FISHING TIPS                    

From:  Captain John Stieben - Owner of Elite Fishing Charters and Co-Owner of Opti-Tackle Co.,llc
To visit Elite Fishing Charters website: Click Here

If you have further questions, anyone can post on Opti-Tackle's message board at: Click Here

Fishing Tips

1.  Downrigger Ball lead lengths -  For our Opti-Dodgers Longer lead lengths behind the downrigger ball work
best while fishing Inticer Flashers shorter leads of 10' to 15' work great while Opti-Dodgers 25' to 30' works best for us.
We fish 12 lb downrigger weights on our boat, less blow back when trolling at higher speeds.

2.  Ball Bearing swivel/Snaps - We use a high quality heavy duty Ball Bearing swivel on both our Opti-Dodgers and the Inticer Flasher to prevent line twists. However, it is always a good idea to use an additional ball bearing swivel snap size 4x6 or 3x3 in front of any attractor. If weeds, algae or "water fleas" get into one of the swivels, at least you have a back up to prevent line twists.

3.  Fly lead lengths - We use 50LB Ande Clear Mono for our fly leaders. Typical lengths are 22" to 24" from top of loop to the back of the hook. With 23-1/2" being our favorite.The extra stiffness of the higher test lines allows a nice "whipping" action to the fly. This length works on our boat for the Inticer Flashers or the Opti-Dodgers, but others prefer shorter or longer lengths, expirement what works best for your boat and the speeds you fish. For Lake Trout shorter leader lengths of 16" to 18" work best.

4.  Dipsey's -  We recommend using an Opti-Snubber attached to the dipsey (on the bait side of the dispey) and then 4' to 6' of 30lb to 40lb Mono to a plain snap which you then attach to the Opti-Dodger.  This is a "Don't set the hook", type of set setup. Just reel when a fish is on and keep the slack out of the line. The stainless steel wire and Tuffline/Power Pro have no "give" in the line, like mono does. Setting #1 will bring the dipsey out slightly away from the boat, while setting #3 will bring it the farthest away from the boat. Medium size or magnum size dipsey's work well for Salmon/Trout fishing. We often fish the high dipsey's (these are our superline/Tuffline) at # 3 setting. Our stainless steel wire line dipseys (our deeper dipseys) are typically set at a # 1-1/2 to 2 setting. Please see our Terminal Tackle page for Opti-Snubbers.

5.  Suspended Stainless Steel Wire/Thumper Rods -  These wire line rods rigged with 10oz. to 16oz. 
weights are the staple of the dodger/fly system, we often use 16 oz. weights.  Your rod should have a soft enough action so that you can "read" the movement of the rod at different speeds. This allows you to judge when your dodger has the right action, then it can be duplicated over and over when fish bite.  Dodgers are recommended to be used on "thumper rods" as they are much easier to read, then flashers are for this type of a rod. When fishing stainless steel wire a roller guide rod or a rod with tungsten guides is what you will need. A rod with regular guides will not work, as the stainless wire will chew up the guides on a regular rod. The suspended wire rig allows the fisherman to judge/duplicate the action of the dodger exclusive of currents and boat speed. We typically position a thumper rod in each corner of the boat out at a 45 degree angle so that it is easy to "read" the tip action. We also recommend using a snubber as this is a wire line rig. Attached the snubber to a 3-way (or use a ball bearing swivel with a snap on it) at the weight to the line that leads to the dodger. The snubber allows the line to give when a fish takes the bait which helps prevent the hook from pulling out. Please see our Terminal Tackle page for Opti-Snubbers.

6. Leadcore - We fish Leadcore typically straight out the back of the boat or on Off Shore Tackle planner boards. The leadcore line sinks approx. 4' for every color (10 yds). We often fish "double leadcore" which is 600' (200 yards) of leadcore straight out the back, it does very well especially on the days when the fish are skittish, however it is tough to fish "double core" in heavy boat traffic. We use Tuffline XP or a Superline for backing. We use 20lb or 30lb mono for a leader. Sometimes we fish a few colors of leadcore off of the boards as well, great tactic when fish are boat shy and you can cover lots of water with this method.  Make sure that you attach your board to the backing and not to the leadcore.  This is a "don;t set the hook hook" type of fishing line, just reel when a fish is on and keep the slack out of the line. Our favorite baits on the leadcore inlcude Inticer Flashers and flies or Spoons. A snubber is usually not fished with leadcore.

