Staying on the schools?

I'm learning from this post, but more gear to lug around/get tangled...

Peace!

Its more of a history lesson john, if you have a gps or plotter don't waste your time. These were common in the pre-gps days and mostly used in the freshwater scene.  I've used them off the yak when all I had was a compass and a couple rods and they'd still work for someone that can't cut loose with the extra dough to get a gps. 

It's pretty amazing that the standard for equipment has grown to this level so fast.  I remember sturgeon fishing as a kid, metering around the bay with a chart and a flasher looking for berms and ridges to anchor up on in my dads Glasspar. lol, now I complain about a waypoint being 15' off 

lol, as much chest thumping as we do about getting it done on a yak I see alot of people better equipped than power boats.  We need to have an old school tourney with no electronics to really test the skillsets. Who's game?

 

Great idea art!! I would fit right in that tourney.

We need to have an old school tourney with no electronics to really test the skillsets. Who's game?

 

only if it is limited to 6lb test/leader.....

Those marker buoys are more effective for freshwater fishing. But I could understand why someone might use it in the ocean to mark pinnacles (like offshore, non-kelpy rockpiles). Because it wouldn't help you 'stay on the school' in the ocean, especially if we're talking blues, olives, yts, etc. Those fish are constantly moving.
So when you mark a school on your FF, take note of your drift speed & direction then paddle uphill a few strokes. (maintaining focus on your FF) This will help you determine which direction the school is moving. Also, check the settings on your FF. On my dual-sonar Humminbird, I have it setup to display marks that are outside the regular cone angle as grey/shadowed (instead of solid black). It helps me know if I'm right over the school or if they're off to the side...and if they're grey I'll adjust my drift accordingly [sometimes zig-zagging til I find them].   

First off take a look at the structure that the fish were on. If it's a pinnicle or steep drop off, then you've got something to mark and come back too. It's also a spot that will hold fish and won't move. If your talking mid level bait on a relatively common type bottom, then those fish are likely to move with the tide, and are difficult to stay on.