Livelining herring ?

[fmTuna]

What's your rig and how do you like to hook'em? Using real circle hooks? Thru the nose... eyes.... behind/in front of pec fin? Bridle them somehow?

I've seen the upriver guys seem to like floating them on a balloon... boat guys with a 1/2 to 3/4 oz inline sinker in enough current to keep them off the bottom.

Thought a little consensus would be interesting!

[TSStriper]

I either use a fishfinder rig when fishing them deep or a just pp to leader to hook. No weight!!
None of that balloon jazz either!!

I like to hook them through the bottom jaw and out through the nostril. That is what I do most often but sometimes I hook them through the eyes but I find that the hook tends to invert when I do it that way. Through the nostrils also works but you still have that hook inversion problem.

In shallow water ( 3-8 feet) I like to hook them through the back behind the fin.
But the most productive way that I have used them is with no weight. Which is a true liveline IMO.

For hooks I use either a 7/0 or 8/0 Gami inline circle.

If I have enough to use I anchor 2 on the bottom and let 2 swim.

[Pinerat]

Upriver, we usually fish them about 3 feet under floats (just big enough to keep the herring from taking the float under but not ballons) and hook them through the hard part of the nose (easier to slow troll them and they last longer) or just in front of the dorsal fin (this way they swim a little deeper but dont last as long on the troll).

[Timmy T]

how do you catch the herring, nets? Can you buy them anywhere? Also I heard of guys using chunk herring? does that work?

[Captain's John & Diana]

Used to catch a bunch and keep in pen at the boat. This is my favorite way to fish for stripers along with poppers. Big bas would come up and knock herring right out of the water someties with their tails before eating them. No weight and just let them swim is how we did it. You can actually feel herring start to get nervous when cow is around. We use to let them run a bit and always hooked them in front of dorsal. No fish with live herring because it got to much work to catch them and keep alive long enough to get down to our pen at the boat. These were the days beofre circle hooks and power pro ect. Great way to catch stripers in the spring.
Capt John

[TSStriper]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid167/p932821f03b06fbeffea9d9c90cb112c2/f444226e.jpg

[DaisyMaySportfishing]

Hey TS.....how did you make out the other day. did that trick work?

[TSStriper]

Not at all Dave. I even tried to put it on the end of a sabiki rig but that didn't help either.

I only caught 2 this past weekend and had one pickup but the fish spit the bait.

Full moon is coming up so this weekend they should be jumping in the boat. At least I hope they will.

Thanks Again
smile.gif

[DaisyMaySportfishing]

It was worth a shot I guess?? I haven't talked to that guy since last week so i don't know how he's been doing. Maybe he just had a couple really good days and that's it. Hopefully things will turn around soon.

[Timmy T]

captain John, when you say poppers do you mean like rebel pop r's? That type of surface bait?

[Bigfish36]

We use a trebel hook thru the lips, No weight.

[JPHooks]

Bigfish36, I hope you are kiddin, but if not don't get caught!!!!!

[Timmy T]

is it illegal to use treble hooks? I am not joking

[Captain's John & Diana]

Yes: By poppers I mean surface running like the pencil poppers plugs and you can see the stripers come up and eat the plug. I just talked to buddy that lives right on Delaware River up towards Easton, PA and he tried for shad up there yesterday but nothing. Water nice and clear this year and he expects a really good run on shad. Do not know how that works for herring but I thought they were like cousins or something. The herring we used were the kind that migrates up to New England and smaller than shad.
Good luck.

[fatboy]

Timmy T sabiki rigs on the river for the herring.

[Timmy T]

Beef! I was gonna call you later my dad gave me your number yesterday.

What is a sabiki rig? And is that to catch the herring with or to use the herring to catch the stipers?

[fmTuna]

If using rod and reel, sabiki rigs (just buy one at the tackle shop, then stop at Rite-Aide for a box of band-aids) are the choice for lots of guys in the freshwater rivers. Be sure to wear your license as the CO's have been very active .. this Spring. Also rod and reelers use a little gold jig... and I mean tiny.

