Replicants, strange activity!

[Woodchucker]

I have done a lot of trolling with Replicants since they hit the market and when I get the tails bitten off I generally put them to one side and re-use the hooks (proper Yorkshireman ) And when I went through the pile of dead ones, the thing I noticed was how many of the dead lures are in Perch pattern so here is the question.

Do Pike realise that Perch are a spikey fish so hit them at the rear of the bait to immobilise before coming back and dealing with them hence the reason I have had so many tails taken??

[martin godliman]

Unlikely I would think, but I'm more surprised you don't stick on a replacement tail to keep a good soft plastic going almost any old cheap shad tail will suffice.....cheapskate that I am I even made up a plaster of paris mould and cast my own out ruined soft plastics.

[fergie68]

When I fished corrib for ferox we noticed when we used perch baits normally quite large ones caught from the Loch the trout would hit them head on and the takes were very violent. If the fish didn't hook up the bait would come in with the skull crushed and almost flattened. We thought maybe they were killing and trying to swallow the bait headfirst.
Ferox caught on roach would almost always be caught on the flying treble at the tail (disabling the bait)? Or a big fish would just engulf it. Trout and salmon smolts were taken mostly in the middle and would normally be hooked on the front treble.
I'm sure predators take different baits in different ways.

[Timbo1]

I've had tails bitten off pretty much every Replicant pattern Mr Fox sells

[Jimk2]

Love a bit of trolling. This is a slick pattern minus a tail.

607CB8C1-40E5-4F3F-AA7A-5598C911152E.jpeg

[Steve Hincks]

I have done a lot of trolling with Replicants since they hit the market and when I get the tails bitten off I generally put them to one side and re-use the hooks (proper Yorkshireman ) And when I went through the pile of dead ones, the thing I noticed was how many of the dead lures are in Perch pattern so here is the question.

Do Pike realise that Perch are a spikey fish so hit them at the rear of the bait to immobilise before coming back and dealing with them hence the reason I have had so many tails taken??

Would you say you use perch more than other colours?

[Carlperkins]

I use perch as live bait over anything else
Big and small and find they get nailed either way

[Woodchucker]

Unlikely I would think, but I'm more surprised you don't stick on a replacement tail to keep a good soft plastic going almost any old cheap shad tail will suffice.....cheapskate that I am I even made up a plaster of paris mould and cast my own out ruined soft plastics.

I have done it before using Sandra tails but I just thought it was strange that Perch pattern took the most battering around the tails.

[Woodchucker]

When I fished corrib for ferox we noticed when we used perch baits normally quite large ones caught from the Loch the trout would hit them head on and the takes were very violent. If the fish didn't hook up the bait would come in with the skull crushed and almost flattened. We thought maybe they were killing and trying to swallow the bait headfirst.
Ferox caught on roach would almost always be caught on the flying treble at the tail (disabling the bait)? Or a big fish would just engulf it. Trout and salmon smolts were taken mostly in the middle and would normally be hooked on the front treble.
I'm sure predators take different baits in different ways.

Very interesting stuff

[Woodchucker]

I have done a lot of trolling with Replicants since they hit the market and when I get the tails bitten off I generally put them to one side and re-use the hooks (proper Yorkshireman ) And when I went through the pile of dead ones, the thing I noticed was how many of the dead lures are in Perch pattern so here is the question.

Do Pike realise that Perch are a spikey fish so hit them at the rear of the bait to immobilise before coming back and dealing with them hence the reason I have had so many tails taken??

Would you say you use perch more than other colours?

A good mixture to be honest Steve, roach and chub have been doing really well but I have two almost 1 day old Perch with tails bitten off in the same place and then when I have looked at some of my old dead replicants I would say 80% are Perch

[Woodchucker]

I use perch as live bait over anything else
Big and small and find they get nailed either way

I have also done well on Perch live baits

[Kev Berry]

I use perch as live bait over anything else
Big and small and find they get nailed either way

I have also done well on Perch live baits

It's the human thinking.....spines hurt.

Ever watch a giraffe eating stuff with 3" thorns? Don't bother it one bit

[Woodchucker]

Love a bit of trolling. This is a slick pattern minus a tail.

607CB8C1-40E5-4F3F-AA7A-5598C911152E.jpeg

[Woodchucker]

I use perch as live bait over anything else
Big and small and find they get nailed either way

I have also done well on Perch live baits

It's the human thinking.....spines hurt.

Ever watch a giraffe eating stuff with 3" thorns? Don't bother it one bit

You are probably right Kev, just me overthinking it I guess

[Mike J]

This is what to use to nobble the short strikers.

IMG_1493.JPG

A Gamakatsu hook design called a Twinex Treble Stinger ( not made by Owner as I originally posted).
Mustad make a similar hook but I think they call it a Ryder double hook.

I have caught more big Zander on live Perch than any other bait, always taken head first as you'd expect.



