Honker
Bay Bullhead Tricks
Striper
Bite Explodes in Honker Bay
Striper fishing is now going quite well in the Honker Bay area.
After a recent telephone conversation with Tony Lopez at McAvoy
Bait, I found myself almost ready to shout with excitement. I
could not believe my ears when told of fish being taken in Honker
Bay. I got on the phone and called my fishing partner and told
him of the success the anglers were having in Honker Bay. The
following day Dave and I took off for our own trip to Honker Bay.
I had fished
for stripers for many years often using a sliding sinker with
various baits such as pile worms, ghost shrimp, anchovies or shad
on single hook set-ups. For live bullheads and mudsuckers a sliding
mooching rig with one hook just behind the head and the other
hook in the opposite direction through the tail. This method has
always been effective for me, but it seemed like I wasn't getting
the production some of the other anglers where getting. Another
problem I was having was the life span of these bait fish was
extremely short, but I just kept on fishing these baits the way
my grandfathers had taught me and continued to catch fish. Then
years ago, Tom Laine showed me a new way to rig my live bullhead
that proved to be most effective.
Make up a
leader about five feet long with a long shank 4/0 or 5/0 hook
snelled onto one end. Now you will need a long needle - it should
be at least six inches long. Now put the free end of your line
through the needle as if you were getting ready to sew. Take the
bullhead and start the needle in just behind the head being careful
not to hit its spine. Run the needle just under the skin and out
the skin about two-and-half inches back. Now your bullhead will
be hanging on your leader. Carefully work the eye of the hook
under the skin until it just about comes out the other side. Position
the hook so it is straight up and then push a toothpick through
the eye to hold it in place. The line on your rod should be set-up
with a sinker-slide and a barrel swivel attached to the end of
the line. Tie the leader to the barrel swivel. Using an improved
cinch knot is my preference.
When fishing
live bullheads or mudsuckers don't be over anxious. The fish needs
to be allowed to run with the bait. This gives the fish the opportunity
to get the bait down deep before the hook is set. Some anglers
will disagree with this philosophy. Yet, a striper, for the most
part, will strike the bait to stun it before swallowing it.
There are
a couple of ways to allow the fish to run. Use a reel with a bait
runner feature or back your drag all the way off so that your
line will move out with the slightest tug. I let the fish run
five or ten feet before the hook set, this however depends on
the day and how the fish are biting.
Fishing in
the five to seven foot depth has been the most productive for
the linesides. There is plenty of fishable water in this range.
The key seems to be giving yourself plenty of room between other
boats. All of the fish I saw caught were on boats away from the
main concentration of other boats.
For about
the next six weeks striper fishing should hold solid throughout
the west Delta area. Honker Bay is just one of many different
areas which holds a number of stripers at this time of the year.
For current conditions at Honker Bay, call 925.458.1710. Be aware
of the wind as it can be a factor in making a trip to this area
worth while.
I hope the use of this technique of setting up your live bullhead
will be as effective as it was for my partner Dave and me. We
thoroughly enjoyed the day we spent on Honker Bay and plan to
share many more.
Enjoy!
Dan
Mathisen
FishDelta.com
- All Species, All Delta
The
Ultimate Resource For California Delta Fishing
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