4' cast nests are max size by law if you want to net them, but good luck as it is tough catchin them unless they are thick, you are shallow, and the river you choose has no underwater structure to eat your net... the real herring guys use dip nets.... a homemade contraption that isn't worth building unless you are really serious about herring...

Trust me, it's alot easier just to buy some.

[CastAday]

I used to liveline them off jetties. Hooked behind dorsal with a short shank hook, on a conventional outfit so that you can control the spool with your fingers take line in or out and steer them. Wanted them flopping on the surface. But thats a different ballgame then most situations from a boat.

[Timmy T]

do bait shops sell live herring or chunks?

[fmTuna]

Some guys sell them live, many have them fresh or frozen, depending on their suppliers... Guatamala Dave at Absecon Bay is usually a good bet.

[starboard caster]

I pierce the back and thread a rubber band thru and twist it onto a circle hook . that way when they turn the herring the hook turns for an easy hook-up.

[Groggy]

I know its an old thread, but this is worth thanking the contributors for this info. thanks.:)

[Chris Gatley]

None of that balloon jazz either!!

Tim-

I like to use helium ballons. if fishing stinks, i can suck on some helium, act like a clown and fit in down there rather nicely!

aLL kidding aside - upriver, I often use helium to success. when fish are on really shallow flats (like 3-4 FOW), I found it easier to float between two to four helium ballons down the river off of conventional gear. The ballons keep the herring near or on the surface. just like kite fishing. It works well and lets me keep my boat way away from the fish. I have found it to work best in windy days.

[outdoorsaddiction]

Chris, what rig are you using in the fast shallow water?

[Olbarney]

Bridle them . No hook in the flesh keeps em swimming until they get eaten.

[Chris Gatley]

Chris, what rig are you using in the fast shallow water?

Brian-

I use a small spro swivel and no weight. I use to bridle them but found it just as easy to take the circle hook through the mouth and out the edge of the eye socket. the hook rarely (if ever turns) on itself. as for longevity of the bait, a bunch of casts and she is done anyway.

see you out there

[Capt. Lou]

The easiest way to rig a herring w/circles is to use the Quickrig Companies bridle system. They also make the best inline circles for bunker fisjhing . This also can also be used to rig ballys for circle hook use.
www.quickrig.com (http://www.quickrig.com)

This rig is desigened for all circle hook bait applications ,quick ,easy does not harm bait!

[jrisapirate]

I pierce the back and thread a rubber band thru and twist it onto a circle hook . that way when they turn the herring the hook turns for an easy hook-up.


This is how I'm going to try it this year, its the same way the offshore guys and southerners do it. Much more hook for the bite.


and by the way

Bigfish36 doesn't know what he is talking about;)

[kevin1962]

On The Flats Out Of Ne Md We Will Fish Live On The Drift
We Rig With Circle Hooks. One With 1/2 Oz And Other With No Weight. We Leave Rod In Holder & Fish Like Crazey With Jigs.
Best To Fish When The Current Is On The Move.
note: If You Want To Catch Big Cows 42-50 Inch Range
The Best Way Is To Anchor & Fish Fresh On The Bottom.
I Have Fished The Flats For 15 Years & Have Caught Over 200 Fish Over 50lbs. Some Day's It's Like Taking Candy From A Baby.
The Reel Large Fish Are Not That Aggresive. The Fresh On The Bottom Is The Best Method For Big Fish.
Will Be Fishing In March!!!! Lets Hope For A Good Spring Time.
Just Need Avg Weather Not To Warm Not To Cold.
also Have Caught Big Fish In The Del River By 1st Week In March.
Blood Worms Are The Norm Till The Herring Run Is On.

Ps Can Get Herring With Cast Net On Most Creeks That Feed Into The Top Of Ches. Bay.

[Chris Gatley]

The easiest way to rig a herring w/circles is to use the Quickrig Companies bridle system. They also make the best inline circles for bunker fisjhing . This also can also be used to rig ballys for circle hook use.
www.quickrig.com (http://www.quickrig.com)

This rig is desigened for all circle hook bait applications ,quick ,easy does not harm bait!

