Question for Coleman (or anyone else who obviously kicks butt on live pogies

[therockfishchef]

I can't believe some of the pics of the fish you've been posting. Really impressive. My question is about snagging pogies. I used to do it as a kid right of the city docks in Newburyport I remember just casting out into the current and snagging em. But it was so long ago. I can't remember what I used. Do you just use one of those weighted treble hooks? What techniques do you use to find them. Just look for birds feeding and cast into it? Also in one of your pics it looked like you just keep them ion buckets. Is that all you need no livewell? Sorry for the grilling i'm just dying to get some fish like yours this year..........

[cold waters]

weighted trebles or even some sort of casting iron or lure with a treble will work well. you just need to find the buggers flipping on the surface and give them a toss.... birds dont often feed over the poggies unless they are getting eatin

[Merrillizer™]

Weighted trebles, or, you can rig up 2 trebles. I will use a palomar knot to tie on the 1st trebles at the end of my line. Then you can tie on a "leader" to that hooks eyelet. I use about 3'. Slide an egg sinker at the end of the leader, then use another palomar to tie on another treble at the end. This will get you down into them, and often produce doubles. This is important when you are in a rush to fill the livewell and get on the bass. There are different variations of the rig, you can use the egg sinker above the 1st treble, or use a snap between the main line and leader, etc.

[HarryG]

Mashing the barbs down on the trebles causes a few more missed pogies but makes the pogies live longer and swim healthier

[Coalman]

CW is tuned right in.

Merrillizer's method is confusing. Remember I'm the guy who doesn't use swivels. One hook, one knot.

Harry's right about the barbs effecting the pogies survival. But I'll take that chance.

Visual is the way to snagging pogies. Sometimes they don't jump. All you see is a moving wave. That are very difficult to snag when you can't see them.

I use a 5/8 ounce weighted treble.

The only reason you see 5 gallon buckets being used is because we just happened on the pogies and took advantage of what ever we had in the boat as live wells. If you look in my boat from last Saturday's picture you can see my live well. Keep changing the water in the buckets if it is all you have. Don't worry if they look a little weak in the bucket. When you put them in the water they come back to life.

If you are going to snag DO NOT put a bleeder in your tank. It will kill the others. Put them in 5 gallon buckets till they stop bleeding or die.

My favorite methods are my nets. I use a gill and cast net that can always be found in the cuddy.

Of all baitfish I love pogies best. They take abuse and live well in the bait tank.

And Rockfish your old snagging grounds are where I learned to net and fish with pogies.

My old center console boat was named "Pogie Patrol".

Good luck in your pursuit.

[Merrillizer™]

You can also add 2 trebles to your mainline without tying to the upper treble or using a swivel. Less confusion. A weighted treble on the bottom, with a regular treble 2 or 3' above it is even better, so need for the egg sinker. Rick and I can fill his (very) large livewell in his 23' Mako very quickly. We dont anchor, so getting as much bait in the livewell quickly as possible before the fish move off is a necessity. I have actually fought and landed blues on this rig while snagging pogies. Fun on light tackle and 10 pound test. A pogie on the top and a blue on the bottom

Never confusing if you rig before you head out, not while thousands of Pogies are flying under the boat.

[therockfishchef]

great info thanks guys. the only other question i have is I have a livewell under the front seat in my center console. Well, its a round cooler with a drain so if i put a pump in it I can make it one (I'm assuming that was hydrasports intension). It doesn't have an intake for seawater, nor do I want to get into cutting holes or hanging hose over the side as it is a walk around and the tank is in the middle. So is changing out some of the water periodically going do keep them alive or should I think about going the whole nine yards

[Coalman]

With pogies changing the water often will work. Don't crowd them.

For Macks, herring and alewives a water intake is a must.

[therockfishchef]

Thanks coleman I think next season I'll hook it up right.

[oddfish]

You can add a bubbler too, this will cut down on your water changes. the more fish you have and the more active they are the O2 is depleted faster, colder water holds more O2 also. When I am using the emergency bucket system I use three Pour water into one from on high (lots of bubbles) then drain the one the fish are in and put them into that one then refill with cold bubbly water switch when the fish start to slow down. The Mac's are the worst they are fine one minute and ready for pickling the next.

Oddfish