Agent, a lot of very good fishermen have jumped in this post. I’m just going to add a few items which may already be obvious.
While shiners are much more tolerant, sounds like you do have some sort of livewell issue which Lawcrusher’s suggestion should remedy. We only use a 10 gallon system from Cabella’s and restrict ourselves to 2 dozen which works fine. Having “happy bait” is a priority. You may even want to Google on Herring.
Also suggest the smallest hooks you are comfortable with. I typically use the size 2 or 1 Gamakatsu circle hooks. Usually just rig herring through the nostrils, but sometimes, and with shiners, rigged them through the upper lip out the top.
Right now I’m running about 20 feet of line behind my planer boards. Some run more or less and I hear it’s good to experiment. You can also use a single split shot at the leader swivel for a little more depth, but I removed it for the shiners which are a little smaller than herring. Also use a big “slip float” (which I interpret as a freeline that you can float away from the boat) with about 15 feet of line below the float.
Finally all water looks the same from the top. A GPS with lake contours on it is really helpful. The shallows and along the bank is usually warmer water this time of year. Search out humps, holes, bends, and points. Sometimes a few feet makes all the difference. It’s a big lake. Spend the time on the water getting familiar with your areas and learn your electronics.
I utilize the smaller hooks so that the bait (regular size herring or shiners) is not overwhelmed and can swim freely. Some in this forum may think that I’m undersized, but I haven’t experienced any fish loss due to hook size that I’m aware of. Obviously you’ll need bigger hooks for cut bait or if you are fishing with “big” live bait like 12 to 15 inches. Going through the upper lip also helps to keep the bait from foul hooking itself. You’re striving for as natural a presentation as possible, but you also need to be comfortable with what you’re doing.
Bait size always dictates hook size to me. As Michael is saying, you want as natural a presentation as possible. My base hook for pulling is a 1/0 Gamakatsu Circle Octopus. For bait less than 3", I will go as small as #2 and #4 sizes. For big gizzards, I will use 6/0 and larger sometimes with stingers. You want to use good enough hooks to turn a cow while not restricting the bait’s movement… I wish I could have boated the fish that broke a Gamakatsu a couple of years ago in a tournament. That’s the only time I’ve had a hook fail before the line. I was soooooo disappointed. It had to be a brute!
I dont know what Patianne is about to tell you about Cajun Red Line but I experimented with that line a couple of years ago and it is terrible.
For several fishing trips I had Berkeley Big Game Green on half my rods and that Cajun Red Crap on the other half and I didnt get a single bite on the Cajun line. Meanwhile I was reeling in fish and getting bites left and right on the Big Game.
Also agent, I use 20 lb Berkeley Big Game Green line as my main line for all types of striper fishing during the year (PB’s, DR’s, FL’s).
I use 10 - 12 lb flurocarbon as my leader. Dont buy the Vanish fluro, it seems to break easier. The Berkeley and Spiderwire fluro’s are relatively cheap and seem to work pretty good. I dont change out my main line during the year (unless I get hung up deep several times during the year) but do regularly (almost every trip) redo my fluro leaders especially if I fished all day with particular rods and caught fish.
Man I feel like I am just the black sheep of the board now…lol…i have 1 rod that I keep Cajun line on. I use the big game neon green (solar collector) on everything else. Granted I would have already taken it off if I would just mark the reel. It’s my “favorite” been with me for 16yrs and don’t want it to get mixed in with the rest. In the last yr that rod has taken a 15,20, and 24# fish and lost another to a straightend stinger hook…and I use the vanish (14#) as my leader when using herring or small shad. I step up to segaur 20-25# when fishing big baits…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
I did the same thing with Cajun red, never had a hit. I use the exact hooks Fogman uses. I only use the small ones when the bait gets really small. I had some really nice herring mixed in with my bait Tuesday. I have been experimenting with how I hook my bait. I have found in the mouth and out the nostril seems to get the least tangles and keeps the bait the lively. They seem to die with the hook through the lower jaw and out of the nose and they hook turns back into the fish through the nostrils.
Here’s my last question then I’ll leave you nice fishermen alone. Since I fish alone most of the time I only have 2-4 rods out at once. Am I wasting my time bait fishing? I saw a report recently where Weston had a ton of rods out and slayed the fish.
