(10-29-2012 10:44 AM)MichaelAngelo Wrote: [ -> ] (10-28-2012 06:42 PM)bettercallsaul Wrote: [ -> ]Were you using minnows? Seems like a good place to try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN4qsyXcTRs
I don't understand why people cast and wait with roe, marshmellows and yarn from the pier... the salmon are eating Lake O's baitfish! Why not just use baitfish! 
Finally a video that makes sense!
Because lining them is so much easier
I would much rather toss spoons at the mouth. It's a lot of work for very little, but it is very satisfying.
(10-29-2012 07:48 AM)MikeH Wrote: [ -> ]A good size live Alewife would be the bomb for this rig in Lake O, but no idea where I would get some other than in TTP. I guess I should try this rig from the lighthouse point over there and float the balloon out past the end of the island sand bar into deep water. I am thinking of trying a really long trace and hooking it up onto the main line with a few PVA nuggets so that it doesnt drag behind the balloon, but swings down once the PVA has dissolved.
Yesterdays Carp was caught on a 15ft trace under the Balloon.
EDIT* I am tempted to try one of those 12inch plastics as the balloon motion would give it constant action....
I like the PVA idea!
Hm...just thinking out loud again, have you consider netting alewife when available, then salt and freeze for later use? Maybe a dead alewife is better than no alewife at all?
Live 12" suckers for bait sounds like fun too.
You can't even begin to cast a 12" live sucker...a balloon rig is made to fish that.
Or...you can use a trolley rig too...but you'll need a second rod for your trolley line.
(10-29-2012 11:25 AM)MuskieBait Wrote: [ -> ]I like the PVA idea!
Hm...just thinking out loud again, have you consider netting alewife when available, then salt and freeze for later use? Maybe a dead alewife is better than no alewife at all?
Live 12" suckers for bait sounds like fun too. You can't even begin to cast a 12" live sucker...a balloon rig is made to fish that.
Or...you can use a trolley rig too...but you'll need a second rod for your trolley line.
We cant use a second rod unless you have two people present (both with licenses) even though one of the rods has no hooks or bait. I wanted to try to breakaway trolley rig that I saw in use down at nags head on the piers, but not applicable under ontario rules.
Sail had jars of large minnows and shad on the shelf, I might grab one for next weekend. Maybe a string of three or so might work. The balloon imparts "action" to whatever is under it. I had a 1//4ox bullet lead about 12" in front of the bait.
Slide bait rig perhaps?
Similar to a trolley rig...but you slide a large bait down the mainline (could use a cross-lok snap swivel). Hawaiians use this rig to slide 5lb baitfish for the giant trevally. You do need a large sinker to grab hold of the bottom so the large baitfish doesn't drag your line around. Maybe a spider or spudnik style sinker.
How's sunday for you? I may just come out with you to try this slide bait rigs...just for fun.
My Hawaiian brahs will certainly get a kick when they see da kine in Toronto. Even better when I hanapa'a da kine freshwater fish here. Cheeewooo!
Careful:
Use of LIVE alewife or smelt as bait is not allowed in Ontario.
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Let...98684.html
Dead rainbow smelt may be used as bait in Ontario except in Fisheries Management Zones 2, 4 and 5, where it is illegal to use them or even possess them as bait (dead or alive).
OT
(10-29-2012 12:00 PM)MuskieBait Wrote: [ -> ]Slide bait rig perhaps?
Similar to a trolley rig...but you slide a large bait down the mainline (could use a cross-lok snap swivel). Hawaiians use this rig to slide 5lb baitfish for the giant trevally. You do need a large sinker to grab hold of the bottom so the large baitfish doesn't drag your line around. Maybe a spider or spudnik style sinker.
How's sunday for you? I may just come out with you to try this slide bait rigs...just for fun.
My Hawaiian brahs will certainly get a kick when they see da kine in Toronto. Even better when I hanapa'a da kine freshwater fish here. Cheeewooo!
This is similar to what I have been using on the pier, a swivel and clip to attach the trace line to the anchored line, but you need an elevated position and a long rod. Not sure what the conditions will be like over at TTP, other than there will be a lot of rocks to get past..... I might go with the intent of balloon rig, but I'll take a few swivel traces just in case.
I saw some very cool one way clips that only alllow your bait to move towards the weight. If I can find a decent image I'm sure I can make some in the workshop here.
EDIT* I fished wire spiked leads in the UK all the time. I know I can knock a few of those together for us no problem.
(10-29-2012 12:21 PM)OldTimer Wrote: [ -> ]Careful:
Use of LIVE alewife or smelt as bait is not allowed in Ontario.
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Let...98684.html
Dead rainbow smelt may be used as bait in Ontario except in Fisheries Management Zones 2, 4 and 5, where it is illegal to use them or even possess them as bait (dead or alive).
OT
Yes, very true OT. Thanks!
If anyone has a go at this, make sure you use 100% latex balloons as they are bio-degradable if they get away from you.
Interesting thread. Gets you thinking of alternatives.
Thinking aloud as well: would ice be a suitable "release" if the coiled leader were frozen into it?....... it floats too........... placed below the balloon........... Leader could be made quite long in this.
Chunk of ice that size may take well over half an hour, or more, to melt in the lake water.
OT
(10-29-2012 04:04 PM)OldTimer Wrote: [ -> ]Interesting thread. Gets you thinking of alternatives.
Thinking aloud as well: would ice be a suitable "release" if the coiled leader were frozen into it?....... it floats too........... placed below the balloon........... Leader could be made quite long in this.
Chunk of ice that size may take well over half an hour, or more, to melt in the lake water.
OT
See, this is why it's great to put heads together and think out loud sometimes.
Somewhere in my mind I think I've heard of this...but not sure where I've heard it and what it was used for. But yeah, that's a spanking great way for a "self release" mechanism for a long leader. The only thing I can see go wrong is if the coils of leader unfold in some random way...which could be the start of a bad tangle or a bad knot.
Ahaaa! I knew i had one of these kicking around....
[
attachment=316]
I'll strip the line off and see how much low diameter braid I can get on. this will be great for balloon fishing and keeping track of how much line is out.