Hard Current

[Vogt]

Trebles + Braid + Hard Current = Dropped fish.

George,
If you're fishing trebles in current you are going to drop a lot of fish no matter what you do. You can only give so much line to a fish and keeping them out of obstruction is just a reality. Barbs may help a bit but I have lost many fish in hard current with barbs on my hooks. The only real solution to this problem that I have found is to run single hooks. Jigs, riggies, live eels, sluggos, etc. are my go to offerings in the current. I know you aren't an eel guy so that narrows it down quite a bit. If you must use trebles I have found that bumping up the size to the maximum that the plug allows for will help. Remember, more hook gap is better in this situation. There are also people starting to experiment more with replacing all of their trebles with free swinging single hooks. Even the belly hooks.

[Rockfish9]

I make many differant kinds of of plugs.. and at one time or the other.. I'll even fish a few of them.. but when it comes to fast water.. which for me is one of the most infamous inlets on the east coast there are two plugs that stand out..

A goo-goo eye fitted with single 9/0 siwash on the belly will work in the worst of currents... and you may( will) miss a few hits.. but you wont drop any once hooked up... no matter how much pressure you apply.. back when i sold my catch.. EVERY plug was fitted with singles.. now i dont care if I loose a few.. ..I think we discussed this once at plugfest...if I go this year i'll bring a few of the special riggies.. it's not something I make a habit of showing the public...

I also have very good luck with trollers under those conditions... on a moon tide the merrimack can reach 7 knots on the drop.. i troll against it at 1.5.. goo-goos and trollers are the only ones that get to the fish and not roll out..I'm using 60lb wire with the drag socked up tight ( the only time I fish a tight drag.. most big fish are lost because 90% of the people fishing use a drag that is just too tight).. .. I know this is a surf discussion but it is pertinant...

a simular technique can be used from the jetty( which is in such a state of disrepair that it is unfishable now a days.. ).. the plug is played out into the current and allowed to work the edge on an ultra slow retrieve.. pausing often to let the plug rise in the water collum.. sometimes I'll let it swim backwards against slight thumb pressure ( conventional reel).. but ti REALY sucks when a bass smashes the backwards swimming plug unless your paying close attention.. for the most part, most of this water is between 3'-12'... there also deeper "bowls" scattered in between..most can only be reached/worked by boat....when swimmig a plug from a jetty ( or even a boulder pile) work it right to the base of the rocks i couldn't count the times i have had a bass slam the plug as i lifted it from the water... ... again.. a goo-goo will dive and find fish when deep running plugs like conrads will roll out.... the edges, rather than the swift current are the lair of the larger fish... they also lie in the shallow depressions, mid current in otherwise flat water... your offering must scrape their head if you want a strike... it's way differant than fishing the beach...

you mentioned structure... it really doesnt have to be much... as I said before it doesn't have to be much more than shallow depressions... edges where two currents clash can make a holding spot... and of coarse the obvious.. rocks and mussel... shoals and the like...as far as how far back... it all depends on the structure and velocity of the current. some times they stay real tight.. other times the turbulance and slick after it extends back a fair distance.. if less effort is needed to hold in posistion they can be a considerable distance...

I know it's been said before.. and I preach it to anyone smart enough to listen... big fish are lazy.. they need to expend the fewest calories for the highest reward.. big bait big fish.. calm(er) water big fish.. the rips may be exploding all around a "spot" but if it's holding big fish.. they have a hiding place where the living is easy... fat men dont run to the salad bar...they walk to the buffet...