Live shiner fishing for trophy-sized largemouth bass came to fame back in the late 1980s and early 1990s when Florida anglers learned that trophy largemouth bass could be caught early in the year by offering one big bait to tempt bass that may feed only once or twice per day in colder water.
The keys to fishing live shiners are proper presentation of the bait so that it stays lively, and getting the bait out in front of the bass, which in many cases are holding tight to heavy cover.
Trolling
In more open water areas, bass may be holding relatively deep, so drifting or trolling the bait is typically the best way to present it in a natural manner to fish that may be holding along a channel edge or drop off.
Typically known as live-lining or free-lining, a 6- to 8-inch or even larger bait is hooked through the nose using a 3/0 or 4/0 circle or kahle hook. The hook is attached to a 3- to 4-foot section of fluorocarbon leader in the 15- to 20-pound class, providing abrasion resistance if the bait is pulled through wood or rocky cover. Tie the leader to a quality barrel swivel to prevent line twist that is inherent with trolling. Main line in the 15- to 20-pound class is typically sufficient.
Trolling allows better boat control than drifting but care should be exercised to not troll faster than 1.0 to 1.5 mph. In cooler water, shiners will stay lively and active for extended periods, but bass will not chase them far.
Using no weight on the free line rig will allow the bait to find its own depth and reduces the chance of snagging or fouling, especially if aquatic vegetation is present. In more obstruction-free water, a bullet worm weight, split shot, or egg sinker up to a quarter ounce can be added to get the bait down.
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