I NEED Long Line Info!!

[JimmyJ]

Can you tell me how you rig for long lining? I am Looking for more sensitive method than what I have been doing. I have Precision Trolling # 2. Does the new one(#5) give info on Fire Line and Spider Wire? Is a more expensive (sensitive)rod the answer? Have been useing 10LB XT with Diawa Line Counter. How will this reel perform with Fireline or Spider Wire? Current Rod is St.Croix Premere 7' one piece Medium Heavy. Please Advise!! Thank You, Jim

[Juls_WI]

>Can you tell me how you
>rig for long lining? I
>am Looking for more sensitive
>method than what I have
>been doing. I have Precision
>Trolling # 2. Does the
>new one(#5) give info on
>Fire Line and Spider Wire?
>Is a more expensive (sensitive)rod
>the answer? Have been
>useing 10LB XT with Diawa
>Line Counter. How will this
>reel perform with Fireline or
>Spider Wire? Current Rod is
>St.Croix Premere 7' one piece
>Medium Heavy. Please Advise!!
>Thank You, Jim

Hi Jim,

I like to use a med/fast rod for flatlining. The Diawa SG27's are a great reel...the best I think. Precision Trolling has info on using Fireline in their 5th edition. You can expect to add approximatley 25% to the depth of the lure using Fireline. If you spool your Diawa's with Fireline, use some mono backing to keep the line from slipping on the spool.
Your already using a top of the line rod, it may just be a bit to much backbone for flatlining though. You should be able to see the tip of the rod vibrating with the action of the lure. That way when you get weeds on the lure, you can see the vibration stop. You will definately know when you have a fish on too.

When using Fireline, it is best to have more flex in your rod, so that it does not rip the hooks out of the fishes mouth. It doesn't have the stretch that mono has. But I'm sure you already knew that..;-)

Hope this helps ya a little bit.

Juls

[FJH1]

I completely agree with Juls on this. Personally I use the Pro Glass trolling rods from St. Croix. I'm using the new 8' telescoping handle model. I use Fireline. Fireline is great for flatlining because you can see the tip of the rod vibrating as the lures runs. As soon as the lure fouls the tip just goes dead. With the medium heavy rod you have you may not be able to see the tip vibrate as well as if you were using a lighter rod. Also, that rod may be too stout for Fireline, you really want something with some give otherwise you may lose fish, or possibly break a rod. If you do use this rod with Fireline keep your drag light.

Best Regards,

FJH

[rmblam]

If you are longlining shallow rapalas like a size 11 or 13 then I prefer a 6'6" or 7' medium action spinning rod. Why? It takes too long to get the line out on a counter reel or baitcast reel. A softer rod allows the fish to tap the lure and not feel the rod when they are biting light and reduces hook pull out that real aggresive hooksets can do. I just give a good cast behind the boat and let out a little line if needed. I can't cast a baitcaster for (*&% so I don't even try, especially at night. Birdnests are bad enough during the day. Anyway, I prefer this also because when I find the fish I can get my bait back in the money zone fast or I can stop and fan cast the area for quick coverage. I have caught many additional walleyes at night when trolling SHALLOW like this. I do occasionally use my bottom bouncing/baitcast setup but it just isn't as versatile or efficient. Expect to change a lot of line. Line stretch leads to tangles and twists. It's just part of trolling. 10 lb xt helps minimize this though becuase it is stiff. By all means run the line counter though especially when working a diving lure in deeper water at a certain depth.

p.s. Use a close-lock snap to attach your lures if you are not. It allows maximum lure action and allows quick and easy color change, especially at night.

Good luck.

rmblam

[dmktman2]

I've been long lining for many years. I use rattlin;' rogues most often but sometimes throw on a rapala if nothing is happening. I used Spiderwire for the past several years but switched over to mono after seeing too many fish get off shortly after hitting, even with a medium stiff rod.

Sensitivity helps you see if your lure is snagged up but with long lining you don't really need to hit the fish, they hook themselves. I agree with many of the others, if you use Spider or Fire you'll need a more flexible rod, with mono you can use a stiffer model.

I, too, like to use a line counter reel.

[Fin Addict]

I'd have to agree w/ FJH1 on a rod choice. Glass rods are well suited to this application. In fact trolling is very hard on high end rods. Get a long soft rod and don't break the bank on a trolling rod. With a softer rod you will see the vibation when the bait is working, when you get weeds it will stop, if you get a fish you will definitely know. Spend the big bucks on your jigging or rigging rods where the extra sensitivity will be more valuable. Nice reel for long lining.

[Neal/Co]

I use a 6 1/2 ft E-glass rod with a wide spool spinning reel. This allows me to use the same rig for both flatline trolling and casting cranks at night. I use 6/14 Fireline. The soft rod makes all the difference, I wouldn't troll Fireline on a graphite rod! If you want to count how many feet you have out, take a thread bobber stop and place it 100 feet up your line. At night you can feel the stop and know when to close your bail.