Live lining bunker question

[Birddog 2]

My two sons and I are relatively new to striper fishing. Typically we live line bunker with fish finder rigs using a 4" leader and 9/0 hooks. We have a never ending debate every time we go out, should we anchor or not. I think we should anchor because if we don't how can a fish finder rig work? If we drift my thought is the fish finder and sinker is always up against the swivel on the leader. Also another question is when to not use the fish finder rig or sinker and just float a live bunker out? We really could use some help. We have a decent boat and decent equipment, read all the most recent posts, but don't catch many fish.

[Chris1129]

Find the bunker school, try snag and drop with big treble hook and drift

[SaltLife1980]

Drift with them alive. Fish finder rig to your 9/0 hooked through the nose. Let em swim around as you drift. Finding the school and doing this is another good idea. So if you read em throw them out or go to the schools getting harassed and drop em in. Dont have to use the fish finder rig.

[swcody13]

If I'm livelining, I usually start a couple floating on top and a couple on the bottom, see what hits then go from there. If the bass are blowing up the top water baits I'll then take all my sinkers off and go exclusively top. Same idea with the other way around. Just cover your bases and adjust with the fish

[Gerry Zagorski]

We've done it both ways, drifting and on anchor. A lot depends on if the fish are up top blowing up on on Bunker and they are scattered schools, we drift...Find the active blows up and drift and cast to them. If they are staying in a particular area because of structure, A reef or lumps then anchor. Having said this we drift more then anchor since it tough to commit to anchor if the fish are not sticking to a specific area.

Some are weighted and some are not.... Some of the most exciting fishing is watching your unweighted bunker get harassed while flapping around on top.

Not sure the slip sinker works very well unless your sinker is on the bottom and you let the line slide through it and the bunker run. If the current and or drift is too swift, the sinker is always going to be right at the slip sleeve.

Right now this is pretty much a run and gun fishery... You might find the bunker but if the bass aren't actively blowing up on them move and find where that is happening and cast and drift that area.

[Ry609]

Has anyone every tried live lining with a bait runner spinning reel like shimano or penn spinfisher LL models? Just curious how well they work as anytime I've live lined it's been on conventional tackle.

[SaltLife1980]

I use a shimano. It works great

[SplitShot]

I always use my Shimano Thunnus for snag/drop and liveliining....:D

[Capt. Lou]

Livlining bunker best accomplished as follows;
I don't like snag N drop due to treble hooks killing fish if swallowed .
I personally like the 10/0 circle Charlie Brown by Quick Rig nice wide gap for plenty of bite & strong hook
If drift Hook thru nostrils or bridle , @ anchor nostrils , back or under belly Ok .
Fish free spool with thumb always on spool to prevent an overrun !
I prefer braid with about 8' leader , like FF rigs so U can add weight if required
Always use lightest weight possible 1oz is plenty in most cases but not set in stone
Once fish runs with bait let him go until spool is moving well , then simply point Rod staright at fish whenI feel solid weight lock reel & lift easy to fight fish
Hook should pull out of fish & lodge in corner of mouth 95% of time
Do not ever set a circle hook or else u will pull hook out completely & lose fish
Most fish are missed due to length of time they run with bait , lock up too early & hook will not set simply pull out due to size of bait
U will miss fish there is no panacea for 100% hookups but if u rely on the correct hook & get the feel of when to lock up, on the take ,u'll do OK !