Hi Nate. Just watched this looking for ways to up my halibut game this spring. I have a question about the trap rig. First, where and how do I bury the treble in the fin bait body? Wondering if there's any preference to get better hookups and also avoid snags. Second, how much belly do I want to have in the treble leader from the J hook up front? I'm guessing it should be pretty close to the same length as the bait but wondering if really getting it exact is important or not. Thanks! The videos are great!
Hey! These are all excellent questions - So personally a lot of the time we've started fishing a single treble hook and still pin the bait on through the nose as if you were fishing a j-hook. If we're fishing a trap rig, you'll want to bury the stinger about 3/4 of the way down the sardine and make sure it's through past the barb so it won't wiggle it's way out. As far as the length to the stinger, it should be about the length of the bait although you want to have a slight belly in the line so that the bait still have the ability to swim properly and will appear as natural as possible. As far as snags...that's just part of the game unfortunately haha hope this helps!
Great info! I fished inshore with live smelt. Is your inshore rig applied in case? For live smelt bait, do you recommend hook by the noses or fin? Thanks!
What's your take on sliding vs static J hook? I was having problems with the sliding set up, the trebble was pulling the bait fish from the tail and folding it up like a taco. I'm thinking I'm going to tie the front hook static so it pulls the bait fish from the nose and the trebble loose. Then use a hair tie to pin any slack line. Or is that just poor trebble hook positioning? We were using small rock fish and the spines make it difficult to set the hook in the center.
For halibut we like to wait until the rod starts to load up, and rather than setting the hook, we like to just wind into the bite and keep steady tension.
I have a xfinity pro 7’4 heavy action extra fast line 15-30lbs baitcasting rod will that work for SAN DIEGO Bay halibut/ bass and any suggestions on a reel to match with it with?
In our experience, dead bait is not nearly as effective as live fin bait, although some artificial plastics and lures can be just as effective as live bait or even more productive at times.
Great video!
Thanks!
Thanks for the video. I was wondering where you got the metal fish prop sitting on the front side of the table?
Hi Nate. Just watched this looking for ways to up my halibut game this spring. I have a question about the trap rig. First, where and how do I bury the treble in the fin bait body? Wondering if there's any preference to get better hookups and also avoid snags. Second, how much belly do I want to have in the treble leader from the J hook up front? I'm guessing it should be pretty close to the same length as the bait but wondering if really getting it exact is important or not. Thanks! The videos are great!
Hey! These are all excellent questions - So personally a lot of the time we've started fishing a single treble hook and still pin the bait on through the nose as if you were fishing a j-hook. If we're fishing a trap rig, you'll want to bury the stinger about 3/4 of the way down the sardine and make sure it's through past the barb so it won't wiggle it's way out.
As far as the length to the stinger, it should be about the length of the bait although you want to have a slight belly in the line so that the bait still have the ability to swim properly and will appear as natural as possible.
As far as snags...that's just part of the game unfortunately haha hope this helps!
Great info!
I fished inshore with live smelt. Is your inshore rig applied in case?
For live smelt bait, do you recommend hook by the noses or fin? Thanks!
Great info! More so cal halibut content please! 🤙
You got it!
What's your take on sliding vs static J hook? I was having problems with the sliding set up, the trebble was pulling the bait fish from the tail and folding it up like a taco.
I'm thinking I'm going to tie the front hook static so it pulls the bait fish from the nose and the trebble loose. Then use a hair tie to pin any slack line.
Or is that just poor trebble hook positioning? We were using small rock fish and the spines make it difficult to set the hook in the center.
Are you placing weight above or below your bait?
I miss the halibut debry on the dolphin.
how long do you wait before setting the hook?
For halibut we like to wait until the rod starts to load up, and rather than setting the hook, we like to just wind into the bite and keep steady tension.
I have a xfinity pro 7’4 heavy action extra fast line 15-30lbs baitcasting rod will that work for SAN DIEGO Bay halibut/ bass and any suggestions on a reel to match with it with?
How about frozen sardines and squid on the snell rig? Much more readily available
In our experience, dead bait is not nearly as effective as live fin bait, although some artificial plastics and lures can be just as effective as live bait or even more productive at times.