Set up for trolling Macks?

[HobieScot]

I would like to find out how you guys are setting up to troll your Macks?

Are you running braid to a short flouro leader of a certain length? Or are you running braid to a top shot of mono?

I know some use weights and some just fly line your Macks.

Can some of you that have had success this year catching yellowtail chime in with how you are rigging up?

Thanks in advance for the help

[YakDout]

Braid, 4-5 feet of 30 lb seguar flouro. 1/0 hook. No weight.

Albright connection from braid to flouro, Palomar to hook.

[HobieScot]

How fast or slow are you trolling? I just clocked myself at a comfortable leisurely pace last week and I average about 2.5 using Navionics

I can keep that pace without getting tired

Is that about right or should I be trolling slower?


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[dsutter775]

How fast or slow are you trolling? I just clocked myself at a comfortable leisurely pace last week and I average about 2.5 using Navionics

I can keep that pace without getting tired

Is that about right or should I be trolling slower?


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I've caught yellowtail while drifting and have caught them at a full speed padle trying to catch up to buddies who were on sleigh rides. I use 65# braid to 30# mono leader in the 5' range. 1/0 circle hooks for normal bait and 3/0 for larger baits. I use 40# for my irons...

[taggermike]

I'll second yakdout. I use a perfection loop enstead of a Palomar. I havent found trolling speed matters. Mike

[taggermike]

I've caught 4 yt this year. 1 hit a surface iron about 15' from the yak and 1 ate a bait like 8' from the yak. So lately I've been trolling baits closer to the kayak than I have in the past. I can't give an actual distance, just closer. It also makes it quicker to get the bait in when a dog comes by as well as avoids tangles with others that have baits 100 yards back. One more thing, match the size of the hook to the bait but I've been using 3/0 to 5/0 circle hooks. Mike

[HobieScot]

Thanks for the input guys

[tacmik]

If you noticed the one thing all the guys had in common. A line in the water. The only way to catch a fish is to have a line in the water.

[fishja]

65# braid to 3-5 ft of 25#-40# flouro. Usually a 2/0 live bait hook is all you need. You can honestly troll your fish however far back you want. Sometimes it is all about how it feels. I usually set my greenbacks a little farther than I would a spanish. I like to leave them between 30-50 yards. Longer definitely works. If you notice you're not getting hit try using lighter line or switch your bait more often. IMO 25# flouro is more than enough to bring up a nice YT.

[yemff]

been having better luck with 3/0 and 5/0 J hooks, those yt have some decent sized lips.

[addicted2sp33d]

50lb Braid --> Swivel --> ~5-6' 30 lb Mono or Flouro leader --> 2/0 3/0 4/0 hook.

Uni Knots everywhere.

For the leader, I measure it out with my "wingspan": fingertip to fingertip... it's not exact.

I sometimes reel-in too tight to the fish, so the swivel helps to stop cranking.

[HobieScot]

50lb Braid --> Swivel --> ~5-6' 30 lb Mono or Flouro leader --> 2/0 3/0 4/0 hook.

Uni Knots everywhere.

For the leader, I measure it out with my "wingspan": fingertip to fingertip... it's not exact.

I sometimes reel-in too tight to the fish, so the swivel helps to stop cranking.


The swivel is a good idea. I was trolling a Mack on Thursday and he ended up with a kelp mustache that I didn't notice for awhile and it spun my mono all up and caused a lot of headaches for the day with the line twisting in on itself every chance it got


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