Rigs for Sheepie and Spade at CBBT???

[ComeOnFish]

Any Info about rigs and baits for Sheepie and Spade at CBBT?

Thanks
Joe

[RavensDfense]

Sheeps.

http://www.angling-addict.com/2013/0...s-and-rig.html

For spades, I use a small (1/8oz.) red jig head tied to a 12-18 inch piece of 30 lb fluro carbon. This sits below a swivel and a 1 oz. egg sinker. Cut a small piece of clam across the muscle and thread the hook through the tough part so it stays on better.

[tufnik]

I've been using my tog rig for sheepies. Rig is similar to Rob's and Kevin's, but it's a tandem. Caught many sheepies with it, including a citation, so it works fine. Baits for sheepies: fiddlers, clams, sand fleas and green crab. HokieDJ and I couldn't quite catch sheepies this past weekend, but HokieDJ may have hooked one that came off.

[ComeOnFish]

Tufnik,
OK, tandem rigs I will prepare.
I already have a bunch of triggerfish rig (tandem with #1 hooks) - left over from CHSP fishing.

I am going to prepare bunch of tandem rigs with 18-20'" long 30# test mono. I will bring bunch of #1/0 - 2/0 hooks. I will start with #1 hooks for both species, and change the hooks if the smaller hooks fail.

And I will have a 3-5' long 50#test mono leader between the tandem rig and the main line. My main line will be 50# test braided.

I will bring 3 dozens of fresh shrimp in case I can't get fiddler crab/clam.

I may be able to fish this coming Sat.

Joe

[tufnik]

Joe,

- To me, sheepies are stronger fighters than togs, and sheepies dive down and can go around pilings. That's why I prefer using about 3 ft of 50# mono leader. I also prefer mono main line at 25# because mono is more abrasion resistant than braid. Many guys use 40-50# braid main, so I guess it works fine. I still prefer mono around structure.
- I've caught sheepies on 3/0 and 4/0 j-hooks; but I use 3/0 now, not smaller; if you hook up with a big one, you'll want the strength of the larger hook
- Some guys use jig heads and egg sinkers, but I found they're not necessary; regular tandem rigs with bank sinkers on the bottom work fine
- I use tandem rigs most of the time because I use two different baits to see what fish preferences are
- You may want to pick up a dozen fiddlers, just in case sheepies are finicky about shrimp

I haven't really targeted spades, but I would basically use the same rig. I would just hang small hooks (about #1 on mono) on the dropper loops of my tog rig.

I would join you, but am going to the CBKF tournament at Kent Island this Saturday.

Good luck!

[ComeOnFish]

Tufnik,
I will bring two rods. One for Sheepies. 50# test mono rig with tandem 3.0 hooks + swivel + 10' 50#test mono + 50# test braided. I will get fiddler crab.

Thanks
Joe

[Fish]

Do you use a medium heavy rod with fast action? Or heavy? or extra heavy? What reels work well? Spin or baitcaster? I am trying to get into tog/sheep fishing

[HokieDJ]

Joe,

Try blue crab. Cut it to smaller pieces though and remove the legs. I'm pretty sure that's more tasty than a fiddler and stays on the hook longer.

[ComeOnFish]

Joe,

Try blue crab. Cut it to smaller pieces though and remove the legs. I'm pretty sure that's more tasty than a fiddler and stays on the hook longer.

I stopped by the Dick's in Fair Lakes and Lotte, and bought more 3/0 hooks, 25# test mono, chowder clam and Blue Crab (I already have several pounds of shrimp). I Just found out that the wind is strong tomorrow. I don't like the direction of the wind at CBBT.
I checked CHSP. It is do-able but the direction of the wind against both inner and outer walls doesn't look good.
Sunday WX looks good, but I can't fish on this Sunday

CBBT is out since I fish morning and afternoon. CHSP is still do-able. Perhaps I hit local water...

