Trolling with streamers
 

If I'm trolling with streamers using lead core, how long of a flourocarbon leader does anyone recommend?

I use approximately 70' of 10 lb flouro main line then taper down using a tiny spro barrel swivel to 10' of 6 lb flouro leader.

Hope this helps.

Dan

We really WHACKED the rainbows and salmon yesterday while most were caught on an orange and black DB smelt, I did have some luck with about 30 ft of 6 lb floro. I fish one color of lead line threaded onto mono, fishes less than five ft deep. Good luck!

I keep reading the heading as "trolling with steamers" and keep thinking about melting some butter!

No better way to do it...
 

If I had a big enough bucket of steamers, I could care less about fishing.

Reminds me of being a teenager and telling my mother I was going to a clambake with friends...that would be a case of beer and a pint of clams.. :laugh:

Back to fishing.

about the same for me. 50' of 10lb flouro to a ball bearing swivel, then a 6' 6lb flouro leader. i also use duo lock snaps to attach the lures.

dt;

Do you use the duo lock snap on streamers also or do you tie direct??

Just curious...

Dan

many also use a dodger 2-3 feet in front of the fly. The dodger provides flash and action for the fly. It is setup very close to the fly for this reason. If you google "dodger fly" you should get some pictures of how its done.

dan,

yup, i almost always use the snaps. they're just way more convenient and i don't believe the fish notice them at all. i don't recall which size i use, but they're the smallest ones that aj has.

been thinking about trying some different swivels though. i get the smallest ball bearing swivels that aj sells, but they still get hung up in the eye of the rod tip a little. i saw some long skinny ones, over an inch long but very low profile so they'll slide through the eyes easily. i just don't know if they actually work well or not. cheap swivels suck.. especially trolling spoons.

Thanks dt;

I use the dual locks as well (eagle claw size #1) but I normally directly tie my fly's on... This past weekend I got lazy (it was cold and rainy!) and just hooked a fly directly on the snap and caught three in a row so I may never direct tie again, at least not when trolling for salmon! :)

See you out there soon!

Dan

yeah i don't think they can see it since it's small and close to the head of the bait.

i'm itchin to get out there though. got the boat out of hibernation on sunday, fired up the motors and installed a new gadget. replaced my trollmaster with an itroll. can't wait to try it out. turkey season opens on saturday though so i'll be chasing birds for a little while at least. but you never know, i could pop one first thing on opening day!

Do you guys use swivels for the ease of tying the leader to the lead core vs. using a blood knot. Or...do the swivels help with line twist?

Line twist.

Yes, for line twist. I use a tiny high quality "spro" barrel swivel between lead and main line and main line and leader.

Dan

Trolling for Salmon
 

Ice-out trolling for salmon has been one of my passions for 40yrs. I fly-fish more than anything else, and trolling with a full-fast sinking line, 30ft of 6lb floro and a natural knot. A natural knot is one that is tight, but not drawn up against the eye of the hook. It allows my streamer to "swim" rather than being "towed". I also tie all my streamers to swim and not spin.
I have used dodgers on my line in july and august, when using downriggers. For me a 3.5oz 9ft flyrod with the right fly is the biggest thrill when the strike happens. Good luck, and stay safe, the water this time of yr is deadly.
MOXIE

Many thanks to all for the tips and tricks and they worked! My son and I caught three salmon today in about 2 hours. One 19 " and the other two about 20". Doing my math on the new boat, those fish cost me about $14,000 each!!!:laugh: Maybe I'll cut my cost per fish in half tomorrow.

Have you tried
 

a "live bait" streamer fly?

Take a long single hook streamer fly and a "small" live shiner. Hook the shiner trough the lips and troll it. I have a found it works well on slow days.

ToW