Fished the canal at Scussett Beach Monday AM for about 2 1/2 hours. In that time, I lost more gear than I have in the past three years combined. Had a west tide that was moving pretty good. The only thing I could keep on the end of my line for more than 2 casts was a 3/8 oz jig head with a Finesse type plastic. Was able to lose about five other jigs within 2 cast of putting them on, not to mention two bait rigs. To say the least, I was greatly humbled. What I don't understand is that there was a guy on both the left and right of me, and I didn't see them get snagged once. The guy to the right of me got two fish while I was there to about 26". Looks like I'm gonna need a teacher to go back to the Ditch. Till then, I'll be sticking to my own forte.

To alleviate my frustration, I then headed to Powder Point, where there was nothing doing on the ocean side. Fished the bay side for about an hour and managed one about 18" on a green and white teaser followed by a Megabait. At least the new rod and reel are no longer virgins........

Don't despair Steve....EVERYONE was/is a rookie. You bet; the Canal and it's environs can be tough to learn, and the experience can cost you some hardware.

You are already halfway to the solution, ie stating you are stumped. Next step is to find someone approachable and ask away.

I experienced much the same frustration when I started fishing the Ditch. I was a decent basshound in other areas, caught a lot of fish, had some experience. But the canal humbled me. I saw some traffic here on the Web, lurked a bunch, then started direct questioning of those guys who posted success stories. Mike P, Jim P, and a few others had the Ditch experience I lacked, and when I asked, they helped....

Heck, now I even outfish Jim once in a while (we have become fishing friends), although he seriously trashed me the other day!

_H

Two casts, you have me beat sometimes my jigs only go one way. Saltheart has been a great teacher but I still have a long way to go.

Do not dispair, someday we'll all be able to throw em out and let em swing like pros. I did find that if I throw out a little more rather than I often got a better swing. I think that I was huggin the shore too much and catching my line on the sloping bank. Watch otheres soemtimes it is just a matter of a few degrees one way or another that makes the difference between losing your jigs or not.

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. Perhaps I was just in a bad spot. It was just that there was such a nice rip right there, it seemed like the place to be. I was okay if I used a light jig and kept it up off the bottom, but that got me some very short casts. As soon as I went to the 1-1 1/2 oz Megabait bucktail or such, I was hitting bottom, snagging up and eventually snapping off. The thing I can't understand is that I read on the other sight of guys using 3, 4, 5 oz jigs. I would think they would sink like a stone. Couldn't tell what the guys on either side of me were using, but lots of times they would cast out, wait 30 seconds or so and then start jigging in, and not getting snagged. ??? The guy to my right was really heaving it, almost halfway across, so he definately didn't have on less than an ounce.

Well, maybe at the tourney next weekend I can become less of a rookie. :)

I think you could use some advice from saltheart Steve. It sounds like you aren't getting far enough out to avoid the snags near the steep sloping edge. In the middle there should be sand at the east end but there are a few snags out there too. I use a 4 oz jig , it gets me out in the zone and it takes a while before it hits bottom. You my only be able to jig a half dozen or so times while it's out there (depending on the speed of current) before you have to reel like hell to get in before the jig swallowing rocks get you. I've lost tons of jigs there so I know how you feel. I am convinced that I should start making my own. By the way I am still a rookie too, I learn more every time out. I am surprised you didn't bump into Jim Powers while you were there, he'll be the one with the big yellow spinner. Ask him a few questions too.

I too have lost many jigs at the Canal but like Slipknot said, most were lost on the bank as I was reeling in. Once I learned to reel in quickly at the end of the drift, I lost a lot fewer jigs. Do not give up and always bring a lot of hardware.

SteveK - long time no speak... I think I bumped into you a few times down the East End of the Canal last year... Welcome Back...

John R,

I have been in Tokyo for 4 months and I have been really busy. Now I am back and I have yet to hit the ditch. I will this weekend, hopefully. It is good to be back home.

Steve K