A population of rockfish exploding?
For the past few years, the fjord has been literally overrun with small rockfish. For some bottom fishermen, this is a sign that the rockfish population is healthy, but for others, it is simply an ordeal to reel in their lines at depths of over 400, 500 or even 800 feet to find a tiny rockfish only a few inches long.
The "Fishing Sick" Solution
So, what can you do to avoid baby rockfish on your next fishing trip to the fjord? "Fishing Addicts" offers a simple yet highly effective rig for an exciting bottom fishing experience and, above all, for catching the biggest specimens on your next outing. First, the leader weight. Use a 6-inch Glow Squid "Fat Pat" in the color of your choice, rigged on a 2-5 oz jig head depending on the depth you're fishing and the strength of the currents. Crucially, bait your Glow Squid "Fat Pat" with a small piece of fresh smelt or other fishy bait of your choice. A herring-scented gel is also recommended. Rockfish, cod, and turbot will have no trouble taking the lure; only the smaller specimens will struggle, which is precisely the desired effect.
What do we do with the steps?
To cover as much water column as possible, it's best to use several droppers spaced 10 to 50 feet apart, depending on your preference. What exactly is a dropper ? It's simply the name given to the lures that cover the different water columns above your main line lure . Droppers are almost always used when fishing for bottom-feeding fish in the fjord. You can use as many as you like, but we recommend 2-4 droppers , evenly spaced, to make reeling in your catch easier. Since our goal is to avoid small rockfish, we'll be using the 6-inch Glow Squid "Fat Pat" for all the droppers in our rig. When using the Glow Squid as a dropper , there's no need to attach it to a jig head; simply attach it to a hook. The main line lure and its jig head already provide sufficient weight. To keep an eye on the size of the rockfish and other bottom-dwelling fish in your fishing area, you can add a smaller weight, such as the "Sammy Glow" shrimp fly or the "Jimmy Glow" squid fly. Just like the leader lure, the weights should be baited with a small piece of fish flesh.
In concrete terms, what does my line look like?
Simply click on the following image to watch the YouTube video on bottom fishing rigs created by "Malades de Pêche" (Fishing Addicts). You can easily replicate the rig shown in our video, but using only Glow Squids "Fat Pat" lures as described in our article. For any questions about this article or just to chat about fishing, feel free to contact us via our chat; a member of our team will be happy to answer all your questions. "Malades de Pêche" wishes you big rockfish and good fishing. Be "Malades de Pêche" and proud of it! #MDPFishing
