Trolling Bucktails

[phenry]

I have always fished live bait on Hartwell for stripers. Just ordered some white bucktails and going to put some chartreuse tails on them. Just wondering if anyone has ever trolled bucktails with regular line and not lead core. I understand that lead core helps get it deep where it needs to be but can this be achieved with mono and a 2 oz bucktail? Also, what is everyones set up when trolling bucktails-- leader length?, 3 way swivel with two bucktails on one line? Thanks in advance.

[wkelly]

Someone posted a while ago about using two bucktails on one line-- if I recall the idea was to have one on a longer leader than the other, but i don't think it involved a swivel-- possibly tying the trailing one's to the first one's eye. Sorry about the lack of memory on this-- tried this rig a while ago and it does work well (no tangles); if I can remember the details I'll post them.

As for regular line, I doubt a 2 oz bucktail with a tail will get more than 5-10 ft down when trolled at 2-3 mph, even with braided line which sinks better. Could be wrong-- maybe they go a little depr than that, but nothing like leadcore. There are things like dipsy divers that act like diving planer boards that you attach your line to; there are also "snap-weights" that clip to the line and when a fish hits its supposed to release and slide down to the swivel at the leader. You might consider using inline weights or snap weights with deep diving plugs on the leader instead of bucktails to get the extra depth. Years ago we used to troll bucktails for stripers and bluefish in the chesapeake bay with the line tied to a 3 way swivel with a 3-4 oz weight on a drop line and a 10-20 ft leader to the lure, but there weren't any trees to deal with and you'd let line out until the weight bounced and then cranked up a few feet. Do this on hartwell and you'd be dragging timber right away.

[wkelly]

One other idea:
I've toyed with the idea of making a poor man's down rigger: use some metered line (bass pro sells lines that are as high as 100lb test w/diff colors at 25 ft lengths, and each color has 5 ft interval markings), tie one end to a weight and a downrigger clip and lower it to the desired length and tie off at a cleat; your fishing line is attached to the clip which releases upon a strike. You'd have to figure out your actual depth if you're using anything lighter than a cannonball for the weight, but I feel like determining how many colors of leadcore to have out to reach a certain depth is just as much guesswork and trial and error (mostly error). Plus it would sure beat having 10 colors of lead core line out there and having to reel all that line in with a big striper on the end, which is a bad thing for a catch and release strategy. I really am not a fan of leadcore trolling, especially when fishing the submerged forests of hartwell, but i do it because it works for deeper fish.

[Dennis Morgan]

I have always fished live bait on Hartwell for stripers. Just ordered some white bucktails and going to put some chartreuse tails on them. Just wondering if anyone has ever trolled bucktails with regular line and not lead core. I understand that lead core helps get it deep where it needs to be but can this be achieved with mono and a 2 oz bucktail? Also, what is everyones set up when trolling bucktails-- leader length?, 3 way swivel with two bucktails on one line? Thanks in advance.

I have used a 3-way swivel for 2 buck tails run several feet of leader with one longer than the other to avoid tangle. also you may try a deep running lure to carry the buck tail down, depth can be determined by the depth rating of the plug most of the time I use a 25 foot in hot deep water. the buck tail will carry it down a little more depending speed. also wkelly has some good advice
good fishing
Dennis Morgan

[DDG]

A little trick I have learned (and I learned it the hard way) is that instead of a three way swivel tie one bucktail to a barrel swivel with a 2 ft leader. Tie a second with a 3 ft leader. Put your main line through the swivel on the 2 ft leader and then tie to the swivel on the 3 ft leader. This way if you get lucky and hook 2 nice fish at once they can't pull against each other and break off. The 2 ft leader will slide up the main line. Hope this helps. Tight lines.

[palmettoex57@bellsouth.net]

I'm getting old and can't comprehend. Sounds good and would like to try. Got a picture?