Buffalo Question

[Mike Belt]

Years ago I had a friend that had a pond with a lot of buffalo in it...big buffalo. We used to pole fish for them with doughballs for bait. I was told that you couldn't hold the pole while fishing because the buffalo could feel the vibrations just from your pulse and stop biting. Any truth to this????

 

[TNRazorback]

Maybe if you were tight-lining with a heavy weight, but wind would also cause vibrations with a stationary rod. Folks fishing for carp often use small sharp hooks with a slack line and let them take it, hook themselves when they try to spit it out. Either that or use circle hooks that set themselves.

 

[Outdoor life]

I don't hold my rod/reel when fishing for carp or other bottom feeders, and I set the drag very low, to let the fish just take the line with no tug. I use a small hook like a size 6 baitholder hook, baited with corn, marshmellow (once), and nightcrawlers most of the time, and since that completly covers the hook, the fish usually swallows it.....I've caught about every fish around here doing that, from bluegill, sauger, carp, catfish, bass, suckers, redhorse, and a mooneye (took me forever to figure out what it was haha).

 

[quickfire]

I'd use either a spinning reel with a baitrunner or a baitcasting reel with a clicker. The Abu 6000 series is perfect for baitcasters, and Okumas with baitfeeders are good for spinning outfits. I leave my rod in a holder also.

 

[BackwoodsBoy]

Choot em with an arrow is how I catch them.

 

[bowriter]

Years ago I had a friend that had a pond with a lot of buffalo in it...big buffalo. We used to pole fish for them with doughballs for bait. I was told that you couldn't hold the pole while fishing because the buffalo could feel the vibrations just from your pulse and stop biting. Any truth to this????

Well, did you catch any? If not, must be true.

 

[catman529]

Buffalo just don bite often. I think the rod vibrating theory is a myth, never heard it before. I have caught a few buffs but they don't bite consistently. Last summer I caught one literally 5 feet from me while I was standing in knee deep water. I was fly fishing and just dropping the fly in front of him until he finally sucked it up. Of course I was holding the rod so I doubt that vibration theory means much.

I fish for carp very similar to outdoor life. I usually set the drag half way loose so there is enough resistance to get the hook caught so they can't spit it out. At least that is my theory. Once the reel starts to scream, grab the line against the rod and set the hook, then tighten down the drag. Carp bite and fight way better than buffalo

 

[Football Hunter]

Choot em with an arrow is how I catch them.