DelawareRiver.net

Madtom Ecology

Madtoms (stone catfish) are small catfish averaging 2-4“ in length and are part of the complex web of feeding relationships that occur in streams. Although small, they are often abundant in streams and rivers, and their populations represent a significant link in the food chain.

Like bigger catfish, madtoms are mostly nocturnal. During the day they hide under rocks and leafy debris. At night, they emerge and forage voraciously. They eat a variety of small, aquatic insects, including the nymphs of mayflies, dragonflies and damselflies. They also eat small crustaceans, including aquatic pill bugs and immature crawdads.

Smallmouth bass consider them a delicacy

A 2 year R&D Program

I spoke w/several experience smallmouth bass fishermen who have used live and artificial stone catfish as bait for smallmouth bass. They all raved as to the effectiveness of a real Madtom as bait for smallmouth bass. I received excellent advice on the coloring of these Stone catfish found  in the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers.

I made several RTV silicone molds and poured various colors. Using a belly weighted hook that presented these baits w/good hooking qualities and reduced snag performance was of the utmost importance. The 1^st year produced some nice fish but I was still not satisfied w/the silhouette and hooking system.  I changed to a light wire Mustad Ultra-point hook w/a 1/8oz. belly weight. The soft-bait silhouette was re-designed and with the help of a skilled CNC molds machinist and valuable input from an avid stone cattie fisherman, the 1^st 2-part mold was made. Getting the plastic formula just right to hand-pour the thin entrance to the tail section was tricky but was accomplished on the 2^nd CNC mold.w/some additional venting. A third minor adjustment was made and the final molds were completed.

Reports of good success by respected anglers using this new bait reached my desk in a very short period of time. I was finally able to get out of the shop and on the water to try them. Developing a consistent presentation pattern that interested the smallmouth bass community required a bit of time. I found a dead drift w/an occasional lift of 1-4 ft. off of the bottom to be effective as they fell back to the bottom. They can also be slowly reeled w/pauses to let them drop. Watching your line where it enters the water is most important since any sideways movement indicates a hit. I was surprise how lightly the bass hit them and moved very quickly, 4-6 feet to the left or right of the initial pick-up spot. Set the hook immediately-no matter how light the 1 tap hit usually is.

It is important to continuously check the sharpness of the Ultra-point hook A quick touch-up (in one direction with a smooth diamond file) usually returns them to an ultra sharp hook. The hook point should stick into your fingernail and not slide across if sharpened properly. Use even but light pressure towards the point of the hook with the diamond file. Fishing these baits w/a Texposed hook causes them to come in contact w/various rocky bottoms that smallmouth bass frequent and the stone catties live under on the bottom of the river and streams. You will also experience Sunfish, .Red-eyes and Walleyes hitting these baits.

Stone Cattie Soft-bait & Presentation System
(#SCPS)  |  $19.95

1-Susquehanna Cat – black w/amber /yellow belly
2-Delaware river Cat – green pumpkin w/ caramel belly
The kit consists of 2 complete rigs/4 extra- weighted hooks (1/8 oz.) and 12 soft-baits. Both colors may be mixed as 6 of each -per kit.

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Smallmouth bass consider the stone catfish (mad tom) a delicacy and feed on them when ever they are present. I’ve created an average size in two distinct models w/valued input from 2 anglers who know the value and rewards of fishing stone catties. The soft-bait is affixed to a special Mustad, black chrome, light wire hook w/a centered belly weight and hitchhiker coil keeper. It is recommended to rig the bait texposed. Rigged this way, the bait falls in a upright, circular swimming motion.

