Split thread: Lunkers on a Trout Rod

[scottw]

Originally Posted by ecduzitgood

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

[Chubby-Chaser]

Originally Posted by scottw

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?

[Stewie]

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.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by scottw

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"?

[fatcow]

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.

[toaster816]

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.

[scottw]

Originally Posted by Mike P

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"?

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 ....

[toaster816]

Originally Posted by Mike P

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"?

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