WOTS A GOOD CONGER TRACE AND ROD

COULD YOU TELL ME WOT I WILL NEED TO MAKE A CONGER TRACE PLUSS WOT TYPE OF BAIT TO USE FOR CONGERS AND HOW FAR OUT I WIL NEED TO GO TO CATCH THEM

IM ALSO LOOKING FOR A GOOD ROD AND REEL FOR CONGER FISHING SOMETHING THAT COULD HANDLE THE JOB THANKS

Last edited by Guest on Sun May 07, 2006 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

gareth...the rig i sue is a pulley rig with 100lb hook snood and a 6/0 c & r meat hook...the bait which works best is either fresh mac or 2 whole squid and sometimes whole pouting or whiting (dead or live) as for distance it can vary sometimes u could flick a bait out about 20 or so yards or a good bit further...but i will show u 2mo at garron point kid...just make up alot of the pulley rigs i showed u in the rig making class at the club meetings

even a pulley aimed at dogs etc with mack strip will pick up the odd strap conger if they are in town, a 2/0 will hold most straps and widens your options on species if something else decides to take you 'smaller' bait

I would use a strong three way swivel with 10lb line to the weight in case it snags on the rocks/weeds. So you just lose your weight and not your rig if it gets snagged. And a short 80lb Snood with a strong hook, I would usualy use a 4/0 hook and bend the gape of the hook with pliers so its at an angle. The smaller hook size will catch a big Conger, But it will also catch smaller fish (Doggies ect)
Best bait would be Joey Mackeral with the backbone taken out to make it a flapper, Or just a fillet of mackeral if you can't get small ones.
Most congers are close in, so a strong cast is not needed.

would avoid nylon like the plague when congering they seem to bite through no matter what the b.s. always use wire as low as 25lb b.s. this is supple enough so bait pesentation isnt affected. the three way swivel rig described above is what i use aswel, fool proof.

I have never had a problem with the 150lb mono i use as a biting trace. Stopped using wire as saw the damage it does to their mouths, mono having a larger diameter is much easier on them if you intend to return the eel. Also, it is a good idea to flatten the barb on your hook as not only does it make it much easier to remove the hook, it improves hook penetration.

Lee

150lbs? from the shore? is that not a little extreme not to mention bait presentatin and spooking the fish :!:

I only use a 12 to 18 inch length of it above the hook.

It may be possible to get away with lighter line but have seen the state of that line after a decent eel has had a go at it, greatly weakened :shock:

It does not seem to spook the fish and to be honest I would rather fish with the heavier trace and land the fish than take a chance and loose it and be left wondering what may have been.

Bearing in mind that certain marks on the Antrim and Down coasts are rumoured to hold eels of huge proportions ( 60lb+ ) :!:

Lee

60lbs? ah well thats a different story we only get them to 30lbs in the estuary that ive heard of.

i lost what would have been my p.b. conger(25+) whilst using 80lb mono so im kinda against the stuff ever since!

still caught straps from 5 - 10lb whilst using 150 - 200 lb line, they just smell and see food they will eat it always if on the feed.

I use 100lb myself and have yet to have them bite it through..no doubt I will after writing this. Good point Lee about the wire damaging their mouths, never thought about that.

What rod and reel do you all use. any good links to rigs for congor and boat rigs 2

Greys Nitra ( Monster of a rod )
Daiwa sl30 & 30lb mainline

Know it sounds a bit on the overkill side but if you are lucky enough to hook into a big one, they can take some stopping. 8)

Lee

penn powergraph (like a poker)
525 with 25lb line

hi gareth your congers sucked!! lol!! oj!!!

Greys Nitra ( Monster of a rod )
Daiwa sl30 & 30lb mainline

Know it sounds a bit on the overkill side but if you are lucky enough to hook into a big one, they can take some stopping. 8)

Lee

Century g5, Mag525, 25lb Mainline 8)

abu conolon and sl30 with 30lb and 80lb shock, 100lb hook lenght 80lb rubbing leader and a nice big chunk of mackeral and squid....never fails....well not yet anyway... ive had ny biggest conger on the conolon which was 26lb from portrush harbour and the rod did really well... 8)

JG