Just curious how you guys rig up live herring I always use a Big salmon hook threw the side of the jaw for live lining scup and others I catch but this will be my first season live linnging health herring any suggestions on rigs? I have seen a few commercially made rigs but they may not work as well as some home made rigs.

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Anthony

guess you finally got all moved in.. welcome back anthony.

I haven't had a chance to liveline many herring but the experienced guys I who showed me either hook them through the lips or in back of the dorsal fin like a shiner. Don't forget to hold on :happy:

I hook baitfish thru the mouth and out the nostril, the only downside to this is if blues are around you bring in 1/2 of the fish, but stripers stike at the head and they are the usual target.
Plus it'll clear out any sinus problems the bait fish might be experiencing, the thought of a poor herring with a stuffed up nose kills me.:p

I also force myself to do a 10 count when the fish hit, man is that a long 10 seconds.

Most times , we hook them in the snout. For hard casting , I put it through the eye sockets (in one side and out the other) for off a bridge (fishing from above) with moderate current I like to hook just ahead of the dorsal fin. I think this gives you a better chance for hooking up but I'm sure the herring live longer. If the current is honking , hooking in the dorsal fin doesn't work good so I put it through the snout.

..Tattoo, thanks for the graphic to work with.....

...Anthony, you'll learn that the various places you insert your hook will cause the Herring to swim in different patterns....as far as diving down, or trying for the surface...due to the weight of the hook...and probably the degree of pain the hook is causing it...and of course the strain/direction of the line....

I've posted a picture of some of my favorite points of entry...:D:D...in a fish that is...;)

...becareful of the ones with stars near them....these will tear off at times...the flesh is weak in these areas...the nostril area is probably one of the "hardest" spots to stick the hook....meaning strongest!!....

Happpppy Herrring!!!!!.....:D:D

Thanks Red unfortunately still in the process of moving figure ill be all set in 2 or 3 weeks :) Hopefully it doesn't interfere with my fishing :) School has been keeping me real busy :( So much to learn so little time....




How about weights?? To get the fish deeper in the water colum and possibly restrict his movement bit they may help a bit too?

I Also thought stripers instinctively hit the head first so hooking them up front is best thats what an old friend told me years ago but when plugging i seem to catch them on the rear hook but it may be different for live bait.


Thanks for the help :) Hopefully I'll run into Some really BIG fish with some of the new techniques i am employing...

..your not going to need weights.....the erratic movement of the Herring will Attract the Bass....the weight is only going to speed up the time it takes for him to die...(how good could you swim, if there was a weight tied to you???:D)....you'd get tired real fast!!....you want the Herring to live as long as it takes for Mr. Striper to ....WHACK EM'!!!...;)


..and as far as hooking them through the head, your right...their instinct does make em' hit the head first (most of the time)....but, thats why you wait a few seconds....so he can inhale the rest of the Herring, then set the hook!!!...:D

..I've noticed, if you want the Herring to dive...stick him on top or thru the head area....mouth/nostril.....if you want him to swim for the surface.....stick him in the lower rear...and the picture of the hook thru the tail is touchy...you don't want to break his spine...try and go around it...so he can still keep his movement...

these are my observations...I'm sure others may have different approaches....try em out, and see what works best for you...

bloo..those pics kinda remind me of the guy who lost the fight with the staple gun:D :D

Up in maine we hook them in the nose but we usually use a live tinker mackeral instead of a herring. because they seem to be more lively and live longer but maybe rhody herring are tougher.

Me/RI - Other than survival in a bloody livewell, Macks are a bit tougher than herring and generally take more abuse...

I hook them in the nostrils and behind the dorsal. Others have suggested some different places but I haven't tried it yet...

Yeah, 'cause in CT we can't touch the herring. :smash:

Hee hee hee...bloo :laughs: