MainelySmallies

This is what I do with plugs that have fixed hangers like the doc or gliders. Double split rings. Not as long as a swivel.

Absolutely—you’ve been up here much longer than I have but I totally agree that the windows of productivity at a given spot can be so short, and deeply wind dependent. It’s a fascinating place to fish. Very technical and endlessly interesting.

I’m also in Southern Maine. I can give you my two cents, though others with more experience might quibble with it. In my view, when fishing the ledges, white water is extremely important. It’s the most important thing in my mind. (I’m speaking specifically about ledges and our unique coastline here, not in general). So what I look for in any spot, high or low tide, is the same: the interaction of tide + structure creating white water that provides cover in which bass can feed. If your high tide spots are not good at low tide, that’s probably a reflection of the fact that there’s not a productive piece (or pieces) of structure creating white water and a viable feeding zone at that particular stage of the tide. That productive interaction can happen at any stage of the tide, not just high or low. For example, one of my best spots is most productive at a supposedly “less productive” time to fish: in the middle of the tide stage, during weak neap tides. Why? Because there’s a particular piece of structure that gets flooded and becomes viable in the middle of that tide stage. On big moon tides, that window of viability is really, really short because there’s so much water coming in or going out that that piece of structure only generates white water for a short period of time before it gets fully submerged and stops holding fish because those fish disperse out onto a flat. On a neap tide, when there’s less water movement, that key piece of structure stays viable for much, much longer. Big fish will set up and hold there during neap tides, but on big moon tides they only stay for a short window before abandoning it to move on to the aforementioned flat where they become harder to target. My point is that, when I’m looking for a spot, I’m looking for pieces of structure that generate significant white water. The more white water, the bigger that feeding zone is going to be. Some pieces of structure will generate that white water for an hour or more. Some are going to generate it for a fifteen minute window. Some will generate it at high, dead low, or in the middle of the tide. The only way to know is to spend a lot of time scouting during the day looking for structure that is generating white water and that possesses the requisite depth to hold fish. Obviously, we have a lot of deep water off of the ledges here, but what I really look for in a spot is not white water over deep water (necessarily) but rather a piece of structure that produces white water but that is also adjacent to deep water big fish can retreat into after moving into the white water to feed. That white water feeding zone itself might be rather shallow (even really shallow) but if big girls have nearby deep water to retreat too, they don’t seem to mind. And obviously, how the fish orient to that piece of structure is going to depend on what kind of structure it is. All the rocks we have up here might look the same, but in a quarter mile stretch of ledges you might a huge variety of structure types: sections of cliff face/rock wall, a mini boulder field, a submerged reef that functions like a sort of sandbar, a rocky flat, etc. Resist the temptation to see it all as “rocks.” Anyway, to get back to the question, how to find a new spot: I fish nights almost exclusively, but you have to put in some work during the day. Start at high tide, and fish six hours through the drop. (Or if you can’t devote that kind of time, fish the first three hours of the tide stage one day, and the second half of the tide another day). Until you know a spot well, I prefer to fish a new spot on a dropping tide for safety reasons: you don’t want to fish an incoming tide only to turn around and find out that water is filling in a deep trough fifty yards behind you. And you definitely do not want to find this out at night. (Ask me how I know). On these daytime scouting trips, fish whatever you have high confidence in: I usually just bring a few white spooks and a bag of sluggos. Your primary concern on these trips is not catching fish (though I’ve managed a few surprisingly solid afternoon fish during scouting runs) but finding those productive pieces of structure. When you find one that seems promising (or if you’re lucky, gives up a middle of the day fish or two) drop a pin on your map app so you roughly know where it is when you come back at night (or morning or evening or whenever you fish). Satellite maps are also very helpful, but given our 10 foot tide swings there’s only so much about the structure that you can really learn because our intertidal zone is so massive. I use maps to identify places I want to scout, but the important work has to happen on foot. Last thing, keep in mind that structure is going to set up different depending on the wind condition and what the surf is doing on a given day. A stretch of ledges that generates an effective white water feeding zone on a northeast blow (or if there’s heavy swell) might be entirely unproductive during a different wind condition or surf condition. Only way to know is to put in the time and to do your best about keeping a log.

The 12” are criminally underrated. However they do not hold up to a DIY tandem rig nearly as well. I buy the pre-rigged 12” ones as the fact that the harness is molded in seems to increase durability.

Stoked you’re carrying this. Sick of driving an hour south for darters. By the way are those red fins on the hook out of the box loaded?

I’m also not seeing anything small. Definitely not good.

Yes yes yes science science science but more importantly why would anyone want to be on the same side of New Jersey with anything? In what area of life has “let’s do what those Jersey guys are doing” ever been a good idea?

Awesome tip thanks man.

Just get a Gear Up. They’re affordable (within the realm of sailcloth bags), durable as hell, no wait time, and easy to find at a decent local shop or to order.

“North of New Hampshire.”

I believe they (or another company) makes a more waterproof version that would be worth looking into. Also depends what you’re doing with it. Mine were wet a lot. If it’s just spray they might be fine.

Only thing to be aware of is that although they’re meant to be “water resistant” they will not hold up to hard use. I don’t listen to music while I fish but I used them a few times for listening to music or a podcast when I had a long walk to the spot, then kept them around my neck when fishing. The salt destroyed them. Great for running though.

What is “LEAGLE” and what is ethical aren’t always the same thing.

I have used Shokz for running. They’re probably more expensive than you want and I haven’t tried cheaper pairs. Be aware that sound quality with bone conduction headphones is not great if that’s something you care about.

Thanks for taking the time to write that up.