7. Copper Wire - We fish the Copper stranded fishing line similar to the way we fish Leadcore, straight out the back of the boat or most often we use it on Off ShoreTackle planner boards. The copper wire should never be attached directly to the board, only to the backing. Our Copper wire rigs consists of different lengths of copper wire which is tied with an albright knot to 200 yards of 30lb Tuffline XP/Superline backing. Using 20 lb mono or fluorocarbon line for a leader. Our experience indicates shorter  Mono leader lenghts on the copper, approx. 15' or so for Opti-Dodgers or Inticer Flashers and flies, and 30' leader when using spoons.   A snubber is not fished with copper wire. See our Copper Line webpage for more info.

Just like leadcore - "Don't set the hook" Copper wire is very soft and doesn't give like mono does. Just reel when a fish is on and keep the slack out of the line. We do not recommend it being used on dipseys or Thumper rods. The copper line sinks faster then the leadcore line,  for "30lb" Copper approx. 5'-6' for every 10 yds, for "45lb" Copper approximately 7'-9' for every 10 yards. This will vary depending on your trolling speed and the weight of your bait. 

When fishing with Planner boards, always attach the board clip to the backing, not to the Copper itself, as it will frey or weaken the copper.

A  regular rod will work just fine for Copper. No special roller guides are needed, Steel wide steel guides work well with as the copper is very soft. Some prefer a Twillie tip or a roller tip on the end, but not necessary.

The backing we use is Tuffline XP/Superline, 30lb. The mono leader can be attached to the copper line by the use of the Albright knot (see illustration below). A person should be careful on what kind of knot that you tie, as the knot is the weakest link in copper wire. We do not recommend using a swivel or crimping the copper as it is a very soft metal.

Copper Fishing line is not recommended for Salt water use. It is also not recomended to be used on Dipsey or Thumper rods. Stainless Steel Wire or Tuffline/Superline is best for those type of rods.

When spooling copper onto your reel, it is recoomended not to spool it overly tight, just snug is all that is needed. It is a soft metal, too much tension is not good. Also, when spooling any kind of wire or mono onto a reel it is always best to spin it on off the top of the spool and not to allow the spool to lie flat on the ground and winding it on. This can create alot of extra loops in the line. Having someone hold a screwdriver in the center of the spool (holding it horizontally) and allowing it to roll off the top while someone else winds it onto the reel works well.

"30 lb", "45lb" Copper Wire Fishing Line and "Ready Rigged" is available by Opti-Tackle Co.,llc, see our Copper line webpage for more info. Please see our retailers who are listed on our retail/website store listing page or please ask for it at a retailer near you. Any retailer can order our products directly from us by calling (866) 600-3548.

Copper Line Reels:

The following chart is the approximate feet of copper line that will fit on each of the reels, this assumes +/- 200 yards of a superline backing ( i.e. 30# Tuf-Line) . The footage will vary depending on the type of backing used.

.028” Dia. Copper(“30lb”) ---------.037” Dia. Copper(“45lb”)

Penn 330.........30lb - Max.300’

Penn 340.........30lb - Max.450’...............45lb - Max.300’

Penn 345.........30lb - Max.600'...............45lb - Max. 600’

Shimano 700........30lb - Max. 450’.............45lb - Max. 300’

Shimano 800........30lb - Max. 600’.............45lb - Max. 400’

Diawa  57.........30lb - Max. 300’

TICA  558.......30lb - Max. 300’

OKUMA 45.........30lb - Max. 300’

OKUMA 55 .....................................45lb - Max. 300’

  Illustration of the Albright knot below: