Harness length question

[Jonny Rocket]

I don't have much experience with harnesses, so here is my question. What is the purpose of having the harness length of say 5'. I have seen 3', 4', 5'. I don't understand why a 12" harness lenght can't be as effective as a 5' harness. I am looking to gain experience trolling harnesses with a snap weight behind planner boards so I need to know is length really that critical?

Jon Piette NPAA #294

[Fish Hound]

Yes at times lenght can be important. Let the fish tell you how long of a leader to use. Try a short leader on one rod and a longer one on the other. Once you catch two fish on one size then switch to that size on all rods.
See you on he water.
The Fish Hound

[Jonny Rocket]

Fish Hound, thanks for your reply but I still would like to know why is the length so important?

Here is the situation I am thinking about. Pulling harnesses with a snap weight behind planner boards. What is the difference if the snell is 12" or 5'. Line is line isn't it? For example if I have a 5' snell connected to my line with a swivel how is it different than a 12" snell connected to that same line with a swivel. It all looks the same except the swivel is 12" from the bait. The snap weight can be placed anywhere you need it in both situations. I can see snell length coming into play when using bottom bouncers but not in the situation I have described.

Can someone please shed a little light on this situation.

Thanks
Jon Piette NPAA #294

[Eyez]

I'm not one with a lot of experience pulling harnesses in that situation you describe, but I don't see why it matters either. The snapweight is the only weight you're using, and the leader length really is the distance from the hooks to the snapweight, the swivel is just something in between and really doesn't matter how close that is to the hooks. In that situation I don't see why it would matter either. If you're using a trolling sinker or chain sinker or something, then it might.

Eyez

[Jonny Rocket]

Thanks Eyez, I didn't think it would matter in that application but i thought I would ask and see what kind of answers I would get.

JP NPAA #294

[Crow]

At first glance no, it doesnt look like there is a difference. But in my experiance there is. I run 12 lb. main line to a harness thats tied on 14, or 17 lb. test line. In the beggining I noticed at shorter lengths I would at time have incredible line twist, be it whether I ran a BB swivel or a crane, either way. With the longer leaders I noticed a slightly less [ but still present] amount of line twist, but did notice that the longer the lead, the less twist.
What has helpedtremendously has been running a trolling rudder, clear plastic as the swivel and poof, problem solved, but I will still run a 4 ft or more [sometimes out to 6 ft.] leader on the spinner.
What I cant seem tofigure is just what do the eye's actually see when its going by, and I would imagine in watersw that are heavily pressured and the fish can name the spinner blade manufacturers nmae as its going by, I have seen it make a difference.
Give me stained water and big blades and I'm the happiest kid on the block.
Hope this helps in some way.
Now the Erie guys run heavier line tests as main line and in their harnesses, maybe one of them might have a theory or comment in what they experiance in that lb. test bracket set-up.

Crow

[Derek Johnston]

Jon, the idea of a long snell is to get shy or negative walleyes to trigger a strike. When your bottom bouncer,bell sinker or whatever your using for weight approaches a fish, the fish may spook. When a walleye is spooked, they swim out to the side and circle back around and come up behind the potential danger, thus putting your bait right in his face. The longer snell keeps the attention away from the weight. Generally, the poorer the bite, the longer the snell. I sometimes use snells as long as 15 feet. I tie a slip bobber knot loosely in front of a sliding sinker, when i reel in, the sinker slides down the line so i don't have to stand on a step ladder to land the fish.

[Walleye Express]

Johnny.
The lengths of harnesses usually have as much to do with the fishes mood as they do with the intended purpose and technique your trying to accomplish. Then add the harness components that must be considered when running longer or shorter leads when deciding just (How Long) you want your harness leads to be. Example. Lighter, smaller harnesses (smaller beads/smaller blades) for fussy fish should be run at a longer length, to accomplish that technique. On days when the fish are aggressive, shorter heavier rigs that you can keep in closer and better touch with, would be better technique wise.

Determining just what the walleyes want (or what you can get away with using) on any certain day is the fly in the oinment. But believe me, there is a place and time for short and long leads.

[Jonny Rocket]

Thanks Dan, I understand what your talking about. I will get out and play with various harnesses this year and try to make them part of my game plan.

jon Piette NPAA #294

[Jim Tunney]

Jonny
As you can see everyone has a different style and reason. I fish Eastern Lake Erie. I've pulled 12" leaders and 5' leaders. I settled on 20 lb wire and 24" harnesses. I then use a 6' flouocarbon leader from spinner to main line. It works for me. We have larger size walleye here and they suspended. They arn't leader shy, and I use two #4's or a #5 blade. So these spinners are large so I don't feel that the 20' wire bothers them, or the 24" length.
That's the fun trying to find what they want on a given day. They will tell you.
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