I have a decent pole and reel but I want to know the best line and rigs to use for stripers, using eels as bait. The pole is a Shakespeare ugly stik catfish model and a Shakespeare Synergy 20 closed face reel. The pole is designed for 15-30lb line so I'm thinking 30lb but what line brand and style is best. I can't afford a new pole and reel but I can afford new line, it currently has the line that the combo came with and I don't know the weight. Thanks. David

Hey David...I would use 30 lb. Power Pro Braid. That's what I use on all my reels. Buy the small spool, 150 yds. It cost about 25-30 dollars, but it's well worth it. I've hauled up monster Bluefish, Striped Bass, Blackfish with it, with no problem. Power Pro Braid is very sensative so you can feel the bottom, the hits, everything. When you spool it on your reel, use the old mono line as backing, about 25 yds, then connect the two lines together using a double uni knot or something similar. Now as for the rigs..you can go several different ways. 1. Use a 3 way swivel, connect your main line to the swivel, use 50lb flurocarbon leader, about 3ft, and then snell your hook (use a 6/0 or 7/0 circle or octopus hook)then hook your eel. on the empty ring of the swivel, connect your bank sinker(anywhere from 5 to 8oz..depending on current). 2. Use a fishfinder rig. Slide fishfinder rig on your main line, then connect a swivel, then same leader(50lb flurocarbo) with hook and eel. Then connect your bank sinker to the fishfinder rig. 3. Use a trolling sinker. It goes something like this: main line, trolling sinker, leader, hook and eel. It's kinda like a saltwater version on the Carolina rig. Kinda..Also you can try Hogy eels(soft plastic eels)...There excellent for Stripedbass, all you need for them is leader material and a swivel. Hope I helped abit...good luck, and try and catch one for me!

I agree with Barresi, and one little thing that can make a difference is tying some sort of loop knot to your hook, just to give your eel a little bit more action and liveliness.

Well the boat was not available but that was alright, my friend is a contractor and had allot of work to catch up on. I ended up fishing off some jetties and a bridge over the course of a few days. I went with the recommendation of the local bait shops figuring they had much better intel than I did. I have a short pole so I was unable to cast far enough to clear the rocks and just lost allot of rigs. When I was on the bridge I kept my rigs but the fish just weren't interested in what I had to offer. I talked to a friend later and I think I was offering to much bait and I should have cut it differently so it wiggled in the water. Then my Uncle told me about cutting a V at the end of the bait to give it the look of a fish tail. I think I was using chad for bait if that makes sense, it was the whole fish kept on ice at the bait shop. I did notice that everyone else was using light rods and reels even on the jetty, I felt like the oddball. I can't figure out how they managed with the heavy currents but it looked like they were fishing very close to the rocks so maybe the rocks blocked the sweeping water and they could keep there rig from drifting off. So I have learned how much I don't know about salt water fishing.

Was wondering if any of you crappie fishermen had any ideas about rigging more than one jig per line while trolling.  I use to troll using two jigs per line but do not remember how I went about tying the top jig--seems like I did it in a loop.  It is rough when your mind is full of little tricks and ideas and you lose the key to the lock.  My wife and I usually troll with four rods in the back of the boat and I troll with one on each side and run the trolling motor.  She really gets a kick out of catching more than one at a time and I get a greater kick by seeing how much she enjoys it.  Thanks for the help!  Uncle Tom

So you didn't catch one for me huh?? lol...just kidding. You gotta keep trying...don't give up. Trial and error...Next time if the water conditions are the same with fast moving current...try a 8 or even 12 oz bank sinker. And use the fish finder rig. Let your bait drift out...Use a long leader...maybe 3 ft...you want it to look as natural as possible. One more thing...when using live eels...make sure you stun them first by whacking them on the head so when you hook them, they dont curl up your line.

Hopefully I can get out in the next week or so down around the SJ Shore, probably fish of some more jetties and bridges. This time I will bring a light rod too and try a couple techniques at the same time. When I fished off the bridge last week I had a 12oz weight on but the current still dragged it around allot. At least on the bridge there was nothing to get snagged on.

And try different baits as well...Try clams, bunker and even bring a couple of diamond jigs or spoons. This way you can have a pole out with live/cut bait and another pole casting the jig/spoon. One more thing, and this is kinda important...Bass usually don't go for eels during the day time, they work best at night. I was taught that eels have no business seeing the light of day...lol Good luck.

Alright, good to know.