Looking for some advice from the group. I am looking to improve my trolling success. I want to begin utilizing weights for a variety of trolling lures. My questions are: What size weights should I purchase? Who is a good supplier to order from? What is the best way to attach these weights to the line?
Thanks!
I got all mine at Lakeside on Jefferson in st. Clair shores. We use the mini balls as they make great weed catchers. You simply use two snap swivels facing each other and let one snap drop to hold the weight and attach the other snap to the barrel swivel. That way the lure vibration is still transmitted up to the rod tip. In line cylinder type weights will suck the vibration out of the line . Its hard to tell when you are weeded up with in lines. Ill take a picture of the lake st. Clair set up and post it here.
On most inland lakes we don't run any weights. Most smaller inland lakes I am trying to stay up and above the weeds or am raking the edges of the weeds. Trolling lakes like the lower Antrim Chain we use our St. Clair set ups as they help us get shallow baits a little deeper. Mike
I learned almost the same thing from LeMay. The difference is that he used two pure solid-ring BB swivels joined by a spilitring at the rod end of the leader. He also used a BB swivel at the lure end sometimes. Cannonball weights, each fitted with a snap swivel, hang from the splitring between the swivels in the line. I use 3 and 4 oz weights mostly, but have up to 6 oz. You can hang multiple weights if necessary… Like Mike says, they are great weed-catchers.
You could also use a Offshore Snap weight release OR-16 (red release with nipple in pad), much more expensive but, if you want a longer distance between the weight and lure this works well. I've ran up to 1lbers and I've never lost a release or weight, you can unclip the weight easily and you will not have a heavy weight swinging around near the boat.
"Corey K" said:
You could also use a Offshore Snap weight release OR-16 (red release with nipple in pad), much more expensive but, if you want a longer distance between the weight and lure this works well. I've ran up to 1lbers and I've never lost a release or weight, you can unclip the weight easily and you will not have a heavy weight swinging around near the boat.
This system works very well………leader and main line tied together ( I forget what knot ). Only swivel used is the one at the lure unless you just use a snap. That's the way I saw it done anyhow.
On st. Clair my best producing set up was a 6 foot leader made out of 60 pound Trilene big game the double snap swivel set up with a 2 ounce weight and 25 feet of line out . That makes the entire set up 31 feet long and we ran those off the planer boards on the farthest out line. We run 30 pound mason P-LINE as our main line. I also used the slide weight with that knot mention by Ricky. Craig Miller taught it to me. That way he was running a 20 foot leader and the weight was not able to slide past the knot. W e ran that set up for double 10 bucktails and it was outstanding. Mike
Here are the pics we promised you guys. Most Lake St. Clair trollers use 40 pound main or 30 pound main wit 80 pound or 60 pound leaders. We use 30 pound main(Mason P-LINE) and 60 pound Trilene Big Game leaders. This is the dual snap swivel and mini ball set up.
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