I need to vent a little...hopefully someone can offer me some insight after too..

Last week I was fishing with tins and hooking up cast after cast. They were all a little under and just barely keeper size fish caught in the upperbay..they were all hanging around on the top of the water column eating small pogies and shiners or something..

OK heres my dilemma, around sunset-into dark hours i put on a black "rigged" sluggo and get only say 5or6 hits, all missed. The rest of the day I was skunked...I was retrieving the sluggo at pencil popper speed with short pauses in between. All hits came on the retrieval, not the pause.. The bass must have been nipping at the tails because none of the tails were "biten off by blues" and my rear hooks are set pretty far back...

I guess my question is why do they say bass go for the head all the time..I know the majority of the time they attack prey head first but, every single one of my "few fish" caught on sluggos have all hit the rear hook.

Am I just going to fast for them maybe..I dunno..frustrating I tell ya.. Do you all go fast and with lots of action and pauses inbetween (to keep it midcolumn) or prefer slower methods? I try to heed all of Mr. Mckenna's advice (he is the sluggo man) but damn...missing hits with rigged sluggos...(also, I dont fish anything quite as fast as these sluggos, except pencil poppers) maybe i am going a lil to fast?..I really want to dial these in b/c as steve has shown ..they work. Im sure more time spent on the water with them will help me dial them in..sorry, I need to vent a little..
:hidin:

Maybe slow down a bit.. but usually tail grabbers = small fish...

I go sloooow and try to bounce it along the bottom while it drifts with the current. It has always worked great for me when I am fishing rips off my boat and drifting. I reel in twitch, let it sit and then reel in a little.

Also if they were feeding on bunker, maybe sluggo's weren't the right lure to be using as well.

I agree..Small fish..Move on.:walk:

Vary the speed until you find out what they want. You may be going alittle to fast. A fast retrieve always works best for me but everyone's definition of fast is different.

I find that 25% to 50% of my bass come on the rear hook. I think part of it is with really sharp hooks, whatever hook comes into contact with the flesh first is the one that hooks the fish. So they can engulf the hole thing and still get hooked with the tail hook.

For me, I've never had much luck with weighted sluggos worked quickly in calm water (I'm guessing it was pretty calm based on the upper bay but I don't know). Try unweighted ones worked slower or bombers/small metal lipped swimmers in that situation.

Yeah I agree..w/ yall RI&F18, probably all small fish..(then again I dont have much experience with LARGE. but the upper has supposedly been hot w/ LARGE...I was in my tin "r.o.w." :bl: boat at the mouth of a certain river..catching tons of barely legals at sunset...and yall also made a good point, since they were feeding on small bunker the sluggo was probably not best choice to use that night...

should I have kept on the tins (at night)? (all afternoon small kastmasters seemed to be the only thing they wanted, no takers on small storms):huh: or small black swimmers I suppose.

I'm really still just (actually always) learning about sluggos and bass fishing in general, this season more than last. And trying to use them as much as possible to find what works and when.

I was using the 9" black, w/ sharp 7/0 gamas and weighted 3x, stevie style.. yeah clogston upper bay, when i threw the sluggos on it was dead high..calm water. thanks for the tip..do you find the smaller sluggos work better in the upper?

thanks for the tips guys...

I've been using this at night and doing well.

[M} match the hatch <><><><><:eyes:

F-18 isn't that the alien... that thing is cool dude..:kewl:

I know Clammer....good point...so stick with metal / small swimmers then huh. (when the bunker is prevalent source of food at least) :tooth:

But..... :huh: Don't see why not to use big 9ers..my friend's dad has been potting eels close in these waters by the boat load..

I think I gotta find those bigger fish and slow my sluggos down a lil bit..
:rolleyes:

F-18 isn't that the alien... that thing is cool dude..:kewl:


No, I made and Canalman painted them.
I'll send you one , will be done soon.
PM me addy.

Most years the Upper Bay starts to get tougher around June 1st, particularly for shore anglers. This year the fish are hanging in a little longer due to the bunker, but often it seems to be more of a boat game. There are certainly fish out there, but they're usually in deeper water even at night, or in places that are for the most part tough to access from shore. Prudence, Rose Island, etc.

