How to fish a hog line?

[Mr. Fisherman]

I am looking for information about fishing hog lines. I was told by a friend of mine that he knew a guy that had a shot gun pulled on him when he attempted to anchor in a line. Is it really that bad out there?
How can a guy make a few friends and not get shot?

Thanks for your posts...


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Live to Fish
Fish to Live

[Bait O' Eggs]

The first question is do you want to fish a hog line? If yes to this question rethink it

I have only been in one hog line it was the Willamette River a couple years ago. I ended up in it by default. I was anchored and people came to me like a magnet. The first boat didnt have an anchor so just wanted to tie off to me

It wasnt long and the boats on both sided of the now 2 of us, had their anchors on opposite sides of me that they were on. This put the big squeeze on me and my new tied off buddy who was drinking beer and eating fritos as the sun came up, while wrapped in a blue trap like a ponch because it was raining. If I hooked a fish and cut loose I would not have been able to get back into line. And the crossed anchor ropes made it so I couldnt pull my anchor and leave.

When I finally got out I, I vowed to not get back into that mess again. I have no idea how to fish a hog line. Sorry I couldnt be more help. Maybe their is a lesson in that somewhere.

[bathtub bob]

Hoglines!!!! After 10 days of fishing upriver brites this year I noticed several things about fishers ancoring in a hog line. 1st thing if not experinced at it ask and people will tell tou how the current is going and even guide you to the right or left and tell you to drop. But so often they are not set up for hog line fishing. You need 200 to 300 ft rope a heavy chain and a good rocking chair anchor. I bet i saw 50 boats slip this past week on those minus tides.I think almost all of those boats did not have enough CHAIN ON!!! Then you need a big enough float to keep it from sinking You then need boat bumpers But most of the time if you anchor right you should not touch the boat nexth to you. Also a couple good sea anchors are a must. Remember you need to be able to throw your floats very easly not only on fish but saw some killer logs come down too, if they get hung on your rope and you dont slip you could go under.Hog lines catch fish because there in the fish lanes as they travel up river. If you want to do this kind of fishing i suggest you practice a few times away from hog lines and you will have confidance nexth time you see all those fish being caught.

Upriver Columbia hoglines are VERY friendly.
There are a few who think it is Oregon City,
AND IT IS NOT!!!!! We try and educate those
folks. Leave at least a boat width between
boats and ask for help and you will get it
at least from the Blue Willie Asaltor with
****** on the back! Boats beating boats
and everyone fighting can stay somewhere
else. Listen to the post above me for
equipment required.

See you on the river

******

[Gizmo Man]

Good Advise bt Bob. I would like to add that when you line up and before you drop anchor, watch which way the current is pushing the boats. You have to play the sway, otherwise, you get over someones anchor.

Also, for those who are anchored, help the guy who is about to anchor. Chalking over to cover the hole as the guy is dropping anchor or lining up is not going to prevent someone from dropping in.

Giz...

[Phish_on]

I'm afraid of hog lines.
On the Willamette it's quite the closed fraternity, I think you have to inheirit your space ...
and yes they are armed, and they have their own laws - like, you can keep as many fish as you can kill.

** Un-informed broad generalizations ** but I don't expect to learn any more. I just steer way clear of hoggers. I guess I would go in someone else's boat if I was invited !

[Ramstrong]

Wow, all of this hog line animosity. I fished all last springer season at the sandbar and had no problems at all. There are just some generalizations to follow. 1. If the slot you want to fish looks tight, ask before you drop. 2. When you do drop anchor, do it in sequence (don't cross any anchor lines). 3. make sure the stern of your boat is even, or as close as possible, with the boats on either side of you. I followed these 3 guidelines this year and found the people in the lines the be very accomadating. If you're a beginner just let them know, the people on either side of you should help you out. once in place relax, bs with the guys in the boat next to you. I will be in a line again this spring for sure.

