| Author | Message | ||
| Jay_little
New member Username: Jay_little Post Number: 22 Registered: 10-2002 |
Being that it is that time of year.... Tip #1. Save all your green crab parts when preping your tog baits. When the bite is hot and you run out regular crab chunks put those claws on the hook. They work. I have even caught them using just the apron from under the crabs body. Tip #2 "Strumming on the old banjo" I learned this one from specrig though I didn't believe him @ first it does work. When that big old bulldog pulls you in under a rock and he can't be pulled out. Strum your line vigorously, I suppose the vibrations drives the critter nutto and he will swim out. Works most the time but will not work unless their really is a tog attached to the end of your line. Tip# 3 Single hook rigs are better than double hook rigs as they conserve bait and decrease the number of snags. They seem to catch as many fish as well or more as you not out of the water tieing up new rigs. I know that this has been visited but how some posts on your favorite "toggles" for the Wall and other rock piles. Here are some of mind from the past.....    Of course no Tog post would complete without a pix of Farmer Ken's lunker off a wreck in the De Bay  or how about Specrig's famous man popping out of his head shot (note that the fish was caught with my loomis calcutta combo, no Diawa junk used here (just kiddin')  Here is a nice tog from this spring...  | ||
| Sportfisher
New member Username: Sportfisher Post Number: 17 Registered: 10-2002 |
TEST | ||
| Bucktail_bob
New member Username: Bucktail_bob Post Number: 20 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jay,I agree with all you said ,but you forgot the best anchor ever which I have pictured. Also when I tog the walls I use all mono line.Just to many tear offs with the braids.I bought some 30 lb mono at Bill`s called Quattro that is notably more abrasion resistant than Berkley Big Game or Ande.Knot strenght seems better too. Again I urge you all to try barbless hooks for togging. It is SO much easier to get the fish in the cooler or returned to the water. One more thing I see that bothers me is so many people using rags to handle tog.The rags remove the protective body slime and may leave fish open for desease.This fact aligns with every bioglogists report that I have ever read,so please take care of the resource.Also don`t net tog unless it is neccessary.Here again the slime is displaced. The best toggin is still ahead when the water temp lowers to 60 degrees Good toggin to all and don`t take more than you need BB  | ||
| Sportfisher
New member Username: Sportfisher Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2002 |
Haven't togged at the wall for a couple of years, but always used throwaway anchors made from rebar. Just ran the line through an eye formed in the rebar, tied both ends of the line to the boat when anchoring, then untied the line and pulled it through the eye, leaving the rebar on the rock pile when done fishing. BB, What's the red stuff next to the block? Looks like you may have used it to settle an argument. | ||
| Dckhd247
New member Username: Dckhd247 Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2002 |
Nope...Looks like one too many PBR's | ||
| Obee1
New member Username: Obee1 Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2002 |
Speaking of anchors, I use those qt milk containers - - the ones with the plastic jug handles, filled with a little concrete. If you really want them to hold past there actual weight, drive a couple of ten penny nails into the sides before you pour the cement into the container. I use these to mark wrecks when I am about to anchor over them, or toss them onto rocks for a positive anchor, as they easily drop into the crevices and lodge solidly. One caution though too small line or rope will make them miserable to retrieve. Although I didn't try this one yet, I suppose a "white plastic bucket" full of concrete would work even better as an anchor, ram some rebar into the side of it, I'll bet that sucker will perform! Toss that on the rocks.....<he> | ||
| Jay_little
New member Username: Jay_little Post Number: 23 Registered: 10-2002 |
BB, I'd like to add to your comment on avoiding fish handling. I don't have a pix but I carry a tool on board that is stainless, heavy heavy, stiff wire maybe 1/8" inch in diameter that has a "t" for a handle and the end is bent back like a "U". I typically use this tool for dispensing with Oystercrackers (of which I am the undisputed master of catching). When I pull the tog over board I hold it or rather suspend it as shown above. I assess if it is a male and if it is the legal size ( I usually don't keep them usually if they are girls or under 15 inches). While holding the leader with my left hand I "hook" the leader with this tool in my right hand and run it down to the bend in the hook. I then pull my hands apart horizonally until taunt thus making a "T" so the tog is the vertical part of this "T". Make a little swing and flip the critter back in the water. This is very effective and you don't have to ever touch the fish @ all unless you want to kill it anyway. Of course using barbless hooks makes it all the easier. This works for all those toothy fish such as snapper blues that you don't want to handle anyway. It works for skates but is a bit more tricky because of the tail. Obee, Ask Specrig about his experience with pulling buckets of filled with concrete. | ||
