Trolling set-up rig questions

[Tucked In]

Don't know why I'm stuck on tw's but I found this set up that seems like it would be perfect for trolling from the yak.what do you guys think?

http://stores.tmancustomtackle.com/Detail.bok?no=5

[Redfish12]

I have some tman tubes and they do not hold a corkscrew like ones from kayak Carl. They are also mustad hooks and kinda dull where carl's are gami's and will stab the crap out of you... Don't ask.

The keels are definitely nice, but they catch debris. Everything catches debris though. I plan on trolling these from the front rod holder because it's hard to tell when you pick up grass otherwise.

There is a YouTube video for carl's tubes you should check out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-86rt...e_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4j4A...e_gdata_player

[the_kegs]

Trolling with tubes is probably going to be the first tactic I try. Used to work great when I was a kid so it should still work good now. Need to decide whether to make them myself or buy them. I like the idea of using solid strand to get a twisting action.

[Tucked In]

Redfish I do like the tubes from Carls better, must be the single wire strand that works better, maybe I will just order the keel. Know I need to pick-up some smaller trolling combos, Shore tackle has some for about $130 that should work unless you know of any cheaper or better.

[Redfish12]

That new combo you got should work just fine!

I was told, not sure how much truth, but to use a rod with some flex but has a good backbone. You paddle right? Well when a fish hits, and I learned this the hard way, keep paddling. I try to do three or four hard strokes then I'll grab the rod and reel hard. I don't do the bass master hookset but just reel and reel fast. You'll know when you're hooked up and the fish will veer off. Hobie guys have an advantage because they can set the hook when they feel the bump, I need the extra dumb fish to hit mine. The flex in the rod helps to keep pressure on the fish and helps set the hook for you. If I was peddling I'd probably want something stiffer to handle that first hit, they wailed it in my experience.

I lost the first 10 or so hits I had on the tube before I could acquire the patience to keep paddling. It's that same feeling of bottom fishing with a circle hook, old habits die hard.

If you're looking for a dedicated trolling combo there are a ton of combinations out there that you can purchase, most in the 60-100 range that would handle anything out there in the bay! For instance (I have a $40 dollar gift card for amazon that is torturing me with what to buy right now so I have been looking today), you could get a triton 200 (TR-200) leverdrag new for about 40-50 dollars. Pair that with an ugly stik tiger lite MH and you're good to go on everything out there in the bay. Tons of options out there so don't let that be your guide. If you want to troll heavier things, there are boat rods starting in the 20's that will work. Those are heavier rods though, I'd spend more on the reel than the rod, but that's up to you!

Last year in j-bay I figured I would take something I wouldn't mind loosing if I flipped. I took a MH ugly stick 7' fw rod I had with a penn 209 on it. The drag wasn't that smooth and it had me wondering if that might have been part of the problem for lost fish, but once I got it in the right setting it worked great. Caught a half dozen blues in the 18"-30'' range and it had no problems bringing them in. A 30" blue fights pretty hard and will absolutely freak out when it gets in your boat so be ready. Too bad we don't get them in numbers in the Bay too often.