Sk8man

A number of folks have asked questions regarding the setting up of meat rigs and the use of cut bait in general. There is a long history of its use in both fresh and salt water and in principle it is one of the oldest methods of fishing and especially trolling (and drift fishing). I thought it could be useful to start a thread specifically dealing with this topic with the hope that folks with expertise in the use of these very effective techniques might offer "specifics" that might help others here and especially new people to the forum or trout and salmon fishing in general. I know there are many Youtube videos (of varying quality and there has been previous commentary here but I thought it might be helpful to have some current input all in one place or thread. There is certainly an "old school" and "new school" flavor to this topic and I'm hoping also that some of the charter guys and our north shore (Canadian) brothers will give input too as a lot of them are very experienced with the newer stuff. What are some of the specific setups used, (distances run,leader length, behind dipseys, Spinneys or flashers etc.) particular baits found to be productive or more effective (e.g. cost effective/longer lasting etc.)? Any pics also might be particularly helpful especially to "newcomers". The pics came in out of sequence so I re-adjusted #1 and #2 numbering For reference sake I'm attaching pics of basic stuff ( so people will know what some of the objects themselves look like. There are many different ways to set up these things so these pics are only basic representations not actual setups PIC #2 - Cowbells (used to be called "flashers") with a sawbelly (Alewife) gang hook setup. The forward single hook slides for adjustment and is hooked in the mouth of a (usually frozen) sawbelly and then "scrunched up" so that it will twirl and roll in the water A weight of varying size is attached to the "rudder"of the cowbells to achieve depth and it is often run just off bottom for Lake Trout. PIC #1 - Cowbells with a "hemlock spinner" (made by Sutton) that has a treble hook with one hook modified so that is open at the "eye end" and can be slid on and off after a sawbelly is "threaded" on and the treble hook replaced and the bait bent so it will twirl or roll. PIC#3 - "Meat rigs" stored on foam. There are many types of "heads" and riggings and beads and other things can be added as well. PIC #4 - Meat rig - I used this as just one VERY basic example. Basically usually a commercially prepared (special brines used) herring is placed in the "head" and a toothpick used to secure it (end broken off after inserted) and the bait is bent to the users preference so that it twirls or rolls in the water when trolled.... again....folks have their preferences as to how it is rigged and I know that since Rys Davis isn't offering their bait that Familiar Bite and Erie Deerie are the more popularly used now.... THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR RESPONSES

Thx Marty

Thanks Nautitroller! You made my day

Some years back on Seneca my son and I were perch fishing in shallow and a huge northern surfaced and was doing just what has been described and we watched as we got closer we noticed he had a large perch caught in his throat with the tail sticking out his mouth...apparently the perch had put up his dorsal and the spines got stuck in the pikes throat and the perch probably had his gills flared as well.....looked like a "standoff"

I forgot to mention.....they extended the concrete further into the water and beveled the edge where it meets the bottom (instead of the 3 ft plus"drop off" that caught some axels in the past during low water (including mine) Les

I had occasion to be in Geneva today so I figured I'd take a look at the lake while there so I first took a look near the chamber of commerce construction site and saw only one small boat (about 12ft with two guys in it at about 20-25ft of water out in the wind (see pic #1). I was thinking to myself "man...it is pretty rough and windy to be out in that boat today".....so I then went down to the State Park to see about the status of the new launch ramp (see pics #2-4). After that I continued on untiI I was looking west toward the guys in the little boat while I watched the roughly 40 ft long Hobart and William Smith research vessel coming back in....here's what I saw......(pic#5) Those were some crazy perch fishermen anchored up there...even for Seneca

Good going FLX.....I had a few with the kype starting too over the last couple months....pretty cool... seems to be a real strong bow year class in that 4 lb range. I'm hoping to fish for them into Nov. but this year who knows with this crazy weather.

:smile: Pap

I hear you guys....but even the rod holder isn't a guarantee. I was once fishing in 60 ft of water on Seneca (some of the locals will know where) for perch and I was fishing two rods and steadily hauling doubles on both. One was in the rod holder while I worked the other. I got up quick while reeling in the working rod and with my knee hit the rod holder knocking the rod in it in the water...I was really pissed...but that isn't the end of it....two years later I was pulling copper with a Pfleugar spoon on a path right by that spot when I snagged into something...thought is was a tree branch on bottom or something...it was my rod and reel....name still engraved on the reel. Took it apart and dried it out and oiled and still have it as a souvenier down cellar. What do you think the chances are of doing that acidentally (i.e. finding it after forgetting about it totally)?

When is his next dental exam? Looks like he needs braces Nice fish!