SAT 7/23: Chrissy Field

saw or rather heard the gang over at linda mar around 10:30, sounded like it was a real slow pick.  Decided that i'd launch at chrissy field and try the new hallie trolling rig.  Worked.
Landed two- one about 18" the other just barely barely 24.

off the water when the wind came up at 1:30.

S

Nice Steve, got any pics of the new rig?

I'll post it tomorrow-- but here's the gist.

3-way swivel, 8oz on 18"drop.  Tiny flasher 12" back, then a floating yozuri crystal minnow (blue of course) 2 feet back from that.  Troll just fast enough to make the yozuri wiggle...blam

Nice I am going to have to give that a try, the guys trolling for hali's always seem to have a higher hookup rate. Must be that they are just covering more water.

How deep do you troll? I never know how close is too close to the bottom...

You only use the crystal minnow?  No squid?
Pat

I saw this interesting set-up....anyone familiar with this?

http://www.homestead.com/FishStalker/use.html

How close to the bottom:

basically I set up the weight and length of line out- so that every now and then the weight ticks off the bottom. you want to be close, real close, but not quite touching.  

Always Yozuri's?:
I've tried hoochies trolling, and freshbait as well-- but always from a boat.  Lure choice is kind of a cross between the lures you would use for salmon (RSK, FBRs, hoochies, bait, etc,.) and those you would use for stripers.
My buddy seems to have had excellent luck with the yozuri (I turned him on to it after my success with stripers). I figured I'd emulate for the first go round.  Seems to have worked well, so I'll slowly expand.

I'm thinking of trying it in Monterey area- for some reason I don't see the trollers there that I do up here.  I know the commercial guys, use a 2lb ball, and then like 50 hoochies daisy-chained.

I think this method you speak of will work well in Linda Mar bay.  The up side to Linda Mar as with the bay is you can hook a nice striper too!  Has anyone tried this at Linda Mar.

Jason

I agree with you jason...I think that we could use trolling anywhere.  I might lengthen the leader to the lure when the water is clearer, maybe even drop the flasher in some cases.
can't believe that its taken me this long to learn it.  Now just gotta spend the hours to perfect it (hopefully sunday wasn't just beginners luck!)

Most of the guys who I know that seriously troll for Halibut do the same as you off of oyster point and adjacent areas.  My dad has a super old Bay fishing book and they show a similar set up only without the flasher.  I am going to rig one up so the next time I hit Linda mar I am going to give it a try.

Jason

If I don't do the hopeless chase for salmon over towards soldiers club, I will try the halibut trolling thing for the halibut I missed last week.  

Thanks for the good idea.

Pat

Steve,
Do the bay guys still troll Bang O B's?

My dad has about 4 or 5 and they were supposed to be the ticket many years ago, so he said.

I believe he used to troll off the SF airport (I was too young to go).

Stuart

Up here in WA, instead of a weight on the bottom of the 3-way, I use a jihead with soft plastic. This doubles my chances.  

Here's my proof from this last May-



I was taught to stay in almost constant contact with the bottom- this seems to be true for all flatfish. Some of the braver PBers up here use their downrigger balls to bounce bottom. (Imagine snagging a 12# ball on 150# cable!) The theory, as I've heard it, is that the hallies check out the vibrations and the plume of sediment sent up by dragging/tapping bottom. It sure has worked for me.

Not sure on the bang o' B's...but I'm sure if they were good then, they're good now.
Airport area is great. just watch the "no approach" zone- those coasties wil be on you so fast!

Ooof, the hairraiser secret is out!  
I also use them when drifting with live bait.  One thing on those, here in the bay, over the mostly muddy bottom, you end up dragging around a lot of junk.  When drifting or trolling Paradise, Oyster, etc try using a pencil type weight instead of a ball, they slide along the muddy bottom much better. Chrissy field, muir, etc- with sandy bottoms-- jigs!  or a ball weight are perfect.