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Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport

High tide for Black Rock Harbor was scheduled for 5:58pm Monday and NWS was calling for steady 10 mph southwest winds. Arrived at Seaside Park around 12:30pm as the tide was coming in. Decided to check out the city boat ramp first.

Conditions were partly cloudy with increasing clouds, air temps in the lower 50s, and winds ranging from the southwest and west at a steady 10 mph with an occasional 15 mph gust. Winds picked up throughout the afternoon.

As I waded into the water and started casting the FLR-10 out there, I was getting many hits and landed a total of 4 schoolies up to 16".

I then decided to head over to the jetty to see what it was like as the water was still low enough to wade. Tried throwing the FLR-10, XRW-9, and a SP-9 imitation but never had a single hit or swirl. Tried casting from the sandy flats near the beach but nada.

Headed back over to the boat ramp with the FLR-10 and was back into the schooles. Landed another 7 in the same size range as it has been.

Then comes another one of those times I've had with a Rapala Flat Rap FLR-10. I feel a stiff hit and set the hook. Right as I set the hook I feel slight movement with a lot of weight. Then pretty soon, SNAP!!!

I've never had the line snap on me but this was the third or fourth time I've hooked into what might have been a keeper with a FLR-10 before losing it.

Then I switch over to a blue sardine Saltwater X-Rap SXR-10. What a difference! I hardly got anymore hits and only hooked into 4 more schoolies with 2 easily coming off due to the hook hardly on the mouth.

Between winds getting stronger and not having another FLR-10 with me, I decided to hit the road around sunset.

Seems like with recent weather and cooler water temps, fish have moved back into the harbors, tower tidal rivers, estuaries, and discharges. Topwater bite seems to be dying.

Crest Daddy · Joined: 20 Jan 2011 Posts: 994

learn to set your drag michael and go back to braid until you get the hang of it. You will like it eventually. . It's not good to feed plugs to fish.
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Trust me. Use waxworms !

Crest Daddy · Joined: 20 Jan 2011 Posts: 994

Also if you add a 24" piece of heavier mono before your lure, the fish will have a much harder time snapping your line. Gotta try different things michael or you will be stuck catching the little ones.
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Trust me. Use waxworms !

Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport

I had a 50 pound 12" mono leader on which went with the lure.

One day when I ran into member Insomnia, he said he had the same issues with braid that I was having and noticed it was probably because braid doesn't like lures under 1 ounce. FLR-10 weighs 3/8 ounce and SP-9 weighs 1/2 ounce.

I actually prefer having C&R action with the schoolies in the upper teens and lower 20s with lighter tackle because of them having the torque and horsepower to give you a nice tug for their size. All keepers I've landed have muscle and strength that easily weakens after a few runs.

kjud29 · Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 54

try 36 inch leader. You really want that extra 2 feet trust me.

fishfinder · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 1672 Location: Naugatuck, Ct.

From what I remember youve only caught 2 keepers anywhere near that size!!! LOL
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There's a fine line between fishing....

and standing on the shore like an idiot!

SheltonTom · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 96

The biggest problem that I have encountered with braid is its fragility near rocks. One small dink against a rock can cause a breakoff. If you are on a rocky shore you reall have to hold that line up when reeling in especially with a fish on.

I was up on the Ousatonic dam a few months ago when the water was real low. There were four us us in the middle of the river where the water was flowing over the dam. Fish were all over the place. I landed one, then the next three went for the rocks and I didn't get it up high enough, I guess. All three went for shallow rocks and broke off with very expensive lures.

LUNKERBASSERFISHING · Joined: 16 Jan 2013 Posts: 82

Every fish I posted here was caught on braid. My guess is you need to learn how to tie a better knot !

fivestring · Joined: 21 Aug 2012 Posts: 91

SheltonTom,

Are you using any kind of leader with the braid? Lots of surfcasters fish rocky areas with braid and no problems. A longer leader can help around the rocks, too. I fished all season in rocky areas using 40# braid and 4-5 foot leader of 80# mono. I also donated a nice lure over there this spring; it hurt to see it swim away with a fish attached . Sad

SheltonTom · Joined: 16 Apr 2011 Posts: 96

I use about 3 feet of fifty pound mono leader. Typically it works fine but on that day the river was very low and there was a lot of exposed rock and rock just under the surface. The fish(es) made runs and it must have scraped and that's all she wrote. three expensive lures sacrificed to the fish gods. I just needed to hold the tip of the rod up much higher. unfortunately it took me three lures to learn that lesson.

fishfinder · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 1672 Location: Naugatuck, Ct.

Yeah, in rocky areas you need longer leaders which sometimes makes casting a little harder but its better then losing plugs. I could never go back to mono!!! I dread winter when Ill have to switch back due to constant freeze ups. Ill have 2 set ups in the car and always test the braid first to see if I can get away with it at least for a few hours before it starts getting to cold later at night.
_________________
There's a fine line between fishing....

and standing on the shore like an idiot!

Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport

I made myself a few 24" 60 pound mono leaders and will be heading back out Friday and Saturday

Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport