Wireline Trolling

[Mr. Sandman]

Don't put too much pressure on the old senator. The 113HSP is really the better wire reel to use (stainless spool). The plastic or alum. spools have been known to warp or crack somtimes causing problems. Wire can put a lot of pressure on the spool itself. If it is the light weight spool, go easy on it. Avoid 9'ers with 10 hooks in them while trolling thru bluefish and put enough soft backing. It should work OK for a tube and worm set up or a single plug.

A lot of guys I know are like Beamie, they twist the wire right to a jig. I know that works for most but I like a spro power swivel to 80# long floro leader to a big spro snap swivel. (That is just me) For some lures I take the snap off and tie the floro to the plug or jig. The reason I like a long floro leader is that when I am realling in the fish I like to see the floro leader wrap around the spool numerous times. I find it A) easier to boat the fish with the floro and B) the wire stays very well behaved and never springs because the mono keeps it tight. IMO this is esp important when you have some guy who really is no expert with wire letting it out again. I use an entire spool of floro between two rods, that gives me about 15+ yards on each reel and lasts me the entire season. I also strip the reels each season and replace all the line and wire and backing each season. It takes a beating, you would be surprised.

Also, I tend to go with monel instead of stainless. I have tried monel, several stainless brands and a monel-hybrid and for me plain monel works best amd is less springy then stainless but itis more $. I also like the rod to have a roller tip that can swivel. The wire will work MUCH better with a roller tip. That line that comes pre-marked is good line but the marks all group together by the middle of the season and are worthless. I let it out till it hits bottom and reel up a few cranks.