Handlining Questions?

[Gene Wellman]

Well I did it! First time out handlining yesterday on lower Detroit River and caught a walleye, what a rush! I understand the basics but have a few questions on leader lengths and fish seen on the graph. Question 1: Caught my walleye on a 8' lead, the thing I don't understand is with the way my boat is designed, I have a Lowe GLS 17' with dual walk thru windshieds,my reel is located 1' ahead of steering wheel making my 15hp kicker approx. 10' back. I operate my steering and motor speed (TrollMaster) from the consule. If I use a 8' lead my lure in 12' of water is almost directly under my kicker, I know I caught a fish on this short lead but doesn't this bother the fish? Should I use a longer lead for my short one? Next question: Many times I have had fish on my graph that were suspended between 7' and 11' in approx. 20' of water. I know that my lures are near the bottom, lower clevis is 17" up from weight swivel and top clevis is 50" up from weight swivel on a 5' shank, so should I bring up my weight and try for these fish or stay on the bottom like I am? I hope this isn't too confusing to understand. Any ideas would be deeply appreciated.

[Wall-llard Willie]

If your trolling the in the neighborhood of the right speed (and depending on your sinker weight) your cable is at about a 45 degree angle so your if your in 12 ft of water your sinker is 12 feet back then add the 8 foot leader and the plug is 20 feet back so you might not be as close to the motor as you were thinking. As you get more into it you may want to figure out a way to move to the back of the boat, it just makes things easier.
Just my opinion:
Jiggers are on the bottom targeting walley, handlining is used to keep lures on the bottom for walleye and both are very productive primarily because they keep the bait in the disired zone or where the fish are for extended amounts of time and allow you to follow bottom structure. By trying to use this method to target suspended fish your defeating the whole purpose of the system. There are probably better/more consistent ways to target suspended fish. Can you do it yes, I wouldn't.
Good Luck and welcome to the addiction:)

[SabikiRig]

Gene,

I agree with Willie, try to move to the back of the boat.

Leave your leader length the way it is. That fish was on the bottom of the strike zone.

An 8 lower and an 18 upper will make a #9 and/or #11 Rapala dive approximately 1 to 2 foot.

Leave the weight on the bottom of the shank, if the fish are suspended then move the leads up a position or two and then run a spoon on small 6 foot lead on the bottom right off of the weight to cover the bottom.

Just curious what pound test are you running for leads?