The last few years I think springers have become more educated.
I'm not sure which springer is responsible for starting the fad but I'm all about weeding a few more out of the gene pool.
So here's the deal.
Your gently backing your boat down through a strech of springer water. The rod holder is doing a great job of fishing your diver and herring. Mr Springer sneaks up on your bait. Before you know it the rod is completly buried, drag peeling line, and people scrambling to get the other rods reeled up. The proud owner of the rod has just enough time to get the rod in his hands, begin to enjoy the tussle, and Mr. Springer is gone. The line is cranked in to reveal a stolen bait..........again.
What are your thoughts on how to keep these fish stuck and increase your hook to land ratio?
What do you think are the best hook and cut plug herring combos for springer fishing?
How the hell are they getting away with this crap?

Stop recycling hooks you find on the bank? How are you hooking up the herring?

Just leave the rod in the rod holder and use the trottle on your
kicker to set the hook it works good and there is no chance of the fish getting any slack when the rod is removed. I use a little more drag so the fish has to work to pull line but not too much!! You will
see a incease in your hook to land ratio!!

Those same educated fish hit a plug with two trebles on it and rip the sardine fillet off of it and still gets away, more times than I would like to admit without evening getting hooked much less brought to the boat.

Theories, there are lots of theories when the fishing is tough....


Fishy

Oh! Where do we start!

1. Just let her (you know who her is) grab, set and fight the fish...You just get the net. Research has shown she's better at it than you.

2. Tighten your spin on the herring..Your bait has 2big of a roll so the bait slaps the fish on the outside of the face instead of the fish eating the bait...They are getting bitch slapped! In turn.....your getting, well you know.

3. Add a little DUST to your bait..They may want it more after you sprinkle it with "MAGIC POWER POWDER"

4. Maybe they weren't Springers!!....I had 7 bites today??

5. Just go fish..one day soon you'll have 10 straight on and 10 straight landed...

If all else fails just revert back number #1..It aint about you!

Oh, Happy Birthday!!!

Three things....

Hangback

Folbe

Kicker

F4B........2/0 with a #6 treble stinger 1-1/2" behind herring tail.
Phil........Remember the picture I have of you? Perhaps this is a good time and place.
Doc........Really? That's all? Come on man. Need more info.

Forget the treble and bury a 4/0-5/0 hook in side of herring just up from tail.

Yeah!

Hang back ain't gonna do it. I'm with Timber. Get rid of the treble. Motor setting isn't your answer where your fishing. Especially! If your on anchor...although I know your post says backing down da crick. Red label 3/0 top 2/O bottom...Although, that little treble is sticky sharp.

Half the time on anchor and half the time backing down with the motor.
One time I did both at once.....................by accident of course.

More and smaller hooks.

JD

On second thought get rid of the herring....Go with a prawn spinner OR a Cowlitz cocktail...

I think there's something to the "being bitch-slapped" theory of too big a roll on the bait. Makes sense when you think about it.

Then again, what do I know......I've resorted to gift fillets from friends for my springer fix.

My herring are rolling like a pinner..............Edgar.

Cheap, easy, and rewarding!



Like, x100.

Fish on...

Todd

P.S. FWIW, two single hooks, the trailer back far enough to have about an inch between the tail of the herring and the hook point...long soft rod, and let it load. Other than that, bad streaks are part of the game...so are good streaks

3 HOOKS

FWIW, the only other thing I would try would be a fine wire hook like a 1x Fine Wire Mustad Ultra Point or an Owner Mosquito. While the Mustads are available up to a 6/0, they run a size smaller than they are listed when compared to other manufactures (ie, a 3/0 Mustad has the same gap size as a 2/0 Gamakatsu). On the other hand, Owner Misquito hooks only come as big as a 2/0. Gamakatsu also makes a fine wire hook, but I haven't had any experience with them.

If your fishing the Cowlitz it is just part of the game, had herring days when I would be suicidal and days when I thought I'm the man Sickles have helped me for better hook up average since I started using them 3/0 to a 3/0 is my go to down there with a trailer hook right at the tail fin loose!!!PEACE

Sorry.... typing from my Ipod in Chicago when I first responded.... not too good with the micro touch keys so hadda make it brief.

Hangback.... lots of my stuff on the interwebz on that topic.

FOLBE.... just leave it in the holder til rod is fully loaded into the butt or line peels. Now remove effortlessly without losing any of the load in the rod.

Kicker.... NOT a motor set, but once the fish is hung, throttle into bite to keep the tension on the line to keep the rod fully loaded until ALL the gear is in and some semblance of order is restored to the boat/gear/crew.

Is it the picture with our buddy that came along fishing with us that day? If so I think you should post it.... Or I should since he's been a hater lately