Another point I have yet seen addressed when it comes to catch and release, which to me also means the overall well being of fish that escape capture or break off. Stainless steel hooks. Don't get me wrong I do eat several fish each year and to be totally honest if I couldn't eat them I wouldn't fish for them, I feel no need to harass a fish I can't eat. Why do people who profess to care so much about the striped bass use stainless steel hooks at all? I also wonder why people fish gear that is not matched to the potential size of the fish being pursued especially when using a stainless steel hook. I can understand that both fly tying and eel rigging require effort/time to produce a bait, but when the people fishing the stainless hooks are doing it with line that isn't up to the challenge of a 50# or larger fish I can only shake my head and wonder what are they thinking.

We reuse riggies over and over, we need hooks that won't become brittle and rust out. I'd say out of everything I fish a riggie with a 8/0 ss mustad does the LEAST damage to fish. Who did you run into last night that was fishing with trout gear and ss hooks for stripers?

We reuse riggies over and over, we need hooks that won't become brittle and rust out. I'd say out of everything I fish a riggie with a 8/0 ss mustad does the LEAST damage to fish. Who did you run into last night that was fishing with trout gear and ss hooks for stripers?

I'm assuming he saw my albie set up on the roof of my truck:rotf2:

I fish heavy, too heavy for many but I want to land the fish quickly inorder to reduce the negative effects of a prolonged battle.
I will have to check my riggies from a year and a half ago, which have anodized hooks to see how they are holding up. I use 60# and 80# test main line with a 10 foot leader spliced inside the braid to reduce break offs. It isn't what many consider the right way to fish but I catch my share of fish.

I fish heavy, too heavy for many but I want to land the fish quickly inorder to reduce the negative effects of a prolonged battle.
I will have to check my riggies from a year and a half ago, which have anodized hooks to see how they are holding up. I use 60# and 80# test main line with a 10 foot leader spliced inside the braid to reduce break offs. It isn't what many consider the right way to fish but I catch my share of fish.

I think it's great you make calculated efforts to cause as little harm as possible but don't chastise others because we don't chase stripers with tuna gear.

Just my opinion take it for what it's worth...squat. I just find it somewhat hypocritical and was just bringing it to peoples attention that perhaps they aren't has concerned as they want others to believe. Call it tuna gear if you want but at least I know when I have a wind knot stop the line suddenly my plug will still be there, ad if a large fish does what they usually do they will have less chance of parting my line by rubbing it against structure. I feel the benefits out weigh the loss of distance and sink rate. I have been fishing long enough that I no longer get a thrill from the fight has much and look at it has more of a business type event that just happens to be fun/enjoyable. I have lost plenty of fish to lighter line and weaker rods and don't enjoy being beat by a fish with the brain the size of a pea. I equip myself for the challenge not the sport of catching. I have also spent many years has a mate and spent enough time fishing for the challenge, I want results when I invest my time. At least you'll know when I'm up current from you and hook a fish it wont take long for me to get my fish clear of you, and without drowning it because I can't apply enough pressure.

if you don't want to start a fight then don't sit there and tell me that I'm targeting striped bass with light fishing tackle. because your going to be taking back your words if you knew the truth.

80# braid with a 10' spliced 100# leader IS tuna gear, and if you know what you are doing you can safely bring in a good fish and release it with normal striper gear. It is done on a regular basis from May to December up and down the east coast.

I didn't single anyone out and was just voicing my opinion. I don't remember if Dj pointed out who made up the rigged eel that was shown, but from my perspective it was not rigged in a way that took into consideration what effect it would have if the fish breaks off. It is of my opinion that using the zip ties (another environmentally sound practice) and stainless steel hooks is just for the benefit of a fisherman who can't invest a little time to rig an eel in a more fish friendly manner.
Perhaps after you have fished as long as I have you will be less sensitive to general criticism of methods and more open to other ideas. I don't claim to be a great fisherman and think you have let my words carry more weight than they should, remember I am basically no one of any fame. I'm just a guy who fishes and voices my opinion. Hopefully one day we will fish the same stretch of beach and you can laugh at my techniques. I do what I do for me, not anyone else and don't seek anyones approval of my methods. Loose a few more fish to boulders or being spooled and perhaps you too will go a little heavier. 80# isn't what I use for tuna either, maybe yellow fin or school fish but not when I fish for giants it's 130# the most the IGFA will allow for the species I'm after. I'm not in it for the sport, I've done the ultra light line class sport thing and I have already covered how I feel about it. But alas I will agree with you that I am doing it all wrong, I'm ok with being wrong I do it all the time. Perhaps when you are giving seminars on how to fish I will attend yours to see what I can learn. I'm always learning something new and believe everyone has the potential to teach me, I will listen and perhaps try to add in a positive manner. I didn't disrupt the class did I, I tried to add. Remember I'm the screwball that asked if anyone fishes live lobsters right before class to see if someone could give me tips on how to rig them because I don't just fish from the beach, which if I did want to fish them from the beach i would find a way to get them out there. (That ought to eliminate any credibility I have...live lobsters:rotf2:)
Back on topic. Do you feel fishing stainless hooks and lighter line is more right than what I do or just another method?

