The rig described below SHOULD NOT be used when salmon fishing from Pacifica Pier. Using two rods is perfectly legal when fishing for salmon from a public pier inside San Francisco Bay. But when fishing for salmon on an oceanside public pier only ONE rod can be used.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Oce...ng-for-salmon-in-the-ocean-from-a-public-pier
I've been trying to solve the problem of using circle hooks with a single rod trolley rig. Circle hooks need to have gradual tension applied to the line all the way through the bite for the hook to set correctly. That's nearly impossible to do using a single rod, free running trolley rig. The only way to have that direct connection from reel to hook is to use a two rod trolley setup. This means using one rod solely for the anchor line and the other as a fighting rod.
The fighting rod should also have a some sort of "sliding" release. This allows the fish to take the bait without initially felling resistance and allows the angler to immediately apply tension to the line for a chance at a good hookset. Then as the fish runs, the release is tripped and the fighting rig is freed from the anchor line.
The diagram above shows how to use a length of 1 or 2 lb. test mono as a release. (In strong currents use 3 or 4 lb. test) Once the hook is set and the fish runs, the light mono "breaker" snaps and the fish is played on the fighting rod which is now free of the anchor line. It's basically a down-rigger, but in this case the layout is more horizontal than vertical. This all looks good on paper, but before you run out and give it a try consider this:
Although you have just ONE "baited line" in the water, with the other line only being used as an anchor, you are still using TWO rods. As per DFW regs., your anchor rod will count toward the two rod maximum for public piers. Meaning you won't be allowed to use an additional baited rod.
At times both the anchor rod and fighting rod may have to be moved in concert, as the fish picks up the bait, to get the optimal angle for a chance at a good hookset. On a crowded pier that's going to be a problem.
And considering the understandable abhorrence for circle hooks by many on the pier, you should expect a lot of jeers, sneers and ribbing from some fellow anglers for even attempting to try this.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Oce...ng-for-salmon-in-the-ocean-from-a-public-pier
I've been trying to solve the problem of using circle hooks with a single rod trolley rig. Circle hooks need to have gradual tension applied to the line all the way through the bite for the hook to set correctly. That's nearly impossible to do using a single rod, free running trolley rig. The only way to have that direct connection from reel to hook is to use a two rod trolley setup. This means using one rod solely for the anchor line and the other as a fighting rod.
The fighting rod should also have a some sort of "sliding" release. This allows the fish to take the bait without initially felling resistance and allows the angler to immediately apply tension to the line for a chance at a good hookset. Then as the fish runs, the release is tripped and the fighting rig is freed from the anchor line.
The diagram above shows how to use a length of 1 or 2 lb. test mono as a release. (In strong currents use 3 or 4 lb. test) Once the hook is set and the fish runs, the light mono "breaker" snaps and the fish is played on the fighting rod which is now free of the anchor line. It's basically a down-rigger, but in this case the layout is more horizontal than vertical. This all looks good on paper, but before you run out and give it a try consider this:
Although you have just ONE "baited line" in the water, with the other line only being used as an anchor, you are still using TWO rods. As per DFW regs., your anchor rod will count toward the two rod maximum for public piers. Meaning you won't be allowed to use an additional baited rod.
At times both the anchor rod and fighting rod may have to be moved in concert, as the fish picks up the bait, to get the optimal angle for a chance at a good hookset. On a crowded pier that's going to be a problem.
And considering the understandable abhorrence for circle hooks by many on the pier, you should expect a lot of jeers, sneers and ribbing from some fellow anglers for even attempting to try this.
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