Setting up a rod with wire line
 

Smokies brother DaveL is setting up ma wire line rod for trolling and parachute jigging , etc. He has no internet connection right now so I said I'd ask for him. Can someone describe the set up from the lure back. Also of particular interest is the knots used to connect the wire to the dacron and leader and why you would want to put two 150 foot sections vs 1 ---300 foot section or not. Thanks

Your going to get a lot of different opinions. I use a few different setups depending what and where I'm fishing. 60' #30 wire with a 10' leader for small umbrellas and jigs for 15'-20' of water. 100' #50 wire with a 25' leader for 25' to 30' of water for big plugs. jigs and tubes. Fishingfreak did a good post on line to wire connections and wire loops do a search for that he was right on the money. These setups are for fishing around hard rocky bottom. For sandy bottom most guys use a full 300'.

I like a dacron backing and the wire in 100 ft. lengths; each connected by a section of dacron w/albright knots. I connect the wire to leader with a spro wind on swivel. The dacron marks your length and eliminates wire fatigue.

I use 50# wire for all applications and typically use a 50-60 lb mono leader attached with an albright knot. I use heavy dacron backing (also attached by an albright). I fish a lot of 30 to 45 foot depths so I'm generally letting all the wire out with 4-5 oz jigs to get it on the bottom (I fish a lot of sandy bottom areas). The heavy dacron lets me "hand jig" comfortably and eliminates any metal fatigue since the dacron is thru the tip roller guide. (btw, strongly recommend roller guides on the tip when using wire).

i'll second that

We also set up our rods with 200lb dacron splitting up the lengths of wire.
But we also use about 1 inch of shrink tubing over the wire (haywire twist) makes it easier letting out without the joint getting caught on the guides!

200 yards of straight 50# wire connected to about 50yds of 80lb dacron. More knots in the water more chance of dropped fish. Too much time is invested into making up wire set ups. Tie jig directly to wire with a haywire. Put on a glove and jig with wire in hand.

You ever jigged Boston Harbor ?

Nope, Heard you guys have had a pretty good year though. Havent seen you down south yet this year.

1, you can't jig 200+ ft wire is Boston Harbor, it's not like the Cape and bouncing sand, you bounce rocks and every other obstruction!!!
2, I've only been to Ptown a few times so far this year, been further south more though!! (chatham )
3, Boston harbor has been very good lately, not a lot of big fish, (though i took a 32# fish last week, not what I consider a big fish, but a good fish for the harbor in late july)
mostly 20 - 25lb fish
sold my 5 fish today with close to a 20lb average

Thats good to hear, wasnt talking about letting all 200yds of wire every time. Let out what is needed, sometimes all 200yds(55ft of water) is needed sometimes 150ft is needed. Just gotta feel it out. Never Jigged in and around rocks, seen a lot of guys do it around the elizabeths. We havent been fishing chatham area at all this year we have been around the islands...

Excellent !
Say hi to Jack for me, I haven't talked to him this summer!
How many hrs you guys got on that Parker now?

Not sure exact numbers, A LOT

Thanks for the replies. I'll pass the info along.