Hand Line end tackle options

[FollowingCs]

For those of you that run hand lines, what is your end tackle? Leader, lures, hooks, skirts, etc?

From what I've read, in the Handbook for Cruisers, the end tackle needs to be beefier to withstand strikes without a rod/reel/drag combo, which can scare off some fish and get less bites.

I'm wondering what every runs, from the strength of leader to the lure? If you run a lighter leader, do you get break offs frequently?

Initially I will be in east coast Florida.

Thanks,
~ Following Cs ~

[Cotemar]

Maybe this Cuban Yo-Yo fishing info will help.

[CAELESTIS]

Great article, thanks!!!

[CGirvan]

What do people use for leaders? and do they normlly have one leader per handline or one per lure?

[CAELESTIS]

Circle hooks or standard?

[thinwater]

I always used the same for both.

If you are trolling with >150 feet of line out, the line will stretch FAR on a good hit, over 20 feet. The rod, or a bungee cord for that matter, does not make a difference. Not the same as drag with a reel. But I've never hooked into anything over 30 pounds.

[Kokanee]

I generally use the same tackle on hand lines as I would on a small rod.
It all depends on what your target fish is. I wouldn't target anything too large on a hand line, simply because it is too hard on the hands. It could get very nasty if heavy line wrapped around a finger with a big fish on the end.
-- and never use braided line on a hand line, since there is no stretch.

[FollowingCs]

So looks like just the 'standard' rig you'd use for reel trolling, per table 3-1 in the Handbook (or per local legend).

Good deal. Earlier in the Handbook, he talks about hand lines requiring thicker, more visible leaders, but he never mentions it again in the book, that I can find.

Thanks for all contributing,
~ Following Cs ~