Whipping pencil plugs?

[Hunter]

Heard someone talking about whipping a pencil plug on a fishing rod at night. I have handlined with these with good success, but I have never heard of this before. Anyone know how this is done? If I understand they anchor and bouce these off bottom? Any info would be appreciated. thanks

[Homer]

You fish from an anchored position in a river, using a 3-way swivel with a heavy enough sinker to allow you to feel bottom. Let line out until you feel bottom, "whip" the rod forward, let the rod back until you feel bottom again, repeat. It's very popular (and effective) in the St. Clair River in Michigan. Due to the strong currents, heavy weights (2-5 oz.) are needed, which require the use of short stiff rods. Like handlining, it's possible to run multiple lures in series, running a leader off the back of the first lure. You don't have to use pencil plugs, I've had success with Bomber Long A's, Rapalas, Rebels, etc.

[Hunter]

Thanks that cleared up a few things might give this a try on the detroit and see what happens.

[rabble rouser]

Its just like Homer said. We do it mostly in the spring of the year here on the St.Clair River. You should anchor in about 19' of water near the shore line. Try to get above where a hole is. The current will take your sinker back. Let line out till you contact bottom, twitch it a few times,then let more line out till you contact bottom again. Keep doing this till you can no longer feel bottom. Then reverse what you have just done and work the line back in. Start out with a 16" to 30" dropper for your sinker. Then run a 16' leader with a pencil plug on it, then hook a 8' leader to the back of the pencil plug and put a #9 or #11 Rapella on that leader. You can also run 3-8' leaders. That should get you started. Everybody has their own variation to this setup. If you have any more questions just e-mail me at, winston@bwb.net. Hope this helps you out.

[Homer]

Well, you learn something new every day. I have always let additional line out after several jerks until eventually I can't feel bottom anymore (just like you described), but never thought about gradually working it back it. I'd just crank it back in as fast as I could, check for weeds, and start over. Do you get a good numer of hits working it back up?

[rabble rouser]

Its about half and half. Think about it, when you reel back in a bait is moving in its natural movement. How many fish do you see swimming backwards? When you troll, you are moving forward. Just something to think about. If there was a sure solution it would be too easy and then fishing wouldn't be as much fun.