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View Full Version : Pa's spoon sliders for Walleyes?


Walleye Express
04-11-2003, 08:07 AM
After aquiring a couple dozen of the New Pa's spoons this past winter, I've been thinking of how to use them in conjunction with my usual crankbaits, versus by themselves.

The one's I got are the smaller 2 inchers and are very light. Exactly what one would want to stack in tandom with a small 1/4 ounce tot or Ka-Boom Winning Streak Crank.

The question is just how to run these spoons on the same line as the crank and still keep the clutter, hassle and the cluster #$%^% to a minimum. I've decided to go with what I did a long time ago when I fished for Salmon, sliders. But I'll use it with a twist.

A slider for those who don't know, is simply a spoon or other light lure on a short leader that attaches and slides freely down your mainline after the lure attached to the mainline has reached it's running depth. This technique is usually used in conjunction with cannon balls and downriggers. It's the boats forward motion and the arc/bow in the mainline from the rod tip to the lure far below, that keeps the slider kinda running freely up and down the mainline in that mid range depth zone. Many an extra salmon has been caught on this free sliding/running lure. This technique works great but needs deep water and/or this mainline arc to work at it's best.

A few years back I was fishing in some fairly shallow water and tried something different, and it worked. I was catching a few Salmon on Magnum Wiggle Warts while long line trolling in a certain Lake Michigan Harbor using my smaller boat. Two of us could only use two rods out the back, as the traffic in and out of the harbor was steady. Decided to try a spoon slider, but because of the lac of angle from rod tip to the main lure, it kept working it's way down and getting tangled. Took a rubber band and loop tied it 5 feet above the Wart. That kept the spoon from sliding down to the Wart and the spoon worked just above and in front of the Wart. My first fish on this slider spoon/rubber band stopper idea was a small Steelhead and it pulled the rubber band down to the end of the mainline to the Wart and held fast. The next was a 20 pound king and it still worked great. So sliders with a rubber band stopper is what I'm going to try this summer and see what happens.

FreeByrd
04-11-2003, 08:25 AM
Dan,
I have used sliders - both free & fixed when Salmon & Steelhead fishing but never tried it like you are saying when fishing cranks. I may give it a shot on Erie like you are saying. I don't like the hassle of running 3 ways - have to do everything too slow, but I like this idea.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Steve

SUPERTROLLER
04-11-2003, 06:14 PM
Dan, you can put a Speedo Bead 5 ft. up the line that is fixed in place. Then after the lure is out and running, place the slider on the line so that it will slip down to the stop and continue running as desired. You can also use a split shot in place of the bead and it will probably slide down on the line to the lure. I like the beads though for keeping the weeds off my lures when not running extra weights or add-a-lines. I've also used the Elberta Clipper releases for adding lines. Too many variations but just giving you some more ideas. They'll all work about the same way, just your preference which way to go.

Fin-Addict
04-11-2003, 07:20 PM
When you tie your slider...thread on an Off-Shore clip and between your ball bearing swivel and the sliding clip. Clip your slider on then clamp the clip above it....works the same way as a half hitch in a rubberband to stack or fix the slider in place.

Picked this up in Ludington this summer after using "fixed" sliders with rubberbands for years. Works real slick.

Fin-Addict

Walleye Express
04-11-2003, 08:19 PM
Thanks for the added suggestions guys. But can't immagine there being an easier, cheaper, less line scarring terminal tackle than a rubber band? I got the idea mainly because I've used/ran the rubber bands ahead of my cranks for years to keep floating weeds off my mainlines when trolling. Always was amazed at their ability to stay in place, but was really surprised to see they would also hold the sliders in place that day salmon fishing.

Really nice thing is, it only takes ten second to loop tie the rubber band exactly where you want it and attach the slider.

SUPERTROLLER
04-11-2003, 11:52 PM
Takes less time to put a Speedo Bead on the line and it doesn't break everytime. The line wraps around it and it will not cut into your line.

Walleye Express
04-12-2003, 06:10 AM
Super.
Gotta claim ignorance on the speedo beads, never ever used one. Can you real the bead past and into the guides of the rod onto the reel?

Kinda the thing I also liked about the rubber bands, as I also use them in/as my releases from the planner board tether line. Once you learn to read them, they tell you every single thing about whats going on with your cranks running below.

Another little hint about using the rubber bands for the slider stop, is that they double as an attractor. Yup, after you loop tie the band, bite off the band close to the knot and the tag end flaps in the current as you go, and looks like a small minnow ahead of the main crank. You have to see it's little pulsating self to believe it. I have about three different color bands I use for this purpose, White, yellow and orange. The yellow seems to both look the best in the water and catches/attracts the most fish. But, where would one go (internet wise) to take a look at the speedo's?

marcbodi
04-12-2003, 07:25 AM
Hi Walleye Express,
Great idea ,how long a Leader do you use on the Slider.I don't think this will work on big Boards.When you turn and they stall you will have problems.May work on Dipsys?











May I be fishing somewhere Tomorrow.

Walleye Express
04-12-2003, 08:21 AM
Bodi.
I loop tie the band about 5/6 feet ahead of the main crank, and make the slider leader about 4 feet. I use Otter Boat boards and seldom turn tight enough (on most occasion) to throw much slack and stall on them. And I'm thinking with the ultra light weight of the Pa's small spoons, that slow flutter and fall may give me a little leeway, if I happen to slow down or pivot from one tight turn to the other.

Hey, this particular idea may have to many holes in it to work right all the time. But I'm going to give it a fair shake to find out.

SUPERTROLLER
04-12-2003, 08:56 AM
I think OffShore Tackle sells them on-line but I get mine at the local tackle shop. Try http://www.offshoretackle.com ,maybe they'll have a picture of them. They're made by someone else but I can't remember who it is right now. What most people have used them for is as an in-line board stop for when the boards are set to release and slide down towards the lure. The Speedo Bead then stops the board a slight distance up the line to keep it from giving the fish any leverage to throw the bait. Also stops the boards from hitting the fish in the nose and aggravating it. They are too big to reel up through the guides but by putting them only 5 ft. up the line, it's not really a concern. The beads come in many colors and can be considered an attractor too. Probably not as good as having a tag end flipping around, but you can can get, charteuse, red, pink, orange, black, or white beads. They have a series of slots cut in them like those anchor rope holders where you zig-zag the rope to make it hold. Only the beads also allow the line to slide up the center of the bead to your desired spot, then you wrap the line several times around the center of the bead and finish out the other end. It takes longer to describe and read this then it does to attach it to your line. These beads are popular with Steelhead and Salmon guys, look in a tackle shop that caters to them and you'll find them.

Walleye Express
04-12-2003, 12:25 PM
Super.
Now that you described them, I have seen speed beads at some point somewhere. And reeling the bead up to and possibly damageing the rod tip eye probably wouldn't be a factor if you and I were fishing in the same boat. But I've had charter clients that think they can thread even the walleye itself through the rod guides. :-)

Whenever I can use or get away with using anything that's (equipment friendly) personally or on my charters, Thats what I go with.