? and idea on egg fishing

[KilgoreTrout]

I don't post much but I do read the board pretty much daily. It seems I read alot of posts where guys/gals fishing with salmon eggs get take downs but ultimately lose the fish. I was wondering if the eggs get in the way of making a clean hook set. Having moved here from Texas 6 months ago, I'm new to the Salmon/Steelhead thing. I did a bit of carp fishing (not for eating mind you) and one tactic that was used is boilies (hard boiled baits) on a hair rig (line glue to the hook so that it hangs 1/2" below the hook). Image the letter J with an "o" underneath it. The advantage of this rig (for carp anyway) is that the fish never feels the hook, sucks in the bait - then feels the hook and spits it out into itself. The bare hook seems to result in solid hook sets and the fish are rarely lost for this reason. You make the baits by taking dough balls and adding flavors/colors and then boiling them. This hardens the bait and then you rig it up by pushing a small nail through the center. One advantage is that these baits are tough and should last awhile. Obviously, the Steelhead may not like the taste/texture or not spit the hook into his mouth like the carp do. You can add Salmon eggs to the mixture (or shrimp oils etc). Would like to get input from those in the know on this board.

Thanks,

Dave

[FISHFINDER]

Hey Kilgore-

I had the same idea for stillwater plunking for steelhead and salmon but haven't pursued it because I don't know any carp fishermen who know how to make those doughball baits. I would be interested to find out how to make the things and try them out. I think you're on track with regards to adding scents and the like. I guess they could probably work drift fishing too if the baits weren't too hard.

I am anxious to hear from you about a recipe. And hope the rest of you readers are gentle with your comments about the aspiring carp-bait usin' steelhead fishermen.

FF

[Mikie]

OH MY GOD KILGORE . MOVE back to texas before anybody else reads your post. God what language is that anyway, you better duck @ run HA-HA . I'm clueless? SEE YA MIKIE

KT, a salmon or steelhead can be missed when they mouth an egg cluster. It happens more often if the size of the egg cluster is too big for the hook being used and the hook is buried within. For example, if you use a large 50 cent piece sized cluster with a buried 1/0 hook for 'Nooks you will miss more 'takes'. Use a 5/0 or 4/0 hook with just a bit of the point sticking out from the cluster. Conversely, you don't want to use too big of a hook because the hook will be detected sooner by the fish and spit out sooner. For a nickle sized egg cluster for steelhead use a size 1 or 1/0 hook with just a bit of the point sticking out. ... As for so many "take downs" and "missed" fish, I have more than just a hunch that many of those are bullhead mudcats or searun cutthroat trouts that can easily pull a bobber part or all the way under the water but don't get hooked up while they nibble and drag the eggs. In those cases it sometimes becomes a salmon or steelhead to report they got a "take down" from. Of course a few are the bigger fish that got missed too. To me a genuine salmon or steelhad "take down" is when you actually feel the headshake weight of the sure thing and it gets off right away because the hook didn't get a good hold; or in the rod holder the rod is bent way over with a noticable heavy headshake before it comes off. Because so many mudcat grabs are reported as big fish, sometimes these stories can give an exagerated impression of the numbers of salmon/steelhead present. - RT

[Hammer Bob]

Well this is close enough to the topic I have been looking for. I have been waiting for a chance to post this carp bait and hope to get some others in reply. this is a recipe that has been in my family for at least three generations:

1/2 cup water
1 tsp anise seeds
5 tbsp honey or karo syrup
1/2 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal

simmer water and anise seeds for 1-2 minutes. Add honey or syrup and simmer until a light syrup is formed. Add flour and stir. Remove from heat. Add cornmeal and kenead withe fork. Cool slightly and press between wax paper.

This stuff works great and my personal best is a 30 lb carp from the Delaware river. Not exactly along the lines of this board but what the hay! On slow days you can munch on the bait also!