Try the Canal mid tide with light gear and tell me what I use is so wrong, I'll be right there to console you when you get spooled or drown a 50+ pounder for what? The sport of it.

And I'm not picking a fight. We are having a adult discussion where one of us has an open mind and the other prefers to limit themselves to what they know and believe is the only way to fish for stripers. None of what I have stated should have any negative impact upon anyone. Maybe the guy who rigged the eels could take offense, but that is being too thin skinned in my opinion. If anything I am helping Dj by bumping this thread back to the top so others may read what is being discussed.
I do remember something about the rigged eels having the potential of hanging up on the bottom because of the hooks, hey here's an idea try rigging them with the hooks up using a hook with a weighted shank....opps thats right I'm not smart enough to know what I am saying or doing so disregard my suggestion. Come to think of it that might not be possible unless they make a stainless steel hook with a weighted shank, and it would take way too much effort to have to re-rig an eel do to the hooks deteriorating over time. Can't find a hook stout enough that has a weighted shank here's a tip try Radio shack, but you probably already know that trick. Hogy might be of interest also.

Ask Dj, whom I can tell has a vast library of books on striper fishing to look at page 103 in the book "Fishing for Striped Bass" by Gary Caputi, bet that rigged eel can be fished bumping the bottom without the hooks hanging up.

I'm heading to the Ditch tomorrow night and Dj has my email, email me and I'll let you know where I'm fishing so you can get a good laugh at my feeble attempt to catch striped bass on Tuna gear. I would be honored to watch you fish and learn how to do it the right way.
If I truly believed I was a great fisherman would I have spent the money to learn more at Bass class? Don't let my words carry so much weight in the future, I'm just a nobody that has an opinion and the inability to keep it to myself.

Try the Canal mid tide with light gear and tell me what I use is so wrong, I'll be right there to console you when you get spooled or drown a 50+ pounder for what? The sport of it.

I do remember something about the rigged eels having the potential of hanging up on the bottom because of the hooks, hey here's an idea try rigging them with the hooks up using a hook with a weighted shank

I guess if the only thing that you are setting your hook into all season is 50lbers and up and you are worried about drowning all of those huge fish it would make sense to use the heavy rigging that you described....must be rough on the smaller fish that most folks are catching more regularly though.....is that 60-80 lb braid or mono?:)

pros and cons of various eel rigging methods might have made a good discussion...I got quite a bit out of Dave Anderson's eel rigging discussion last year...but still like a single hook

I guess if the only thing that you are setting your hook into all season is 50lbers and up and you are worried about drowning all of those huge fish it would make sense to use the heavy rigging that you described....must be rough on the smaller fish that most folks are catching more regularly though.....is that 60-80 lb braid or mono?:)

pros and cons of various eel rigging methods might have made a good discussion...I got quite a bit out of Dave Anderson's eel rigging discussion last year...but still like a single hook

can you tell me where I can find more info on this single hook rig?

Slim, just rig it following any method you know and leave off the tail hook. I just fish dead eels like live ones, one hook under the jaw and out an eye socket. You might need bigger rubbercore sinkers because the dead eels don't swim down to the bottom like live ones.

if you are going to go single hook....rig them up on a Pt. Jude wobblehead.

I guess if the only thing that you are setting your hook into all season is 50lbers and up and you are worried about drowning all of those huge fish it would make sense to use the heavy rigging that you described....must be rough on the smaller fish that most folks are catching more regularly though.....is that 60-80 lb braid or mono?:)

pros and cons of various eel rigging methods might have made a good discussion...I got quite a bit out of Dave Anderson's eel rigging discussion last year...but still like a single hook

Maybe you can enlighten me---how is landing a 34" fish in a couple of minutes, instead of having to wear it down over 10 minutes on light gear in the Canal, being "rough on the smaller fish"? :confused:

Crush the cows spirit faster with heavy gear is what its all about. The faster its in and out again the better for the fish. No drag comes out of my reel when i catch 20lb class fish. 50lb braid 80lb leader all day long.