Key words: Stone catfish, Madtoms, River smallmouth bass soft baits

Written by: Al Winco (smallmouthaholic)
www.wincoscustomlures.com

Fishing Wacky Worms for smallmouth bass in the Delaware River

Author by: Al Winco (Smallmouthaholic)

www.wincoscustomlures.com

I find that wacky worms are especially productive during the summer and early fall period w/water temperatures in the 70’s. Lethargic smallmouth bass just can’t seem to resist them if they are presented w/a slow, horizontal fall w/an occasional twitch. They seem to favor certain sizes  and colors. I prefer the 4 ¼” size w/an “O” ring installed @ the rear of the egg sack for balance. My ‘wacky” Stick Worm Jr. is manufactured for fishing “wacky” style w/ either a  Owner #1-1/0 Mosquito or a #2 -  #4 Gamakatsu Octopus circle hook. Simply place the hook point into the worm, under the “O” ring and exposed on the other side. The “O” ring enables the worm to catch 3-5 bass before being replaced and the worms won’t fly-off into outer space when casting.

Fish them weightless as the salt & sand content in my custom wacky worms  causes them to sink for natural “wacky” action w/their soft and flexible movement.  An angler induced occasional twitch can certainly help to attract lethargic smallmouth. When river levels rise from their typical summer low flows, add a 1/32 – 1/16 oz crimp-on bull shot 6″-12” above the worm. I prefer to fish them w/out any weight that gives them a slow, tantalizing fall throughout the water column.

I don’t recommend fishing the wacky worms in fast currents.  They simply won’t get deep enough.  They work best when they are permitted to fall slowly on a horizontal plane in slack water and reverse current pools. Your boat should be stationary, anchored or very s-l-o-w-l-y drifting w/ the current. Give the boat an occasional upriver nudge w/the electric motor to momentarily stop the drift of the boat. Cast them up river and let them sink-naturally. Keep most of the slack out of your line and watch your line where it enters the water. An occasional twitch helps but be careful when you feel any resistance on the line. The smallmouth may spit them out if you continue to twitch them after the bass has  picked them up.

Most hits are subtle, 1 tap hits. Many times they just hold them and other times they will swim upriver w/them. Sunfish and rock bass w/give multiple taps on the worm in quick succession – sometimes ripping 2-5 feet of line out in a split second. Many anglers new to this style of fishing will set the hook and then think they missed a smallmouth bass. Bass usually give 1 or 2 taps, then slowly move up current when the take a wacky worm. These specialized wacky worms sink @ the rate of  1ft. every 2 seconds w/the salt and sand blended content of the worm .Count slowly to 9 and give them a light twitch when fishing in deeper holes w/depths greater then 4 feet. Count to 5 again and then lift your line carefully moving the worm approximately 1 foot. Alternating between a twitch and line lift will vary the presentation.

Persevere and give them an honest 45 minute work-out each time out on the river during slow-bite periods, or when the  bite has stopped completely. Be patient and you’ll soon be catching some quality river smallmouth bass as you master the Wacky worm technique in moving water.

A quality smallmouth bass from the Susquehanna caught w/the wacky Stickworm Jr. during a tough,slow bite!

During low water periods, the Delaware River can become extremely clear. I’ve been very successful using a special laminated Wacky Stick Worm Jr. I refer to as my-my” dead bite”-wacky worm .I believe it imitates the brook lamprey eel. Standard colors like watermelon and green pumpkin are the normal go-to baits but this laminated Green pumpkin/watermelon worm produces best in the ultra-clear water.

Here are before and after pictures of my “wacky” stick-worm jr.(with “O” rings pre-installed) after catching 6 smallmouth bass to 16″ in a river situation.

The used one is ready to be replaced, or broken by the 7th fish. This “O” ring, rigged stick worms can be expected to catch from 3-7 bass per worm before being replaced.

The red hook (middle picture) is an Owner #2 Mosquito (green pumpkin worm) and the other bronze hook(watermelon worm) is a #4 Gamakatsu Octopus circle.(watermelon worm). The weights pictured are “Water-Gremlin”, 1/32 oz bull shot crimp-on bullet weights. Give these Wacky Stick worm Jr.’s a try on your next river trip-the smallmouth love ‘em and you’ll save some $ on baits.
The” Wacky” Stick-worm Jr.(WSWJR. 4.25″) are available in 8 colors w/”O” rings installed