Handlining

[spampy]

Could anyone give up the how-to and when to use this method.I heard it works and have no idea what it is.

[Juls_WI]

Handlining is done with a spring loaded reel loaded with 60# coated or uncoated wire line. At the end of the wire line is a "shank". The shank is usually 4-5' in length and has three leads coming off of it.
To build the shank you would need (starting from the top of it..):
Barrel swivel attached with a cable sleeve..

space the leads out evenly from top to bottom of the shank by attaching another cable sleeve, clevis, cable sleeve, bead, and another cable sleeve. (repeat this two more times for the three leads)

at the bottom of the shank you would need a large snapswivel (attached with a cable sleeve) to hold a heavy weight...usually 1 pound or so.

When attaching the leads, make the top lead the longest one.
By making the top lead the longest the lures will run right behind each other along the bottom of the river bed.

This technique is done in rivers with good current. The angler attaches the reel to the side of the boat, usually on a rail if you have one, and sits in the back end of the boat facing the bow. It's a good idea to use a handball glove or something like that to work the line. Working the line is done by simply raising and lowering the weight up and down off the bottom as you move along. When a fish hits, you bring the line in by pulling it through one hand with the other, that way you always have control of the fish when fighting it. The reel will automatically take up the slack line as you bring it in.

One of the Walleye Insider's, I think it was the January issue (?) had a very good article on this.

Well, I just woke up so if this is not making sense to you, blame it on my not having had any coffee yet...;-)

Hope it helped ya out a little bit anyway..

Juls