Don't make it harder than it needs to be. Catching your own macks for bait can give you a variety of sizes but usually you'll get 6-10 inch baits. 2/0 to 4/0 will cover most of the baits you'll catch. I have noticed from reading fishing mags for years and from living and fishing on the east coast for a year that east coast anglers tend to use much more complicated rigs than west coast guys. Swivels, beads, shiny little flasher blades, multiple treble hooks stuck all over the baits, popping attracters, little brass rattles, wire leaders even for fish that don't have teeth, shock leaders. We don't really use any of that stuff out here. I have caught most of my LJ yellows slow trolling a live mackeral on 25lb line and a 3/0 owner light wire mutu circle hook. Some times I'll use a bit of fluorocarbon. I used to fish 1/2 and 3/4 day boats often in the summer and my "arsenal" consisted of one 9' surface iron stick with a handfull of tady 45s and C's and a 25lb bait stick with a box of 2/0 cheepass mustad hooks. Worked for me. Mike
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