Posted by Capt. Duck on April 21, 2008 at 16:07:07:
In Reply to: a few questions posted by glihon on April 21, 2008 at 09:59:26:
The square/cube built in bait tanks are not really good for blueback herring or threadfin/gizzard shad. You didn't say which type of shad you caught. If you plan to striper fish with live bait, a good bait tank should be near the top of your list of things to get – right up there with a good sonar with at least 640X480 pixel resolution or better. The color graphs are much better, GPS is a huge plus, as are the ability to use the great mapping software that is now available which shows the bottom contour and where you are on the sonar display.
I've heard fishing around Clemson at night is usually pretty good in May under the bridges. I've never personally tried it up there.
Live bait trolling for stripers is usually called freelining. The term comes from the line being free of any weight or floats but you'll hear people speak of freelining with balloons, buckshot sinkers, planer boards and egg sinkers. This type of trolling is done with an electric trolling motor going very slow. Most fishermen use one or two "down lines" to judge their speed. You can use more, they often catch fish also. A "down line" is virtually the same rig as a freeline and consists of a swivel, leader and hook with a 1 to 2.5 oz egg sinker between the swivel and your reel (it will normally rest on the swivel. A free line doesn't have the egg sinker. But as mentioned above, sometimes people add a little weight (split shot) to get them down a little deeper.
Just go fast enough to keep about a 5 to 15 degree angle from vertical on the down line when it is down 10 to 20 feet (depending on the bottom, treetops, fish location, etc.) It is often hard to judge your speed otherwise.
20 lb. test line is probably the most common, some use 17 and some use 25. A Polimar knot is one of the best knots for tying on your swivel and hook. You always want to give yourself a good chance of landing that monster because you never know when that new world record is going to hit. Another thing to consider along with line strength is the drag setting on your reel -- a general rule is 1/3 the line test. Considering the moment arm of the radius from the center of your reel spool to the surface of the line wound on it -- as the line is pulled off and there is less on the spool, as the moment arm shortens, the drag approaches the line test and may even pass it. Also, the more line is out, the more stretch is possible which also helps in fighting monster fish.
I don't know of a bait store near Clemson, there used to be one in Seneca but I think it closed. You can often catch blueback herring under the bridges at night using either a cast net or gold hooks (sabiki rigs). Also, up the Keowee river, right behind Issaquena Dam, is a good place to catch threadfin shad with a net during the day. I noticed them in there several years ago but haven't been up that way lately.
Location, right now the points are a good place to try. Cut bait requires some serious anchoring to keep your boat as still as possible. You need two anchors and enough rope to get your anchors about six (6) times the depth on each end of your boat.
Hope that helps some.
Good Fishin'
"Duck"