|
|
Posts: 727
| Have not heard much about them on here. How's everyone like them, and how do you work them?
Thanks |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | A bait that definitely doesn't get the spotlight like it should. However, you will find it an important part of the bag of tricks for a lot of the best fisherman out there.
More than anything I love the Joes nightfishing on clear, cisco based lakes. It is by far my best producing bait at night. I usually fish it 10-20' down over deep water with a slow retrieve with "drops" thrown in now and then. I always make sure my clients and myself jig them at the boat at the end of the cast as you will get quite a few to eat that way.
One of the best baits for working deep structures day and night. Mid summer is a great time to fish them 20-30' down on deep flats, or rock piles/humps. When you find your dawg eating fish are tight lipped throw on a Joe and you mat be surprised they can be more effective for tight lipped fish.
I like fishing mine subtly, but know the guys down on the Mad Chain fish them almost the complete opposite of me. I was shown their technique, and see the merit in it over shallower water.
|
|
| |
|
| Travis...on deep structure are you letting them hit bottom and bouncing them along, or just counting them down and working them above it?
these baits are made by Craig Eversol, one of the truly good people in the industry.
and that still means something...
http://liveactionlures.com
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 619
Location: Verona, WI | My fishing partner, Dave Dickinson, fished with Travis and had a lot of luck with them here in Madison. Cast, reel slowly, pull, reel slowly, pull. Like watching paint dry (for me) but was a very effective technique.
Shane |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I usually let them hit bottom while working deep structure, lets say 30' or less. One of my favorites is the end of deep points or spines extending off the main land in about 20-25' of water. When working the structure I like to slowly reel it in after it hits bottom, and several times during the retrieve let it drop to the bottom. The best spots seem to be those that have some rubble on the bottom, and if you hang up once in awhile you know you are in the right spots. Lots of hit right after you bounce that Joe off the rock.
Shane, good to here Dave had some success down on the chain. I know when he started fishing with me he had zero confidence in a Joe. Needless to say when I was done with him he was a believer. The Joe saved the day as nothing else was productive on the second day.
However, the way I fish them and I assume the way Dave was fishing them is different than some of the best down there. Guys like Cory Painter and Jeff Hansen fish them differently. If they are willing and see this I will let them spill the beans.
As said Craig is one of the good guys in the industry! You won't find a nicer guy, and one that loves to fish musky! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 619
Location: Verona, WI | Yeah Dave came back from fishing with you and we spent the next couple of nites throwing for suspended fish on Waubesa - DDDs, Depth Raiders, Super Ds/Bulldawgs, Big Joes. 8 hrs on the water and a 45.5", 44.5", and a 41.5". I was sold.
Shane |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Last year I finally threw mine quite a bit more than the years before and I'm glad I did. Some bantering back and forth with Travis and he convinced me to give them a shot.
I have been working suspended fish more and more and have always worked deeper structure based on the makeup of our lakes down here and the joes were working good for us last year. We count them down, just like dawgs, but rather than ripping, we were reeling a few times, pause, reel pause, or just a steady straight retrieve. Both were working for us, and like Travis when fishing structure, making contact was key at times. Also, when fishing deep water, we got bit alot when burning the bait to the surface and making an L turn.
The Joe supply will be substantially bigger after the Milwuakee show this year  |
|
| |
|
| The Big Joe is awesome. I've used them two or three seasons now and I kick myself for not picking up on this bait a lot sooner. It seems like a real underrated bait and a bit of a sleeper. As the discussion has already highlighted, it's a very versatile bait that can be used in many applications. Open water, deep structure, shallow structure, weeds, jigged, swam, ripped, jerked, whatever - Big Joe works.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 375
| the joes have been one of my best baits for a few years now. price-wise they are reasonable and glue back together easily. i and the fish like the action and i beleive the rattle has alot to with my success with them. at the end of last season i crashed one into something while trolling and cracked the lip. i ground off the rest of the lip and i'm looking forward to throwing this lipless version in the spring. has anyone else tried this bait lipless? i also melted a bulldog tail onto it to give it added length / action. we'll see what happens! speaking of rattles, does anyone know where various types can be purchased to add / melt / attach to rubber / hard baits?
thanks...
Edited by STUSHSKY 1/17/2009 8:07 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Stushsky I think you are thinking about Swimmin Joes, and not Big Joes. Big Joes do not have a lip, and were around prior to the bulldawgs ever hit the scene. Made by Live Action Lures right here in WI. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 375
| yes it was the swimmin joes i was thinking of....thanks... |
|
| |
|
| Thanks for the clarification. I thought you guys were talking about Bucher Swimming Joes. I think I may know what your talking about now though. They are soft baits with a split tail - kind of like a shallow invader but bigger tail. Although I've never seen them in the stores. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | Hee's a picture of a Big Joe.
Aaron
Attachments
----------------
 BigJoe.jpg (1KB - 186 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 194
| Lambeau nailed it. Craig is one of the truly good guys out there. I'd like to see a Giant Joe get made. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 814
| Kazmuskie, there is a larger joe made....its called the MO JOE its like 10oz I think, thornes has them in stock, also I am sure Craig will have them at Milwaukee. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 44
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I was looking at one of these at Smokies the other day and noticed that they come with the bottom hook stuck into the belly of the bait. Do you guys fish them that way or do you let them hang loose?
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 385
| I used to fish them a long time ago and would always modify them because the rear treble came out the back and would tangle the tails. Back then I used to pull the rear hanger down thru the rear belly of the bait. I would let the belly hook dangle |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | jballs - 4/14/2011 11:40 AM
I was looking at one of these at Smokies the other day and noticed that they come with the bottom hook stuck into the belly of the bait. Do you guys fish them that way or do you let them hang loose?
I fish them loose. They don't seem to get fouled on anything for the most part, however once in a while, they'll wrap around the snap on your leader. You can alwasys put some shrink wrap on the hook, but I haven't found that necessary.
Even when fishing deep rock piles with the hook exposed, I haven't had many issues with snag'n rocks. Although, I have destroyed a few hook points this way. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Yep let it hang loose! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 44
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | All right the verdict is in, let her hang. Thanks for the help guys.
Jaimey |
|
| |
