Idstud
7/31/2011 3:33:00 PMNICE, I need to get up there and do some fishing. I found I had a small hole in the boat and putting on the finishing touches in hopes to fish this weekend. Thanks for the great reports and tips. Pics look great to me
Anonymous
8/4/2011 6:29:00 AMThanks for the post. I'm looking for some advise: I've read that people use 20lb leader. My pole is a steelheader with 10lb main, I hope I can use it in my buddys downrigger with 10 lb leader, dodger, and smiley? Your advise will really help, both of us are novices and not sure how to do it. Tight lines my friend :)
rseas
8/4/2011 7:08:00 AMMrmarkhill
Right wrong or otherwise here is my opinion. I run Power Pro braid on most of my conventional spool reels. I would strip the 10 pound off and go with 30-40# Power Pro main line. The 30# has a line diameter of 8# test mono so you will not have to worry about line capacity. You don’t need 30-40# main line to fish sockeye but by splicing in a 10-50’ top shot depending on your needs you will have a more diverse reel that can handle big fish if needed. For the sockeye fishery and for that matter most salmon I use a 30’ top shot of 20# clear mono or fluorocarbon. 30‘ is what I run behind the clip when fishing the downriggers so I just let out line until the splice and then set the line in the clip. I don’t have to count pulls. Your steelhead pole will be perfect and it sounds like you are on the right track. Between the dodger and the lure I would go with 10-14” of 40# clear mono or fluorocarbon. You don’t need 40 pound to catch sockeye but the heavy stiffer leader translates to a tantalizing erratic action the sockeye seem to love. Good luck and you will have a blast.
Right wrong or otherwise here is my opinion. I run Power Pro braid on most of my conventional spool reels. I would strip the 10 pound off and go with 30-40# Power Pro main line. The 30# has a line diameter of 8# test mono so you will not have to worry about line capacity. You don’t need 30-40# main line to fish sockeye but by splicing in a 10-50’ top shot depending on your needs you will have a more diverse reel that can handle big fish if needed. For the sockeye fishery and for that matter most salmon I use a 30’ top shot of 20# clear mono or fluorocarbon. 30‘ is what I run behind the clip when fishing the downriggers so I just let out line until the splice and then set the line in the clip. I don’t have to count pulls. Your steelhead pole will be perfect and it sounds like you are on the right track. Between the dodger and the lure I would go with 10-14” of 40# clear mono or fluorocarbon. You don’t need 40 pound to catch sockeye but the heavy stiffer leader translates to a tantalizing erratic action the sockeye seem to love. Good luck and you will have a blast.
