Thread: Long lining question

I know it’s all trail and error but where do y’all normally start. Let’s say fishing 15 ft of water wanting to get 8 ft deep. 2 -1/16 jigs with 40 ft of line out, running .7-1 mph. I’m clueless, not wanting specifics just a good starting spot. I normally spider rig, kinda got that figured out. Just wanting to try a new technique. Thanks in advance guys, there’s a bank full of knowledge on this site. I’ve learned a lot just reading y’all’s post.

I longline 1 1/16oz minnow head jig heads with Southern Pro 2” hot grub on each rod with 6lb. Mr. Crappie hi-viz line,40-50 ft of line at 1.0-1.1 depending on the wind, they are somewhere really close to running 7ft deep. That’s with my set-up. YMMV

My buddy and I always started in mid February on the big G . We would pull 4 rods on each side of the boat and the best speed using a 1/16th jig on 4lb test with either a curly tail jig or a slider running at.8 mph with 40 to 70 ft of line out and we would start out in 12 ft of water in the area we pulled and would go straight until we reached 3 and half ft then turn and go back . once we caught a few and noted the depth we then would concentrate on pulling in that depth Usually 8 to 6 ft especially if the milfoil was starting to grow. Unfortunately I lost him 3 years ago to the dreaded C and haven't pulled since . We always used his boat since it had the exterra trolling motor!!. Just been sticking to bridge bank fishing now.

I talked with a fella on Pickwick yesterday who pulls 2 1/4oz hair jigs. They use line counter reels he didn’t mention line out or speed that I recall. They were in roughly 20 ft of water

go online and look up the article by magnolia crappie club long line trolling . best article have see about long ling trolling . has great chart about weight of jigs, line distance, speed .

All depends on how deep your lake is. My home lake wedowee is deep so I've been fishing 20 + fow. If I'm fishing westpiont ,Neely Henry or Logan, the average depth is less so I'm going lighter.

I break a creek down in three parts. Mouth, middle and back. Early in the year I start in the mouth the work my way back with the fish.

Next check you graph for fish if I'm not seeing shad or schools of fish I'm moving on. When I find fish I pull jigs size relative to depth. If fish are 10ft down I'll use 2 1/16 oz.. if there's 5ft down I 1/24oz. And so on.

I recomend you go with someone and learn from them. I would be willing to take you if you're willing to drive that far. There's guys closer to you that are better at trolling than me . Coach slabprower are good guys and way better at it that myself.

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Originally Posted by Prater4586

I know it’s all trail and error but where do y’all normally start. Let’s say fishing 15 ft of water wanting to get 8 ft deep. 2 -1/16 jigs with 40 ft of line out, running .7-1 mph. I’m clueless, not wanting specifics just a good starting spot. I normally spider rig, kinda got that figured out. Just wanting to try a new technique. Thanks in advance guys, there’s a bank full of knowledge on this site. I’ve learned a lot just reading y’all’s post.

Look at the South Carolina board they have a (long lining question. )On their sticky board worth your time. I almost always use double 1/32 jigs at .7 they will run about 6 ft. You can add weight and go as deep as you want. Are you coming to Spring camp there will be a lot of long lining there.


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Thanks for all the responses. I will get out one day and do some trail and error fishing. Tie some jigs on, throw it back and troll different depths and watch rod tips. Should be able to figure out how deep they run that way for sure. Ive got 14, 12, 10 and 8ft rods. Is that normally how yall stagger the lengths?

I normally fish wheeler on the TN river pre spawn and spawn. After that I usually move to Smith lake, its a really deep clear lake.

No, I wont be able to make it to spring camp. My wife works that weekend so I will have our 3 year old and 5 month old.

Im just trying to find some new ways to fish.. I mostly spider rig in 5FOW or less on the river. Smith I fish deep brush and docks

Originally Posted by Prater4586

Thanks for all the responses. I will get out one day and do some trail and error fishing. Tie some jigs on, throw it back and troll different depths and watch rod tips. Should be able to figure out how deep they run that way for sure. Ive got 14, 12, 10 and 8ft rods. Is that normally how yall stagger the lengths?

I normally fish wheeler on the TN river pre spawn and spawn. After that I usually move to Smith lake, its a really deep clear lake.

No, I wont be able to make it to spring camp. My wife works that weekend so I will have our 3 year old and 5 month old.

Im just trying to find some new ways to fish.. I mostly spider rig in 5FOW or less on the river. Smith I fish deep brush and docks

Go out and tie on different jig weights take a pad and pencil and write down the jig weight,amount of line out and the speed that it takes to reach the depth want to run.


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