[MikeG1]

Tried wire yesterday out of Geneva with success. My set up was simple, braid backing, 250’ monel wire (which I found at a yard sale) , and 50’ floro leader….used this with a jr. Thunder stick. My process was to slowly feed out 400’.…so I had 100’ of my backing in the water. My thinking was this amount of backing would allow the wire to reach its full potential. I ran this straight out the back, with the rod tip as high as possible, which allowed me to fish my other setups underneath where the backing braid enters the water.

I was fishing in approx. 72 fow. Surprisingly, this set up pulled a fish on every set. But, I had difficulty determining when the bite occurred. I was somewhat able to tell a fish was on by picking up the rod, reeling in a bit, and feeling what I thought was the additional weight of the fish. I’m sure I drug a few of these fish for awhile.

So, my initial reaction to this set up was great. It caught fish, I didn’t have any tangles, but I couldn’t ID strikes. How are strikes detected with this set up? I’d also welcome comments/ suggestions on my set up as I’ll be refining this technique in the future.

 

[Eastside Al]

Rod bend is different
If the rod is too heavy its hard to tell
Explain you reel and rod
That would help

We run wire every wind
Up to 4 per side. That's if the fish let us.

 

[fishkiller]

On the big board set ups with rubber bands you can tell by the stretch in the rubber band. With little boards you can tell when the rod has a steady pull it doesnt come out of wave like it does with no fish on. On your set up you can feel the vibration in the lure & like you said by the weight of the fish. With these smaller fish it is sometimes hard to tell nobody sees all the fish we all drag some. You should have at least an 8’-8’6” rod med action so you can see more of what’s going on for your setup.

 

[birdcrazy]

Try to get the rod tip close to the water so you can see it better. I have turned my cradle in so the tip is right above the big motor. Move it to your high position for setting and retrieving your other rods. Sorry I missed you today.

 

[miked913]

My guess is your flouro leader is too long and the stretch is absorbing the ability to see what's happening, you should be able to see the vibration of the crankbait easily on the tip of the rod, if you're not then shorten your leader to the length of your rod. That should fix this. Wire will telegraph everything that is happening, you should be able to tell if you've picked up a piece of grass and it stops the correct wobble in your bait.

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[Misdirection]

First off, welcome to fishing with wire! You'll never forget your first tangle!

I'd shorten the fluro leader to about twice the length of your rod.

I run my wire rods off of big boards on a Tree of rod holders. By doing so all the rod tips bounce in unison. If one looks different, its got a fish on. That or the fish just rips it off the board.

You could also consider an inline planer board with a tattle tale flag. That would help.

Or you can run a fishing bell on your rod. We use these on dipsys when were catching a bunch of shorts. That way we know to clear the line.

Amazon.com

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[MikeG1]

Thanks to all for this great input. I’m looking forward to implementing these ideas. Be safe.

 

[captainshotgun]

If u r not using your wire on boards, can u run 2? Like maybe one off each corner? That way u can compare the bend in them.

 

[kick it up a notch]

Thanks to all for this great input. I’m looking forward to implementing these ideas. Be safe.

 

[kick it up a notch]

I use 250 wire with 8 foot of Fluor. Then change my cranks to get desired depth . Example bomber 24a gets 21 foot then add the wire depth getting around 46 foot down total rapala tail dancer 29 foot plus wire getting about 54 foot.

 

[FarmerChris]

So…. what I have gathered from many of these posts is that depth of presentation is more important than the presentation (lure). Use wire to get to a “line” depth plus the lure dive depth to target fish depth. Are Reef Runner 800’s good for achieving 53 - 58 ft target with 250 or 300 of wire? Are they too erratic? Not many lures Dive agedover 25 feet. I have some deep jr thundersticks, I think a few bomber long A,s. Some rapala deep tail dancers, many DHJ 12’s and 14’ and reef runners. Have 4 spools 300 ft 15 lb wire to try on 2 rods next trip. Ordered some 12 lb. X1000 ft spools but not convinced the difference is significant. Responses encouraged. Chris

 

[kick it up a notch]

That is what I do with my lures!
Reef runners tune right will work great!

 

[Eastside Al]

Reefs are hard to tune and if you go fast could wreck and tangle that side
Many lures never need tuned and catch plenty of fish

Yes any deeper lure will work
Remember to not go too deep also

Same lures for that side of boat
Don't mix. Keep it simple...

