Taken to the rocks... What do YOU do? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

decksweeper · 07-25-2007, 09:46 AM

Joe, who said anything about weaving through boulder fields...You asked what people do. I have no doubt that what I've done is even close to what people think is most effective. Just figured I'd be honest and throw out a reply of what I typically do. I think I should just go back to lurking...

JFigliuolo · 07-25-2007, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by decksweeper

Joe, who said anything about weaving through boulder fields...You asked what people do. I have no doubt that what I've done is even close to what people think is most effective. Just figured I'd be honest and throw out a reply of what I typically do. I think I should just go back to lurking...

Whoa... didn't mean to rile (sp) you up. just wanted to make sure I was clear enough in my question. There are times when I can horse the fish and times that I can't. It was the latter that is kicking my but.

JFigliuolo · 07-25-2007, 10:02 AM

[QUOTE=... I think I should just go back to lurking...[/QUOTE]

That would be a shame, although you may not have been fishing too long you've got more than a few decent fish under your belt. You gotta be doing something right.

jim sylvester · 07-25-2007, 10:16 AM

lets not get in a pissing contest over this

to each his own...what works for some may not work for others

i agree with you joe...for a couple of years decksweeper has already broke the 30 lb mark.....and a lot of 20's........he's comfortable with what he is doing and it works

here's my take on it.......

just as landing a fish in the surf....its a case senario kind of thing

you need to feel the fish....feel what she is doing

if her nose is down, rubbing....take some line off and let her think she broke free.......then put the screws to her quick before she gets her head back down

if its a fish just holding on a rock with her body.....with steady pressure I can usually move her

again...everyone does their own thing

this is what works for ME

DZ · 07-25-2007, 10:22 AM

Ahhh – the age old problem when hooking the big one. Lot’s of personal experience with this scenario on both the winning and losing end. One thing I’ve noticed that really increased my odds of landing big fish in the stones was using heavy tackle. With tackle there is a fine line between controlling the bass and the bass having their way with you. When I first started surfcasting some 35 years ago I used a 9 foot medium action rod and Penn 704 with 15-20 pound mono. My hook-up and land ratio with that outfit had me crying more often than not. The bass would go where they wanted and my plug was just along for the ride until the bass found bottom where they would straighten my trebles and/or I would break off.

I finally began to beef up my gear to 10-11 foot medium heavy sticks with 20 pound mono and my hook-up/land ratio went way up. Now when I hook-up I’m in control with MOST of my bass. I fish a very tight drag and the stretch of mono gives me a level of insurance. With the heavier gear you also have a good shot at pulling them out of the rocks should they bury themselves in it. Generally if I can still feel movement when a bass is buried I can horse them out. If you don’t feel movement they’re probably long gone and you’ll be lucky to get your plug back with some corn on the cob holder trebles. Treble hooks are your enemy in the rocks, exposed trebles during a hook-up with a big bass are a snag waiting to happen. Using a presentation with a strong single hook will also increase your odds at landing a monster. As bad as rockweed can be during a hook-up consider that without it you would constantly be cut off by rocks. Rockweed protects your line. Beef up your gear – not very sporting with small fish but if you want to land your share of big bass it’s the way to go.