OK, I plan on getting serious about adding handlining to my Detroit River arsenal this spring. I've inherited the basics (reels, weights, etc.), and got a Cabela's gift certificate that I plan to use to stock my tackle box. What are the best baits - Brand, size, and color - for me to start out with?

As a second question, I've got a huge collection of Bomber Long A's and Rebels that I've used for chugging for walleye on the St. Clair River. Will these work handlining in the Detroit in the spring?

Dave-
I would go original floating raps in 3,5,7 vampire, firetiger and clown to start. Have had good luck with other colors as well, but those 3 are my go-tos.

Homer - I'm sure perchjerker will jump in with some good advice when he see's this post. I will say that rapalas are the most common bait used-vampire/clown etc... I have used pencil plugs(nightstalker brand)with good success.Of all the baits that are used it seems to me that they all have either a white or chrome underside.I bought my dad a handlining reel (A&S)for christmas and he was very excited.The look on his face was like one of the kid's

see there- he's quick !

Fat-
You give some good advice.I like what you have to say about colors. When the heck are we going to get together on one of our boats instead of just meeting up and saying yea, fish here, over there, use this, I got them on that, etc, you know what I mean.

Nice to hear your dad liked his christmas gift. You are a good son, dont ya know.

To anyone reading this, Tony (fatboy) is a jewel, a one of a kind person.

Thanks, guys. Wow, PJ, those Raps are a lot smaller them I'm used to. Fatboy, thanks for the tip on the pencil plugs; the good news is that I've got a bunch of them, too, from my St. Clair fishing.

Brian- thanks for the kind words.that's what the site is about right.we will get out this coming season ! also i will add that sparky from the DWF was showing me some spoons that he uses alot. they were about 2 1/4" long in a green glow type color.this year i will be buying a canadian license so as to get over by boblo there were days last year that it was slow on this side and they were killing them there.

get some raps in 7 and 9 in orange for dirty water also 9 in jointed, 9 and 11 in blue back also 9 in holographic blue clear water. The trolling spoons at andys tackle are also good. I'v had good luck with red/black dot or diamond and white/chartuese in late spring early summer.
There are others thats why we need so many boxes - hehehe

Bob Piette

Thanks, Bob. I've got a pretty good supply of 9 and 11 raps in both orange and blue from my brown trout and steelhead trolling, so it looks like I only need to stock up on smaller raps.

I'll hold off on stocking a trolling spoon box until later this spring (23 years of married life have taught me that it's best to only stock one new tackle box at a time). Besides, I can ask for an Andy's gift certificate for my birthday in April.

Perchjerker, how soon after ice out do you start handlining? I usually don't get a chance until late April but I hope to start earlier this year if possible. When your pulling wire with your Crestliner do you stand or sit? I have my kicker tied to the main motor and steer with the main steering wheel on my Sportfish. I sort of like it this way as it gives me a good command view of what is ahead.

Thanks

Carl

I start as soon as the fish show up.

What I do is sit at the transom. I have an I/O, so I have a nice platform that is up high enough to handline easily. My kicker is hooked up like yours, I keep it pointing straight and steer with my electric bowmount. I have it going just fast enough to push the bow around. You would be suprised how quick I can steer the boat this way.

Hey Dave, some pretty good advice by some of our handlining pals. So I thought I'd throw in my two cents, what ever you do don't forget the #13 raps, I use these quite a bit in the spring until the water gets warmer. I have all the colors of the rainbow and some special custom painted and the best producers for me are, black and silver, chartruse(sp), and the all mighty firetiger....(whispering) and don't forget a couple of in-line spinners.....

Perchjerker, I never thought of steering the boat that way. I have the same trolling motor as you. Do you set the speed on your kicker and just use the trolling motor for direction? Does it take long to adjust? Using this method I could sit on my seat near the transome as well. Thanks

Carl

By the way guys, I had excellent luck with F-5 black flatfish with silver speckles :) Keep them in mind as well.

homer: i keep blue, gold/flo. red, and silver/flo. chartruse in all the sizes from 7-13. as stated above the clown, fire tiger and vampire are also very productive. i talked to john on the gotcha boat a couple of times late in the fall and he was really killing them with a #13 rainbow. i'm also building up a supply of thundersticks. they come in some patterns that have a lot more of that silvery minnow flash to them.

Yep, I find that setting it on about 3-4 works well. Not enough to effect the speed, just enough to steer. Sometimes if its really windy and I need to make a sharp turn, I will kick it up some temporarily just to turn, then reduce the speed again.

I just picked up a handful of lures from dicks sporting goods for 1.99, they are small lures similar to rapalas size 7's. The are made by the producers, for 1.99 I can afford to lose those to the bottom. Anybody had success with these. I too am stocking my river tackle box with jigs and cranks.
See you soon, the only month I haven't fished the Detroit is January.
Go fishin
Dan

Make sure the lures will handle the speed of the river. Nothing is worse that braiding two or 3 leads together on a cold day on the river. I seldom use anything but the floating Rapala's because over the years they have always held up to the speed of the river. See you there the end of March.
I am giving a talk at the Utica Gander Mountain on March 22 at noon.
Chairman
NPAA #6

bruce will your talk be on handlining ?

I carried leads pre-tied for just such an occasion. If they tangled I unclipped them, threw 'em in the bottom of the boat, clipped on the new ones and cleaned up the mess in the morning.

I was wondering what kind of leads are you running and how long? How long is the shank? At what intervals are the attchments? How long is the weight? Please help me I just started doing this last year.

Juls has an article on theis site that will help.

I have a handlining how to page on my site as well. You can find it by looking at my profile.

Jimmy, Drop Perchjerker or myself an email. Talk to Ya Pat

I was wondering if anyone has tried Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows with this set-up?

yes I have but with no luck. i'm sure they would work but nothing seems to work as good as the original rapala's.

Shhhhh, try the yozuri pins 90 ....


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