Maybe move further South, I think you'll have much better results with the Sluggos on the rocks along the open ocean no matter what speed you work the Sluggo. I'd slow down though.

slow and low.. that is the tempo.

I fish slug-gos and my own rubber just like i would a habs needle. slow and low.. light twitches now and then, but real slow. If your not touching bottom once in a while, slow doooooooown.

No, I made and Canalman painted them.
I'll send you one , will be done soon.
PM me addy.


Were you talking to me :usd: I need one to :uhuh:

I'm from MA so don't really fish the bay. But in general, if I'm fishing protected areas I like the 6" sluggos in white or bubblegum on a 5/0 o'shaunessy style hook with one of the 1/32" sluggo weights, especially if small bait is present. You need a pretty light action rod to work them to. I work them pretty quick with some pauses thrown in compared to my usual retreive but, again, its all relative and fast to one person is moderate to another so experiment. Basically I like to keep them in the top 2 or 3 feet of the water column without having them breach the surface. Hope that helps. To me, the 9" sluggos really belong in bigger water with some surf. The 7.5" are more versatile and can be used in pretty much all conditions. Try bubble gum at dusk and dawn.


I was using the 9" black, w/ sharp 7/0 gamas and weighted 3x, stevie style.. yeah clogston upper bay, when i threw the sluggos on it was dead high..calm water. thanks for the tip..do you find the smaller sluggos work better in the upper?

thanks for the tips guys...

Yeah..I assumed low and slow..when I first started using them..and thats what my uncle has told me also..(thats where the bass are and thats what the bass want) although I havent really given that technique as much "reel time" as I have (since steve's seminar) working it like a pencil..

If I recall correctly.."Sluggo Steve" says work em at moderate-fast speed with pencil popper like twitches and pause, let em drop...and repeat..I trust his advice..its a proven catcher..I just need a hefty cow to become a true beliver..I've also seen the underwater videos on surfcastingRI and they look like they're moving em FAST! (as I am) I have been using that technique the most..

I guess I will have to spend more time experimenting with techniques/speeds/sizes/conditions and colors with em and find what they want.

Next time I go out I will just vary every other cast..low slow, fast, medium, ect..and see what happens..

I really wanna get these down to a science before the eels are banned.

Nebe, Do you rig your hogs or just go with single hook in the head?

I'd like to try one of those one day..any chance QL will have them any time soon?

thanks again for all the tips n technique tricks guys.
best of luck and tight lines out there this weekend.

:kewl:

slow and low.. that is the tempo.

I fish slug-gos and my own rubber just like i would a habs needle. slow and low.. light twitches now and then, but real slow. If your not touching bottom once in a while, slow doooooooown.

How do you prevent the double hook surfhog or sluggo from snagging if your hitting bottom.

I have had much luck using single hook rigged sluggos ripped extremely fast on the surface - forget pencil speed - faster.

I use a 7 ft Loomis and a Penn 360 slammer with braid - I tried using bigger gear but at the speeds I fish the sluggos I was worn out in a 30 mins.

Wed June 7th fished the Mack with my brother - 42 bass all over 30" all caught on fast twitched sluggos.


http://brianmullaney.com/fishing/albums/stripers/Joppa_6_7_06_009.sized.jpg

interesting. . :kewl:

At least you got some action with them. I have been using the 9" in Alewife,white and black without a sniff. Gonna try slow and low.

I can seem to keep the sluggo on a hook when using a surf rod. Light tackle rod no problem. Yes I have line half hitched up the hook shank and they are super glued. I have to gently lob the things w/ the surf rod so they stay on. I have contiplated just going back to the double rigged configuration.

some related info/experiment...

I made a few last week and glued them with devcon epoxy (ran out of zap-gap,) and the expoxy did not hold at all.

take my advice... dont use devcon epoxy to hold the hooks in. :hs:

I've never had a problem with zap-gap.

smac, maybe wrap the shanks a little thicker next time?

Half hitch knots up the shank with squidding line double, finish off with overhand knot cinch.

Half hitch knots up the shank with squidding line double, finish off with overhand knot cinch.