Remember fish are eating bait 3 to 4 1/2 inches long now.
Bomber 25 and bandits are bigger than that

 

[fishkiller]

Go by the charter boats & look at the lures on their wire rods in the rocket launchers. Again, they are in the business of catching fish, they are using what works, in color & lure type.

 

[miked913]

So…. what I have gathered from many of these posts is that depth of presentation is more important than the presentation (lure). Use wire to get to a “line” depth plus the lure dive depth to target fish depth. Are Reef Runner 800’s good for achieving 53 - 58 ft target with 250 or 300 of wire? Are they too erratic? Not many lures Dive agedover 25 feet. I have some deep jr thundersticks, I think a few bomber long A,s. Some rapala deep tail dancers, many DHJ 12’s and 14’ and reef runners. Have 4 spools 300 ft 15 lb wire to try on 2 rods next trip. Ordered some 12 lb. X1000 ft spools but not convinced the difference is significant. Responses encouraged. Chris

Stay away from reefrunners on wire! Yes any tuned lure in the right zone is better than not having it where the fish are. Good wire baits are: Jr thundersticks, bomber 24's yozuri's, I run some flicker minnows in #9, but they need a lot of attention to their tune, the others run well right out of the box usually, but I check everytime I reset every lure. It's very time consuming but I cast my baits on a spinning rod off my dock and burn them back in to tune each 1 when I take them out of the box. When I do notice something not running right I set it off to the side and re-tune dock side.

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[Misdirection]

So…. what I have gathered from many of these posts is that depth of presentation is more important than the presentation (lure). Use wire to get to a “line” depth plus the lure dive depth to target fish depth. Are Reef Runner 800’s good for achieving 53 - 58 ft target with 250 or 300 of wire? Are they too erratic? Not many lures Dive agedover 25 feet. I have some deep jr thundersticks, I think a few bomber long A,s. Some rapala deep tail dancers, many DHJ 12’s and 14’ and reef runners. Have 4 spools 300 ft 15 lb wire to try on 2 rods next trip. Ordered some 12 lb. X1000 ft spools but not convinced the difference is significant. Responses encouraged. Chris

300' of wire with a Rapala DHJ-12 works really good together. I've been running that setup in Ashtabula for over 20 years. If I need to go deeper, ill let out more backing or go to a deeper diving lure like a Long A Bomber.

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[Misdirection]

And if you've got 15 lbs test. I would just run that. Remeber, you can't knot wire and need to make a Haywire twist. They make a small tool to help make the twists if you didnt buy one yet.

And you'll need micro swivels to connect the backing to braid, and wire to leader.

My wife and son went with me today. Didnt run big boards and just put the rod in the tree, i could tell by the rod bend when we had a fish on. But they were all hogs

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[FarmerChris]

Thanks. I think I have everything needed except haywire twist tool. I have one in order basket with 1000 ft spool of 12 lb test online with Fish307. Haven’t completed the order yet. Was wondering if tool is really needed to try a couple rods. Can the haywire twist be made with just fingers or smooth jaw pliers? Maybe I will go try a couple by hand after I post this. I have watched videos. Karan’s shop did not carry them as they did not sell. I will set up a 3700 size box with “wire lures” you all have suggested. No reef runners as I recall them spinning up and tangling with mono occasionally. Weather looks good for my 18’ boat late next week.

 

[fishkiller]

When you twist wire make sure both ends are twisted evenly, don’t just wrap one end around the other. Also the tag end you have left on the one end trim as close as possible and wrap tight to the standing end. Be careful not to kink the wire or nick it, I use a small finishing nail to hold the crane swivel so I can twist the wire. I have the tool Misdirection talks of but I have set up many wire lines without it. Be very careful with that little tag end it will bite you!!!

 

[captainshotgun]

When you twist wire make sure both ends are twisted evenly, don’t just wrap one end around the other. Also the tag end you have left on the one end trim as close as possible and wrap tight to the standing end. Be careful not to kink the wire or nick it, I use a small finishing nail to hold the crane swivel so I can twist the wire. I have the tool Misdirection talks of but I have set up many wire lines without it. Be very careful with that little tag end it will bite you!!!

Could a person use some heat shrink tubing to cover that tag end?