Rigging herring

TideRunner · 09-21-2002, 09:27 PM

I'm just curious to how others rig up there plug-cut herring. Mainly, what do you do with your second (trailer) hook? Sometimes I let mine swing free (except when fishing for silvers), sometimes I stick it partially thru the rear of the herring, and sometimes I stick it thru and pull it all the way thru to let it trail. Funny thing is is that I (we) hook over 90% of our fish on the top (upper) hook. So does it even matter?
Also curious if you adjust your eye-to-eye distance on the hooks for the size of bait. I used to run short spacing so I could 'bend' the herring for spinning, but, now I focus on the angle of cut. I try to have my trailing hook behind the bait.
Thought this would be a good time of year for this question.

[ 09-21-2002, 10:29 PM: Message edited by: TideRunner ]

Fish Hunter · 09-22-2002, 07:10 AM

Hi Tiderunner,
For plugcut herring I make fixed tie leaders tied so the rear hook is even with the bait's tail. I don't think it's really needs to be super specific though. Using 50# leaders now for fall chinook.
I'll be looking for you out there. Bad news is I won't be fishing again till the 2nd week of Oct.
Good news is because I'll be away hunting!

David Johnson · 09-22-2002, 08:13 AM

Most fish are caught on the front hook, unless they hook themselfves with a slashing take. Salmon, like most predator fish swallow a bait head first and they also hit the bait head first.

Think about all the fish in the ocean that have those eye spots on their tails. It's so that when the predator goes for the "eye" they can excape.

I also always run my back hook as a trailer when plug cutting.

Kruechief · 09-22-2002, 08:23 AM

Good morning,

I have never hooked up on the trailing hook. I usually run a treble for the trailer. I use a loop so I can take of the treble and rebait.

Lo

FlyChucker · 09-23-2002, 08:20 PM

What is the desired action for plug cut herring? A big slow roll or small fast roll? With the rear hook dangling and the front hook set mid herring, I can't seem to control the roll rate.

I have the body cavity cleaned with line and hooks going through cavity and a hole cut in the rear.

Thanks

John · 09-23-2002, 08:25 PM

I hokk by trailer hook into the bait. First go through by the top and back out and then in back by the tail. Guille cutters have a diagram with them that shows this method. I have been hooking up this way before I ever owned a plug cutter and it seems to work.

fish_on · 09-23-2002, 08:32 PM

I run 3 hooks with herring when not in the ocean. 2 hooks in the herring and the third hook trailing behind. All the springers we landed this year where on the trailing hook.

HOGTIDE · 09-23-2002, 08:34 PM

To control the speed of the roll: Cut the bait on the tradional double bevel. Look directly down the gullet of the cut bait considering the backbone to be the center of a clock. Run the point of the hook directly in just above the backbone and exit at 12 o'clock...that will be your slowest spin. Adjust the hook to exit more toward 3 o'clock (or 9 o'clock depending on the direction of your bevel) and you speed up the spin. I like 2:30!

I probably just made it more confusing, huh?!

FlyChucker · 09-23-2002, 08:50 PM

plug cut explaination

is this demo similar to what you're talking about?

HOGTIDE · 09-23-2002, 09:03 PM

That is a different riggin' but I am sure it works, too. I donot put a bend in the bait. I believe the idea is that the 'beveled front' is supposed to produce the roll on cut bait. Bending the bait might actually hinder the roll as I described it. All the tension should be on the top hook with the water pressure on the face of the bevel. I want the rear hook to be trailing about 1" behind the bait's tail.

It's a quick riggin'. Stick the top hook at 2:30. Throw the bait overboard. perfect spin, works just about evry time!

crabbait · 09-23-2002, 09:14 PM

I rig like Hogtide said only I leave my trailing hook free and even with the tail. The vast majority of my hook-ups are on the bare trailing hook (or they get both). I think the fish is slashing at the bait and gets the nearly stationary trailing hook. A lot of hook-ups are just slammed in the rod holder with no warning bump at all.

Fishplay · 09-23-2002, 10:15 PM

I run the front hook into the backbone itself and out the top of the bait. I use the angle of cut to determine spin. The trailing hook is left to dangle behind the angle. I run fixed leaders and like them to match bait length.
It works for me!!

FISH_ON
If your fishing B10 you may want to check the regs. I believe they changed this year limiting the number of hooks to two. Just a heads up in case you didn't know and do fish there.

Jetman · 09-23-2002, 10:31 PM

STS ran an article on different ways to fish plug cut herring in the August/September 1992 edition. I don't recall who the author was but it was based on the techniques of Gilly Gilchrist. It was a very informative article that showed different hook-up methods to achieve different rolls under different conditions. I at one time had a copy of this article but it has since gone by the wayside, although I'd really like to have a copy of it again. So if if any of long term collectors of STS would like to share let me know.

Dan Christopher · 09-23-2002, 10:52 PM

i run mine a little differant.i run both hooks through the back at the spine,the front hook is put in the left side tail base with the eye towards the head and the second is on the other side tail base (with the eye towards the tail).i have found so far this helps me with hookups,, i don't miss as many of the slashing bites.i hook fish on both hooks even the backwards one.this is just something i have been playing with but don't have all the numbers on if it helps that much yet.after more use i will be able to tell better.

Biteme · 09-24-2002, 09:55 AM

there must me thousands of different ways to cut and hook a herring. I use a fixed rig with with two hooks. and leave the tail hook either in the skin just above the tail or i thread it thru just behind the gut cavity and let it hang just behind the tail. Most importantly is to find method that gives you a nice roll and doesnt take more than a minute or so to rig. If it involves taking hooks off and threading leaders and all of that i think your wasting valuable fishing time without any bait in the water. Find a method that gives a consistant roll from bait to bait whether it is a tight fast roll or a slow looping roll and keep the baits fishing. Oh and try to minimize the tail kick sometimes this can be done by trimming the tail.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">beat up herrings that still shine and roll right only bother fisherman not the fish..... come on with the rain already not to much but just enough

blubeast · 09-24-2002, 10:40 AM

Up till a couple of years ago, used plug cut with hook out the blue line on the side of the herring.

Now, I'm a fan of the Rotary Salmon Killer... no more worry about the proper angle, and spin.... makes re-baiting alot easier. I run a second hook as a trailer.

Most of my hookups come on the second hook. Granted, the fish I catch have a death wish.

NoLimit · 09-24-2002, 08:56 PM

The action is influenced by the speed of the bait through the water. Plug cut and rig as you will, but alway check the action of the bait at your troll speed, and adjust the troll speed accordingly. Remember it is the relative speed of the bait throgh the water, not the boat speed or engine RPM, that impacts the action. For example, consider trolling with the current vs. trolling against the current. Let the bait tell you how fast to troll, and how to rig the hooks. Regards, Ray Brown, NoLimit

Fish Hawk Adventures · 09-25-2002, 09:42 AM

Ok,
I know how to rig these dudes up, but I just wanted to know what size hooks everbody likes to use for the fall fish. Spring I always use 3/0, 3/0, and a 4/0 for the front. I am debating going larger but am undecided. The size of the bait in relation to the front hook effects the roll and can screw up your roll totally if you have too big of a hook. What is your opinions guys?