Skipjack Herring

The Skipjack Herring



Writing & Photography
by Robert Tallman

Editor’s note:  There are many types of live and cut bait angler’s use for catfish.  It would depend on what area of the country in which you live.  We will cover one of these baits for the purpose of this article, The Skipjack Herring.  Now follow along with field contributor, Robert Tallman.  In his article, Robert tells his readers how he uses Skipjack herring.  Furthermore, how he catches them for catfish bait. 

     I just wanted to talk a minute about catching Skipjack for bait.  Skipjack is probably the number one bait for catching them big blues.  I use them exclusively.  Most of the Skipjack I catch, I put up in the freezer for future use.  However, most catfish anglers prefer fresh caught Skipjack for their fishing trips. 

Skip jack is caught in fast moving water at  

dams behind rock dikes and the sorts.  If you have a warm water outlet on your river this is a haven for skip jack year round.

  

  

   There are a few different ways that Skipjack can be caught.  I prefer using a rig called a sabiki rig.  I use either#6 or #8 sabiki rig.  Now what a sabiki rig is for people that don’t know is a long leader with a series very small very sharp hooks and a small feather of sorts and a colored head, I prefer the one with the pink head. It just  seems to work for me the best. Now the way the sabiki rig works is you attach the leader with the provided swivel to you main line.  At the other end of the leader there is a small snap swivel to attach a jig or of the sorts. 

   I use a 1oz. jig with a red skirt.  Again this just seems to work best for me.  You may find a different color works better for you.  What this jig does is provide a little more weight to the sabiki to get it down in the water more and to also cast the sabiki better.  The deeper the skipjacks are the heavier the weight you use.  In addition, I have caught quite a few skips on this jig.  Now cast out your sabiki in the swift water and reel it back in at a fast pace.  Skip jacks are fast swimmers and hit and run fish.  You may reel in one or you may reel in several.  You just need to adjust your retrieval to see what is working.  Another way that is often used is to take your main line and just attach several small jigs- such as crappie jigs to your line.  This is also very effective.  So next time you are out in your water-way give skip jack fishing a try. It is very effective for Catfishing and it is very fun.