trolling bunker spoons with braid

[ParkerBoys]

I'd like to switch over to braid while trolling bunker spoons this year. Its just not that fun to fish with wire line. Can anybody recommend an effective line set up from main line to the bunker spoon?

[sportfishingusa]

I would try to use a 60lb jerry brown hollow spectra.. add in like a 100lb top shot of mono because you dont want a lot of stretch so i would make it like 25 feet or so! you still want them to run low!

This should work out fine for you! Good luck!

[chugbugger]

My preference is 50 or 65lb power pro, a sampoo snap swivel attached to the power pro, an inline drail then 25-30ft of 50lb florocarbon leader, a sampoo barrel swivel in the middle of the floro to stop line twist then the spoon. No drail if you are running the secret spoon.

[AJ168]

You guys have no problem getting the spoon down running braid? I was always under the impression that to do it right, you absolutely needed wire to get the spoon down to the strike zone.

[chugbugger]

The inline weights get you down without any problem.

[Mullica Bob]

Ahhhh!! The wireline issue again. Wire works, braid works, braid is easier. Done!

[Dick_O'D]

What is the rule of thumb useing braid, how many feet of line out for how much depth ?
THANKS, O'D

[Joseph Lamberty]

I use 50 Braid, and go with a quality shock leader, I use 3 ft of Berkley Vanish 60 Fluoro w/ sampo coastlocks 150lb swivels in Black, and 15 feet of 50lb Berkley Big Game Mono as a shock leader attached to the braid with a wind on Swivel 200lb test. No need for a Drail with Braid mainline, One thing I do Add to the bunkerspoons is Larger split rings. I have no problem getting the spoons down 25-30 ft at 1.5- 2.0 knts with 100 ft of line out if they drift up I bump the boat out of gear. or let out another 10- 20 ft or so of line.

Liv 2 Fish
Forced 2 Work

[Re-Bait]

I troll leadcore line, with a 15' section of 80 pound ande pink or any color line other then clear. For me umbrella rigs and streches work best. Haven't ever done much consistently on spoons. And I don't like fishing braid while on the troll.

But here's my question. How do braid and wire differ once the fish is hooked. Wire is famous for not permitting any slack in the line. You pause...and the fish get off. Is braid more forgiving to this?

[chugbugger]

Never used wire didn`t like the idea of kinks or other issues. All I can say about braid is I loose very few fish while pullling spoons, if they smack it I`ll boat it.

[Re-Bait]

Hummm MAYBE I'll try it. I like the idea that with braid i can use a reel smaller then a 4/0. With leadcore I use penn 330 GTI's....

[chugbugger]

I use 320`s and 330`s . Recently started switching over to all 330`s

[chugbugger]

I forgot to mention that the level wind guide sometimes hangs up when it gets to the side of the reel instead of reversing direction. Not sure of the cause.

[Joseph Lamberty]

Never used wire didn`t like the idea of kinks or other issues. All I can say about braid is I loose very few fish while pullling spoons, if they smack it I`ll boat it.

Same here Chug.... I also Troll Stretches with braid and usually never miss a fish, but a shock leader really helps to absorb the initial strike of the fish,..without it I think I would loose more fish..

Liv 2 Fish
Forced 2 Work

[Mullica Bob]

Star 8' Bunker spoon rods and Shimano TLD15's with 50lb braid. Thats my set up for the spoons. They will work with the Stretchs' as well. The umbrella will get the 7' St. Croix offshore rod and a Shimano Charter Special with 50lb braid as well. I don't run the umbrella much at all.

To me fishing with braid is all about the drag and the rod. Find the right setting for the drag that works along with the action of the rod and the fish always stay hooked. When I first trolled with braid I lost fish cause too little drag then I went overboard and had a few straighten out some hooks on my Stretchs'. I don't loose many anymore.

Take a little time to try it out and you won't want to run anything else.