Golden Shiner Fishing Tips

To collect golden shiners, some anglers spread cracker or bread crumbs, or other bait in a likely spot around vegetation. Then return later with a No. 10 gold hook baited with a little bit of bread. Or use a cast net, if its in vegetation you need heavy weights, otherwise a standard net will do.

Wild golden shiners are somewhat difficult to keep. Shiners contaminate the water in a bait well with their excrement, which can lead to ammonia toxicity. A little rock salt in the water, good aeration, or a flow through system helps.

Tackle used to fish with shiners should be quite heavy, such as a 7-foot flipping stick, with 14 to 40-pound test line, and 4/0 Kayle hook (Kayle hooks pull in a direct line from the point of the hook to the eye and should be very sharp) with a weed guard. A 4-inch, cigar-shaped cork float is typically placed about 30 inches above the hook. Fishing along thick mats of hydrilla, reeds or floating plants is a favored tactic. A small split shot sinker can be added about 6-12 inches above the hook.

Golden shiner Normally, the hook is placed into the "V" under the shiner's chin and brought up through the hard area in front of the eyes. Bass hit the shiner headfirst, so this is the best way to ensure a hookup. This is also the hook-up used if you are going to troll (at very slow speeds), with your shiner to cover more ground.

If the grass is matted or your fishing under a dock, and you want the shiner to swim back under the mat and toward the surface, you can hook it on the belly between the anal and caudal fins. When fished this way, omit the float and keep your reel in free spool.

Another method is to hook the shiner through the back, between the dorsal and caudal fins. Shiners hooked this way swim downward making it effective in deeper water. Again, no float is used and free spool your reel.

Knowing when a bass is near your bait is obvious, since the shiner becomes agitated. If using a float, it will bounce about. If fishing free spool without a float, the line and rod tip will be your indicators. Often a bass will herd the shiner to the surface, so if your bait starts flipping on top of the water, get the slack out, but don't jerk the bait and hold on. Give the bass time to get the whole shiner in it's mouth. Point the rod tip at the fish and let him take up the slack line, with the reel in free spool. Hold your thumb on the reel to keep just enough pressure on the line so that it is taut, but not tight. When the fish starts running, lock the drag and set the hook very firmly.

Take Me Fishing.org is a great general information site for recreational anglers and boaters.

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