Jude wrote:
ive been fishing lead core for about 3 years from my PA ...I suggest using the 20 color spool of leadcore from cabelas on a penn 209 reel, its a small reel thats not too expensive that can hold about 15 colors....if you want more length put 100ft flourocarbon leader... no you are not gonna regret this strategy, why you wouldnt want a full spool of leadcore doesnt make sense to me, that way you are always prepared for whatever with one reel.
The charters run the lead core like a very elongated in line sinker that can easily be wound on the reel. They want the lures way way back. So the use of a long leader for stealth ahead of the lure, a known weight and drag ratio for the "sinker" and then a very fine line to not float the rig under tension gives them precise control of depth. Many of them will help each other out by running one boat behind the other to set up the depths. The lead boat lets out their lines and the trailing boat reads the depth of the lures on their sonar. Depth control is the key. And having wound lead core onto 209s I can tell you it leaves no room for additional line as backing. Get a big fish on and you don't have sufficient line available to allow a good first run to wear the fish down. Pull too hard and you pull the hook.
When we trolled for walleye in Lake Erie, I had charts for Dipsey divers that I made up myself. We could control the depth of our lures to one foot. And many times one foot up or down made the difference between fish in the boat or not.
When we went to Frankfort with my son and his family we went out on a charter for Salmon and Lake trout. Those guys had it down to a science including exactly when to switch spot and reset all the lines to target Salmon in the early morning hours and then switch to Lake Trout as the day progressed. Since we had two youngsters along we opted for a half day trip. That short trip yielded 67 pounds of fish filet.
Here is a suggestion to emulate the charter fishing method. Make up fluoro and lead core sections that are as many colors as you want to achieve a certain depth behind the Yak when the remainder of the line is braid. Put a loop in the end of the braid on the reels. Wind the made up leader/lead core on leader spools starting with the fluoro and ending with a loop at the end of the lead core. Be sure the loop on the reel is very large so it can slip over the leader spool. Then just wind the desired number of color premade onto the reel and fish it. If you need to change depths, wind the premade back onto the leader spool and put on another. Another option would be to make loops on the end of each color and then use the leader spool as a transfer spool to add or subtract separate spools of one color each. Then get a buddy and do as the charters do. Measure the depth of your lures. You will have to control speed to a fair thee well to make it work.
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Hobie PA14 with a mod or two
Some random Modification Pictures