lead core rod/reel

[High Noon]

Hi Folks,

I have finally decided to try lead core trolling for rainbows. Almost everyone on our lake does it to reasonably good success compared to my dipsys.

I am looking at needing a reel that would hold 100yrds. of lead core. The Daiwa Accudepth 47LC looks good and it is light compared to some of the others. I doen't know if the 27LC is big enough.

I also need a rod that is at least 8' long and not too stiff. I guess medium action maybe medium light. The bows aren't huge and I want to have the rod absorb some of the fight as the lead core won't. I am not sure if I need a rod with the spring tip to stop the lead from breaking. I think I do.

Any suggestions would be really helpful and appreciated.

High Noon

[dh99]

How many colors do you think your are going to use? How deep.

I use a accudepth 47 and the okuma Magda 40 (i think , its the biggest one). The rod I like the most is my Okuma blue diamond medium action.
Its a downrigger rod but handle fairly well.

I use it for walleye fishing and laketrout fishing with big gang trolls.

I mostly use 3 to 5 colors but sometimes I have 7-8 colors out.

Hope this helps.

DH

[RJ]

My opinion is lead core sucks on small fish.....unless you are using only 2 or maybe 3 colours.....half the time you wont even know you have a fish on.....and when you do there will be little to no fight at all in the fish being dragged by the core.....

I'd suggest a set of snap weights.....go with 8 or 10 pound test line....and a lighter action rod....you'll enjoy it way more...

RJ

[Carl]

When you're saying the bows aren't huge... are you referring to small stocked bows?

If so don't run lead core. RJ's got a good point about size of fish and lead core.

Hell I'd recommend you get some mini riggers to get where you want to be. I run spinning gear on my riggers when going after lakers.

The only time I'll run leadcore is when I'm out on lake Ontario trying to get some bigger bows.

But back to your question. I run Okuma 30's and have plenty of room for backing. I can only get a full 10 color on 45's. I also changed all of my core rods to small 7-8 foot Okuma trolling rods to get a little more fight out of it.

Good luck.

[hocman]

I have an Okuma CV45 with about 15 colors of 27Lb lead core on it. I find the counter is only accurate to 6 or 7 colors after that you need to count your colors to see how many go out. Have seen this happen on other counter reels with lead core.

As for a rod it all depends on what type of tackle, if using heavy gang trolls for lakers you'll want something a little stiffer so your arm doesn't get sore but really any 8 ft medium action trolling rod should do.

[FisherLife420]

Not a fan of leadcore... but maybe I wasn't using it right. I just use 3-way swivels with a big sinker... works well.

[troutbum]

I am assuming if you are fishing a small lake you are fishing out of a small boat. So downriggers and all that business, forget it. In the small lakes I use lead core all the time, however I have recently really started to like and have success with the fly rod using a full sink line w/ big streamers, so that’s something else to think about if weight is your concern. I have 2 downriggers, dipsys, jet dives you name it. Lead core out fishes them all 10 to 1, if you use it right.
Get the lightest lb test lead core you can 15lb is fine for most lakes, depending on the size of reel you may not get the whole spool on it. I have a Penn 209?? and a Shimano something or other. I have about 50-75?? yards of Dacron as backing, about 7-8 colours of lead core and then using an Albright knot or a Nail knot I tie on about 10 – 30 yards of 30lb mono. This will allow you to switch to spoons or plugs quickly if you want. Never tie directly to lead core. Drop down to small gang trolls as well. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it easy to work with. Drag it over the bottom or up close to the surface.
I wouldn’t go with anything more then 8’ rod 7 is fine and you will need one that’s fairly stiff to get a good hook set, especially if you have a lot of line out. Don’t worry a Rainbow will still put a bend that rod.
Also as a bonus you can get twice the life out of this line using this setup. Just take it off and reverse it. Just remember you don’t need 5’, 7 blade gangtrolls to catch trout.

[steve-hamilton]

i fish tons and tons of leadcore.

i love it!

however, for your use, small bows in an inland lake, i'd go with rj's suggestion.

snap weights.

what i suggest is spooling your reel with as much 20lbs braid (with the 6lbs diameter - or even lighter) as it'll fit.

then when you attach your inline keel weight, it'll connect your mainline (braid) with a nice flouro lead the length of your rod.

you'll be able to up to a 4 ounce inline keel weight without issues...that'll get you in the depth of 10 colour of leadcore .... with far less line out and a much lighter setup.

[almontefisher]

Well concidering I have fished there a few times High Noon I would say that 90% of my fish have come from the lead core....You can definatly feel the bows on it and it works great. Try going down 3-4 colours with a gang troll and a 2-3ft mono leader with your choice of baits on the end. I have my top choice which I have shared with you before... So far this year I have not gotten out much but in the two outings I have had good success... 6 hours total time on water with 13 hits and 9 brought in...all released but one that was hooked bad... It is hard to see the hit when in the rod holder but you can for sure feel the fish after using it for a while. You get to know what a fish feels like compared to the normal action. I can even tell when there are weeds on it. All I have to say is Dog leg.........

[High Noon]

Some interesting suggestions and opinions.

Should I use a rod with a spring tip to eliminate lead breakage?

Almonte, after watching your dad, Harry, Wayne and yourself out fish me I have finally seen the light. What reel and rod do you use? I have heard good things about Okuma but I don't think anyone around here sells the lead core models. And I don't know which model of reel I woud need.

3 to 5 colours is really what I would be using most of the time. There will be a time or two that 7 or 8 colours for lakers would be used.

Thanks for all the great advice. Let the lead coring begin. (This week-end)
Shh I haven't told my wife yet. Almonte, If I get up do you want me to check your dad's boat?

High Noon

[RJ]

You don't need a spring tip with lead core.

For a full 10 colours....Id' suggest you look at a Penn....

Again....way overkill for inland fish but have at 'er!

RJ

[D-mo]

I use a Daiwa Accudepth 47LC loaded with a full core of 17-18lb dacron, with 25lb test backing. Great for fishing lakers in the Spring and Fall.

d-mo

[High Noon]

Hi D-mo,

What rod are you running. Length,action, brand, spring tip (yes/no) etc. I had no idea how many folks still use lead core. I was hoping for a couple of responses but, this has been great.

Thanks

High Noon

[Manny]

For a full 10 colours....Id' suggest you look at a Penn....


RJ

Penn 309..........10 colours will fill it right to the rim and you'll be handing it down to your grand-kids.

Never used snap-weights for trout but makes more sense then leadcore for smaller fish.

For what it's worth though, it has been my experience (again, for what it's worth) that leadcore can outproduce downriggers and steel for lakers. Pumping a spoon dragged close to the bottom (a bottom that is in the lakers prefered temps) with leadcore has been my most effective technique.

Manny