- What is it that I could do to make my hook up's more common. I use a3/8 ounce kalins jig, which I find the hook far more superior to any other, I fish this way because of all the grass in the water ,plus it also adds to the attraction of the wounded fish look, while the live mullet swims around, but I am also finding out that I also miss a lot of fish, stumped! mostly weakfish. Thank you. Anthony
If you are using live bait, I think you will find a better hook up ratio if you forgo the use of a jighead and opt instead for a small octopus hook (size 1 to 2/0 for small finger mullet) combined with a sliding sinker (an
egg sinker or other type of lead on a fishfinder) on the running line. Then tie the running line to a ball bearing swivel, with a light leader (20 pound test or so, 18-36 inches long) attached to the hook via a snell or clinch
knot. This allows the predator to grab the baitfish without feeling any resistance from the lead, hence giving it the opportunity to swallow the bait until it gets the hook in its mouth. This is especially effective using
a baitcasting reel in free spool, or a "baitrunner" type spinning reel in the bait drag mode. You can also increase the effectiveness by using a standard spinning reel with the bail open. By allowing the predator to run
with the baitfish without any resistance from the lead, you can control the point at which you set the hook. Even a light leadhead tied direct can add quite a bit of resistance upon the pick-up of a live bait by the predator.
If you desire erratic swimming motion by the baitfish when using the octopus hook rig I described, you can clip the tail fins to partially disable the baitfish.
- I bought a Breakaway rod from you last week, and with a little practice I've been getting 150 yd. casts.[paced off at a dam on the Lehigh river] Great! But when I went down the shore this Friday with the further pendulum casts the clams where getting tore right off. Please advise on this, I'm sure other guys who bought these rods have been through this, what was there solution. I think the rod is great and on Friday (5/12/00) I had a lot of action[all shorts but one keeper bass]
Long Distance Casting will bring you many new experiences. Your bait flying off is one of them. To most of us Long Distance Casting/Fishing is very new, this writer included. Here is a few tips we got in the past from the people at BREAKAWAY for holding that bait on a bit better:
You should be using a Breakaway rig to start with. The bait is close to the sinker keeping the vectors more in the same direction. The impact shield will break the air in front of the sinker/bait making the flight a bit more aerodynamic.
The cast should be smooth and effortless. Any quick snaps will increase the shock that the bait will be subjected to. Some LD casters go so far as to video tape their casting from different angles. These tape are studied for future corrections.
If you are having difficulty with fresh clam, then try using salted clam. Salted clam is a tougher bait. Many angler feel if you do not set the hook quick, the fish will drop this salted bait. Not sure this is true since many fish have been caught on salted baits.
After baiting the hook, make sure you use plenty of elastic thread to wrap your bait. This will hold bait tight to the hook.
We appreciate your question and hope others can comment on their Long Distance experiences. (Good and bad) LD techniques have aided the European angler for many years, lets see if we can catch up. Keep your eyes open for the next scheduled BREAKAWAY seminar