Yeah thats what I have done. Usualy 7or 8 half hitches and Push the sluggo to the first halfhitch, apply the glue and push the sluggo up the shank. I will try to double up the halfhitch's and try it.

I have had much luck using single hook rigged sluggos ripped extremely fast on the surface - forget pencil speed - faster.

I use a 7 ft Loomis and a Penn 360 slammer with braid - I tried using bigger gear but at the speeds I fish the sluggos I was worn out in a 30 mins.

Wed June 7th fished the Mack with my brother - 42 bass all over 30" all caught on fast twitched sluggos.


http://brianmullaney.com/fishing/albums/stripers/Joppa_6_7_06_009.sized.jpg

nice fish!!!!!

^^^

looked like a nasty day.

I second the fast retrieve. We will sometimes troll unweighted 7-9 inch sluggos on the flats of CC Bay. The fish just nail them.

Fish the Slug-go fast , "bouncing" the rod while retrieving medium to fast depending on sea conditions. Keep the lure sub-surface at all times. DO NOT PAUSE lure while retriving. Missed fish are usually dinks. It takes some time to learn, but the Slug-go is the best artifical you will ever use for bass- BELIEVE ME!

I used to fish them slow and they work that way, but since i started fishing them faster ive noticed more and bigger fish. I would have never thought this, cause like most bass guys slow and slower has always been the ticket for me, but sluggos are defidently different.

Addendum; halfway back on the retrieve keep yhe rod low and to your side, this will keep the lure sub-surface which is very important after dark.

Addendum 2; It's been my exprience that the 9 inch black sluggo will work any time regardless of what bait is around. It' just works.

What is the downfall of rigging them with the big single hooks that are meant for them? Especially if you leave the hook exposed and do not rig it "weedless"?

That hook is not very strong, and defidently not made for salt water. Plus im a firm believer now that the double hook aids in the action probably by acting like a keel, the added weight doenst hurt either.

I did very well with SurfHog rubber ripping it fast stevie style this spring.Multiple fish to mid teens.I was pretty much shocked as I am a slow an slower guy.I saw the video of steve working them things at the mass show just before I fell asleep.i could not belive it myself but it works.
Go someplace where u can watch what the lure does when u twitch it like that.It has the same crazy zig zag movements of a worm in hatch. I am sure thats why the bass eat em.Like the worms.Which have basically no nutritional value to a 20 lb bass. They would have to eat millions.It's the action that drives em crazy.

In some places where the water is a little rougher I have a hard time feeling the sluggo? Like it gets washed out in the close by heavy surf/whitewater. Should I add a rubber core sinker, or some kind of extra weight or should I switch to heavy plugs, kastmasters...ect...?

Has anyone had any luck in the breachways w/ sluggos? leadheads?

If u rig like they say on Joe's sluggo page with the three nail weights it weigh's over 1.5 onces.Rubber on a jig head is a great lure.it's how I catch 70 percent of my fish.I like My Buddies Nebe's surhog eels the bass seen to really key in on the profile.

The sluggos are rigged w/ three weights and they still seem to get lost in the rolling whitewater.

One more question.... may sound a little dumb too seeing as the big bass usually hunt @ night but has anyone had any success using black 9" sluggos during the middle of the day or sunset?

One more question.... may sound a little dumb too seeing as the big bass usually hunt @ night but has anyone had any success using black 9" sluggos during the middle of the day or sunset?

There's always a chance but I'd recommend using either white or bubblegum during the day. I've also found that the 7.5" ones produce better during the day when they tend to be more picky and can get a better look at it. I think that corresponds to what I've seen Steve and Capt. White write aswell and they both know a hell of a lot more than me.

^^^

looked like a nasty day.

Yep - the pic does no justice - it rained 5" that day - we fished the next two days and it was a slow pick.

