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Topic: Rockfishing is too expensive for me  (Read 5584 times)

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eksblenny

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Right now I probably lose about $4 in tackle every time I snag up and have to cut off my line. For those of you who rockfish, how do you guys minimize the cost of losing tackle? I.E. do you have a really cheap source of sinkers or do you make your own, do you cheap out on the hooks, etc?


Snipeworm

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A few things that help,.

Don't use treble hooks!  I prefer jigs that have single hooks that point up.  Hit the bottom then jig up.

I run 65 pound braid all the way to the jig.  I have pretty good success wrapping the braid around my paddle for grip when snagged and giving a good yank to free the jig.  I get lots of cucumbers and slime up too.

Last one is drift, if you are drifting you are much more prone to snagging.  Make sure your line is as vertical as possible.

Good luck!



curplunkie

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I used to lose a lot of tackle rockfishing, but I recently switched to using vertical style jigs like the daggerman from Mustad, or Butterfly from Shimano.

And because the hook is placed at the top of the jig, as soon as I feel the bottom and lift the rod tip, I never snag.  Even in the rare occurrence that I do get it stuck in between rocks, which will always happen eventually, they are easier to pull out because the hook sits right up close to the jig. 

But even if you lose 4-10 bucks a day, as long as you bring home some ling and rockfish, I'd say it's a pretty good return on your investment.
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You need to learn how to unsnagged. It works, I used to lose a lot specially when theres a strong drift. Dont give up easily try a few tricks.
Live today for tomorrow's sake.
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.


tehpenguins

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I usually find circling the area works pretty well to get unsnagged, sometimes though it's the cost of fishing.  It's nice to minimize, the cost, like outdoor proshop has some pretty decently priced jig heads.
- Shane

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charles

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Couple things. Bait also works. Round sinker then 18 inches up a hook with squid or a bait fish. Two. Workable jigs are not hard to make. Torpedo sinkers 4 to 6 oz. Siwash hook on one end line on the other. Scrape the lead a little for a bit of shine. They work. Find some lead.. Melt sit outside in an old pot and pour into a fish shapes you have carved in wood to make 6 to 8 oz bars.One can make several pours into wood before ruining it. Drill hole head and tail when cool. Use SS wire to make a loop in holes and you can put hook on at same time. Buy a few colors you like of cheap acrylic artist paint and color. I do lose a few jigs on occasion but the cost loss is minimal.
Charles


Tez

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You need to learn how to unsnagged. It works, I used to lose a lot specially when theres a strong drift. Dont give up easily try a few tricks.

Definitely no treble hooks.
I use 50#+ braid and 60# mono leader, less break-offs at the terminal end due to braid fraying.
Tip the hooks with some squid to make them less of a grappling hook for the bottom.
Let some slack in the line if you are snagged, then backtrack and pull at it from straight above, or the opposite direction. 

Many trips, I can make it through the day (and several snags), without losing a jig.

I usually find circling the area works pretty well to get unsnagged.


Sailfish

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Kayak fishing is my "therapy"  :smt002  Its cost is nothing compared to what the "shrinks" charge me  :smt003
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning how to dance in the rain."


Dale L

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Cheapest setup, 3 way swivel or dropshot/dropper loop, homemade sinker on a light line, and bait, live bait is deadly, the undulation of a jigged squid or baby octo works great, then "other" stuff.

I've had less luck getting unsnagged than others, like pretty seldom but worth trying. I won't go over 30# on my yak period.

Sure snag for me are treble hooks, and line angle during the drift.

lead melts really easy over a camp stove OUTSIDE, as mentioned before, then I've used aluminum foil to form sinker molds.

I have at times been the tightest person I know. Cheap Cheap Cheap.
« Last Edit: August 13, 2019, 04:29:01 PM by Dale L »


MotherLoad

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Agree with lots of the stuff already mentioned. I would add a tip on your release/drop. I hate snags, mostly don’t want to flip in a swell due to being tied to bottom. So I try and avoid it altogether by doing the following...
1. If I start to scope out while descending  I abort and adjust  before the next drop by casting in the direction of the drift so that I am vertical at the time it contacts bottom.

2. I position my hands so that the instant it contacts bottom, I can engage the bail, and begin cranking in one fluid motion. I shoot for getting my jig 3-5 feet off the bottom within a second or so.

3. If I do feel a snag, I immediately slacken the line, and move uphill of the snag as others have said. Usually I can get the gear back easily enough. I think introducing slack quickly prevents the gear from really lodging into the crack or snag. I also rig light (30 lb max) so that I can break off quickly if needed.

None of this is really novel or ingenious, but it works well enough for me.


Fisherman X

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Dang!- Gold level info and technique there. Took me years to figure out most of that. The best reply for me is:

Sonny wrote:
Quote
Kayak fishing is my "therapy"  :smt002  Its cost is nothing compared to what the "shrinks" charge me  :smt003

Amen.
-Success is living the life you want-
Joel ><>

Hammerhead avatar in memory of CdM


SlackedTide

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Borrow from the bass guys n rig ur baits weedless..
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1997 Tracker 17 Deep V<--- Money Pit


When you look outside the window, and all you see is fishing. True Story.


tehpenguins

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Re-reading I'm seeing you're asking mostly about sinkers.

I go to Fishery Supply on Story in San Jose, pretty much all of their weights are a dollar. Outdoor Pro Shop in Cotati has really cheap Lead too, I buy weights from them when I've lost all my swimbaits and Jig Heads and I need a bulk order.


edit:

also if you're snagging weights a lot, you could tie some 20lbs to the weight so you only lose a weight if you need to tug it to death. keep the hooks/shrimp flies and the rest of your terminal tackle.

« Last Edit: August 13, 2019, 09:07:43 PM by tehpenguins »
- Shane

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2014 Hibiscus Revolution 13
2011 Blue F150 with Camper Shell


Twopatch

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Four bucks? That's like a gallon of gas. It's a good thing you have a kayak! :smt044  It used to cost us $300 in a boat.
We have the government, that our forefathers warned us about.


LoletaEric

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One option:  change the way you fish.

Using your fishfinder and running bait along the bottom will get you more fish much of the time, and many of us think it's more fun.  The big draw is that other species like halibut and salmon hit it.  Go barbless to make things even easier to deal with. 

You can shake out snags much more easily, and when you catch a salmon legally with a rig that's more fun to run, please send me a six pack of SNP.   :smt001
I am a licensed guide.  DFW Guide ID:  1000124.   Let's do a trip together.

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loletaeric@yahoo.com - call me up at (707) 845-0400

http://www.loletaeric.com

Being an honorable sportsman is way more important than what you catch.


 

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