Joy Hansen
11-15-2009, 12:54 PM
Hi Pards,
Not even patially competent fishing Kerr for stripers, and here I go trying to fish a much more complicated fishery with even less knowledge.
SO . . .
Being an almost complete novice at fishing the lower Chesapeake for COWs with eels, I thought to ask BISC a few of my concerns about the upcoming event. Oh, yes, I intend to fish the entire month of December. A complete learning event from handling my boat on big water to baiting hooks with eels.
My CV2100 Sea Pro is outfitted with the OP CP Riptide TM/24 volts (two batteries), bait tank battery, marine radio, Lowrance HDS8 sonar/gps and Namvan GPS (redundancy), 150 Yamaha 2 stroke, extra start battery. Four Driftmaster rod holders on each rail along with 6 rod holders on the T top. Usual USCG required safety accessories. Onboard 3 bank 10-10-10 charger for the TM and onboard 2 bank 5-5 charger for the start batteries. The start batteries are switched with a Parker to maintain one battery in reserve that is fully charged. Of course, a slip ring anchor with 200 feet of line. Also carry two drift socks. Two hand held torches are on board. I seldom clean the Sea Pro, so glitter won’t spook the COWs! Would like comments about my gear to help me assure I have what’s needed and appropriate.
I have 3 types of rods that may or may not be suitable for COW fishing. First, I have both “catfish and striper” Ugly Stik at 6.5 to 7 foot long, line weight to 30 (maybe medium heavy slow tip), then two Ugly Stik 7 foot custom medium fast tip and 15-30 pound line. And two Ugly Stik 7 foot custom fast tip and to 60 pound line. All reels are now loaded with 30 pound trilene. Four reels are rather large lever drag without level wind, and have reel clamps. Two are Magda level wind line counter without reel clamps. I haven’t decided on leader for the 6/0 to 8/0 Galmaski Octopus Circle hooks. I’ll have a 16” section of 1” PVC with a slot split within 2 inches of the bitter end fixed to the rail next to each rod holder. A 24 inch dehooker, a 30 inch/60 pound lip grip, and fabric net (?). It’s possible I’ve biased my tackle toward tuna, but . . . While sitting here at the homestead, I’ve occupied myself with learning the Palomar, Tuna, Double Blood, Albright, and reverse Albright knots. Things most anglers learn over years of fishing, b but I consider my real fishing to be the past 14 months on Kerr. I’d appreciate comments or recommended reading concerning what is totally totally/improper to drift live eels.
Not sure about the eels. I have a Bait Spa in a 5 gallon bucket that I could put a 16 quart spaghetti perforated pot inside to aerate the eels, yet remove them to the boat live well for fishing. I’d like another 5 gallon bucket with ice in the bottom to slow the critters down a bit. No experience and I know they got teeth and will bite, but I expect to learn FAST.
Sometimes I’m an optomist, so I have a plan to buy one of those huge rubber/plastic nets at Chris’ after I get to Cape Charles.
As for land stuff, I’ll have an extension cord 100’, a portable battery, spare tire for the boat, appropriate jack, hopefully a spare hub kit, and tools to change a bearing set. I’ve gone to a lot of effort to assure than my buddy bearings are full of grease after replacing all bearing/seals. Also coating electrical fittings with anti-corrosion to keep trailer electrics in good order.
Since I don’t have radar, my sessions on the bay will be daylight exclusively. I understand that launching from Kiptopeke can only be accomplished in wind from the West at less than about 12 mph. Maybe higher with wind from the East. Small craft warning winds are in the 30s, so other appropriate weather warnings must be available. I’ll need to depend on BISC members to keep watch for me on water. To this end, are there flags that most carry on board for communication of distress situations?
Well, hopefully there will be lots of information posted in this thread to keep Joy T Brew on the safe side. Maybe other novice can learn too.
Is non-alcohol gasoline available in the Cape Charles area?
