Question on line setup!!!

[NateFishyMan]

I know its a noob question but, I am wanting to know what type of line/size test people use on there rod and reel setups? For Potomac River to Chesapeake Bay do you set it up differently between the two?

[The Lost Navigator]

I usually carry 3 rods, sometimes 4 so I don't have to re-rig. 2 spinning 6.5 ft ugly stick. and one Penn Horizontal 9 ft Daiwia trolling. Okuma 40SW 10lb mono, okuma 50SW 20lb spiderwire and Penn 113, 30lb mono. These are good enough for anything in the bay. Biggest to date for me is 40.5" 27lb Rock on the 50SW. I like the spiderwire line because it doesn't have line memory like mono type lines. It doesn't stretch like mono either. It's worth the extra price. I most exclusively use a canoemans knot for all set ups up to 50lb test. I most always troll either a shallow diver or 1/4oz bucktail with 4-6" swimmers of various colors. They are good for rock, blues, croaker, and once in a while flounder, when I'm taking a peddaling break. I like artificials, like Berkley Gump and use home made garlic dip with my plastics. Since I've been yak fishing, only a year now, I've had only one day skunked. Waves in the Potomac were 3-4, wind north @ 12-15 and out going tide. I had to spend lots of time keeping the yak on course. You'd be well off to buy Lenny Rudow's fishing the Chesapeake. Lots of good stuff in there including locations, timing, and types of rigs.

[chex]

It really depends... I'd say the weight of the line will depend on the rod/rel it is being used on.

In general, lighter line will be more sensitive than heavier line, so go as light as you can go... but if you go too light, you may lose that big fish! Also, using lighter line allows you to spool more of it on the reel.

I find that 15-20lb braid is thin enough and strong enough to be a good all-around line. But again, it's too heavy for am ultra-light (or even light) action rod/reel, and not heavy enough if you're going to be targeting bigger fish.

[NateFishyMan]

I usually carry 3 rods, sometimes 4 so I don't have to re-rig. 2 spinning 6.5 ft ugly stick. and one Penn Horizontal 9 ft Daiwia trolling. Okuma 40SW 10lb mono, okuma 50SW 20lb spiderwire and Penn 113, 30lb mono. These are good enough for anything in the bay. Biggest to date for me is 40.5" 27lb Rock on the 50SW. I like the spiderwire line because it doesn't have line memory like mono type lines. It doesn't stretch like mono either. It's worth the extra price. I most exclusively use a canoemans knot for all set ups up to 50lb test. I most always troll either a shallow diver or 1/4oz bucktail with 4-6" swimmers of various colors. They are good for rock, blues, croaker, and once in a while flounder, when I'm taking a peddaling break. I like artificials, like Berkley Gump and use home made garlic dip with my plastics. Since I've been yak fishing, only a year now, I've had only one day skunked. Waves in the Potomac were 3-4, wind north @ 12-15 and out going tide. I had to spend lots of time keeping the yak on course. You'd be well off to buy Lenny Rudow's fishing the Chesapeake. Lots of good stuff in there including locations, timing, and types of rigs.

Thanks for the info! Another question do you use any type of leader set up for maybe whenever your trolling or certain species of fish going after?

[DaveFX35]

20lb power pro braid is what i use when fishing the bay. Thin but strong enough for most fish. Only downside is the cost.

[Grilled]

i use 20lb myself on most of my setups

[NateFishyMan]

i use 20lb myself on most of my setups

Mono or Braided?

[The Lost Navigator]

Until the blues arrive, I direct tie jigs and bucktails. For Rock Fish, I use 50lb test mono for leaders. Once the blues arrive Mid to late Mayin the lower Patuxent/Potomac, I use 6-12" steel leaders. Blues are tough fighters with sharp teeth and I've lost several rigs to them.

[Redfish12]

From a kayak 15-30 lb braid is plenty. Most of my rigs are 20lb braid and a 30lb leader. I do not encounter many blues in the bay and when I do I use a spoon or plug and it's usually good to go. The blues up north will inhale your hole plug or jig and bite offs can be an issue. I plan on trying the TyGer leader stuff this season when I go up North. Last year at JBay and in MA I had a several instances of the blues biting my lure right off with out even feeling a tap, it would just go slack! Frustrating.