Ling Live Bait Rig?

I'm trying to improve my success with larger lings in 07' and would like to try live rigging rockfish. I assume a trap rig is the ticket, but I'm not sure the best way to rig it. Does anyone have any tips?. Thanks in advance for any help.

Ed

A trap rig would probably be your best bet. Hook the single snelled hook through the baitfish's lip and sticc the treble near its tail. If you are planning on using a small blue or blacc, I would suggest using a large treble, since lings have large mouths. I've had good lucc using a Gamakasu EWG treble size two, instead of the size four I've been using for years.
You also want to let the ling eat the baitfish before swinging for the fences.

Good lucc...

I don't think people regularly switch to a big hook, but it seems that is the right thing to do, pull out either
the trap hook setup or just a single BAH (big ass hook) and then you can hook the baitfish through the dorsal
area.

Using sandabs we had good results with a single 6/0 mustad through the face. I used stinger trebles and singles but they were more of a pain to deal with when landing and nearly all were taken on the primary hook.  Ran the stinger treble with blues for similar results.  I think if you let them gum on it then load up your stick the first hook in line gets all the penetration power thus all hook ups on the primary hook. Got a few tricks up my sleeve for next year. 

I think one of the most important things to do when fishing live bait for lings is to wait (I know its hard to do) for the ling to swallow the whole live bait, unless your fishing with small live baits (anchovies, herring).

Using sandabs we had good results with a single 6/0 mustad through the face. I used stinger trebles and singles but they were more of a pain to deal with when landing and nearly all were taken on the primary hook.  Ran the stinger treble with blues for similar results.  I think if you let them gum on it then load up your stick the first hook in line gets all the penetration power thus all hook ups on the primary hook. Got a few tricks up my sleeve for next year. 

I noticed that too, when using a trap rig most fish are caught on the snelled octopus hook. I guess larger fish swallow smaller fish head first.
When fishing whole squid on a trap rig for halibut, most of mine were caught on the treble.
Either with single hooks or trap rigs, with live bait...especially a large live bait, give the ling some time to get most of the bait fish in its mouth.

Man, can't wait till July...

Take a smallish blue, hook it sideways through the nose with the jig you caught it on, drop it near the bottom...easy and effective.  When I had Paige on a PB she hooked four nice lings this way.

Man, can't wait till July...

I hear that!

I think I heard rumblings that we might only have to wait until April....

I think I heard rumblings that we might only have to wait until April....

I thought I saw a post that stated a May start...  That would be awesome!

April/May??? How sweet would that be? Where are you hearing these rumblings? Inquiring minds want to know 

I am pretty sure I saw it on coastside. The rules have not been finalized yet, but the early start was a recommendation from the DFG I believe.

DFG put out a mesage stating that groundfish rules for 2007 would consider a start as early as April/May, and depths out to 240ft.  No diecsion on this yet, the meetings where the decisions happen is in March.

So, cross your fingers.

Allen

DFG put out a mesage stating that groundfish rules for 2007 would consider a start as early as April/May, and depths out to 240ft.  No diecsion on this yet, the meetings where the decisions happen is in March.

So, cross your fingers.

Allen

My fingers are crossed and double crossed...
April/May with depths up to  240ft., I hope it comes true...

Great. 

You guys just gave Kayote all your secrets. Now he's going to come all the way from Utah and win the Elk Tournie!!!