Storm Lures

Has anyone had any experience using the Storm Wildeye soft lures? I just got some of the 6 inch Wildeye Sardines. The guy at the store said they worked great for lings.

Dave

Great bait at all sizes.  Bigger ones for lings/rockies.  Medium/small ones for bass (LM, SM, and stripers).

-Allen

PolePole, what pound test mono leader would you recommend using with the 1.5 once Wildeye lures. I have 50lb Powerpro for my main line.

Dave

With rockfish fishing you will get snagged and you'll find 50lb powerpro awfully hard to break if you have to.  I'd suggest something rugged enough to deal with some abrasion, but weak enough to break off  if you need to.  I've been using 25lb Yozuri hybrid as my leader material, but I'd say any sort of mono or flouro in the 20-30 lb class would work fine.

Brian

I'm assuming your talking about fishing lings and rockies.

First off, I personally would never use 50lb PP.  It's overkill and impossible to break off when snagged.  I spool up with 20# PP for all the application I use it in for kayak fishing.  It regularly tests at >40# breaking strength.  I've used 30# in the past and you can't bust it off.  So, that being said, I usually grab 25# leader for rockfishing around here.  Some people might think that is a bit light, but I'm paranoid about not being able to break off on a snag.  I don't recall ever being sawed off by a fish when using 25# leader.  Rocks are another matter.

I usually start with about a 15-20' top shot of 25# leader spliced to the spectra and by the end of the day, that may be down to as little as 2-3 feet.  I snag up often (got to fish in the rocks to get to the lings hiding under the ledges!!!) and I regularly retie a jig when the leader is getting too frayed.

-Allen

Are you guys using swivels?

I tried tying directly to my jigs but my line would get severely twisted.  Started using a swivel or bead chain and 4 to 6 feet of leader and haven't had a problem since.

I know that the 50lb is overkill, but it still only has a 12lb mono diameter. I wouldn't use it without a leader. On my first trip with Roy, I was using a 15lb Ultragreen leader, and had no problem breaking free the first time I got snagged. I bought some 20lb, but was concerned that it might still be to light for the abuse from the bottom and bigger fish. My only real bottom fishing experience was fishing for Cow Cod at 700ft off of Catalina back in the OLD days. Even then, I never caught anything as big as some of the lings that you guys have caught. Thanks for the input. I am looking forward to catching some big fish this weekend.

Dave

Are you guys using swivels?

I tried tying directly to my jigs but my line would get severely twisted.  Started using a swivel or bead chain and 4 to 6 feet of leader and haven't had a problem since.

If I'm using a leadhead/worm, I don't use a swivel.  If I'm using an iron, I tie a cheap snap swivel onto the end and clip directly to that.  If I'm using teasers above anything on the bottom, I'll sometimes put a swivel above them, depending on my mood (I'm not really sure why or why not  ).

-Allen

thanx for the tips, i now kno i need to make a tackle stop enroute. good thign it's at the beginning of the trip..

There's lots of fancy leader material today, but in applications where you are going after non-leader shy fish (like lings), good ol' super abrasion resistant Maxima is cheap and works very well.  You can even buy it in little 25 yard spools designed to use as leader material.  A lot of fly anglers who tie their own leaders use spools of it (in varying sizes) because it holds knot strength so well.

I would not use Maxima for leader shy fish like summer steelhead, but I do use it for leader when swinging flies for winter steelies (usually 8 or 10 pound test).  I also use it for leader when bass fishing with the fly rod.

Folks have made a good point about using 50 # Power Pro from a kayak... but go with a 15-20# leader and you will be fine.  It has its uses though.  A couple of folks I know who fish bobber and eggs for big fall chinook in tidewater and rivers (where brush/logs/rocks are an issue) use 50 # Power Pro or Tuffline and 40# Maxima for leader material.

If you're connected to the bottom with 50# super braid, a lot of things can happen and not many of them are good.  I almost capsized my 15' Arima PB when the 150# downrigger cable got snagged in the rocks, with a major ebb tide running.  Pulled the port stern right down the water before the ball broke off.  Since then, I use a rubber snubber that will bust first.  \ 
    Same theor applies to using super braid----have a topshot you can break off if necessary.

Are you guys using swivels?

I tried tying directly to my jigs but my line would get severely twisted.  Started using a swivel or bead chain and 4 to 6 feet of leader and haven't had a problem since.

I usually use a swivel, unless i'm lazy. Twin tails and the squid jigs i use really twist it up if i don't, single tails don't seem to as much.

Are you guys using swivels?

I tried tying directly to my jigs but my line would get severely twisted.  Started using a swivel or bead chain and 4 to 6 feet of leader and haven't had a problem since.

I use cheap Danielson ball-bearing snap swivels. Makes it so easy to change lures, I can go back and forth between irons and leadheads.