| Jay_little
New member Username: Jay_little Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2002 |
Oh yes, I wanted to add that avoiding fish handling is good practice for your health as well. There is a an acid fast bacteria associated with fish handling with Tog included. It is similiar to Human tuberculosis but without the pulmonary effects. Believe me I know of such things. See attached link for details. http://www.aquatouch.com/Granuloma.htm | ||
| Gosh
New member Username: Gosh Post Number: 13 Registered: 10-2002 |
Good tips Jay. I will try "strumming the banjo". I have seen many funny techniques to try to get a tog unsnagged. I am guilty of using the rag for releasing them. I will try to limit that in the future. I have one of your hook removers, but they are not much good from shore. They are great when you can hold the fish over water! About the line - I have and keep trying new and different brands, but still come to the conclusion that Quattro is the best. | ||
| Jay_little
New member Username: Jay_little Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2002 |
Gosh, I tend to agree with with about tieing rigs with Quartto. I tied a bunch today ( when I should of been toggin) with generic 24 inch 40lb stick leader. That stuff has just to much memory and the rigs looked like curly Q's after a uniknot or two.I snell with # 4's and 5's Bostons then do a dropper then attach a 10 inch leader to the dropper with a big loop 6 - 8 inches down from the dropper. I finish off with a good 80 lbs swivel. Some folks think the length of my leader off the main line is to long but I like a free floating bait as I think it pulls them out their lair and gives you the edge. | ||
| Gosh
New member Username: Gosh Post Number: 14 Registered: 10-2002 |
I Like a long leader(snell), also! I snell my own hooks, usually a 2/0 - 4/0 mustad octopus hook. I like the egg sinkers, but I also fish from the rocks and I believe that it is different than fishing the wrecks. I can get more snags free and I think it helps hook those little guys. I have a spool of 50# Ande that I use for the snelling, only because I finally used all of my 50# quattro up! Next Sunday is my annual camping trip at IRI. So I have been melting lead and snelling hooks. My wife thinks that I am crazy! But she won't be there! Oh what a shame. I cannot wait! | ||
| Gosh
New member Username: Gosh Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2002 |
I almost forgot! I put a small bead (5mm i think) on before the egg sinker to keep it from going over the knot. Alot cheaper and quicker than a barrel swivel! Also I tried the P-Line this year and it is pretty good, but not as good as the Quattro. I read about the new Berkley Ironsilk, but I have yet to see any? I would like to give that a try! | ||
| Bucktail_bob
New member Username: Bucktail_bob Post Number: 25 Registered: 10-2002 |
Gosh,I heard a lot of good about the Iron Silk.I have a spool of 6# & 8# for fresh water but it hasn`t been wet yet. Its supposed to be better than P-line. | ||
| Epoxymeister
New member Username: Epoxymeister Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2002 |
I've been using Ironsilk on one of my surf spinning rigs this year and so far I love it! The 20# test is very smooth and supple with little to no memory, so it casts great. The bright "solar mint" green coloring really helps keep track of where your line is too. 9 on a scale of 10 with half a dozen outings with it. | ||
| Bobl
New member Username: Bobl Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2002 |
Question about those toggles pictured. Are they a "once & done" item, or is there a way to retrieve them? I hope to be down 2nd weekend & following couple days in november. If the weather cooperates I'd like to do some toggin out at the wall, but I only got a small boat - need nice seas! I was thinking of just using a board & a rope for a toggle. Thanks Bob L | ||
| Jay_little
New member Username: Jay_little Post Number: 29 Registered: 10-2002 |
BobL, They are throwaways. Sometimes they can be jiggled free or you can roam the wall and collect the discards from the previous owners. A rope and a piece of wood, Humm, I would guess that wood doesn't have the weight to get a good distance. A piece of chain works pretty good. any old chunk of iron will do but the possibilities are endless. Hopefully some folks will post their toggles to show how creative people are. Another thought or tip is that the bottom around the wall is very hard and deep in places and it is sometimes very difficult to set the front hook. So allow for plenty of scope, a good length of chain or a second anchor. | ||
