How about a “Chunking 101” class?

[Al in Westport]

I have been Striper fishing since the 1960’s, in all that time I have never Chunked, or as we used to call it, cut bait fishing.

This year that is going to change. So how about a “Chunking 101” class? I will be dunking chunks from a boat.


How about the rod and what reel? I am thinking a conventional outfit, I have to admit, I am partial to the Shimano product line.

What line? Braid Vs Mono?

How about the end of the line? I noticed a guy on another site sells what look like a nice “Hi Lo” rig. Fish Finders? Hook size? Circle or J?

Lastly bait. All things considered I probably will by buying frozen bait. (?)

So, there are a bunch of questions from a old “new-be” to chunking.

Thanks in advance!

Al

[beamie]

Al,

Relatively large pieces of Pogie, Mac or Herring(sea)....7,8,9/0 Mustad 94150. Conventional Set-up, 6'6" to 7' MH rod, Penn 310/20/30 or Shimano lets say a TLD 15 or 20, Braid or Mono, Egg weight to suit riding on the line, 3 way rig if you wish. Fresh or frozen bait, it both works. Single hook set-up. Get a little extra to chum a bit.

And most important.....find a fishy looking spot, you can't catch'em if there not there.

[Goose]

If you've watched fisheye's lastest you can pick up one of the best chunkin methods.
Try your best to find fresh bait, call around make the extra afford, it makes a difference.
Ask questions and spend time looking at harbor waters, always carry atleast one snag and bucket.
Boat rod action is e glass MH w/ 320 GTI or better.
I chunk mostly with 10' Lami S-glass 7000 abu.
Both surf and boat I use fishfinder rig, 40# PP, 3oz lead or more just enough to stay on the bottem.
Whether you chunk from shore or boat when you hook a fresh chunk don't bury the hook in the meat.
In some spots I remove the inserts from my plug bag, fill a tough zip-lock full chunks and wade out. This way you don't have to keep comeing back, keep chunks out of water will keep them from getting soft.

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by Goose

If you've watched fisheye's lastest you can pick up one of the best chunkin methods.

i was thinking the same thing.

its only a 5 minute segment but i found at least 6 things i was doing wrong.

Priceless.

[spinncognito]

Get fresh bait whenever possible.
Do not hesitate to fish whole bait as well. I hook whole herring through the eyes and let it sit on a muscle bed or rocky bottom and big fish will slurp it up. If you use pieces, the one on your hook should be larger than the chum. Chumming is important to draw and hold fish but once they are present, do not feed them too much. Since you are in a boat, watch the current carefully and make sure you chunk is moving. Slack tides can be very productive!
Good luck...

[Al in Westport]

Thanks guys,

We are off to a good start. Yes, I do have "Stripers Gone Wild". It is out on loan, as soon as I get it back I'll watch it again. When I got it I wasn't thinking of chunking. I'll watch more carefully.

Thanks again for the tips.

Al

[fishsmith]

Hi lo rig with circle hooks, rod holder, beer and lawn chair.
<60 days away.

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by fishsmith

Hi lo rig with circle hooks, rod holder, beer and lawn chair.
<60 days away.

a can't !@#@# wait!!

this brings up a good point.
I think there is two types of fishing. I do both at certain times of the year...

Fishing 1 - focused and motivated only thing on your mind

Fishing 2 - drop a few lines in crack a few beers with your pals talk about fish stories if something hits its an added bonus. these are usually the 90-100 degree days and evenings with 86% humidity. where its tough to move an arm without breaking a sweat.

[daceman63]

I've floated mackeral chunk from a dock in the neponset river on a number 7 hook, 25lb mono and a spinning rod. I've pulled a few nice stripers out with that combo. I tied the hook right to the line. no fishfinders or sinkers. Just let it drift in the current. 2 hours before and after high seemed to be the most productive times.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Bait Runner......

