Trolling with Braid (Bunker Spoons)

[shkbilly]

I've seen a bunch of threads on here relating to pulling bunker spoons, but none specifically give a line out to depth comparison. Also I see there are differently weighted spoons.

Here's the story. I fished this wknd with a friend and we had big bass on spoons. We fished with 300ft of wire out and were guestimating that we were down 30 ft. though we did hook bottom quite a few times and  we were in 50-60 ft.  However I also witnessed him untangle one of the wire setups that looked to be doomed. It took an hour and a half.

That being said, I'm using braid. I have two trolling setups with 6 ft rods and 30lb braid. I'm gonna see how the spoons run with the rods I have and purchase spoon rods if necessary. Those of you that pull spoons with braid, how much line do you let out and how heavy are your spoons/drails?

I'm looking at Tony Maja #3's. They are 9 ounces.

[Hotrod]

I got this from Tony himself.   20' of mono to a swivel, prior to tying the braid to the swivel.. slip another swivel onto the braid,( This will act as a Fish Finder Rig. Now attach the mono /swivel to the braid.

Off the sliding swivel use 2-3 feet of mono and run a 4-8 OZ Bucktail.  this will get the spoon down, and also give you a shot of hitting a fish on the Bucktail... that acts more like a Mojo

Depth..  not sure.. you will have to estimate.

Out Rodders will get you a little further Down..

Make sure you let Tony know you came from here  

[Hotrod]

www.ezoutrodder.com 

[IrishAyes]

I have a set of them and they are fantastic! 

[Still Running]

I was running my spoons on wire this weekend out 150 to 185 feet. I was fishing between 30 and 60 FOW. I was hitting bottom when I was in 30 FOW.

[IrishAyes]

I think I would bump up the test of the braid to 50-65# instead of using 30#.

[shkbilly]

Hindsight being 20/20...  I'm trying to avoid putting together another setup and using what I already have together right now. What's your reasoning for bumping the test up?

[IrishAyes]

The spoons will put a lot of pressure on your outfit. I like to go higher to absorb some of that.

[Hotrod]

You also need some Hearty Rods...

[shkbilly]

The spoons will put a lot of pressure on your outfit. I like to go higher to absorb some of that.

Gotcha. Do you think 30lb will work OK or do I really run the risk of losing the spoons to a hard strike?

The rods should handle it just fine. I tow umbreallas from them and they seem to be OK. I'm worried that they might be too stiff and too short to give the spoons the right action. I might run them for this year and then put something better together for the fall or next year.

I talked to Capt. Rich about his custom spoon rods and they seemed like a pretty good deal. Just trying to spend as little money as possible right now.

[Still Running]

I use Daiwa Hartland rods for trolling wire. $30.00 ea

 http://www.fishusa.com/Daiwa-Heartland-Trolling-Rods_p.html

Daiwa Accudepth Plus reels 47lc $65.00 ea

http://www.fishusa.com/Daiwa-Accudepth-Plus-Series-Line-Counter-Reels_p.html

Malin’s Malin-7 is 1 x 7 stainless steel wire line 30lb test. 1000 feet fits on the reel. $45.00
http://www.fishusa.com/Malin-Wire-Line_p.html


This setup holds up great and the guides show no signs of getting chewed up. At $30.00 a rod and you have to throw them away every 5 years, who cares.

I use this same setup in Lake Ontairo for trolling Salmon with dipsey divers on them and the rod hold up well.

[IrishAyes]

I am sure the 30# would work without a problem. I just like the extra security I feel with a heavier line. But that's just me. 

[Hunter 2]

I am sure the 30# would work without a problem. I just like the extra security I feel with a heavier line. But that's just me. 

I use 80lb braid on one of my setups, The others are #50lb braid. They cost about the same and you never know when a big fish or a triple hookup on an umbrella will happen.

I got this from Tony himself.   20' of mono to a swivel, prior to tying the braid to the swivel.. slip another swivel onto the braid,( This will act as a Fish Finder Rig. Now attach the mono /swivel to the braid.

Off the sliding swivel use 2-3 feet of mono and run a 4-8 OZ Bucktail.  this will get the spoon down, and also give you a shot of hitting a fish on the Bucktail... that acts more like a Mojo

Depth..  not sure.. you will have to estimate.

Out Rodders will get you a little further Down..

Make sure you let Tony know you came from here 

This is a great idea,  I have read one of Tonys articles in a large publication fishing magazine and he used bank sinkers instead of Bucktails.

I like the Bucktail idea but bank sinkers will work too if you don't have any 8 ounce bucktails.

[wb]

good post

8oz BTs on order!!!

[shkbilly]

Eddie, how much line are you putting out on your braid outfits? Are you following the 10 to 1 rule like with wire? Also, how heavy are your spoons? The ones I got were 9 ounce.