Spinning a sandeel for pollock

What is the best way to present a spun sandeel to pollock? I've tried various methods but my ratio of hook ups to bites is dismal. Also has anyone out there tried the sink and draw method with a small dead fish (as pike anglers do) for pollock?

Fishing Wednesday I could only get tiny pollock on lures. On retreiving my bottom rig I twice lifted two good pollock (3 1/2lb and 3lb) which took the sandeel on the bottom hook. Tried spinning the sandeel after this and not a touch, can't figure it.

Pete

Where were you fishing?

Was fishing Donegal. Why would they take the sandeel on the retreive from the bottom rig and not when I was deliberately spinning the sandeel? Anybody know the best method to spinning the sandeel?

Pete

Best way I have found is to use a 2/0 or 3/0 hook depending on size of eels attached to 24 to 30 inches of mono, I use 20lb as ground I fish is very rough. Run this to a swivel attached to your main line and use a genie clip and a bead to attach your lead. Size of lead is dependent on depth of water your fishing. On presenting the eel, pass hook through mouth and nick in back approx halfway down. Make sure plenty of the hook point and gape are showing. Cut the tail off and use bait elastic to secure sandeel to hook. N.B. The straighter you present the eel the less this will tangle. You need to retrieve this as close to the bottom as possible so tackle losses over rough ground are inevitable! I find the best time to do this is in the evening time on an incoming tide. You will find that pollack will sometimes "pluck" at a bait, the best thing to do is to keep the bait moving, dont stop or strike, pollack attack sandeels spun in this way savagely and will nearly always hook themselves. I find that using slightly bigger than normal eels is better. Whereabouts in Donegal are you fishing by the way? Im on the lookout for a mark that provides deep water from rocks. Have had some superb sessions in Kilkee in West Clare with this approach but would like somewhere closer to home!

Hi

I got this on this forum or by pm.... so I am not claiming rights or credit.

Another option is to use a spinning barrel lead wound onto the main shockleader line with a bead to stop any wear to the knot at the swivel, and four feet of flourocarbon (although pollack are not picky) to a final small treble and pennel rigged single hook. The treble goes into the sand eel lower down towards the tail (snipped off) and the single hook through the head. A bit of shirring elastic to secure it to the wire fram of the treble (pike rig) and you have a reasonably straight and secure bait. It works well too...

FWIW...

Cheers lads, going to be giving both these methods a go over the summer. Hopefully the pollock will like em.

Pete

Have to agree with petekd here.

A single 2/0 threaded through the mouth and out about a third to half way down seems to do the trick. Whip it onto your hook with bait elastic.

Let your eel sink for as long as possible and retrieve VERY slowely. This is the same way I would fish jelly worms and it works for me.

BTW petekd, St. John's Point is a good deep water mark (your about 6 miles out into Donegal Bay! :D ) where I caught countless pollack spinning lures and sandeel over the years.

The rocks to the right of Port na Blagh pier mite also be worth a visit- be very careful here though!