Thread: Longlining Questions?

Running the jigs out more will bring the baits up in the water column a little but not enough to hurt in 10'. The main reason I run 50 to 60' out is because that is the distance that I have most of my notes made from so I know the depths the jigs are running per speed. In clear water running your jigs out more will help you with the catch rate.

Try trolling in 6 foot of water with 60 feet of line out, ain't happening unless your are moving mighty fast with the trolling motor. Most trollers prefer 6 lb. mono, 10 lb. line would create a lot of drag and make it difficult to get down to the fish. On the contrary, with 60 feet of line out and the fish sitting 3 feet under the surface, you will be fishing below them. Trolling is more about trial and error. I assume you are using a staggered rod length, multi pole set up. If this is the case, cast a couple rods are long, a couple medium long, a couple medium, and couple short. If using all the same weight jig heads, all will cover different depth ranges. If you are catching fish on the short rods, you should change a couple of the other poles to the short cast as well. And the same goes for the long cast, if the deep jigs are catching and the shallow ones are not, start changing poles to the longer cast. It will change through out the day as the fish move up and down in the water column. Try not to be too technical, trolling is more about experimentation with jig colors, and having your baits in the same depth water as the fish are. Trust your electronics to tell you where you should be fishing on the lake, and how deep you should be fishing by seeing the fish on the sonar, and how deep they are in the water column.

I guess I should have put more detail on my line. It is Pro Slick braid 10 pound with 2 pound diameter. I went with braid so I don't have to change spools so often. I also use a 4 pound fluorocarbon lead.

Gents,
did I just read that more line out will = jigs riding higher in the water column?
i assumed the opposite. I Suppose that at some point line resistance will counter any further depth gain.

Short lines means jigs higher and long lines means deeper (to a point, as you have already mentioned).

I understand the seasonal patterns and movement of fish. In a particular part of a lake or feeder creek where you are targeting because of seasonal do you find sweet spots? I have seem to find some sweet spots in some areas where I catch the most fish in repeating days. Could be a point or a certain 100 feet of dragging jigs. Kind of like sweet brush piles?

I do have some places where I can go and find fish every time but the size of the fish does change throughout the year. Some places or lakes just seem to be better than others.

Happens all the time. Run across a point or brush while trolling and 2 or 3 rods roll back. Makes you wish you could turn on a dime. I got a spot in santee I will fish every spring due to this. The past two years I can't seem to go wrong on 2 brush within 30 yards of each other. Have caught a 2.86, 2.92, 3.01, and a 3.31. So like I said, I will be back