Yo yo questions after reading many posts

[wjsobers]

I ordered a 6 pack of yo yos from Amazon for $16.52. However, they only come spooled with 3-4 yards of 60 lb nylon line. The ones I ordered say they do everything once the bait is thrown out. Including reeling in the fish. I have not seen any posts that talk about a self reeling yo yo. First question, should I just add more line or strip it off and start over? That brings me to my next question. Can I line it in such a way that it will free spool if all the line gets taken? I will be testing each of these off a river bank or pier. Eventually taking them off shore provided they work. I had some other questions but can't remember exactly what they were.

Bill

[HopCar]

I think you need to post a picture or a link to where you bought them.
Never heard of a self reeling yo yo and 4 yards of line is useless.

[wjsobers]

[wjsobers]

I typed fishing yo yo in the Amazon search bar. I believe it was the first option.

[wjsobers]

Do I just add line to the swivel or rip it off and start over? Actually, I think I will do 3 of each and experiment.

[Matt Johnson]

Those look like something for small lake or river fish. For saltwater, we used a 9" yo yo.... the yo yo is basically just a line storage device. All the action happens with the release and whatever you tie it too. You then "reel" with your gloved had, pulling the fish in and laying the line back on the reel with each pull.

Matt

[wjsobers]

Matt,

Here are the dimensions.



I am just learning about yo yos. These are supposed to be self reeling which I have not seen any posts about. If it works on the small ones why not larger ones?

[HopCar]

Not what I call a yoyo. Those are intended for use in rivers and streams. They are not suitable for offshore use.

A lot of sailors troll with Cuban Yoyo's which are a type of hand line and can also be cast.

Google Cuban Yoyo, you'll see the difference.

[wjsobers]

Thanks Hopcar. I looked after Matt said they seem kinda small. I will order a cuban yo yo tomorrow morning.

[StuM]

That looks like a small, spring loaded line for dangling into a river.

Here's a few illustrations of using them:



When fishing off a cruising boat, you need something more like this:

[wjsobers]

Thanks Stu. I was having trouble picturing how to rig it on a boat. If all the line gets taken, does it free spin or break the line?

[Matt Johnson]

It should be just a few bucks....I think they are even under $10 at West Marine. Honestly, you can do as the real Cubans do, and just take a 2" x 9" board and v notch both of the 2" ends so it looks like this >-< Wrap some line around it and go.

We used 30ft of 60# line (so the fish has a hard time seeing it) tied to 100ft of 1/4 double braid. I could pull in the double braid easy by hand, and the 60# took a bit more work.

Here is one I got mid Atlantic:




Matt

[wjsobers]

$7.50 @ Amazon. I still think that the small ones will be fun. I will be pleased if one of the 6 manage to reel in a fish. Never thought there was such a thing as an auto reel. Lol

[HopCar]

A Cuban yoyo is more than a line storage device, it is actually a spinning reel. It can be used to cast line. There are many videos on YouTube showing how this is done.

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by wjsobers

Thanks Stu. I was having trouble picturing how to rig it on a boat. If all the line gets taken, does it free spin or break the line?

We used downrigger release clips as our trigger.

The line looped forward about 4 feet from a stern cleat to the release trigger, then out the back of the boat to the lure. When a fish hits, they turn and go away from the boat with the lure, pulling on the line and releasing the trigger. The slack from the loop of line from trigger to the stern cleat would allow the fish to run just a second..... once the 8' of looped line was gone, the stern cleat sets the hook.

Matt