It is critical that the bait is presented just off the bottom, once the rig gets up in the water column, the bait will quickly become ineffective
Be sure to use a large enough sinker to hold the bottom, larger sinkers are needed as drift speeds and depths increase.
The speed of the drift is determined by both the wind and the current generated by the tide larger diameter lines also require heavier sinkers, drop the rig to the bottom and keep the amount of scope in the line to as little as possible. The more line that is in the water, the greater the water resistance and the tougher it is to hold bottom.
As for those fishing on smaller boats, they can use their motors to stem the tide by placing the stern into the tide and bumping the motor in and out of gear. This will also allow the anglers to spend more time over a productive piece of bottom. This is known as stemming. This should be done only when conditions permit. No boat should be held into a significant sea stern first for any length of time. When there is little or no drift, the motor can be used to create a drift. Once again, bump the motor in and out of gear to cover the bottom as thoroughly as possible. This is known as power drifting.
Once you arrive in an area, it is important get a feel for the exact direction and speed of the drift. Position the boat just above the area to provide enough time to get the rigs baited and to the bottom. Use a fishfinder (sonar) to watch the depth and the quantity of bait on the bottom. Watch for eddies and rips on the surface as they indicate changes in the bottom where the fish feed and hold. Pay careful attention to exactly where in the drift the boat is when a fish is caught.
Click here to learn more about Fluke Fishing and the proper techniques and tackle.
Chunking is one of our favorite techniques in the western sound because with the right current you can get into a rip roaring bite with constant and multiple hookups which gets pretty intense with 4 anglers fishing.
The best hook placement for chunk baits must allow for the hook to easily pulled from the bait. There is never a need to hook the bait deeply.
When fishing in the shallows with very little current, sinkers are not needed. However, if there enough current to move the bait it is critical that an egg sinker is added to the main line above the swivel. The smallest sinker that is heavy enough to hold the bottom should be used.
Click here to learn more about Striped Bass Fishing and the proper techniques and tackle.
Fluke feed close to the seabed, so presenting the bait just off the bottom ensures it remains effective and attractive to the fish. If the rig rises higher in the water column, the bait becomes less visible and less enticing, significantly reducing your chances of a catch.
The size of the sinker depends on the depth, drift speed, and current conditions. Larger sinkers are necessary in deeper waters or when the drift speed and wind push the rig faster. The goal is to keep the rig anchored near the bottom, so using the heaviest sinker needed to achieve this without excess line drag is crucial.
Small boat anglers can use their motors to 'stem the tide' by facing the stern into the tide and engaging the motor intermittently to hold position. This allows anglers to stay over productive bottom areas longer. When no drift exists, power drifting by bumping the motor in and out of gear can create a controlled drift to cover more ground effectively.
Upon arriving at a fishing spot, anglers should observe surface indicators such as eddies and rips, which point to bottom changes favored by fluke. Using a fishfinder to monitor depth and bait presence also helps. Positioning the boat just above the area before starting and tracking where fish are hooked along the drift helps refine your understanding of current conditions.
Productive striped bass techniques include chunking with bunker pieces and trolling with umbrella rigs, tubes, or bunker spoons. Chunking involves using bait chunks in areas with favorable current to trigger multiple hookups, while trolling covers different depths and locations to locate active bass.
When chunking, baits should be hooked shallowly so the hook can easily pull free during a strike. Deep hooking is unnecessary and can reduce bait effectiveness. Proper hook placement enhances the bait's natural presentation and increases hookup success.
Sinkers are needed when water currents are strong enough to move the bait away from the bottom. In these cases, using the smallest egg sinker that can hold the bait on the bottom is advised to maintain natural bait movement while preventing drift. In shallow waters with little current, sinkers may not be required.