Shimano Lucanus System

OK, so actually a couple of questions rolled up into one.

Now that I have my dry suit, I'm ready to try playing in the ocean a little bit. I'll, of course, work my way up to fishing in the big blue and I don't think I'm currently set up to do it right. So I have an excuse for a new rod/reel!

Has anyone played around with any part of the "Shimano Lucanus Jig System?"

Three parts: Lucanus Jigs, Shimano Calcutta TE 400ljv, Tescata Rods.

Sounds like most people like rods in the 8-20 test range. What length? Braided line or mono?

Is there a "season" in the ocean?

Maybe I should have just asked for a blueprint for the big blue, eh?



Anyway, I'll be playing around the Nehalem River this weekend and will probably be dragging the yak around to Manzanita Beach to practice a surf launch or two. Leaving tomorrow morning for the MetLife crab derby and staying at the house in Nehalem for a few days. Fishin and crabbin

It looks like it is going to be rough this weekend - 9+ with winds over 15mph.  I guess that would be a good way to test your drysuit.

As far as the lucanus system goes - I have a couple of the jigs - they are $14 a pop, and so far I haven't caught anything on them, but then again, I haven't tried using them very much.  Braid lures makes very similar ones for $6 or so each.

You don't need to drop money on the whole system - The lures are designed to be dropped down to where the fish are, and then reeled in slowly.  The Calcutta LJV is geared to retrieve slowly.  Instructions are to not set the hooks your self when you feel a hit, just to continue to reel very slowly, and the fish are supposed to hook themselves.  I don't know the specifics on the tescata rod.

The jigs are pretty cool looking.

Cabezon retention is closed for the rest of the year if you catch them from boats (from shore it is okay).  Halibut is closed.  Rockfish/Greenling and Ling Cod are still open.

I'm going to be up in Seattle for a training weekend, otherwise I would ask to stay at your house and play on the water with you.

What length rods do you guys use for the ocean?

What length rods do you guys use for the ocean?

don't over think the ocean.  Med heavy to heavy NW style salmon rod 7-8 ft (think back bouncer) a 6500 Abu with 30 braid and 25lb topshot of abrasion resistant Mono (Big Game).  1-4 oz jigs with curl tails, irons, scampi or swimbaits.  Add a shrimp fly or two and your in the game. 

Will be a good weekend for practicing disaster scenarious in the surf, and maybe experiencing a few real ones.

I'm seeing break at 9.5-11.5ft and winds to 25kts around lincoln city-depoe bay.

I'm heading to a wedding at depoe bay and decided not to even bring my sea kayaks because it's freakin gnarly!

If it were April I'd feel more adventerous, but as it's the end of Sept, I'm spent and would rather sit on my butt & drink beer on the beach!

BUT, practicing in the gnar only makes you better suited for playing in the gnar, so have at it. I envy your energy/enthusiasm levels

I'll give you cred for successful launch and landing at Manzanita with 9-11ft break...I'd be hauling out a river mouth or out jetties hoping for some of that break to be flattened down.....unless I was out looking for action.

Good luck/be safe.

J

What length rods do you guys use for the ocean?

Rod? who needs a rod? I'm growing fond of the handline.

In my latest bottom fishing experience, I've found that a $5 pink buzzbomb will catch every fish in the sea.

This weekend looks like it will have a STEEP learning curve to it. I would recommend PC for playing around in the surf if you can make it down there and have the cajones to go out with the waves predicted to be as high as they are. Manzanita offers no protected surf launches so it's a pretty intense place to launch. I would also suggest you have someone with you. Whether it's someone on the beach or someone going out with you. Stay safe & have fun!

I think the rod/reel is just a branding ploy to make more money.

The lure style has it's followers.  I bought one just to try it out.  It worked all right.  I wouldn't say it smoked the other lures I use, but it held it's own.  You might also want to check out the Braid Sea Fox which is similar, but cheaper.

http://www.charkbait.com/cs/cst1.htm

-Allen

If you launch of manzanita, I'd weight for the incoming tide. Waves arent as steep, and your junk won't float all the way to Japan if you dump it.

Currents will be pulling pretty strong on the outgoing with the phase of the moon we're in.

Wait for the biggest wave of the set to break/come in and then paddle yer arse off & don't lolly gag waiting for the next set to pummel you. Once you make it past the break, all you have to worry about is barffing from riding up and down on the 10ft swell all day.

When landing, I think sometimes it's better to ditch and swim back to the beach with the boat infront of you rather than crashing and rolling onto the beach out of control. That's probably the worst part of whiping in the surf.....log rolling on the beach.

Take a buddy/cell phone/vhf/first aid kit and rip it!

ps-sorry if i jacked this thread.....again

If you're going to be at Nehalem, head out to the sandbar along the North Jetty (inside) on the incomming tide.  You'll get plenty of practice pushing thru surf and riding it back in without the size or consequence you'll face on Manzanita beach.  

Make sure that you head back before high slack!  You do not want to get caught there on an outgoing tide with 10' seas breaking on the bar.  You'll be looking at 20' faces if you do.

-Spot-

I was just going to take my empty boat and a paddle with me and just get used to going out and back in. Getting my feet wet...

There won't be any fishing for me this weekend - at least in the ocean. I'm hoping to be putting the hurt on the ol' hatchery Coho again, though, on the Nehalem river.

Lucanus - Yeah, the rod/reel (especially the reel) seem like a gimmick (I'm a sucker for a gimmick), but the review on tackle tour makes the rod and jig sound like they really work in tandem. The author stated that he thought the rod would be too soft to play succesfully with regular iron. 

PLUS - a soft tip like in the Tescata rod line could double as a nice mooching stick!

Go for it dude. I'll always tell you the dangers, but won't ever tell you shouldn't or can't do it.

Having a little fear is a good thing when considering the ocean....keeps you alive!

J

PS- also if interested I'll be teaching a sit on top surf class at PC 10/16-19....If interested PM me.

J

How did it go?

I was at the coast Saturday and looked a bit nasty/windy but not too bad. Dumpers and closeouts from my vantage point.