fly line depth?? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

jbl_91762 · 06-18-2017, 05:11 PM

Sorry for NewB question, but Please help me understand how you guys get fly line down to depths where the YT are? 60-100 feet etc. All I read from LJ catches are flyline and depth. I catch my macs in Newport and pin them at the anus to force them to swim down but I see the line going more horizontal then vertical when he swims off. So how do I know its getting to the deeper water? What am I missing?

FullFlavorPike · 06-18-2017, 05:12 PM

The YT will come to the bait. The depths are more a key to where they were fishing, not where the bait was swimming.

FISH11 · 06-18-2017, 05:20 PM

Fly line is just referring to the Mac swimming without weight, usually behind while you troll or drift and it decides how deep to swim. Usually that will vary with the type and size of Mac you use and whether you are over structure. Usually I control how much line I give it by the depth of the water I am fishing and whether there is structure like heavy kelp. Not more than the depth and less if over heavy kelp otherwise it will tangle you up in a hurry.

Mahigeer · 06-18-2017, 11:52 PM

If you are talking about live bait, a Carolina rig with a small sliding egg sinker can do the job. The heaver egg sinker, the deeper the bait will dive.

Just in case you were talking about "fly fishing", then the sinking tip line is your best bet.

taggermike · 06-21-2017, 08:24 AM

In winter yt will often be on the bottom and you may need to get a bait down there with a dropper loop. When the waters warmer they roam the whole water column.
Like FullFlavorPike said, they will find your bait.

If you're over kelp and need your bait to run shallower you can let out less line and/or troll a bit faster.

And butt hooking is for fishing sardines from a boat so they will swim down and away.
If you troll a butt hook bait it gets dragged back backwards n dies. Go to nose hooking. Mike

jbl_91762 · 06-21-2017, 06:21 PM

Thanks guys really helpful stuff. When I had my paddle yak and fished NP I wouldn't troll, just catch mac and hook it anal and let it swim down while I used other rod to cast and retrieve. Now I have peddle so now Im learning that trolling nose hook is best. Thanks as Im hoping to head down to LJ July 1 for first time and hope to meet some of you guys.

06-18-2017, 05:11 PM	#1
jbl_91762 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 347	fly line depth?? Sorry for NewB question, but Please help me understand how you guys get fly line down to depths where the YT are? 60-100 feet etc. All I read from LJ catches are flyline and depth. I catch my macs in Newport and pin them at the anus to force them to swim down but I see the line going more horizontal then vertical when he swims off. So how do I know its getting to the deeper water? What am I missing?

06-18-2017, 05:20 PM	#3
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	Fly line is just referring to the Mac swimming without weight, usually behind while you troll or drift and it decides how deep to swim. Usually that will vary with the type and size of Mac you use and whether you are over structure. Usually I control how much line I give it by the depth of the water I am fishing and whether there is structure like heavy kelp. Not more than the depth and less if over heavy kelp otherwise it will tangle you up in a hurry. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

06-18-2017, 05:12 PM	#2
FullFlavorPike Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 809	The YT will come to the bait. The depths are more a key to where they were fishing, not where the bait was swimming.

06-18-2017, 11:52 PM	#4
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,897	If you are talking about live bait, a Carolina rig with a small sliding egg sinker can do the job. The heaver egg sinker, the deeper the bait will dive. Just in case you were talking about "fly fishing", then the sinking tip line is your best bet.

06-21-2017, 08:24 AM	#5
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	In winter yt will often be on the bottom and you may need to get a bait down there with a dropper loop. When the waters warmer they roam the whole water column. Like FullFlavorPike said, they will find your bait. If you're over kelp and need your bait to run shallower you can let out less line and/or troll a bit faster. And butt hooking is for fishing sardines from a boat so they will swim down and away. If you troll a butt hook bait it gets dragged back backwards n dies. Go to nose hooking. Mike

06-21-2017, 06:21 PM	#6
jbl_91762 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 347	Thanks guys really helpful stuff. When I had my paddle yak and fished NP I wouldn't troll, just catch mac and hook it anal and let it swim down while I used other rod to cast and retrieve. Now I have peddle so now Im learning that trolling nose hook is best. Thanks as Im hoping to head down to LJ July 1 for first time and hope to meet some of you guys.