My bro & his bud Jim got these on 9" white sluggos this week ripped fast

http://brianmullaney.com/fishing/albums/kevin/kevinjoppa1.sized.jpg

http://brianmullaney.com/fishing/albums/kevin/jimpeakjoppa.sized.jpg

Fish the Slug-go fast , "bouncing" the rod while retrieving medium to fast depending on sea conditions. Keep the lure sub-surface at all times. DO NOT PAUSE lure while retriving. Missed fish are usually dinks. It takes some time to learn, but the Slug-go is the best artifical you will ever use for bass- BELIEVE ME!
I have never been much of a rubber guy.....been wanting to give these a shot.....rigged some up tandem and fished them last nite.....got fish.....I'm hooked.....your a good guy for going around and teaching your method.......I hope Herb gives you freebies at least:laugha: .....

In some places where the water is a little rougher I have a hard time feeling the sluggo? Like it gets washed out in the close by heavy surf/whitewater. Should I add a rubber core sinker, or some kind of extra weight or should I switch to heavy plugs, kastmasters...ect...?

Has anyone had any luck in the breachways w/ sluggos? leadheads?
You don't want to overweight the sluggo - kills the action.
A 9" Sluggo with insert weights (3 of the 3/32nd size) weighs 1.4oz -heavy enough for most conditions.
Try timing your casts to present to the last wave of a set, or time your casts to present to the backside of an incoming breaker.
Wave sets are often in fives or sevens, if you cast into a breaking wave or in the middle of set with any light lure you are going to get pushed around.
Presenting to the last wave of a set is a very high percentage cast.

Yup, medium to fast on the retreive, I like to vary on the speed. It was a good night/morning for rubba. Black until just after false dawn then switched to bubblegum. Had something happen around 3 am that keeps playing over and over in my mind. This happened using a surf hog. Got the hit, set the hook and was never able to put the brakes to her. She ran strong and hard, sounded into the rocks and swam around one that cinched up the line tight, felt a big tug and then nothing. She was hooked on the back (trailing) hook and snapped the doubled 50# braid like nothing. I rigged these myself. I have done many and have been rigging for quite a while. I thought maybe my knots had failed. It hasn't happened yet but I figured there's always a first. The hog was in great shape so I pulled out the lead hook to see if the knots came undone and the line was stripped and to my amazement all my half hitches on the lead hook going to the doubled line were solid and intact , the line was snapped in the middle between the two hooks.

Ouch!
To rig mine.I use old 80 lb kite string the same stuff I use off the elevated platforms.In hope of catching the blue who tries to half my eel.
I had that happen to me a few yrs ago ammazing how they know where to find the structure off shore to make the surfcaster miserable.At least u had the encounter know to figure what to do different next time.I guess the only thing is to try to stop her.an hope the hook holds an ur line an knots stay intact. In open water i will let em go an hope the stop eventually.In the rocks u have less options.I will fish the same drag but palm the spool.this way if she gets up on something i can let the fish release.sometimes it works sometimes not.I had one the other morning make short work of a old cardboard box 6/0 mustad trebel an rip a 6H splitring on the front hook.The fish was done an I was meandering it thru the rock to get it to me an the front hook came off.back hook (the 6/0) had one time that was mauled.I think the fish did this with its mouth as it never really rubbed up on anything during the fight.Hooked the fish on a new Mac Popper.I had to extend the fight cause another gent thought he had a good one in front of me.He had a forty the morning before.His fish ended up being foul hooked an i had to let mine slide down current into the rock.
I thought it was a good fish but got a glimpse of it just before it was freed it was easily the biggest fish I ever saw on the end of my line.It hurt bad for a bit but I had to get back at it.I only landed mid twenty size fish an guys 3 rockpiles up all got 30+ fish.Oh well.Triple splitrings for me only from know on. Live an learn.

http://www.surfcasting-rhodeisland.com/Quint.jpg

"Last week I was fishing with tins and hooking up cast after cast. They were all a little under and just barely keeper size fish caught in the upperbay..they were all hanging around on the top of the water column eating small pogies and shiners or something.."

No need to stop using tins because it gets dark. They DO work well at night too!The same fish you were imitating in the daylight are there at night . Try a teaser with them too at night.

This may be going against the grain of things..but I have found just slicing the bodies up the middle not all the way through, tying your rigs up seperatly and zapping the whole thing together infinitly easier... and best yet no hook slippage.