I fish 55# braid and 80# leaders on a 10' rod. I have no idea where you are getting the notion myself, or anyone else is fishing with trout gear. No one was trashing you for using the gear that you choose, you were trashing others for not using your tuna gear. If you want a pat on the back for using heavy stuff you aren't going to get it from me. And using zip ties and ss hook doesn't mean I don't care about the welfare of the fish I catch, you have no idea who I am or what I do. I have no idea why you are equating using rigged eels in the manner that I and countless others do as a lack of concern for the well being of the fish we catch. I do not experience these breakoffs you are referring to as my gear is well suited to stop a decent fish. I really don't know what you are trying to accomplish here.


Ok...just got through your last post. I never said what you are doing is wrong, if you want to fish with wire by all means, if it's what you prefer go for it. I AGREE with you, fishing with gear not suited to the task is stressful to the fish and stupid. I don't think the methods I use are leaving me ill-prepared, in fact I feel they are more than adequate. Everyone fishes different setups and gear, you can't make a general statement like anyone who uses ss hooks and zip ties doesn't care about the fish. That is just silly. I don't pretend to be an expert on anything either, which is why I was there. Anytime I can hear from other people who share this passion I am all for it. I was the dude with a blue hoodie on.

It is of my opinion that using the zip ties (another environmentally sound practice) and stainless steel hooks is just for the benefit of a fisherman who can't invest a little time to rig an eel in a more fish friendly manner.

Do you drive a Prius? or an environmental hazard gas powered vehicle?

Perhaps after you have fished as long as I have you will be less sensitive to general criticism of methods and more open to other ideas.

If you've fished for "35+" years you should probably have more common sense about what your talking about.

I don't claim to be a great fisherman and think you have let my words carry more weight than they should, remember I am basically no one of any fame. I'm just a guy who fishes and voices my opinion. Hopefully one day we will fish the same stretch of beach and you can laugh at my techniques. I do what I do for me, not anyone else and don't seek anyones approval of my methods. Loose a few more fish to boulders or being spooled and perhaps you too will go a little heavier.

Perhaps you should have gotten more line on your spool if your getting spooled, or tighten your drag a couple turns more...

80# isn't what I use for tuna either, maybe yellow fin or school fish but not when I fish for giants it's 130# the most the IGFA will allow for the species I'm after. I'm not in it for the sport, I've done the ultra light line class sport thing and I have already covered how I feel about it.

Still no one has said they fish with light tackle, you seem to be very confused by that still. :wall:

Do you feel fishing stainless hooks and lighter line is more right than what I do or just another method?

your still oblivious...:wall::wall:

Try the Canal mid tide with light gear and tell me what I use is so wrong, I'll be right there to console you when you get spooled or drown a 50+ pounder for what? The sport of it.

I wouldn't use light tackle at the ditch:wall::wall::wall:

And I'm not picking a fight. We are having a adult discussion where one of us has an open mind and the other prefers to limit themselves to what they know and believe is the only way to fish for stripers. None of what I have stated should have any negative impact upon anyone. Maybe the guy who rigged the eels could take offense, but that is being too thin skinned in my opinion. If anything I am helping Dj by bumping this thread back to the top so others may read what is being discussed.

Not speaking for DJ but this is getting a little ridiculous don't you think?

I do remember something about the rigged eels having the potential of hanging up on the bottom because of the hooks,

have you ever lost a bucktail at the ditch? If your hitting bottom with a riggie either A: speed up your retrieve, B: don't let it sink so much or C: Don't fish them in that particular area...

hey here's an idea try rigging them with the hooks up using a hook with a weighted shank....opps thats right I'm not smart enough to know what I am saying or doing so disregard my suggestion.

done

Come to think of it that might not be possible unless they make a stainless steel hook with a weighted shank, and it would take way too much effort to have to re-rig an eel do to the hooks deteriorating over time. Can't find a hook stout enough that has a weighted shank here's a tip try Radio shack, but you probably already know that trick. Hogy might be of interest also.

please re-phrase this mess your trying to speak of so I can understand it better... I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't make head or tales of what the hell your talking about...

