TUNA TROLLING.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

You all bring up good points here, but the more I think about it, the more "flaws" I see.

Setting the drag locked down on the flatlines or baits run directly from the rod tips I have found tend to cause more pulled or missed fish then lines set back in the riggers.

True, they crush the baits and the steel hits home immediately, but with a locked down drag the hook has more of a chance to pull due to lack of stretch in the line. The tight rigger clips will stick the hook and the amount of line out will absorb the initial shock and not rip the hook out of his lip, allowing for a tighter setting while trolling.

It may just be due to the tackle I was use to fishing with. No finess, just search and destroy.

my flats have the line rubber banded to the reel seat or handle. You just flip it off if you see one before the strike.

Mike

[tunatamer4]

Mike,

I'm not talking bills there. I've noticed more missed fish due to lack of line stretch at close range. Like I said, the boats I worked on had very heavy tackle. Most of the time it was overkill for the fishing we were doing, but the Capt./owner of the last two boats I worked on were remembering the "old" days of hook and kill. There was no sport. It was like tying the line directly to a cleat.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Mike,

I'm not talking bills there. I've noticed more missed fish due to lack of line stretch at close range. Like I said, the boats I worked on had very heavy tackle. Most of the time it was overkill for the fishing we were doing, but the Capt./owner of the last two boats I worked on were remembering the "old" days of hook and kill. There was no sport. It was like tying the line directly to a cleat.

I gotcha

Mike

[alex n]

Just off of strike is a good place to be, the boat is running forward at 6 knots , no need to tow him right after hookup , as long as the hook is stuck in him is all you need ,and just off strike can give you a chance at a billfish. I only go a few times a yaer and the potluck spread works most of the time.

[sportfishingusa]

from a man who knows(by the way, it's too for also and two for a couple)Sage advice.

Mike

your right i do know.. it is all ne fishing.. been there done that.

[hotreels jr]

For the BFT here in the NE we run the 50wides with about 25 pounds at strike. We put the lever at around 8-10 pounds. When the fish eats and starts on its run, we will put it up to 25 pounds. That way if we hook a bigger fish on the smaller 50's we can slow him down with more drag.

[jbonvetti]

But keep in mind also that the farther your line gets down in the spool the drag goes higher and can nearly double....
Just say your fishing the 50w 25lbs of drag to slow the fish down when that line gets to the last 100yds you could have as much as 50lbs of drag...

[Capt Lindsay]

We set 50s at 17# at Strike.

Trolling with artificials, we set the drag lever at Strike.

Trolling with natural baits, we set the drag lever with only enough drag to keep the reel spool from turning while trolling.

Rigger clips are set only tight enough to keep the fishing line in the clip while trolling.

[Nauti Natured]

Trolling with artificials, we set the drag lever at Strike.

Trolling with natural baits, we set the drag lever with only enough drag to keep the reel spool from turning while trolling.

Rigger clips are set only tight enough to keep the fishing line in the clip while trolling.

Ditto....

[jtocean]

This is what? Round 5? Do i have to start posting pics of my GF's tits to fix this?

This works for me. Send some pics!