Run and Gun, or Sit and Wait???

[Connor4501]

I've always been someone who makes 8 or 10 holes before I even start fishing. This holds true for perch fishing in Lake St. Clair and fishing gills and crappie on inland lakes and ponds. I rarely ever sit in any one hole for more than 30-45 seconds unless I'm getting fish or at least some bites. I'm one who believes that you stay on the fish more when you move to them instead of waiting on them to come to you. I also believe that you catch more of the active fish in the area. So the question I ask is: Do you prefer to move around alot as you fish or do you prefer to sit in one place and wait?????

[MSUICEMAN]

all depends what area...... some places i know that the fish are there and that moving wouldn't serve a purpose, just have to wait it out pickin out the odd fish until they decide to bite. Other places it seems like run and gunning works the best. Eventually i get tired of running and gunning or if its too cold i just can't move around as much as sometimes i would like to.

steve

[ChapstickCharlie]

I like to think that I adapt to the lake that day. If I can only find active fish, then I hole hop. Sometimes though I might have to take a sit and wait em out approach. One thing is for sure, I spend some of the time just taking it all in. Oh my god I am getting old.

(excerpt from the book titled "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits."

[Gillgitter]

I drill a couple holes and set up my flip shanty. If I don't see any thing or catch any in 5-10 minutes I move on. I usually fish lakes I kinda know and that way I eliminate unproductive water.

Sometimes it also depends on the weather. If its cold and nasty I tend to hang out in the shanty longer with the heater going, not wanting to go out.

My brother fishes like you. He pounds about 12-15 holes in an area and moves constantly from hole to hole. He calls it bunny fishing LOL (jumping from hole to hole)

Some days he gets more then I do, some days not.

I don't fish much on LSC for perch. I think there you have to run and gun as the fish are in schools that constantly move around.

[mike h]

I have a brother that is the same way but as for me I tend to hang in the shanty and catch my limit to.
Sometimes I also run and gun but if the fishing is slow we hurray and pack it up and run to our hotspots. They always produce.

[patcheroo]

It all depends on what my Vexilar is telling me. I usually punch 10 or 15 holes to start. Take the Vex to each hole and see if there is anything there. When I find them , I fish. If they bite , I stay. If they don't , I move. If I don't find them......I punch more holes....Patch

[Wishn I was fishn]

I too pop about a dozen hole. or untill my pucker out. Then I'll fishh each hole for 3-5 minutes if noting ill move to the next.

[William H Bonney]

I don't mind, the run and gun, but prefer not too, if I don't have too. I've found that the shanty has a lot to do with it,, the actual "dark" covering over the holes. So, I'll tend to stick it out in one spot alot longer than usual. I also try to stick to the waters that I know best,,, that way I can call it a day early,,,if its just "one of those days".

[Fishfoote]

It usually take me a dozen holes just to find the spot I want to start at. I'll spend anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes at a hole before moving to another. I also try and use holes cut by other folks just to avoid the noise factor of cutting new ones.

[Connor4501]

As I figured, I move around alot more than most. My lack of patience and bad back contribute to my moving around like i do. But I also think I do better "running and gunning". My 1st trip out on the ice yesterday was a perfect example. The ones sitting still were going sometimes a half hour without a fish, where as almost every hole I sat down in I would get at least a fish or two. But like you guys said, its all depends on the lake, your age, the situation. Lots of different factors. Not to mention the weather. I figure that about 25% of all ice fishers like the run and gun approach. Lots of good insight guys!!!:)

[niner93]

I have been doing the run and gun for about 7 years now. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. But I will tell you this. More times than not I can catch as many or outfish anybody that sits and waits.

Even if you have a productive hole it still pays to have 10 other holes in that area. Sometimes they are only 5 to 10 feet apart but that can make the difference. I believe that a fish can be sitting down there looking at your bait for a while without hitting it. If you pull it up and drop it behind him by a couple feet you can turn him and get him to hit.

Most of the times you can drop into a new hole and get a bite within 30 seconds then nothing. That means it's time to move.

Only time I go back to my shanty is to warm up and get a tasty beverage;)

All that said I have not had much luck with running and gunning for night time crappie. It seems like I do better sitting and waiting.

[Connor4501]

Very good point niner. Almost identical to what I do. If the water is clear and I can see the fish down there, I make my move in the direction that the fish swam in. That's why having holes 10-20 feet apart are a great advantage!!!:)

[jeremy L]

usually fish two holes for 10-15 mins, if i get no bites, then i will go and make two more holes.

This is what i usually do unless i'm in a spot which i know produces good fish, example a spot where i fish goes from about 3-4 feet of water to about 7-8 feet in about 5-10 yards.

[garyrodbender]

When I locate cooporative perch, I try and determine what direction the school is traveling. Is my line going left or right ? When they slow , move out in front of them . Making sure im not on top of them with my auger. 50-100 yrds and set-up shop again. Another method we use is typically punch a dozen holes in a known perch area, go to possition 2 punch a dozen more,and one more spot, and move back and forth `til ya limit out . This all is weather dependant, and your ability to be mobile(motivated)(portable) are key`s to run n gun`n perch. My .02