| Dckhd247
New member Username: Dckhd247 Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2002 |
As a toggler I use an old window sash...My dad and I are lucky enough to have a friend who's a window guy...They're heavy as hell and they hold good most of the time. | ||
| Jay_little
New member Username: Jay_little Post Number: 30 Registered: 10-2002 |
DH247, I am assuming you mean a sash weights. Don't you find that that break up on impact due to the fact they are cast iron. I replaced 30 odd old windows in my farmhouse and had a boodle of those suckers but they were just to heavy to pitch and broke up on impact. | ||
| Dckhd247
New member Username: Dckhd247 Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2002 |
You're exactly right Jay, but I've never had a problem with them breaking...Hope you didn't jinx me for this season though...hehe... | ||
| Jay_little
New member Username: Jay_little Post Number: 32 Registered: 10-2002 |
Whoops, didn't mean to jinx ya. Good luck togglin and catch a bunch. | ||
| Specrig
Advanced Member Username: Specrig Post Number: 172 Registered: 8-2000 |
I have used alot of different types of toggles over the years. The things that I take in consideration are size, weight and the ability to stay put(not bounce) on the rocks. I build them now out of a tin can, 1 to 1 1/2 ft. of chain and cement. The size is small, the weight is just right to get it in the rocks and it doesn't bounce too much. The chain helps with rope abrasion against the sharp edges of the rocks. Last year and this year I added a small mushroom anchor about 8 ft. above my main anchor. This increased my hook-ups 100%. Sometimes the wall is crowded and I want to get in and hooked-up on the first try. If you are inexperienced, I would try to pick a noncrowded section until you feel comfortable. Here is a photo of the toggles that I make. Jerry  | ||
| Bobl
New member Username: Bobl Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks for the info guys, good stuff. Where would you recomend a small boater start. If conditions permit & I could hit both sides of the wall I'm assuming oceanside is better. What else would be helpful? Does most of the wall hold tog? How many toggles do you go armed with for a day of fishing? Thanks Bob L | ||
| Drsnow
New member Username: Drsnow Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2002 |
Jay, Did you find the toggles dropped off at your place yesterday? Raining hard so CEP and Ken did a hastily in and out. Phil | ||
| Jay_little
Moderator Username: Jay_little Post Number: 300 Registered: 10-2002 |
Yes, Phil I gottem. They are some real works of art by CEP. Sorry, I missed you guys. I'll take some pixs and post later. | ||
| Bucktail_bob
New member Username: Bucktail_bob Post Number: 33 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bobl,not to be smart,but I wouldn`t use anything that floats as toggles because of the chance of it floating away on high water and winding up in a prop.Maybe try going to a junkyard and picking up any thing with a hole in it for the rope, that you can toss 20 to 30 feet.I use a cinder block and drop it straight down at the desired distance off the wall.Allow some slack for wave action Also I use a 1/8 steel cable with a loop in each end on the block end to stop abrasion from cutting the rope.The down side with only one anchor point is that the boat swings around some time,but not enough for me to be normal and use two anchors.1/2 half a block will hold small boats.I try to keep it simple BB | ||
| Bobl
New member Username: Bobl Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks: Do you only use the cinder block? If so why not just a heavy anchor? Or are you using the block to stop the swinging & an anchor to hold you? Bob L | ||
| Bucktail_bob
New member Username: Bucktail_bob Post Number: 34 Registered: 10-2002 |
Just the block as an anchor.To get close enough to fish properly,about 20' to 40' off the wall,the block has to go into the rocks near the base of the wall about 20' to 30' deep. The odds of getting an regular anchor back out of the rocks is very risky.I even carry two blocks. BB | ||
| Bucktail_bob
New member Username: Bucktail_bob Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2002 |
The swinging is not always a problem ,only some time | ||
| Bobl
New member Username: Bobl Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2002 |
If the weather & seas permit this week & I can scrounge some cash up I might try to sneak down for a day and go for the rascals. I really wanted a day after the croakers, but it's probably getting late for them. I haven't heard any reports lately about them, especially since the storms & cooler water. Bob L |