Handlining

What is a good set up for handlining? Brands, size, line, weight?

I bought two of the Riviera complete set ups.

The weights are 1-1/4lbs

Worked great this past spring when the fish were in deeper water with heavy current.

I use the Riviera reels…. they have not failed me for many years….
I use a 2′ shank…they come with longer shanks…I believe 3 or 4′ but I just never seemed to need the upper clevis locations… For the leads..split ring on one end and dual lock on the other..I use an 18-20 line that is abrasion resistant… lots of crap down there and when you do get snagged up you can generally straighten out the hooks on the crank..I generally have my leads in increments of 10’… use a 5/15 or 10/20 and so on…
Keep your reel location well up in front of where your sitting/standing in the boat…
Baits like Rapala F series 7’s and 9’s are most common… SSR #5’s J-7’s.. #6 and #8 Husky Jerks work real well too !! The sky is the limit when it comes to the baits… key is learning how to put that bait in the nose of the fish…
Once you learn what weight/lead length/crank combination to use you will no doubt get on a ton of fish !!

The Tug Is the Drug !!

Thanks for the tips. How many variety of weights do you carry with you?

I have 1/4,1.25,2,2.5 and 3 pound

Sorry, last question. Do you follow the current seam lines or mainly follow a centain depth? I know the seams can be fairly hard to see with high current

No problem on the questions keep’m coming. So as far as current seams or depth the answer is yes to both. I will spend more time moving in-and-out of depth than I do paying attention to current seams during the high water Spring time, yet summertime into fall time i spend more time on current seams..

Thanks for all the great advice and info! I’m sure I’ll come up with some more questions for you.

Dave,
Just watched the episode you did with James. That looks like such a fun technique and different than anything I’ve ever tried! Do you know any guides down there that do handlining trips?

luttes wrote:

Dave,
Just watched the episode you did with James. That looks like such a fun technique and different than anything I’ve ever tried! Do you know any guides down there that do handlining trips?

That was a memorable day for sure !!

I used to know one of the best river guides ever but he has retired from guiding..Hutch..
Shoot him a email off his website and see who he would recommend…
http://www.riverwalleyes.com/

I was taught hand lining by Dave and a little trick I figured out is to run a sonar on my bow mount troller and off my transom. The bow mount gives me a heads up and allows other anglers in the boat to see whats happening. Otherwise when I was watching the transom mounted sonar I’d have to tell my partners what was happening as they could not see my screen.

I steer with the bow mount troller and use it to micro manage my speed. The sonar on the bow mount just gives me a little more warning to make adjustments and I often see fish on it in time to drag it in front of their faces.

Duke

Duke M wrote:

I was taught hand lining by Dave and a little trick I figured out is to run a sonar on my bow mount troller and off my transom. The bow mount gives me a heads up and allows other anglers in the boat to see whats happening. Otherwise when I was watching the transom mounted sonar I’d have to tell my partners what was happening as they could not see my screen.

I steer with the bow mount troller and use it to micro manage my speed. The sonar on the bow mount just gives me a little more warning to make adjustments and I often see fish on it in time to drag it in front of their faces.

Duke

Great Point Duke !!
I forget about some of the things i do naturally…

Hope to see you on the ice buddy !!

Are the Riviera reels made by kachman?

Jeremy wrote:

Are the Riviera reels made by kachman?

Yes they are !!