SAT 7/23: Chrissy Field

I have been experimenting and trying to dial in a similar set up.  one improvement I noticed early on was to use torpedo sinker instead of ball weights. I found that the balls pick up lots of seaweed and debris while the torpedo sinkers can slide on the bottom and stay pretty clean.  it can be difficult to find torpedos in the bigger sizes like 8 & 10oz but outdoor proshop in oakland seems to have them in stock regularly. their torpedos also have eye rings on both sides so I dress them up and use them for rockfish too. all you need is a splitring so you can attach a hook to the bottom eye. alot cheaper than 8 and 10oz hex bars and the lings still seem to like'em.

SteveS wrote-

Ooof, the hairraiser secret is out!

Oops! I didn't know it was a secret! I thought there were no secrets on this board.  (Right, Joel?)  I was wondering why none of the posts I've read about trolling for 'buts, on this site or others, mentioned the idea of using a jig for your weight. It's not all that uncommon up here.

Here's some other ideas:

Walleye fishermen use bottom bouncer/walker type weights. These don't snag easily or pick up a lot of debris.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166&id=0019556118005a&navCount=4&podId=0019556&parentId=cat20295&navAction=push&catalogCode=IF&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20295&hasJS=true
 
They also use what they call "bladebaits"- which are spinner-blades that can be changed via a plastic clevis with a slot in it. The reason I'm tempted to add a spinner to the rigs is that when I was a kid I use to fish for sea-run cutts in Puget Sound- and would hook sole and flounder more frequently than the cutthroat. I've also seen spinners added to white bucktail jigs used for catching fluke (summer flounder) on the East Coast. Halibut have a pretty well developed lateral line, which suggests that they easily sense vibrations. Maybe Molbasser should be casting spinnerbaits while the others are trying to net smelt!

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1244

Here's another lure used in the NW, that's fairly heavy and snag-free-

http://www.buzzbombzzinger.com/halibut.html

Any metal jig (iron) could be rigged the same way, with the hook on top and away from snags. I'm planning to test this in ling habitat, with single J-hook, to see if it reduces snags.

Another oldtime, homemade lure used here is the pipe jig. It's a section of copper pipe filled with lead. Holes are drilled through the pipe before filling, and cotter pins put through the holes. The holes for the cotter pins are far enough from the ends that, when splitrings and hooks are added, the hooks don't contact the bottom. Both halibut and lings will hit pipe jigs.

Pisco - the buzzbomb looks very interesting.....I seem to very good at snagging lures    at the bottom when fishing for rock fish.(Ask NCKA President Bill)  This lure maybe the best solution.

Pierre actually rigs his metals the same way.

Thanks for sharing the "secret"  

President! Oh crap, wheres the intern!  

Here is my two cents, i was down in monterey on monday. You know in my halibut area . the water was med. red tide color. i tried using my deep six with a anchovie 5" rapala(diver) . i cought 3 blackes two lings (small) and one undrsize halibut. can't wait to try more and in better condations. i love my spelling , its makes me so ..............  steve

President! Oh crap, wheres the intern!  

   
 
easy tiger!

I've actually used spinnerbaits here in Marin for stripers with good success.  often i'll use hairraisers with blades- again for stripers--- don't know what's wrong with me for not using them for hallies...

hairraisers with blades

Mel Cotton's in San Jose sells the "Blade Runner" . I had Bill get me some - haven't used 'em yet - but they sure look purdy  

(they actually look better than the road runners = IMO)

Just out of curiosity, has anyone used a diamond jig upsidedown as a weight???

when stripers tire of my usual offerings i too throw a spinnerbait and with stripers any color will work[as long as it is white].they rust up quick and stripers tear up the rubber skirts, don't spend to much on them, i usually buy an off brand.

Use some surgical tubing for your weight and lead sticks. If you snag your weight, just pull hard and it will pull out of the surgical tube and all you lose is a little second of lead tubing. Used to surf fish in the rocks with little baggies full of iron granules. If it got caugh in the rocks just tug hard and tear the bag open and free.


-Brian

I know I can't type! I really do have good english. lol

-Brian

I know I can't type! I really do have good english. lol

-Brian

I know you can Brian...you just need to control the "herbal medication"   intake  

Hey Joel! That's "seasickness meds"!