Hey Lou-

does harry's Army Navy or Sportmen's Center carry those quickrigs with the bridle? I should look at those since I never tried them.

[Chris Gatley]

Capt. Lou-

I just watched that video - where has that been all my river striper life.

Point me in the right direction (shops) and suggessted size for a herring Please.

Thanks for the heads up

[In Depth]

Hmmmmmmmmm .

[Capt. Lou]

Chris,

They are in stock at the Reel Seat, Harrys will have them shortly, Ramsey,Fish Hds ,Scotts , Fish. Den, & Offshore in AC carry em', there are others locally can't remember this minute.
I'll post for you when I do!

[GringoDan]

I rig them up through the mouth, and out either nostril. 3' of leader tied to at least 7/0 circle hook. Some like to tie the the leader directly to their main line using no swivel, however, I find it easier for quick rigging, and have seen no significant difference in all but the most clear water, bright sky days.

Drifting in fast moving, shallow water (8 feet and under) I'll use no weight. Drifting in slow moving, deep water, use enough weight to get herring on the bottom, on a 3-way swivel. Anchored in fast moving, shallow water I'll use just enough weight to keep the herring from planing to the surface, tied directly to the eye of a 3-way swivel. Anchored in slow moving, deep water, use enough to get the bait down in the water column, using a fish finder.

In terms of size, I prefer a herring that's about 6-9 inches. These herring seem to be more hearty than the larger ones. Not to say you can't use them. Hell you can use a small to mid-sized Buck Shad if you want, but good luck keeping it alive for more than 5 minutes. I'd reccomend keeping 4-5 larger herring, and when they die in your tank (make sure you remove them after they die) chunk them, if the live bite isn't happening. If the live bite is happening, you can always freeze them. Throw the rest of them back. No need to be greedy. Don't let anyone tell you that if you use a small bait, all you'll catch are rats. My biggest last year ate a herring that was about 6 1/2".

A good spinner with a bait running mechanism, or a conventional reel is key, as you need to let them run with it for a solid 7 count before tightening up on them with the damn circle hooks. Unfortunately the in-line circles are not gut-hook proof, and yes letting them start to swallow the bait does increase the odds of gut hooking the fish, but jumping the gun too soon will lead to swings and misses 9 out of 10 times.

Never fished with balloons, though with the endorsement of Chris Gatley, they may be well worth a shot. I should probably try them myself, seeing as I'm one of the worst flats fisherman of all time :D :D :D

Hope the suggestions help. I know others do things differently, and I'm not here to say which way is right or wrong because there is no one and only right way to do it. These are however the methods my fishing partner and I have used with a great deal of success over the last several years.

Catch 'em up.:) :)

[fmTuna]

Wow... an old thread back on life support!

I read in one of the mags an intersting thing to try for livelining.

Take a bunch of buttons out with you... like shirt front size and a little larger. Loop some floss thru 2 holes and tie a knot so the button hangs on a loop. The bigger the bait, the bigger the button. Thread the loop on a riggin needle and go up thru the roof of the bait's mouth so the loop comes out the top of the head and the button hold in place inside.... the button is flush to the roof of the mouth. Then remove the rigging needle and loop the loop in a slipknot around the hook. Sounded pretty easy and sensible to me... am going to give it a shot in the spring.

[Chris Gatley]

Wow... an old thread back on life support!

I read in one of the mags an intersting thing to try for livelining.

Take a bunch of buttons out with you... like shirt front size and a little larger. Loop some floss thru 2 holes and tie a knot so the button hangs on a loop. The bigger the bait, the bigger the button. Thread the loop on a riggin needle and go up thru the roof of the bait's mouth so the loop comes out the top of the head and the button hold in place inside.... the button is flush to the roof of the mouth. Then remove the rigging needle and loop the loop in a slipknot around the hook. Sounded pretty easy and sensible to me... am going to give it a shot in the spring.

by the time you did all that, I just caught two fish. Hahaha. Just kidding. this plier thing may be the ticket. Worth a try anyway.

another year of trying alternative things I suppose. Thanks fopr the button idea FM. Maybe other applications for that tactic exist for me.

