Wire for Macks
Submitted by WODF on Mon, 2008-12-15 09:31
Just wondering what everones methods are when using wire for macks, either for casting or trolling. Most importantly what lb, what length and what type? Would also be interesting to hear who out their isn't using wire.
Thnx in advance
Cheers
Damo
Simon C
Posts: 801
Date Joined: 01/05/07
Don't use it trolling, can't
Don't use it trolling, can't say I have lost a lot of fish because of it either. My main reason is that I recon it drops your catch rate. Only really tried it once, had three crazy deeps, all same colour, two on mono and one on wire. Trolled for an hour, literally you could not get the ones on mono back into the spread before they got hit by macks and cobes, yet after an hour the wire had not been touched. Changed to mono and bang, straight on. This was in Weipa a while ago and I am sure there are better thinner wires out there now, but even at Exmouth and the mackerals last year we probably lost 2 lures due to bite offs. We lost a lot more to being busted in the reef when we trolled a bit shallow and some big arse trout thought they needed some bling for the cave.
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
What size mono did you use
What size mono did you use Simon?
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Always interested in someone to go fishing with
Mick.C
Posts: 184
Date Joined: 09/08/08
I was using propper leader
I was using propper leader but ran out one day and started using some cheap JW 80lb mono. Since then that is all I have been using. It seems to hold out pretty good and doesnt seem to get as cut up as the good gear. I havent lost any where the leader has broken, it is usually gone above the swivel.
I use about two meters. Its nasty but cheap.
Dickie
Posts: 5
Date Joined: 12/11/08
Hey Damo, I've tried many
Hey Damo, I've tried many types of wires for trolling and found the best to be an American product called Tooth Proof, with a haywire twist, this product never fails...even the worst haywire twist on this product will beat any wire/crimp combo...I usally fish 60lb with a length of around 400mm. I will never go back to a crimp as this has failed so many times on big macks/Tuna.
I have used this out from Mindarie catching Tuna and in the Mack Islands with awesome results using F18's
hlokk
Posts: 4292
Date Joined: 04/04/08
I've only caught one mack
I've only caught one mack (apart from doggie mackerel), but was damn glad I used wire as it was bent with teeth marks all over with deep gouges on the lure (good ol x-raps, back in the water fine). I wouldnt imagine mono would have held up well in that case. It would depend how deep the mackie took the lure though. If they're on the back treble, they're not going to get much chance to chew the trace (mono can still stand up to some punishment of course)
I used some really thin single strand stuff, though cant remember the name.
I wonder if you used a short enough wire trace, that the mackies might think it was a garfish :p
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Always interested in someone to go fishing with
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Interesting...
Thnx guys,
Interesting... I've been using crimped 80lb Halco wire trace(bit bulky and stiff IMO) and havn't had much success lately. Might have to buy a few different brands n work something out. Never thought of using mono.. hmm will give it a try next time.
"holy sh!t, did you see that?" haha
big john
Posts: 8764
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Problem
There's your problem right there WODF. Get some 90 or 105lb stainless steel single strand wire and haywire twist some 30 cm lengths to your lures.
John
I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......
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Dazza
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 25/09/07
wire
ive never been busted on wire dift baiting for mackies,
i use a 4 hook no10 ganged about the biggest gardie you can buy 12 inches onwards the bigger the better. if the mackies are there they last more than 5 minutes in waters
picked up the odd cod, sail, and even a red emp.
i have never use wire for trolling just 200lb lead give em a chance haha
good luck
All your gyprock needs
allrounder
Posts: 1853
Date Joined: 10/11/08
Single strand
Wire haywire twist straight to the lure .Take the split ring off the front and keep the first part of the loop about an inch long so the lure can work.When we fish baits in gamex we put the wire straight down though the head of the mullet and out through the bottom in to a ball sinker under the chin .Never had a prob catching.I only use multi for big shark rigs.
So tell me have you got your info from years on the water or hours on the internet?
wayneleech
Posts: 362
Date Joined: 27/06/08
Hi Damo, When we were up in
Hi Damo,
When we were up in exmouth trolling for macks we started by using pre made 80lb crimped traces though ended up losing some decent macks (and lures) at the side of the boat purely because the crimps gave way! after looking at the quality of the pre made traces I would never use them again.
We then made up our own traces using halco "weld wire" - 80lb combined with X-rap lures. We seemed to do pretty good with this method - results can be seen at http://www.choiceoutdoors.com.au/fishing/exmouth-08.wmv
(excuse the language!)
WODF
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 16/10/08
How often would a mack
Cheers guys,
How often would a mack swallow a whole lure? not to often i would think..? because macks usually nip the tail more often than not don't they? what are the most common causes of losing macks?
"holy sh!t, did you see that?" haha
Daisy
Posts: 789
Date Joined: 24/01/08
Other macks whacking
Other macks whacking swivels, bubble trails etc, are you fishing up north? Haven't had any probs with them knocking back my lures/baits cos of wire, I will troll double hook rigged Gars with pink squids if they're being fussy or I'm after bigger fish. Usually use 105lb Superflex or Halco mono wire haywired. Only use crimped multistrand wire if I'm casting lures as it doesn't kink as easily.
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Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
pre-made rigs
I use these pre-made rigs, but they easy to copy.
300kg piano wire and good quality hooks with a ball-bearing 200kg swivel on the end.
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Full-time piscatorial-idiot, in The Vines. "It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC) Greek poet.
Supporter of Meals on Reels & The Wally Weight
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It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
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Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Mono for sure, I use 180lb
Mono for sure, I use 180lb mono and have only lost one fish from bite of . I think there is a big overkill on rigs for some fish, keep it simple . works for me..
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big john
Posts: 8764
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Razor gang
Each to their own but I'd rather have some quality single strand wire attached to my lures when I'm pulling minnows in mack or wahoo country.
Tony are you serious about using 300kg piano wire for spaniards? If you are that's gotta seriously affect your lures action and your strike rate.
John
I head a little FURTHER NORTH each year,
Leave the cities behind, out of sight of mind,
.......
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
piano wire
We tend to use the ultra thin and stron piano wire.
We rig gardies or fresh bait fish and troll them like a skip-bait.
When using lures, we still often still rig with wire and we don't suffer that much loss of action.
Each to their own...as they would say.... but we had never had any bite-offs
cheers
Tony
Full-time piscatorial-idiot, in The Vines. "It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC) Greek poet.
Supporter of Meals on Reels & The Wally Weight
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
my pref!
Superflex 88lb single strand S/S wire with a length of 800mm - 1000mm. I use the haywire twist and like this wire for its stealth and it allows your lure to move freely!
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