Thanks for reading and hopefully helpful commentary.
Regards,
Not even patially competent fishing Kerr for stripers, and here I go trying to fish a much more complicated fishery with even less knowledge.
SO . . .
Being an almost complete novice at fishing the lower Chesapeake for COWs with eels, I thought to ask BISC a few of my concerns about the upcoming event. Oh, yes, I intend to fish the entire month of December. A complete learning event from handling my boat on big water to baiting hooks with eels.
My CV2100 Sea Pro is outfitted with the OP CP Riptide TM/24 volts (two batteries), bait tank battery, marine radio, Lowrance HDS8 sonar/gps and Namvan GPS (redundancy), 150 Yamaha 2 stroke, extra start battery. Four Driftmaster rod holders on each rail along with 6 rod holders on the T top. Usual USCG required safety accessories. Onboard 3 bank 10-10-10 charger for the TM and onboard 2 bank 5-5 charger for the start batteries. The start batteries are switched with a Parker to maintain one battery in reserve that is fully charged. Of course, a slip ring anchor with 200 feet of line. Also carry two drift socks. Two hand held torches are on board. I seldom clean the Sea Pro, so glitter won’t spook the COWs! Would like comments about my gear to help me assure I have what’s needed and appropriate.
I have 3 types of rods that may or may not be suitable for COW fishing. First, I have both “catfish and striper” Ugly Stik at 6.5 to 7 foot long, line weight to 30 (maybe medium heavy slow tip), then two Ugly Stik 7 foot custom medium fast tip and 15-30 pound line. And two Ugly Stik 7 foot custom fast tip and to 60 pound line. All reels are now loaded with 30 pound trilene. Four reels are rather large lever drag without level wind, and have reel clamps. Two are Magda level wind line counter without reel clamps. I haven’t decided on leader for the 6/0 to 8/0 Galmaski Octopus Circle hooks. I’ll have a 16” section of 1” PVC with a slot split within 2 inches of the bitter end fixed to the rail next to each rod holder. A 24 inch dehooker, a 30 inch/60 pound lip grip, and fabric net (?). It’s possible I’ve biased my tackle toward tuna, but . . . While sitting here at the homestead, I’ve occupied myself with learning the Palomar, Tuna, Double Blood, Albright, and reverse Albright knots. Things most anglers learn over years of fishing, b but I consider my real fishing to be the past 14 months on Kerr. I’d appreciate comments or recommended reading concerning what is totally totally/improper to drift live eels.
Not sure about the eels. I have a Bait Spa in a 5 gallon bucket that I could put a 16 quart spaghetti perforated pot inside to aerate the eels, yet remove them to the boat live well for fishing. I’d like another 5 gallon bucket with ice in the bottom to slow the critters down a bit. No experience and I know they got teeth and will bite, but I expect to learn FAST.
Sometimes I’m an optomist, so I have a plan to buy one of those huge rubber/plastic nets at Chris’ after I get to Cape Charles.
As for land stuff, I’ll have an extension cord 100’, a portable battery, spare tire for the boat, appropriate jack, hopefully a spare hub kit, and tools to change a bearing set. I’ve gone to a lot of effort to assure than my buddy bearings are full of grease after replacing all bearing/seals. Also coating electrical fittings with anti-corrosion to keep trailer electrics in good order.
Since I don’t have radar, my sessions on the bay will be daylight exclusively. I understand that launching from Kiptopeke can only be accomplished in wind from the West at less than about 12 mph. Maybe higher with wind from the East. Small craft warning winds are in the 30s, so other appropriate weather warnings must be available. I’ll need to depend on BISC members to keep watch for me on water. To this end, are there flags that most carry on board for communication of distress situations?
Well, hopefully there will be lots of information posted in this thread to keep Joy T Brew on the safe side. Maybe other novice can learn too.
Is non-alcohol gasoline available in the Cape Charles area?
Thanks for reading and hopefully helpful commentary.
Regards,