[aye fsh]

hey Bob,
About that chain thing, what length / link dia. do you think is sufficient? Currently have 4' with about 1/4" links and have slipped a few times sturgeon fishing below bonneville. Have also been using cable ties to attach to the top eye of my anchor and have had that just pop loose a few times, any suggestions on a better way to attach there? Don't want to make it too difficult to break in the event of an anchor snag but kind of a pain to have to pull anchor and reset! Thanks.

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ayefsh,there4iyam

Sturgeon leader wraps make a great anchor
tie that will hold but still break if
needed. Don't use too much though.

Rick

[cureless]

How do you all feel about a driftboat dropping into the slot next to you in a hog line?
I did it once and didnt feel real comfortable with the side to side slide, I felt it was bothersome to the other boats.

Mike

[Mr. Fisherman]

Great info! Thanks for all the help.

In addition could you recomend any type of anchor float and retrival system?

Also, has anyone used the E-Z anchor system for crab pots or rings?

My boat is an 18' Seaswirl. It weight about 3500 pounds. What anchor would be best for the columbia?

Thanks,


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Live to Fish
Fish to Live

[bathtub bob]

AYE FISH Im the type that usually gets there early and the last thing is i dont want to slip. I recomend a chain link about as big as your thumb and at least 12ft for a 20 ft boat . I would ask at fishermans marine they could help but remember with a good puller and large ball id rather be heavy than slip.

[SLEDDER]

BATHTUB, Why do you need all that chain, what is supposed to do for you?

[Jeffhead]

Hey Mr Fisherman,
The easiest way to fish a in a hog line is to go and start your own!!! That way ya don't have to worry about slidin' into someone.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

[bathtub bob]

SLEDDER: When you put 200 to 300ft of rope out alot of that ropr wants to float heavy chain keeps your arm or shaft of your anchor down to keep your tines buried.


SLEDDER Using 200 to 300ft of rope alot of rope floats the chain keeps the shaft down so the forks dig in. Have you ever notice when a big ship comes up river and big waves alot of boats slip. Because there rope is to high on the shaft. Hint some people start there motors and put there boats in gear for a few seconds to take stress on anchor.

s

Spend the little bit extra and get the
heavy duty plastic coated variety for
your chain, from anchor to the start
of your rope. WELL WORTH saving the
beating on your boat and it holds up
great. As stated above, at least a
40 lb Columbia "river pick" for the
Mighty Columbia. My coated chain is
the heavy one and 12 feet, which is
plenty. Listen to us Navy guys. Grin.

[WaterDog]

Mr. Fisherman,

For my 18 foot boat I use a 25lb rocking chair anchor and about 6 feet of 3/8 chain. It's plenty. Most on the Columbia is sandy so you dont need anything much bigger. I do have a 30lb for the upper willamette since the bottom is mostly 1-4inch round rock. Seems most of the folks will give you a couple of boat widths distance at frenchman's bar. All real nice folks.

Good luck and have fun!

[Pilar]

Anchor scope and chain keep you hooked in. Scope is the rope length. Should be 5 times the depth. The chain has to be heavy/long enough so that the shank of the anchor stays down. Even when waves jerk the rope with the boat. If the shank lifts up off the bottom the points will slide and you're off to the rodeo.

I guess the main thing is practice, practice, practice. Don't do it near other boats until you're sure you can stop where you wan't. Otherwise they'll all yell and you'll be number one in their boats.

This ain't no *****!! N.a.v.y. stands for
Never Again Volunteer Yourself!

The bend is your friend!

[Ramstrong]

SLEDDER, when you're in the Navy you learn that the chain is what keeps you on the bottom, not the anchor. Now we don't let out shots of anchor chain to keep the anchor down. In the river the weight of the anchor chain digs the forks of the anchor into the bottom. At least that's my theory.

[Ramstrong]

Thanks Pilar,
spoken like a true squid

[Mr. Fisherman]

Excellent information!
Thanks to all who replied!

Cureless, I fished this last weekend with a buddy. We fished a hog line in a drift boat and didn't have any problem swaying side to side. He used a plastic bucket tied off to the center of the stern to keep the boat straight. Give it a try!

Thanks again for all the advice. After I get outfitted I'll be a pro in no time!

Tight lines,


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Live to Fish
Fish to Live