Alewife harvesting for bait

[baitballin]

Was thinking of using a cast net to catch some alewife and brine them and use them in meat rigs. Any thoughts?

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Lake Ontario United mobile app

 

 

[ERABBIT]

I had the same thoughts BUT the only place you can use a cast net in freshwater in NY is the hudson river south of some town I forget the name now.....

 

[Gill-T]

Find them on graph and use a sabikki rig. Have a ice bath with curing salts to throw them in until you get home

[Tall Tails]

1 minute ago, Gill-T said:

Find them on graph and use a sabikki rig. Have a ice bath with curing salts to throw them in until you get home

What he said.  Just make sure you clip one hook off the rig or you will be over the allowable hook points. 

[baitballin]

Thanks will give it a shot. Too bad you can't use a cast net.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Gill-T]

You woul never catch them with a cast net unless they are near piers or harbor docks.  Adult alewives can scoot!  

[baitballin]

You woul never catch them with a cast net unless they are near piers or harbor docks.  Adult alewives can scoot!  

Gill you are right my friend! Will try a different approach. Thanks as always brother!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Trouthunter]

I BELIEVE YOU CAN USE A GILLNET TO GET SOME NOT SURE THOUGH CHECK THE REG.

[jimski2]

The gill net used was one having a one inch stretch mesh. It was very selective in taking alewife. You will probably be considered as raping the alewife population and shunned by neighbors.


Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

[baitballin]

The gill net used was one having a one inch stretch mesh. It was very selective in taking alewife. You will probably be considered as raping the alewife population and shunned by neighbors.


Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

[emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] for sure. Wouldn't a gill bet be more destructive than a cast net

Sent from my SM-G900V using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Lucky13]

Gill nets are only legal in the Finger Lakes, and not all of them.  The only legal net in Lake Ontario is a seine, maximum of 36 feet square, or a minnow trap, and I don't know that alewifes would go into a minnow trap.

[garrymny]

It appears we are looking for an alternative to the high cost of herring. Bought six tiny fillets yesterday for $10. Now I am at Tulley's and just ordered a haddock dinner for $10. Som- ting- Wong!

 

Sent from my XT1030 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

 

 

 

 

[Decoy Hound]

You could try eating the herring for $10 bucks but it makes better bait! If you catch just one fish with that herring pack think of all the meat you get!

[Nemesis]

Sabiki rigs work well for alewifes.


Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

[ERABBIT]

9 hours ago, Nemesis said:

Sabiki rigs work well for alewifes.


Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

looked at them , too many to count. Do you guys have size and color that work best ?

[Gill-T]

Get the white color ones. They look like fleas that make up 25% of their diet

[ERABBIT]

3 hours ago, Gill-T said:

Get the white color ones. They look like fleas that make up 25% of their diet

OK , size ?

[Gill-T]

Mine say size 6. They look like a pearl white with a glow green head paint. Set up a braid line counter rod with a weight at bottom of rig. Find a school of bait and send your rig down to depth match they are showing on fishfinder to line counter on reel. Keep movements small-no snap jigging. When you get the hang of it you start trying to bring up multiples at once. 

[ERABBIT]

Thanks