Got out for four hours today, late morning to early afternoon. One fish 10# on downline, blueback 30' down over a 55' and one fish 14.5# on downlined trout 18' down over a 27' bottom. Didn't have any hits on freeline. Did have 6 fish pull the rod tip down to the water but never hooked up. Were these just spots or what was going on? What's the best way to rig a stinger hook? Good luck to everyone fishing in the tournament tomorrow and be safe out there.

I had the same thing happening two weeks ago-- at one point i thought i was dealing with a loon, since one bait came up w/ its half end cleanly off. I hadn't been teased like that since high school....
I thought about a stinger rig, like maybe a small red treble "gently" placed near the top or bottom above tail (w/ 1lb fluorocarbon?, but since bluebacks are such friggin sissies sometimes.....
anybody try this out there? I was planning to try next time out, which may be tomorrow rain or not!

Tie the stinger right on the hook, but not in the hook's eyelet. Your bait will still be ok if the treble is out to it's tail. Set a few stingers up w different length to the treble if you're using the bigger baits.

Thank you for the advice. I'll be trying the stinger hook next trip out.

Got room on that trip ??
~good fishin!

Another note, those bluebacks are 'sissies' indeed! They don't take a lot of handling well, and using the stinger with them will shorten thier life. Trout or gizzard shad will do better. In the summer I plan to catch a few small bream and use the stinger, but they're such scrappy lil' fighters the stinger may impale them! (Anyone use bream & a stinger, please write in, thanks)