Fishin the kelp with swimbaits

[William Novotny]

Looks like im gonna be picking up some weedless jigheads. Thanks for all your suggestions especially about the current. I always forget to be mindful of the current flow when im throwing at structure or cover.

[Mr. Adventure]

Are you using braid? If not it helps a lot.

O e thin I've really found is that when snagged change the angle you are pulling at. Paddle over and to the opposite side of the bait and give it a tug And it will usually come free easier

[vincentek9]

spectra (braid) will cut through kelp very well. also, look into the War Baits weedless leadheads. they are amazing for the southern california calico bass fishing. I usually just go straight into a patch of kelp, sit on top of it, and drop the lure straight down. jig up and down. the only issue is when i catch a toad fish that wraps me around. then its a waiting game of give-and-take until the braid cuts the kelp.

[William Novotny]

All of my reels are backed with spectra, but both by baitcasting setups have mono topshot for casting. I suppose I could strip the calcutta down to the 50# braid. That should cut the kelp nicely.

[Mr. Adventure]

Sure does, then just leave a short leader

[William Novotny]

Originally Posted by Mr. Adventure

Sure does, then just leave a short leader

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the braid? Doesnt it cut through the kelp at the point where its tied to the lure? Thats what I always assumed

[ReedperkinsHB22]

ya i would suggest using a 1 to 2 ounce jig head, and using 5 to 6 1/2 inch swim baits, mc big hammers, or island plastics. if its overcast trying using darker colors and when the sun comes out you want to throw something that has some sparkle to it, i use Christmas tree or just any bait fish color when the suns out. when fishing for calico you need to fish out where there are in the water coloum, they arent always on the bottom, try different retrieve speeds. also try casting on top of the kelp then when you get to a hole put your reel in free spool and let it sink out.
hope this helps Reed

[ReedperkinsHB22]

Originally Posted by William Novotny

Looks like im gonna be picking up some weedless jigheads. Thanks for all your suggestions especially about the current. I always forget to be mindful of the current flow when im throwing at structure or cover.

current is always good when fishing kelp, if it laid down then thats a great sign, also i use 50 or 65lb spectra any brand works

[fishsouthcounty]

i like braid and the Warbaits slayer heads....they are pricey but they kill it. I have yet to lose one to the kelp while fishing either the pipe or the kelp around strands and the headlands of DP. I almost always fish over the heavy kelp and find small pockets and fish vertically over them. Do yourself a favor and go to Fred Hall this year...tons of plastics on hand, pearl, MC, Big Hammer, etc, plus the Warbaits booth with discounts on all products. Stock up at a discount. Plenty of other good offers to be had as well. Keep an eye on the bloodydecks Fred Hall Vendors Specials board and see how good it gets.

[dfroggy54]

sled heads with red flake whams or blue/silver flake whams. Those monster MC weedless swimbaits work good too.

[William Novotny]

Originally Posted by fishsouthcounty

i like braid and the Warbaits slayer heads....they are pricey but they kill it. I have yet to lose one to the kelp while fishing either the pipe or the kelp around strands and the headlands of DP. I almost always fish over the heavy kelp and find small pockets and fish vertically over them. Do yourself a favor and go to Fred Hall this year...tons of plastics on hand, pearl, MC, Big Hammer, etc, plus the Warbaits booth with discounts on all products. Stock up at a discount. Plenty of other good offers to be had as well. Keep an eye on the bloodydecks Fred Hall Vendors Specials board and see how good it gets.

My wife hates me "stocking up" on tackle. Her favorite line is "dont you aleady have that?" So I biy my swimbaits in hand fulls every time I pass the tackle shop and slip it into my daily purchases!

[William Novotny]

Do you hits have a go to jighead color you like? I usually just go with any combo with a red head.

[mtnbykr2]

I was glad to see a post about this, as I have been trying all kinds of different combos, and techniques, as far as colors for bass the warbaits are great, rock fish tend to like the brighter colored heads like orange and
chartruse, the bass tend to like the reds and browns, I am now kinda workin the Warbaits more now with alittle more success, but when we start back up on the rock fish, I think I will still work the WB as they aren't getting hung up as bad...thanks for sharing all the info and opinions,

[Iebadboy]

We're do u guys like to buy your gear from like the war baits and everything???

[mtnbykr2]

You can get em at your local tackle shop if they are half way decent, but Fred Hall is next month, so save up some money, someone said they should have some discounts, although I have not seen many big discounts on tackle there, but I still go to see all the goodies that everybody has...

[fishsouthcounty]

Originally Posted by Iebadboy

We're do u guys like to buy your gear from like the war baits and everything???

Personally I buy most of my gear from Hogan's Bait and Tackle in Dana Point. Super friendly and knowledgeable people with pretty much everything youll need for local inshore fishing. They carry a pretty solid selection of the different colors and sizes as well as the skirted heads and separate skirts you can add to any unskirted head. Plus they also have a pretty good selection of a few diff brands of plastics. Plus its the closest thing to home for me.

It all relative. Finding a shop close to you that has what you need at a fair cost and good service. Or maybe on your next trip to the ocean check out some of the shops not in your immediate area and just hit it everytime you put the yak in at the beach.

[TJones]

William

[Siebler]

You need the Tenacious Baits Wedless swimbaits. They are WAY more weedless than anything youll find elsewhere.

[fishsouthcounty]

Originally Posted by William Novotny

My wife hates me "stocking up" on tackle. Her favorite line is "dont you aleady have that?" So I biy my swimbaits in hand fulls every time I pass the tackle shop and slip it into my daily purchases!

tell her you hate it when she stocks up on shoes and to back off! haha just kidding im not married so i dont know what im talking about. Need to find yourself a good hiding place.