[letsfish]

Now bowfishing for carp - there is a sport.
You stalk the fish and then "fling" hope youur arrow hits its mark.There is plenty of enviromental factors to consider before the arrow flies... sun glare, wind, a moving fish,and worst of all... the dreaded angle of light deflection(the fish you see in the water isn't real there,it's a physics thing,like the penny in the glass thing in grade school).
But the fight can be tremendous, or if you happen to score a direct hit that severs the main nerve running down the fish ...you have dead fish on contact.
A great sport and great fun,but try to find someone that enjoys it around here.It is an uncrowded sport. All those carp milling about accepting the curses of fishermen,but nobody takes advatage of the opportunity.Larry's Sporting Goods use to sponsor a bowhunting derby in early June and give a $5 gift certificate to the largest carp taken by bow each week.Those were the days.

[smilesforu]

It's only far fetched to those who haven't tried it.
With the large variations in scented oils this recipe will allow the power bait of your choice. You can also alter it with good ole jello for a brighter color.
http://www.steelheader.net/bait/dough_balls.htm

Tight Lines

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[KilgoreTrout]

Fishfinder, the doughball recipes I use are fairly straightforward - although I don't have an exact quantity recipe I can give you the gist of it here:

1 cup flour
1 cup corn meal
1 egg or substitute Salmon eggs
Water
Scents/Flavoring/Food Coloring

The way I do it is to add the flour & corn meal together then beat an egg and mix that in with some (not a lot) of water. You want to error on the side of it being dry at this point. The egg acts as a binder to help hold everything together. I have not done it but I would assume that Salmon eggs would serve the same purpose and also add their flavor as well. You want to add enough water to get the mixture where it does not stick to your fingers (if it does add more flour). It should feel like playdough. Add scents but don't over do it. Now the tedious part is rolling the dough into little balls. You then boil them. If you want them to be on the soft side only boil for 1 minute or so. You can make them somewhat bouyant by boiling them longer (they will float to the top). Take them out of the boiling water and let them dry for 6 hrs on paper towels. If you aren't going to use them right away I recommend freezing them at this point.

Since my original post I have had a few other ideas.
1. You can coat the outside of the boilies with Salmon eggs prior to casting.
2. You could put the dough ball on a conventional Egg loop and fish it like normal, the advantage being it is fairly tough and would not need to be changed as often. You could just recoat it periodically.
3. If you are using the Hair Rig I described in my original post I recommend using a small piece of rubber band (or a small plastic "H" you can make by cutting up a plastic needle point frame found at craft stores). The boilie stop is needed to keep the bait in place. I also recommend a crochet needle to thread the Hair rig monofilament through the boilie.

Adios Amigos,

Dave

[Hoosier Daddy]

Letsfish: I'm ready to go stick some carp, where at around here??

[fishbait]

Heres my doughball recipie,

Take on new 16 ft drift boat
add 1 -2 inexperenced anglers
1 too light anchor
6" too short oars
add water until the river is about 2 feet above normal stage
Make sure PFD's are in storage locker
Anchor and cast over bank fisherman's lines till they start throwing large rocks

[Hummingbird]

Hi All,
I too am pretty new to the board and have a place where you can kill all the carp you want. I lived at the Malhuer Game refuge at the field station South of Burns. This was back in the early 80's when Malhuer Lake over floed into Harney lake and made the largest shallow lake in Oregon supassing Klamath. The Carp in there wer so overpopulated and Monsters, the Refuge was letting people shoot with bows and fish for them also just to get bid of them . The Snow pelicans were really having a feast there also . It is a sight to watch them get in a big circle and and move inward with there heads submerged moving the Carp to a frenzy and eating hundreds of pounds at a time. The Game refuge wants to get rid of the carp and if you stop by the headquarters, they probably would give you permission to fish and hunt the Carp. It's a ways to go but worth the trip. The Steens mountains are amazing.Great Bird Watching to boot.Wear your Cowboy Boots. Take care
Tight Lines . Tom

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Hummingbird

[Osprey]

Heres my doughball recipie,
Rainbow Powerbait ...Os