Handlining Question

[desmarr]

I Have been handlining for a few years know. The question I have is this. What pound leaders do you guy's, gal's use early in the year. I run 8lb 40 feet & 8lb 20 feet with as light as a swivel as possible, is that the right weight line and length of leaders?

Thank's
Bob D

[Wallywalleye]

NO, I've been using 25# leaders for almost 50 years & walleyes are not line shy. Right now I'm using 25# golden stren & bright green solar with a 18" clear 25# spliced into lure end. Snap & swivel on shank end & just a snap on lure end. Great to see at nite & blood knot catches slime before it gets to lure. If I ever used 8# leaders I'd lose 3 or 4 baits every time out. Hope this helps. WW

[walleye magnet]

25lb or 30lb for me. Thicker line is easier to bring the fish into the boat.
Walleye Magnet

[hyperformance1]

i agree the heavier the better.

[gilly]

Do yourself a favor and buy some Mason brand line. Any of the SCR tackle stores carry it. It is a stiff line and won't tangle and knot up when you bring it into the boat. Most of us old river rats have never used anything else.....

[desmarr]

Thanks' I have always used 20lb, but a good friend said that I should use thinner line. I made the leaders up and thaught darn they look thin. I wil look for that Mason line. Does Minics in Algonac sell it? I am headng up there fishing after work on Tuesday. If any of you "river rat's" see me say "Hi". I will be in a 1954 Wolverine Wagemake. Very easy to spot.

Thanks' again; I really appreciate your advise.
Good luck.
Bob D.

[Willie Tippit]

:yeahthat:Do yourself a favor and buy some Mason brand line. Any of the SCR tackle stores carry it. It is a stiff line and won't tangle and knot up when you bring it into the boat. Most of us old river rats have never used anything else.....

[kls]

Try Lakesidetackle in St.Clair Shores . They sell Mason Lines ,try the 20-25# it is the best for fewer tangles especially at night

[soggybtmboys]

River rat here and I only use 25 lb Mason line. I would rather mess up a few trebles and replace them. Snapping lips off a Rapala stinks, but they used to replace them no problem, I would just wait to have a box full and send them in once a year. Walleye are not line shy, and if you are like most of us river rats here......we pull mostly at night. There is a lotttttttttttt less boat traffic and just a little more peaceful.

[alex-v]

Snapping lips off a Rapala stinks, but they used to replace them no problem, I would just wait to have a box full and send them in once a year.
From what I have heard they are not doing this anymore. Nor, are they selling the replacement lips so we can do the repairs ourselves.

[talon]

i just started pulling wire last year and had some 80 lb mason tryed and liked it it never ever gets tangled and catch's just as many as my partner does pulling 30 lb mason. if any of you river rats have any pros and cons on this i sure would like to know i also use 30lb mason and don't see a differance

[motcityman]

I use 20 lb mason hard and it is fine. I also have 30lb for the beginners that go out with me, seems to be just fine..I have some 17 lb but it is a little thin for night fishing. and it seems that is when I get out most. just my 2 cents

[El Diablo]

Mason line has worked pretty good for me (17#). I think you can get away with using just about any heavier mono though. If you handle your line right there shouldn't be a problem with keeping tangles out (it happens though). I try not to put any twists in the line when I store line on my spools. I've been using 30# flouro that I had lying around. I think this is probably a waste of money even though it is stiffer than mason but has no elasticity.

[Wallywalleye]

Only time you would need 80# leaders was if you were trying to anchor your boat. Just think of getting a snag in the middle of the river & your leaders are stronger than your wire. Hopefully snaps would break before you got run over. Of course, this is just my opinion. WW

[alex-v]

NO, I've been using 25# leaders for almost 50 years & walleyes are not line shy. Right now I'm using 25# golden stren & bright green solar with a 18" clear 25# spliced into lure end.
Why are you using the clear line spliced into the lure end?

[Wallywalleye]

In the Detroit River, many days there's a weedy slime coming down the river (like this morning). Many times the slime will catch on the blood knot, instead of the lure. Where I splice the clear, I leave 1/8" tabs on knot. It worked this morning, (slime usually happens after an East wind) WW

[alex-v]

The part about catching the slime and the weeds I understand. But, why use the clear instead of just splicing in another piece of the golden stren & bright green solar??

[Houghton laker]

The part about catching the slime and the weeds I understand. But, why use the clear instead of just splicing in another piece of the golden stren & bright green solar??



Just a little more invisibility to help out....just in case it is needed!! Alex....WW showed me this when I first started handlining!! I liked his system so much....I bought into it buying his boat and all!!!;) I've been using your system ever since WW and swear by it!! The only change I made is I'm using 25# Iron silk Neon Green as my main line on the 40ft.....and Golden stren on the 20 ........Works great to catch the majority of the slime and no problem seeing where the line is when pulling in the fish!! If any tangles you know which line is what also!! My leader I tie onto that with a double cinch knot is 20# invisible green trilene

[alex-v]

Just a little more invisibility to help out....just in case it is needed!!
I think that Walleye, and Perch, are more line shy than most people think. When the Walleye are in a feeding mood then it does not matter much. Most of the time though a bit of invisibility does help.

[El Diablo]

Thats a good tip WW. I think I'll try splicing in some of my flouro to another more visible/workable line. I have been noticing some slime. I figured the rivers were more polluted but it's probably from the wind you mentioned. I'm suprised you use a blood knot to attach the lines. A uni to uni knot is better imho. Although knot strength isn't that big of a deal with the heavier lines.

[Wallywalleye]

You'r right, what I called a blood knot is actually a uni-knot. A stronger knot & usally the 1/8" tabs stick out at 90 degree's to line. Thanks WW

[cross i'd calvin]

Could i handline in front of minics. because we went one time last year by Algonac state park only got one but it was a lot of fun. Also can you handline all year with some success

[alex-v]

Also can you handline all year with some success
Yes. Once you get the hang of it and learn where some of the hot-spots are you should be able to catch Walleye just about every trip out.

[gilly]

I would think tying a knot would be even more of a challenge as it is difficult enough with 20 or 25lb test Mason.....

[El Diablo]

Yeah the uni knot "system" is great. I've been using it for a long time since I read about it in Florida Sportsman in Vic Dunaway articles. Works good in all sizes of line even in 60-80# tarpon and grouper leaders (sorry I miss fishing florida). In heaver lines I'll make 3 wraps instead of five sometimes. The draw back of the knot is that the tag ends stick out but in this situation thats perfect. Thanks WW