Trolling a Shallow line

[Peahead]

Any advice on trolling a shallow line off the back centre of the boat? I've occasionally run a bucktail on the surface a hundred feet (with not much success) back but am wondering if and what others do?

Hey BB,
It really depends on when and where you might want to run a surface line with keel or slip weight and how far back you want to set your gear. You don't want to try this in crowded location with line way out the stern. For example at the Cap river mouth in Vancouver in fall. You will not make freinds with the other boats, thats for sure and you won't have your gear for very long ! (Believe me I have seen this going on with 70 boats in a small area)
In Vancouver its not usually a very effective option most of the time plus in our area there is often way too much floatsom which slides down the line or attaches directly to your terminal gear. A downrigger realease clip can act as a "stopper" for most of the seaweed sliding down your cable and mono and usually collects on the clip. I also use a retriever for my cable that when lowered to surface can collect seaweed and be cleaned right away. In some areas on the inside I have had great success with a shallow long line but again depends where you are and what time of year. On WCVI it can be hot and tons of fun!

 

[bigbruce]

Good point, Peahead - I well remember some of the tangles one would get into in the BD (before downrigger) days in some of the more popular spots!

 

[Bushbear]

When water conditions permit, I'll run a flat line off the radar arch. I've had decent success the past couple of years running a Lindy River Rocker plug. Swap out the treble hooks for a single Siwash. I run it quite a ways back. Will dive to 6' or so. I use 30 lb braid on the reel and 4' of flurocarbon leader. Lots of fun with a decent size fish and no weight/flasher to contend with.

 

[Sitkaspruce]

Sitka spruce is that one of the mini flashers I see at the store how far up from the flasher did you put the weight only ask cause I've seen a ton of surface boils at kitty Coleman and I can't figure out how to fish it thanks for the pt McNeil tips last year caught our first Hali's and four big springs at donegal pt

Sounds like you had a great trip.

The flasher is the 8" hot spot and I usually put the slip weight about a foot shorter than the rod length....just in case it does not slip. Just remember to put a couple buzz bomb bumpers between the weight and knot.......

Cheers

SS

 

[barkerfam]

I've had some success with just a tomic plug on the surface out the center when targeting coho. What a blast! One hit after we were at a dead stop to clear seaweed from one of the side riggers. With it just on the surface I never had any fouling issues. This year I'm going to try 2 lines off the back on the surface.