Martin, can you explain your method of melting and moulding redundant plastics please?



Edited to correct hook manufacturer.

[Woodchucker]

This is what to use to nobble the short strikers.
IMG_1493.JPG

A Owner hook design that used to be called a Stinger now I think the name has been given to a basic treble.
Mustad make a similar hook but I think they call it a Ryder double hook.

I have caught more big Zander on live Perch than any other bait, always taken head first as you'd expect.



Martin, can you explain your method of melting and moulding redundant plastics please?

Cheers Mike

[Mark Phillips]

I have done a lot of trolling with Replicants since they hit the market and when I get the tails bitten off I generally put them to one side and re-use the hooks (proper Yorkshireman ) And when I went through the pile of dead ones, the thing I noticed was how many of the dead lures are in Perch pattern so here is the question.

Do Pike realise that Perch are a spikey fish so hit them at the rear of the bait to immobilise before coming back and dealing with them hence the reason I have had so many tails taken??

I think we've all thought that at some time. But I doubt a pike has. I've never seen anything to suggest pike take perch in any way different to other bait fish, whether that's perch patterned lures or when using them as lives or deads. In fact, perch lives are really excellent little baits. Zander obviously have a few nasty spines and pike happily mash them up as well, size permitting. Interesting question mind

[Carlperkins]

I remember when we first used perch years ago we cut the spines off

[Woodchucker]

I have done a lot of trolling with Replicants since they hit the market and when I get the tails bitten off I generally put them to one side and re-use the hooks (proper Yorkshireman ) And when I went through the pile of dead ones, the thing I noticed was how many of the dead lures are in Perch pattern so here is the question.

Do Pike realise that Perch are a spikey fish so hit them at the rear of the bait to immobilise before coming back and dealing with them hence the reason I have had so many tails taken??

I think we've all thought that at some time. But I doubt a pike has. I've never seen anything to suggest pike take perch in any way different to other bait fish, whether that's perch patterned lures or when using them as lives or deads. In fact, perch lives are really excellent little baits. Zander obviously have a few nasty spines and pike happily mash them up as well, size permitting. Interesting question mind

Cheers Mark

[Woodchucker]

I remember when we first used perch years ago we cut the spines off

I have heard this before, probably for the reason of the thread but like most I have caught plenty of Pike and Perch on Perch live baits.

[fergie68]

The British record brown trout (ferox) had three 9inch perch in it.

Great baits spines or no spines.

IMG-20170217-WA0007.jpg

[Woodchucker]

The British record brown trout (ferox) had three 9inch perch in it.

Great baits spines or no spines.

IMG-20170217-WA0007.jpg

[Neville Fickling]

Melting waste plastic requires a cheap pan and over a gas burner in an open garage. Try not to breath the fumes. Pour into mould when liquid leave to set simple.

[andrew_nagel]

Are you getting this happening with perch reps from waters all around the country? What I'm getting at is do the fish have similar head sizes? I fish a couple lakes that are close to each other but the pike in one have small heads, and in the other they have huge heads. I have more repairs to do to soft plastics when fishing the small-heads water, and it seems to be that the pike often have the lure hooked towards the front of the mouth. The big headed ones take them in easily and there's less damage to the lures I find.

[Woodchucker]

Are you getting this happening with perch reps from waters all around the country? What I'm getting at is do the fish have similar head sizes? I fish a couple lakes that are close to each other but the pike in one have small heads, and in the other they have huge heads. I have more repairs to do to soft plastics when fishing the small-heads water, and it seems to be that the pike often have the lure hooked towards the front of the mouth. The big headed ones take them in easily and there's less damage to the lures I find.

Interesting stuff Andrew, its happened on a few rivers to be honest so it could just be down to trolling rather than casting because I retrieve Replicants with a jerky retrieve so it would be hard for a fish to target a specific part of the lure and usually engulf the lot. I suppose it could just be jacks grabbing hold of the tail and when I strike the tail is g=just gone but interesting all the same.

[nigel savage]

Nice to see you back Woody,
I'll send you a perch pattern fly if you want, they definitely won't bite the tail off that!!

Regarding the spines, I would bet that the average sized fish, (not presented baits) including perch are swallowed whole at the best of times, and don't even touch the sides before entering the gullet.

[Woodchucker]

Nice to see you back Woody,
I'll send you a perch pattern fly if you want, they definitely won't bite the tail off that!!

Regarding the spines, I would bet that the average sized fish, (not presented baits) including perch are swallowed whole at the best of times, and don't even touch the sides before entering the gullet.

Its nice to be back Nigel, and I am pretty sure you are right on this one

[fishder]

I have seen alot off perch during the summer floating in a lake i fish for pike with their heads mangled this lake has alot off trout in it about 3000 stockies every year pike grow fast in this lake.

[fergie68]

Any big wild brownies in it.

[Will Smith]

Any big wild gerbils in it.

Just corrected that for you Alan