Thread: Longlining 101

Here is my experience
It didn't take me but one time of pulling out the front to know I had to put my motor in gear b4 starting the pulling. The prop turning will tangle you up bad in a turn. I run bout 1.2 with 2- 1/8oz RRs on each line, with bout 35-40 fol, tip of pole bout 1-1 1/2 ft above the water. I think that makes a big difference. Where I have learned the most was at Wolf Lake where it's flat and bout 12 ft deep and it's no problem knowing when you dragging the bottom. My 35-40 ft will run bout 10-11 ft deep, 45 drags the bottom. You can judge from there how much line and speed you need to do what. Gives you a good idea of what will happen when you change number jigs, sizes/weights too. BTW, it's much easier to LL from the same holders in the back and much less tangles and easier to boat that slab. I use 7', 11' and 14' on each side of the back, more is too much for me...
I also make my own RRs and it matters what size blade you use, so find some you like and stick with that until you get the hang of it.

Here's a link to Bernard's article. Bout as good and simple as anything I've read on it.

http://www.magnoliacrappieclub.com/a...LongLining.pdf

To date, I have long lined a total of 4 times. Twice on Enid, and now twice on Grenada. What I never could figure out was when and where and why to use the technique. So far this is the answers I've come up with:

When - Anytime will work, but for me, I'm prone to give it a whirl when the fish are scattered.

Where - Anywhere you're willing to do it. From 3' deep to 30'....but given the propensity to get hung up, I'm tending towards flats and ledges that are pretty clean until I get much more comfortable about knowing where my jigs are.

Why - Bernard addresses that in his article....cover more water over a given time and more of the water column. For example, yesterday I was spider rigging in an amongst 21 boats and the bite died with the wind. I noticed that no one was really doing all that great and decided, what the heck, I'll give it a shot. I put 4 keepers in the boat and 15 throw backs in an hour. Spider rigging, I'd caught fish at all depths 4' to 13' deep and it was just a big flat with no real features. So I figured, even it I wanted to run at 6.2 foot and was actually running 4.1 or 10.2, it wouldn't really matter.
Also, at the very least, I could cover more water in hopes of finding an area that was better than another. Ended up having a run of bout 100 yards that was marginally better than the rest of the flat, but I could cover it in 10 minutes as opposed to 20 to 25 spider rigging, so I was able to make 2 passes in the time it took me to make one while spider rigging.

Bottom line, I still am not convinced it is the end all be all, but when the fish are confusing you and you're not able to discern a pattern to them, long lining can help put the puzzle together.

Wannabe...

I longline 99% of the time. I use 2 7' rods, 6lb test hi vis line, one rod off each side of the bow on a driftmaster T bar for 2 rods mounted on the center of the boat. Easy to see when I'm bumping bottom, hung up or got a one hooked. FF is mounted at my feet. Just got a new Terrova w/ Ipilot installed last week, and used it 2x this weekend, can control the boat & speed much better now. I usually LL @ ~1mph, but can vary up or down depending on the day and what the fish are looking for. I usually just cast out a normal cast using an open face reel, and close the bail. Sometimes I do let out more line to go deeper, or adjust my speed depending on conditions.

I mix it up as to whether I use 2 1/16oz jigs w/ grubs, or 1 1/16 or 1 1/8 oz jig on each rod. I may or may not use/add a splitshot weight to go deeper if needed, depending on whether I'm using 1 or 2 jigs. Their easy to add or take off w/o retying. Lately, and most of the summer I have been using one 1/16 jig and grub, and adding a splitshot about 12-18" above the jighead. The lake I fish has narrow coves right of the main channel(s) so I just reel the lines in and make a U turn and run right back over the same track in most cases. The main channels have too much boat traffic & wind to LL them. I do on occasion LL the main channels but only early in the morning before rest of the traffic gets out.

I've never tried spider riggin, and pull CB's the other 1%. I learned this weekend what a PAIN it is to get tangled up in the big motor prop with a CB. I also pull CB's w/ just 2 rods. never have seen the logic in using 6-8-10 rods when fishing, 2 is plenty for me. 2 rods make for an enjoyable day fishing, don't see how alot of rods out would make it fun, but that's just me.

picturess!

Originally Posted by Wannabe...

Here's a link to Bernard's article. Bout as good and simple as anything I've read on it.

http://www.magnoliacrappieclub.com/a...LongLining.pdf

To date, I have long lined a total of 4 times. Twice on Enid, and now twice on Grenada. What I never could figure out was when and where and why to use the technique. So far this is the answers I've come up with:

When - Anytime will work, but for me, I'm prone to give it a whirl when the fish are scattered.

Where - Anywhere you're willing to do it. From 3' deep to 30'....but given the propensity to get hung up, I'm tending towards flats and ledges that are pretty clean until I get much more comfortable about knowing where my jigs are.

Why - Bernard addresses that in his article....cover more water over a given time and more of the water column. For example, yesterday I was spider rigging in an amongst 21 boats and the bite died with the wind. I noticed that no one was really doing all that great and decided, what the heck, I'll give it a shot. I put 4 keepers in the boat and 15 throw backs in an hour. Spider rigging, I'd caught fish at all depths 4' to 13' deep and it was just a big flat with no real features. So I figured, even it I wanted to run at 6.2 foot and was actually running 4.1 or 10.2, it wouldn't really matter.
Also, at the very least, I could cover more water in hopes of finding an area that was better than another. Ended up having a run of bout 100 yards that was marginally better than the rest of the flat, but I could cover it in 10 minutes as opposed to 20 to 25 spider rigging, so I was able to make 2 passes in the time it took me to make one while spider rigging.

Bottom line, I still am not convinced it is the end all be all, but when the fish are confusing you and you're not able to discern a pattern to them, long lining can help put the puzzle together.

Wannabe...

Thanks for the link--that was a very good read.

Crappie in GA Part 1 - YouTube

OK, if we're gonna make this competitive with the crankbait thread, I spose I ought to ask my questions here.

Why do ya'll use 6 lb or 4 lb line as opposed to 10lb or 8lb. I understand that the larger diameter will make the bait ride higher, but that can be compensated for with larger jigs, which are also easier to find with larger hooks. Sure does seem like you're asking for trouble with 4 or 6 if you get a really good fish on.

Wannabe...

Originally Posted by Wannabe...

OK, if we're gonna make this competitive with the crankbait thread, I spose I ought to ask my questions here.

Why do ya'll use 6 lb or 4 lb line as opposed to 10lb or 8lb. I understand that the larger diameter will make the bait ride higher, but that can be compensated for with larger jigs, which are also easier to find with larger hooks. Sure does seem like you're asking for trouble with 4 or 6 if you get a really good fish on.

Wannabe...

Yeah what he said, I can't believe I just agreed with Wannabe !!!! Doh