I will have grilled clam and steamed blue crab for dinner today.....
I will toss a coin at 08:00pm

Joe

[ComeOnFish]

Do you use a medium heavy rod with fast action? Or heavy? or extra heavy? What reels work well? Spin or baitcaster? I am trying to get into tog/sheep fishing

My experience Only:

Rod:
I started with a Ugly Stick when I got a call from Rob Choi. I never use the Ugly Stick again.
I used Basspro GS70XMHT 7'0" (line WT 15-30lb, MH, Fast action) under $45- I like this inexpensive rod
I also use Basspro GS63XMHT 6'3" (line WT 14-40lb, MH, Fast action) under $45

I can cast a jig (1 -3 oz) or jig with above rods for stripers also. They are good rods

At CHSP, I used Shimano Tescata (TSC63MH) (Line weight 30-50lb, MH, Fast Action) - I love this rod. Perfect for spot, flounder, Trigger, Tog. Though it is not MH, it is more like M. I had and I will have issue with deeper water 30'+ with heavier weight 5-8oz. The rod looks like a light bass rod. The rod is super light (I mean super light) for an old person (like me) with tennis elbow problem. I carried only one rod at CHSP

So I ordered a Shimano Trevala S (TVSC63MH) for Jig and cast at CBBT. (Line Weight: 50-80lb, MH, fast action) - This one is perfect for tog and Sheepies in deeper water. It is an MH rod. This is also super light

So I will carry only two rods for spot, croaker....sheepie at CBBT

Reel:

Bait Casting reels not Spinning reels because it will be vertical jigging for trigger, tog, sheepies

Bait Casting Reels not trolling/heavy jigging reel because you want cast for striper and possibly for spadefish on the surface
After all we carry limited rods on kayaks

Drag of the reel:

10 - 12# max drag is OK. But I recommend 20# + max drag


Leader and Rig Line:
Rig and Leader line should be either Mono or FluoroCarbon not Braided. Braided line isn't strong around sharp objects such as barnacles.
I use Mono. My own independent test showed that both lines are visible, stretch about the same rate when wet, lose 20+ percentage of knot strength when wet over 8 hours. Only difference is mono sink slower than FluroroCarbon.

I replace leader and rig often during the fishing

Main Line: Braided

I hope this helps

joe

[Fish]

Joe,

This is quality information! Thank you! I am going to try with the bass pro rods and see what I can do. I am only a student so I cannot afford the high end rods yet.

Just one question, what reel provides 20+ max drag? I looked at the calcutta and that thing provides less than 20 lbs of drag.

Thanks again and I will reply as to what rod/reel I ended up getting.

[mytmouse]

Those rods will work for the budget minded angler. They have changed the style of the newer Graphite Series rods, I am assuming that they are still a great bang for their buck, but I had to return one of my old ones because it broke and got stuck with the newer style... to me it's not as sensitive. Now that wasn't in their muskie line so maybe they did a better job with that.

As far as reel drags go, I don't think it's the lb drag as much as the quality of the drag. I have an Avet SX that I took toggin on the morning star and it just has 15#'s of drag and handled everything I threw at it with ease. And that was fishing in about 100 ft of water around wrecks. But the Lexa is really nice and you can get one off of ebay for less than $140 if you look hard enough. IMO, it's the best bang for your buck in reels right now. It's low profile but has great line capacity and boasts a 25# drag. I was skeptical at first about the drag... but believe me it has lived up to it's claim. I've landed nice sized Tog, Black Sea Bass, and Flounder with it... Drag was NEVER a concern. LOL I like my Avet too, but it's non-levelwind so you might not like that.

You almost owned one of those BPS Muskie rods... til you broke it! LOL

[Fish]

I do feel bad about that. my friend just dropped my st croix tidemaster rod too lol... But he fixed my break rotors for me so we were even. I am looking into getting a trevala and not looking back, also possibly a Calcutta or lexa but I am possibly getting a cardiff 401. I need the levelwind cause I am not very good with the baitcaster just yet.

[M_Duong60]

if its a tog rod all you need to do is drop it vertical it doesn't matter imo if your "good" with it or not.

[Fish]

Essentially, I am looking or something that'll handle a lot of my future fishing endeavors