These guys are going to tell you that you can never have too many rods out …
I will tell you that you can have as many rods out there as you feel comfortable with …
If you’re comfortable with 4 then that’s fine …
In October 2013, we started with 2 and I thought it was crazy …
Last Sunday we had 12 rods out and I was looking for a place to put out #13 …
Once my 2nd trident comes in from California I can run 15 rods …
If my Wife will approve/agree with my planer tree design and Happy Bob’s price to make it we could have up to 6 sets of planers (12 rods), plus 4 - 6 down rods, PLUS 4 - 6 various float/free/transom rods … All told we could have as many as 24 rods out fishing for Striper …
We already look like a porcupine can’t image what we’d look like with 20 - 24 rods out … LOLOL
As you can see in this pic there are 11 rods out with space for one more … and plenty of space to add rod holders to my rails and still be comfortable on the boat
OMG! Lawcrusher I have enough trouble paying for gas let alone feeding all those rods with bait Lol! I might have to stick with sight fishing with my flyrod and hope the schooling starts again soon.
Your own personal comfort level is the key. Since we just get 2 dozen herring at a time, fishing 6 rods is fine for the two of us. I usually only put out 4 (2 planers, a cork, and a downrod) when I’m out alone. If all your rods go off at the same time, that’s a nice problem to have. Just enjoy it and deal with it.
Looking forward to your next outing report. Forget January and February, March is on the way.
Murraymaker, I’ll have to join the black sheep club. I’ve used 12# Red Cajun off and on for years sometimes even in my largemouth tournaments. I’ve done really well with it in some of those tournaments. Also caught quite a few nice stripers on it while fishing the spoons for white perch. Of course,I consider that a reaction type bite, when the fish doesn’t usually get a good look at the bait or line. The biggest fish I’ve landed with the 12# Cajun was a flathead that went slightly over 21#. When you guys are pulling herring do you consider that a reaction bite?
For the last couple of years I’ve used mostly Vanish fluorocarbon, even down rodded using it as a leader with Fogman this past summer. Never had a problem and caught plenty of fish. I do check the line for nicks after every fish or hangup. If it gets a nick I immediately cut and re-tie, but hopefully we all do that.
I also use the Green 15# Berkley Big Game and have never had a problem with it. I’m just beginning to experiment with Braided line. So far the biggest problem for me is getting hung in deep water and sometimes having to cut the line. It is almost impossible to break!
Here’s my last question then I’ll leave you nice fishermen alone. Since I fish alone most of the time I only have 2-4 rods out at once. Am I wasting my time bait fishing? I saw a report recently where Weston had a ton of rods out and slayed the fish.
Agent, when I manage to get out, I fish alone most of the time in a 16’ jon boat. I fish with 2-4 down rods and usually a free line off the back. I don’t think I could deal with more than that. Once, I managed to get a double, and it felt like a Chinese fire drill to try to get both fish in.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Big spinning rods = 20lb Ande Premium Monofilament Fishing Line Hi-Vis Green
Down/planer rods = 20lb Stren Stamina Monofilament Fishing Line Hi Vis Gold
We use 17lb Vanish Florocarbon leaders usually anywhere from 24" - 36" - but to honest the only reason why I use florocarbon is because I’m not sure if Striper are line shy and so why take the chance …
Plus if you’re pulling weighted planers in shallow water and/or downrods and they get hung on the bottom it’s easier to break off the 17lb leader and get all your gear back minus the hook/weight than to have to turn around and chase your planer board …
Top water spinning rods (and every other rod I use) = 10-20lb SpiderWire Stealth superbraid depending on rod/reel size …
To be honest, we never fished with mono or fluorocarbon until we moved up here from Florida … We always used braid down there because we were either fishing docks or bottom structure and any stretch in the line would result in no fish and more knot practice … Braid has zero stretch, is very lightweight, and casts very smooth …
I’ll admit that I had a downrod or three lined up with the Cajun Red, but I didn’t like the line memory so I ditched it for the Stren …
While I like the Ande’s visability it also has line memory (at least it does on spinning reels) so I’m likely going to have to switch it off of my big spinning rods pretty soon as well …
