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ABOUT THE WIRES Stainless or Monel ? and how to mark the wires so you know what depth you are. |
| AFW’s Stainless Steel Trolling Wire |
| Is soft single strand wire carefully annealed for
maximum fl exibility and strength. The line sinks rapidly allowing the angler to get
down deep using shorter lengths of line. It is kink and abrasion resistant and ideal for
both fresh and saltwater trolling. The high strength of 300 series stainless steel results in a small
diameter per pound test providing greater reel capacity. Great for reaching Stripers and other
fish in deep waters. |
| AFW’s single strand soft Monel Trolling Wire |
| Is the ultimate line for wire fishing. Special
processing by AFW gives the wire exceptional kink resistance with excellent ductility
and high strength. This nickel-copper alloy provides maximum corrosion resistance
in fresh and saltwater and, due to its greater density, sinks more rapidly and stays deeper than
stainless steel and other trolling lines. Excellent wire for dragging baits at depth and hooking
hard-charging game fi sh such as Striped Bass and Wahoo. |
| MARKING WIRE LINE FOR TROLLING/SPEED |
| Wire line fishing is one of the oldest and most reliable techniques to control the depth of trolling lures. Typically stainless steel wire sinks at the rate of one
foot of depth for every ten feet of wire in the water. This formula is based on a trolling speed of 3 to 4 knots using a medium weight trolling lure. Umbrella rigs
tend to run deeper than lures and spoons, and heavier lures and spoons will run deeper than lighter ones. Variables such as boat speed, weight and shape of
the lure, and water current will aff ect depth. The following method for marking trolling wire is used by anglers who specialize in pursuing striped bass and
bluefi sh in Mid Atlantic waters and is based on 300’ of stainless steel or Monel trolling wire rated at 40 to 60 pound test. |
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STEP 1: Purchase a length of telephone wire at any
hardware or home improvement store and strip
off a length of outer sheath. Then cut at least four
sets of each color 5” long. Spool 200 yards of 50-lb
monofi lament backing on the reel. Hi-Seas Quattro
Plus or Grand Slam monofi lament is ideal. |
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STEP 2: Attach a Mighty-Mini 100% stainless steel
swivel to the end of the wire on the spool using
a haywire twist (see AFW Haywire Twist Tool on
page 53) and tie the monofi lament backing from
your trolling reel to the other side. Be sure the
swivel you select fi ts smoothly through the guides
on your trolling rod. |
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STEP 3: Measure the first fifty feet of wire and
mark it. Using HI-SEAS long nose pliers, put about
a dozen tiny bends in the wire being careful not
to kink it. |
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STEP 4: The finished bends should look like this. |
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STEP 5: Wrap a section of colored copper wire
around the trolling wire as shown with the middle
centered over the bends you just made. |
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STEP 6: Use a butane lighter to heat the plastic
coating for a couple seconds so it fuses together.
Do not burn it. |
| Repeat this with a different color wire at 100’, 150’,
200’ and 250’ intervals from the terminal end.
This will provide different colored depth markers
corresponding to 10’, 15’, 20’ and 25’. The lure will
be at approximately 30’ when you are down to the
mono backing and all 300’ of wire is in the water. |
| Diameters and feet per pound of AFW Trolling Wires |
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