim on its own. I like the feeling that the decoy can free swim without the weight

Hey BNS who is your reply to,Hammer or Me? If me What weight? The clamp barely weighs anything. when using a regular sized decoy they can swim like they have nothing weighing them down. In fact I almost wish it weight a little more because the decoys like to stay swimming outside the hole a lot when they have lots of energy.

[bassNspear]

i thought those clips weight a bit where it wouldnt let the fish swim