Ask Dj, whom I can tell has a vast library of books on striper fishing to look at page 103 in the book "Fishing for Striped Bass" by Gary Caputi, bet that rigged eel can be fished bumping the bottom without the hooks hanging up.

I'm heading to the Ditch tomorrow night and Dj has my email, email me and I'll let you know where I'm fishing so you can get a good laugh at my feeble attempt to catch striped bass on Tuna gear. I would be honored to watch you fish and learn how to do it the right way. If I truly believed I was a great fisherman would I have spent the money to learn more at Bass class? Don't let my words carry so much weight in the future, I'm just a nobody that has an opinion and the inability to keep it to myself.

Maybe you can enlighten me---how is landing a 34" fish in a couple of minutes, instead of having to wear it down over 10 minutes on light gear in the Canal, being "rough on the smaller fish"? :confused:

you added a number of qualifiers...Canal...34" fish...."light" gear...not sure what the Canal folk consider "light gear" or small fish for that matter.....but personally, I'd much rather bring a fish to shore in any conditions with a moderate drag and at a pace that will both tire the fish but do as little physical damage as possible, ripping a fish through current with 80lb test to get it to shore as quickly as possible seems neither healthy for the fish, particularly with the pressure that you can exert with line in that range coupled with the drag exerted by a fast current.. nor does it seem very sporting...seems to me that there are fishermen across the country and beyond that hook, play, land and release fish safely in current with various gear including "light gear" like "flyrods"...you don't see flyrodders cranking down their drags and tripling up on their lbs. test simply because they want to drag the fish to shore for a "quick release" and they, in my mind, are among the most consciencous of fishing groups.....if playing fish in current is resulting in drownings...we ought to encourage fishermen everywhere to crank down their drags and beef up their line, stouten their rods and reel like hell once they hook up :uhuh:....

Maybe you can enlighten me---how is landing a 34" fish in a couple of minutes, instead of having to wear it down over 10 minutes on light gear in the Canal, being "rough on the smaller fish"? :confused:



Maybe you can enlighten me---who mentioned fighting a 34" fish for over 10 minutes on light gear in the Canal? Equally confused.

This isn't going to be easy to follow but here goesDo you drive a Prius? or an environmental hazard gas powered vehicle?
Gas guzzling 97 ford exploder

If you've fished for "35+" years you should probably have more common sense about what your talking about.
Common sense is developed over time, if that doesn't help please be more specific and I will try and make my opinion clearer.

Perhaps you should have gotten more line on your spool if your getting spooled, or tighten your drag a couple turns more...
Thats why I am now fishing so heavy. I have evolved from 30# Ande mono on a squidder=spooled (Canal maybe 30 years ago) I never had a chance, couldn't slow it down felt like I hooked a sub going through.
40# Ande mono penn 980 mag once again never slowed down (Canal maybe 20 years ago, my memory isn't too good anymore)

50# Big game mono, calcutta 700, (Canal, several times over the years) I was able to turn the fish but couldn't keep it from rubbing my line on structure/ledge and lost too many, never spooled but never felt the power of the previous spoolings.

Now I fish 60# power pro hollow ace on a saltist 6500 and a spool for my VS300 pretty confident it will handle anything I hook up with, might part due to a wind knot but hasn't been an issue and I hope it never is, time will tell

I also have 80# JB on my calcutta 700's and a spool for my VS300 which I have absolute confidence in landing anything under 150#

I feel they all have enough line to allow me to turn a striper before getting into backing no matter how large.

Still no one has said they fish with light tackle, you seem to be very confused by that still. :wall:
It was a general statement, some do some don't, are you saying you have never seen what you consider to be light tackle being used for stripers?

your still oblivious...:wall::wall:
Looks like a question to me, isn't that what somone who is oblivious does?

I wouldn't use light tackle at the ditch:wall::wall::wall:
Doesn't have to be the Canal but what do you think is going to happen when a 30 pound or larger fish you have hooked gets around structure and your main line makes contact with said structure 2-5 feet above your swivel/leader?

