Set up for trolling Macks? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

HobieScot · 07-28-2015, 05:43 PM

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 · 07-28-2015, 05:54 PM

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

Albright connection from braid to flouro, Palomar to hook.

HobieScot · 07-28-2015, 07:57 PM

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 · 07-28-2015, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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 · 07-29-2015, 06:08 AM

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

taggermike · 07-29-2015, 07:01 AM

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 · 07-29-2015, 02:02 PM

Thanks for the input guys

tacmik · 07-29-2015, 04:22 PM

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 · 07-29-2015, 06:10 PM

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 · 07-29-2015, 07:06 PM

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

addicted2sp33d · 07-30-2015, 08:32 AM

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 · 07-31-2015, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-28-2015, 05:43 PM	#1
HobieScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 370	Set up for trolling Macks? 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

07-29-2015, 04:22 PM	#8
tacmik Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East County Posts: 913	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. __________________

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07-28-2015, 05:54 PM	#2
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Braid, 4-5 feet of 30 lb seguar flouro. 1/0 hook. No weight. Albright connection from braid to flouro, Palomar to hook.

07-28-2015, 07:57 PM	#3
HobieScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 370	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? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-29-2015, 06:08 AM	#5
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I'll second yakdout. I use a perfection loop enstead of a Palomar. I havent found trolling speed matters. Mike

07-29-2015, 07:01 AM	#6
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	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

07-29-2015, 02:02 PM	#7
HobieScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 370	Thanks for the input guys

07-29-2015, 06:10 PM	#9
fishja Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 155	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.

07-29-2015, 07:06 PM	#10
yemff Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 75	been having better luck with 3/0 and 5/0 J hooks, those yt have some decent sized lips.

07-30-2015, 08:32 AM	#11
addicted2sp33d Here fishy fishy fishy... Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 774	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.