[Nebe]

I do it like this- 50 lb lead core to a barrel swivel and 4 feet of 40 lb fouro to a 8/0 or 9/0 live bait hook. anchor above a rip or a boulder field with some water moving over it and start chumming with itsey bitsey pieces of squid, macs, pogies, whiting, or whatever you have for a while, then pay out your large chunk until you feel scup nibbling it- reel in 10 cranks and start yo-yo-ing the chunk like you would if your jigging a parachute jig on wire.. (if your in moving water, it wont be up and down). I shy away from chunking heads with this technique as the heads like to helicopter when you yo-yo.

Plan on non stop action if the fish are there.

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by Al in Westport

I have been Striper fishing since the 1960’s, in all that time I have never Chunked, or as we used to call it, cut bait fishing.

This year that is going to change. So how about a “Chunking 101” class? I will be dunking chunks from a boat.
l

Check out the On The Water Theatre Schedule at the MSBA Expo....there is a chunking seminar shceduled...

www.msba.net

[bloocrab]

Originally Posted by MrHunters

....Fishing 2 - drop a few lines in crack a few beers with your pals talk about fish stories if something hits its ////...

Fishing 2 can be costly.....,,, but rewarding..........and funny


I still had this scribble from awhile back....watch out for those deep pocket chairs.

...one of those chairs with a BIG can cost you a big bass......... I kill myself...

[striprman]

here is another crude group of drawings "8 ways to hook a head"




and thats just with a single hook

[striprman]

and 9

[Al in Westport]

Thanks to all for some great info. Now for a visit to the tackle shop. I wish I could go the MSBA Expo but I can’t make it this year. It will be the first miss in several years.

Fishsmith…sorry I can’t take your lawn chair tip as I don’t have enough room in my tin boat.

Now, one final question…maybe. Lever drags. I see the Shimano TLD comes with a lever drag. Never had any experience with these. What do you think, any advantages or should this ol’ dog stay with the familiar?

Thanks again, Al

[NIB]

Not a fan of lever drags for the simple reason when the fish gets next to u an makes that last ditch effort dash U can't loosen the drag to give her line.U have to plung it into free spool which is OK but can be tricky..
In NJ from the surf Chunking is done with a fishfiner an a very short leader like 7-10 inches.Heads rule for better fish.The short leader keeps the bait on the bottom not fluttering around in the surf..
10 minutes out reel in stomp on it 10 more minutes,then reel it in a put on a fresh bait.Fresh bait is also very important...

[Tagger]

Bow to the Cow .... surprised no one mentioned that ..using a fish finder type rig .. When you get a hit throw the rod down (bow) to allow line to go slack .. wait ..watch the line .. When it starts straightening ,, set the hook before the fish pulls it tight ,,feeling the tension and dropping the bait ,, Got a lot of "Big Fish" to a chunk on the bottom .

[stripersnipr]

Second on the fish finder...........easy to change out weights and keep the bait down as the tide picks up. Egg sinkers are great if your fishing slack tides but a pia to change quickly.

[Al in Westport]

Again thanks to everyone who responded. I am going to go to the “Printable Version” and print these up. So, if you are off Westport and you see a guy with a white beard in a red Lund trying to read instructions say HI!

Al

[striperman36]

Stay away from my spots!!!!

[Al in Westport]

Hi "Old Guy",

Tell me where your spots are so I'll be sure to avoid then.

Al

[striperman36]

Anything south of the ramp

[BassDawg]

pogies, macks, clams in that order. this is gonna be too long, will pm ya, if that's cool?

[Al in Westport]

Hi "Old Guy", ya couldn't be a little more spicific? Some GPS coordinates would help.

BASSTracker...THANKS!

Al

[striperman36]

Just don't go past the Back Eddy and you wont run into me.
You were doing pretty good catching schoolies last fall in the river
Stay there.

[BassDawg]

You are welcome Al.

I think i left out hooks in that pm. I use 6/0 - 9/0 Gamakatsu Octopus nickel, stainless, whatever is avail. ALWAYS snelled, and I snell me own hooks. That way I have no one to blame but meself.
Your choice when it comes to the knot back to the barrell, I like uni's improved clinch, or berkeley's trilene knots........most important thang is iffin ya can tie it with your eyes closed in a nor'easter

Have fun, chunkin', when ya find the BITE it is a BLAST!!!