Flylining Mack's
 

When fly-lining mack's, is there a best practice regarding how much line to let out? Does it depend on conditions? I am struggling with knowing how much line should be let out, and/or the best way to execute it. For example, do I open my spool and count down as I am paddling (or pedaling)? Thank you for your help!

I usually just pedal and while pedaling, go free spool for a slow count to ten. Hope that helps. If I see fish boil, I will let line out farther because I do not like to run over the boil. I just troll around the boil while letting my bait curve into the boil.

I do a slow count to ten as well. I haven't gotten a yellow yet but I'm sticking to this method! Lol 😁

I usually troll 30-50 yards back. If I'm just sitting and drifting sometimes I'll go out to 100 yards to let the Mack swim a little more. You don't want to go out too far to where you may not see a seal ripping off your bait. When I see a seal coming in to my spread while trolling, I want to burn my reel in and try to not to feed it or he will stick around longer. So the further out your line, the more dangerous it can be. Plus PBers will often pass close enough to either cut you off or tangle up if they're trolling as well. They probably don't expect you to have 100-150 yards out while trolling. One more thing to consider is the more line you have out while getting bit, the less line you have to fight a fish. I've come very close to being spooled on a torium 14 with decent drag setting.

^pretty good info there. It all really depends. You always have obstacles around. Lobster pots, kelp, sea lions, other yaks, pber's, the list goes on. I've caught fish 30ft out to 100 yards. I hate to be trolling for a while just to reel in and see your Mac has a kelpstache. I like around 50yds, give or take.

Definitely agree on that. No need to go too far out especially since someone just posted in a recent lj report he got bit trolling ten ft behind his yak 🎣🚣 the ten second count is a solid way to be sure you're in the zone but sounds like you wouldn't wanna go any further.

Thanks for your replies...this is great info and really helpful. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Looking forward to getting back out on the water.

I don't think yaks spook fish so a shorter drop back 100' works for me. Makes it quicker to check for kelp fouling, saving baits from dogs, and pb-ers. Mike

Thanks Mike - appreciate the time and reply. That totally makes sense!!!

Dumb question...is there a way to best determine how to approximately let out 100'? Is there a countdown method or some other means to come close to 100'?

Thanks again!!!

Every paddle stroke is 0.001 mile.
so roughly 5ftish per stroke. I cant tell you what each pedal stroke is.

Get a counter reel if you're one of those OCD people. I can honestly tell you a fish doesn't carry a ruler. Oohh sorry but you have 105ft of line out I'm gonna go find food elsewhere. Never gonna happen.

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Ive said the same thing.
On your average weekend day on/off/around the point 50yds is a lot of line to have out in traffic. 2-3boat lengths min to 100' max is enough. If you troll 2 one is usu down one is up. Keep track of them if you stop and as they pay out in wind/current. Mostly you want to keep moving w 2 out. Having 2 out w 100' each is overcomplicated when crossing anyone elses path or passing kelp points etc. Keep it simple.

Personally if I troll one up one down. I do the short one down. And long one up.

I just go till it feels right. (Insert deep husky voice here)

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25-50 years

How much line do you think it will take to do this?

LOL!!!!

Thanks y'all for your replies. Very helpful...seems most people like to let out 75'+ feet.

Maybe I could have asked this question differently, such as "what is the minimum amount of line y'all let out, and how do you go about guessing the length when you can't see your mack in the water?"

Thanks again!!!

You can always mark your line with dental floss so you have an exact length.

Lol

BRILLIANT! Thank you!