hand lining

[Elester]

Growing up on ole saint clair we used to handle for them tasty eyes, and tie into a gator or two from time to time. Left me bloody and water eyed, scotch never tasted so good. Now I am retired and built a hand line set up for the large muskie. I used a rim from an old toyota and a sprocket from a ten speed bike. It seems to work, but I will need to main tain a lower speed in order to keep it straight up and down. Was curious what lures give a good wobble at slow speeds as I am in search for the big gator of the water. I am no longer in MI, and fish other lakes, so if ya see a boat with a big car rim on the side say Yah hey der.....Ellie

[Bobcat]

I am not really sure what the rod and reel set up you are reffering to is, but a good bait for slow trolling is a 13inch grandma or a big flat fish is all pearal is you need to go really small. A big sucker may works as well. Iam sure these fine fisherfolks here know what you are doing, but I am new to the sport. Bobcaat

[downriverbob]

Try a Believer especially the jointed models they have that slow wobble that is very effective. Caught a 42" musky on the Canadian side of the Detroit River on an F-4 Flatfish, had the time of my life landing it a handlining set-up.

[elester]

Thanks for the info, gave a 10 inch blue and silver believer a try and had a tough time of it. I am one sore ole man.Did manage 3. They love the line control so close to the boat but tight to the structure. Had a bit of mishape though, got hooked up to a big one and it took off left and hard. felt like the ole man and the sea for you guys who still read books. Stop the boat in its track. The wire sliced through my glove and left me screaming like a whinny ole banchie. I reared back and got control and started to work the big gator to the boat. It was pulling and dogging, so i switched to the 10 speed sprocket for help. I felt as if I could muscle the big devil in. I could here creakin and crackin as brute force matched up against each other. I worried if the whole rim would part from the boat. The fish surface about 20 feet back was very dark in color and then dove down and to the left. I felt as though I had a record on. I started to crank and the boat and the fish moved closer together. I reached for landing aparatice and the fish surface on last time...Holy cow well over 5 feet of norhtern wood tree!!!!It was a log, i fought a log...Still laughing my tummy hurts and I may wet me self. I need another bottle of scotch just for retelling the days events.....Ellie

[rockpt]

If you can't tell a fish from a log using whatever your apparatus is called then you just convinced me to stick with a rod and reel....LMAO

[elester]

Hey rockpt, is that your name or a description of your head...LMAO!!!Handlinin is for men...maybe someday you will make it....ellie

[fishstalker]

ummm, I could be wrong, but I thought that angling for gamefish on anything except a rod/reel was ILLEGAL?!

[Elester]

HMMMM..."I may be wrong" me thinks you are...ellie

[fishstalker]

Im not knocking your technique, It sounds difficult and exciting, but I was always under the impression that rod and reel only for gamefish. Nets, spears, juglines, trotlines, poison, explosives and handlines are illegal. Check your regs.

[Grampa_Joe]

I doubt it's illegal.
I've handlined for walleyes and sauger many times in many states in rivers.
It's pretty deadly although doing it without current has to be different.

Joe

[elester]

Lots of biggies go crazy for my technique. I cannot explain the numbers and size of the striped gators!!!!Say what you will, but vain speech is jealously HA HA HA HA....Ellie

[CF]

So Ellie, what size of weight are you using?

[Elester]

I am using the wife's old bowling ball. It was 12lbs, but i grinded it to track straighter. So i figure it is around 9.356lbs now. I like the large area of the ball, it gives the lures clean water to really wobble in. Makes a big difference. It get some funny looks until I start yankin them in like panfish....ellie

[cf]

ok, very funny, wow you are going to have a long winter if you are this crazy already. I was starting to buy into your story for a while, have fun, you goof ball. :-)

[Elester]

More fish for me, now who is the fool...Ellie

[CF]

TTT