hog lines, what are does & don'ts

[DK]

to keep thing safe and others happy, how do you fish a hog line?

[Fin]

Learn how to anchor and reel in your line when you neighbor hooks a fish until he can release and be gone. Good jokes and fish stories help too.

[Bait O' Eggs]

What works really well is to find a blue Willies with a "******" painted on it, or a big white sled with "Fishin' Mission" painted on it. These boats are easy to find on the big Columbia river.

No need in getting your anchor wet, just start off by pulling up and tieing your boat off to the side of theirs. If they complain [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] drop your anchor up along side of theirs to the port side, then work your way over to there starboard side and slide back along side of them. You will want to position your boat about a 1/2 a boat length below theirs, maybe a little more. Be sure and tell them right off you dont have any boat bumpers and you would like to know if you could borrow some of there life jackets to tie off between the two of you, so your boat dont get scratched.

You wont need a very big anchor, it is not a big problem if it slides a little. Once your anchor contacts there anchor line you will stop sliding. Some people put chain on their anchor, I dont like to do this as it just increases the chance of scratching the side of the boat as the anchor line is pulled.

Both of these boats are music fans and you will impress them if you put some hip hop music on the stereo and crank it way up.

With your lower position on the river, it will be easy to reach out and handline in one of their poles and check what they are using. It will be a good bet you will find a spinner with either of the 2 boats mentioned above. Go ahead and measure out the dropper length and leader length so you can match it up, these guys know what they are doing. Once you are done, just drop their rigging back in the water, no need to let it out slowly. Be assured their tackle is well seasoned and should have no problem stringing its self back down the river.

If they should happen to hook up with a fish, they will probably cut loose from their anchor and chase the fish. Be sure and keep your hands and feet well inside the boat as they slide back down by you. No need in reeling in your poles, they will work the fish to the side. Should they happen to screw up and let the fish get into your lines, it would be a good help to them if you start jerking, as this will ensure the hook is set. Do not under any circumstance kick your reel into freespool and give them any slack, you wouldnt want to be responsible for them loosing a fish. Just keep on jerking, the harder the better.

If you doubt what I say or want to really get a first hand lesson you could go watch every thing I have described at Oregon City when the springers are here. I kid you not, this is how it is done on the Willamette for springers and should work also on the Columbia for URB.

Have fun and dont forget to take the beer. I think it is a hog line requirement, written down somewhere, I am just not sure where.

I dont enjoy to hogline, but have watched how it is done for several years on the Willamette.

Be sure and tell them I sent you. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[Master Baiter]

Wouldn't it be easier just to ask to borrow some their gear also? [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[WaterDog]

Come on Bait,

The hoglines on the Columbia are not anything like the ones at OC. You are not gunnel to gunnel. Usually it's about a width and half apart or more. Knowing how to anchor your boat is the most important part, the rest is common sense. Most of the folks are OK. Besides, you dont have to be in a hogline to catch fish.

And if your out there and you see an old beat up stinky duckworth, stay away from it. The last trip out all he could catch was his motor! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] (couldn't resist)

The worse thing that happens is the weekend fiberglass boat jockies that find it a challenge to run through the hogline if there is a gap. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] I hope those idiots find a deadhead or the river bottom at 50mph. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[SteelieSteve]

BOE
Now I know why the bad juju follows you out in the Columbia. Like last Saturday. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[TheRogue]

Do: Ask nicely before squeezing into a tight spot, good folks will tell you how much anchor line they're running, and maybe move just a hair to help you in.

Don't: Drop your anchor below a boat if you're close enough to discern whether they're using silver Calcuttas or Ambassadeurs.

T.R.

BOE you must be wallowing around in that Tillamook cow dung again, eh? For the record,
Columbia hoglines are NOT like Oregon City and the fact is, we keepers of the peace up there do our best to keep it that way and send anyone who does not want to play fair, HOME! You are on the money though for the typical doughball parades around, in general. Search this site for the do's and don'ts, if nothing else for your own and everyone's elses safety.

If I could say BITE ME here BOE, I would. Since I can't I'll just have to share your recent dinner conversation. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[WheresMyBobber]

DO - go out several times with someone who knows what they're doing and learn how to do it safely and with proper etiquette.

DON'T - Go out and try it by yourself with no experience. Bad things can happen, like sinking your's or someone elses boat.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Flyfeeshing wudnt not emprove me imeege. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I dontent think gooey eggs whippen back en furth wood meet the intent of dem fly pureest. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] The picture of the dog in the cartoon begging under the table is a close resemblance to the real one.

Did I forget to tell you to make sure and tie the anchor rope off to the stearn with a good knot. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

(actually this one suggestion would kill yourself, the other suggestions would have the flatlander killing you)

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: Bait O' Eggs ]

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: ****** ]

[Pete]

The really tricky part is positioning your anchor (duh!) You have to gauge the current direction and the wind direction to know where you are likely to end up. Remember that the current on the surface is not necessarily what it is under the surface. A couple friendly words to the guy you plan to end up next to can help a lot ... they might even give you hand signals that don't include flexed digits!

Another frequent mistake is forgetting that the current will push your anchor a long way down stream before it touches bottom, particularly in deep water ... better to drop the anchor well upstream of where you think you want it to end up.

Once you successfully get yourself positioned, you can adjust a little bit by moving where you are tied on the bow and positioning your motors and sea bags.

Finally, get your ropes in order so you can pitch it if you need to drop out of the line to chase a fish.

Best advice of all, do it with someone who'se done it before.

[FISHRUS]

Remember to tie the line to the anchor [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]
Hmmmmmmm, I think Oakie Drifter will remind me to check that next time...lol [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]
This happened to me a few years back when I was learning how to anchor [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[ 08-29-2001: Message edited by: FISHRUS ]

[FishinMission]

Onr good thing to look at is the direction that the anchor lines head from the bow of the boats below you to where they go underwater. Pete's pretty much right....but often the current is not parallel with the shoreline...particularly at the mouth of the Sandy. And...you should leave yourself plenty of room because as the tide changes, or as the wind blows, your position will change. Also be sure to have at least 2 sea anchors to hold you as often this time of year the wind will be blowing upriver. ONe more thing...If you want to anchor up next to someone (Like me) that may be fishing 4 rods out of their boats...GIVE THEM LOTS OF ROOM !!! [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[FM2]

A suggestion I have on your anchor rope is to mount a cleat just aft of your rear seats. This is generally the area where people get in and out of your boat. It was never in the way of anyone because of the low profile when loading and unloading.

What I would do is after anchoring I would run my anchor line through the bow anchor guide and instead of tying it off on the cleat on the bow I would run the line along the gunnell to that cleat and tie it off. That way whenever I had to unhook the boat quickly I would just reach over and undo the line there without having to go to the bow to do it. I found this to work very well and could be unhooked very quickly.