08-22-2013, 08:54 PM
Nebo,
Painful to hear of your encounter with the island rocks. Very lucky to not have done some big time damage hitting them at that speed. I have not been on the east side much and I spend most of my time all along the west side. Was there today and found 7ft. of water not 30 yards off the west shore and 2-3 feet deep 150 yards out -- danger! I pretty much use my electric to maneuver around. I have TD's book and he does have some good maps and info on the area. Seems like the fingers you referenced get longer as the water drops.
Everybody has their own prefence for cat riggin. I still like just a plain ol J hook in a 5/0 or 6/0 with 12 lb. mono and no weight. I lose a lot of hooks in the rocks and the rocks are hard on mono too. I re-spool my reels at least once a week. I think a bobber would work just fine too and might be better for the youngsters. I'd try to keep the bait just a foot or so off the bottom and hang on to the pole. I've tried the circle hooks and decided they work fine but just ain't no fun. The trigger pull is a big part of the fun for me.
My first choice for bait this time of the year is itty bitty white bass. The 3 inchers that snarf up bugs on the surface every morning in the launch channel are perfect. I spend a half hour there every morning and figure one wb equals one cat. They really like 'em.
I was out there this a.m. and only caught a half dozen or so cats. Yesterday in the same area I fished with two poles and had two fish on at the same time a couple of times. I'd try the west side in 4 - 6 feet of water -- carp meat should work too.
Good luck and watch out for the rocks.[:/]
BLK
[signature]
Painful to hear of your encounter with the island rocks. Very lucky to not have done some big time damage hitting them at that speed. I have not been on the east side much and I spend most of my time all along the west side. Was there today and found 7ft. of water not 30 yards off the west shore and 2-3 feet deep 150 yards out -- danger! I pretty much use my electric to maneuver around. I have TD's book and he does have some good maps and info on the area. Seems like the fingers you referenced get longer as the water drops.
Everybody has their own prefence for cat riggin. I still like just a plain ol J hook in a 5/0 or 6/0 with 12 lb. mono and no weight. I lose a lot of hooks in the rocks and the rocks are hard on mono too. I re-spool my reels at least once a week. I think a bobber would work just fine too and might be better for the youngsters. I'd try to keep the bait just a foot or so off the bottom and hang on to the pole. I've tried the circle hooks and decided they work fine but just ain't no fun. The trigger pull is a big part of the fun for me.
My first choice for bait this time of the year is itty bitty white bass. The 3 inchers that snarf up bugs on the surface every morning in the launch channel are perfect. I spend a half hour there every morning and figure one wb equals one cat. They really like 'em.
I was out there this a.m. and only caught a half dozen or so cats. Yesterday in the same area I fished with two poles and had two fish on at the same time a couple of times. I'd try the west side in 4 - 6 feet of water -- carp meat should work too.
Good luck and watch out for the rocks.[:/]
BLK
[signature]