[Chris Gatley]

Chris,

They are in stock at the Reel Seat, Harrys will have them shortly, Ramsey,Fish Hds ,Scotts , Fish. Den, & Offshore in AC carry em', there are others locally can't remember this minute.
I'll post for you when I do!

Thanks Lou-

Will you have them at the Somerset Show? If so, what booth are you in this year?

[NO MOJO]

I'd be interested in getting one at the Somerset show also if possible......Greg

[GringoDan]

Wow... an old thread back on life support!

I read in one of the mags an intersting thing to try for livelining.

Take a bunch of buttons out with you... like shirt front size and a little larger. Loop some floss thru 2 holes and tie a knot so the button hangs on a loop. The bigger the bait, the bigger the button. Thread the loop on a riggin needle and go up thru the roof of the bait's mouth so the loop comes out the top of the head and the button hold in place inside.... the button is flush to the roof of the mouth. Then remove the rigging needle and loop the loop in a slipknot around the hook. Sounded pretty easy and sensible to me... am going to give it a shot in the spring.

A friend of mine from long island used to take the snap off of fish finder rigs, and attach them to the eye of the hook and rig bunker and porgies off the snap. It seems similar in principal, if the goal of the floss is to allow more hook exposure.

[Groggy]

Wow... an old thread back on life support!

I read in one of the mags an intersting thing to try for livelining.

Take a bunch of buttons out with you... like shirt front size and a little larger. Loop some floss thru 2 holes and tie a knot so the button hangs on a loop. The bigger the bait, the bigger the button. Thread the loop on a riggin needle and go up thru the roof of the bait's mouth so the loop comes out the top of the head and the button hold in place inside.... the button is flush to the roof of the mouth. Then remove the rigging needle and loop the loop in a slipknot around the hook. Sounded pretty easy and sensible to me... am going to give it a shot in the spring.

THis sounds pretty interesting but I need a visual for this!

[outdoorsaddiction]

Thanks Lou-

Will you have them at the Somerset Show? If so, what booth are you in this year?

chris if you see them pick some up for me i will see you on the river real soon, Brian

[Capt. Lou]

Thanks Lou-

Will you have them at the Somerset Show? If so, what booth are you in this year?

They will be at Somerset, Aftco booth!

[fmTuna]

by the time you did all that, I just caught two fish. Hahaha. Just kidding. this plier thing may be the ticket. Worth a try anyway.

another year of trying alternative things I suppose. Thanks fopr the button idea FM. Maybe other applications for that tactic exist for me.

yeah.. when I read it I thought it would probably be better for bigger baits than herring, like dropping a skippy back in an offshore spread, or a live bluefish for shark....but what the heck!

[Bigfish36]

This is how I'm going to try it this year, its the same way the offshore guys and southerners do it. Much more hook for the bite.


and by the way

Bigfish36 doesn't know what he is talking about;)

OK JR just remember that when you want to go in April

[jrisapirate]

Yo bud, whats this April nonsense. Lets get out to that spot the first few weeks of March and see whats going on.


I've looked around the internet and couldn't find anything that says fishing bait with a treble hook as being illegal. I mentioned it to a few people who have been doing it for years and they had no idea. NJfish and wildlife doesn't have anything about it posted, if any of you can find a link, please post it.

[Joseph Lamberty]

Used to catch a bunch and keep in pen at the boat. This is my favorite way to fish for stripers along with poppers. Big bas would come up and knock herring right out of the water someties with their tails before eating them. No weight and just let them swim is how we did it. You can actually feel herring start to get nervous when cow is around. We use to let them run a bit and always hooked them in front of dorsal. No fish with live herring because it got to much work to catch them and keep alive long enough to get down to our pen at the boat. These were the days beofre circle hooks and power pro ect. Great way to catch stripers in the spring.
Capt John


We have otters in our marina who have become experts at getting into pens. My pen locks and they still get in go figure. none of my other dock buddies nor I can figure out how they do it.


Liv 2 Fish
Forced 2 work