Not speaking for DJ but this is getting a little ridiculous don't you think?
Only because my general statement about some equipment I've seen being used seems to have hit a nerve.

have you ever lost a bucktail at the ditch? If your hitting bottom with a riggie either A: speed up your retrieve, B: don't let it sink so much or C: Don't fish them in that particular area...
It was brought up in class when Dj was asked how to fish the riggie being shown, he said he would not let it make contact with the bottom because the hooks where facing down and it would get hung up. I don't have this issue because I have experience fishing different gear in different areas and seldom hang up unless I'm unfamiliar with the area and not paying attention.

done
Good

please re-phrase this mess your trying to speak of so I can understand it better... I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't make head or tales of what the hell your talking about...
It's a suggestion so you can disregard it, explanation not necessary. Some thing have to be learned, experience will give you the ability to decipher what I'm saying, not all tips are given away freely where anyone can read them. The internet has given many a sense of accomplishment which they haven't earned due to the ability to just read what to do without paying any dues or using their mind to discover why or how things work

Don't worry someone who I have rubbed the wrong way will post what they think I meant.

I should be fishing not posting :(

Some thing have to be learned, experience will give you the ability to decipher what I'm saying....

The internet has given many a sense of accomplishment which they haven't earned....
[/I]

:(

I think I can decipher this....you hooked a seal at the Canal once and got spooled and are so determined that it will NEVER happen again that you've loaded up with things like 80lb line and a VS 300 which are overkill in any bass situation..... but, to each his own....anyone fishing "lesser" gear is not adequately armed and probably not experienced enough to understand why you do what you do....that's cool....must really take the fun out of catching 99% of the fish that actually end up on the end of your line throughout the season, but who fishes for the sport of catching anyway?..it's the challenge of...(I admit, I lost you there) :) be careful though, because you might drown a seal :uhuh:

"sense of accomplishment" is an individual thing and each measures it differently.... and hardly something that another should claim or presume to have the ability to measure regarding whether or not it has been earned in the proper way....

"The internet has given many a sense of accomplishment which they haven't earned due to the ability to just read what to do without paying any dues or using their mind to discover why or how things work"

X100

I think I can decipher this....you hooked a seal at the Canal once and got spooled and are so determined that it will NEVER happen again that you've loaded up with things like 80lb line and a VS 300 which are overkill in any bass situation..... but, to each his own....anyone fishing "lesser" gear is not adequately armed and probably not experienced enough to understand why you do what you do....that's cool....must really take the fun out of catching 99% of the fish that actually end up on the end of your line throughout the season, but who fishes for the sport of catching anyway?..it's the challenge of...(I admit, I lost you there) :) be careful though, because you might drown a seal :uhuh:

"sense of accomplishment" is an individual thing and each measures it differently.... and hardly something that another should claim or presume to have the ability to measure regarding whether or not it has been earned in the proper way....

Believe it or not seals were at one time very rare to see in the Canal, might have been a shark or even tuna or a fish of a lifetime, I'll never know but I will be better prepared to find out if I get another chance.

Also I may be wrong but wasn't the new world record striper found to have 3 hooks from previous break offs? I have a feeling the other three guys that hooked that fish may have increased the strength of their gear so it doesn't happen again.

I have a feeling the other three guys that hooked that fish may have increased the strength of their gear so it doesn't happen again.

Or you'll pull the hook trying to horse them in on tuna gear....

Or you'll pull the hook trying to horse them in on tuna gear....

It's all technique and when was the last time you saw an 11' tuna rod, infact my rods couldn't possibly apply the pressure that the line can withstand. I also have never broken a rod because there is more to the use of a rod than just pulling as hard as you can, there is a feel for what the rod is doing (it's hard to put into words).

Have you ever lost a plug because of a wind knot or birds nest? I don't anymore

Have you ever lost a fish that when you think about it a longer leader might have prevented the loss? I don't anymore

Just because my line is used for tuna doesn't mean it's just for tuna.

Fly fishermen say they care and I'm sure they do, but a 50-60 pound fish with a stainless steel hook in it's jaw might think otherwise, even with a brain slightly smaller than mine.

Light Tackle for STRIPERS, YES Ive done it at P.I. just to prove a POINT to another guy . the next day we meet an three of us took my friends boat out,an I took my
3' ultra-light with 8lb p-line, an some clams we drifted the rip line out front from the point out towards the mouth, at the beginning of every drift I dropped the line in w/ the clamae on it an NO WEIGHT it would sink down after about 15-20 foot drift an BANG FISH ON.
we had to chase the fish to get it to the surface an the a quick release. this took place on every drift. till the clams were gone. outher boats would cut in on the drift an try to hook up.none ever did. but as they drifted down we would start an BAM on again, it was a fantastic
morning, but NOT at the DITCH.
GOOD LUCK GOOD FISHIN:gh:

FUNNY FEESH!!