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As anyone who has come out with me will tell you, I set up close to the rocks.... not quite Clammer close, but pucker close for some. Most of the time it is less than 20' deep, often less than 10 or 12'. The macs always want to swim down and hide in the rocks, while I want to suspend them 3-6' below the surface, which with those depths, puts them on the big screen for any stripers lurking below. But if I don't hold them up, they will dig in, hiding, chafing line and leader. Big macs equals big floats. Some say the resistance of the float results in the fish dropping the bait. I concur that this can happen, might happen, has crossed my mind. I could then take the float off. But I usually just jerk the line and try to piss the fish off by pulling his meal away a little. Usually triggers a better strike. The key here being that when fishing livies, you just do not want any slack in your line. Much easier with a conventional reel. Of course once the mac sees the wolfpack, he is up on top, trying to swim his way out of danger. So once you have the spot identified and the fish all jacked up, then I will go without the float since the bait is not going to want to swim down to the waiting diners.... Pogies on the other hand are more apt to swim close to the surface without the need for a float, in my experience. Either way, staying in constant touch with a live bait is essential to avoid missed hits or gut hooked fish. Still like braid. Big Game and Ande for leaders. 7/0 live bait hook. Only downside is that I like to crush the barbs and that hook will make a big hole so I do lose some baits on the cast or when I do not maintain some tension.
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