cord mack lines and snubbers

[rick k]

I've got a bit of a thing for older style fishing gear, and 'had to have' a camphor laurel handreel complete with modern cord line, wire, monster barrel sinker etc. It came equipped with the 6" barra spoon referred to below. I know they are still used for spaniards.

What is the best way of fishing with this, apart, that is, from leaving it at home and using a lever drag reel and stroker? I have got the troll behind the boat idea :), but handheld, or with a snubber?

If a snubber, what's best and how is it best attached to the cord line?

[jaybee]

my old man use to fish like that for a living, in fact he use to make his own spoons from mums tablespoons ;D she use to get bloody cranky LOL. but he didnt use a snubber as you call it, just trolled in a 20 ft plus boat with a 1 lung motor and waited for the big reel to go screaming across the floor, my bro use to use a snubber trolling for tailor with a spoon and 80 lb line around 20 ft out the back of the boat, next time i talk to him i will ask how he attached the line, i know the snubber was attached to a cleat on the stern
cheers
joe.

[mackmauler]

Be a good comparison that gear with the strokers and leverdrags, spaniards are the easiest of the pelagics to boat ive found 3 or 4 minutes to boat a 15 kilo mack on modern gear, you might be able to do it in 1 with that gear, A mate who trolled off the barges in the gulf reckoned you just look for the mack splashing in the wake, similar rig was used, no snubber though.

[rick k]

thanks for that, looks like no snubber for macks, just hang on. Lucky I'm not exactly trim etc. Better have another stubbie as training.

Looking forward to getting more info.

Rick

[jaybee]

okay fish lets hope i can explain it here. the old man and bro used a bike tube, okay depends on the lenght of tube can use the whole tube or cut it down. From the lure to the tube you tie it off any knot will do, bro and dad used a half hitch, from the end of the tube to the end that is attached to the boat u put a belly in the line and attach the line to the tube half hitch or whatever again. The idea is the mack hits the lure, the tube stretches but not taking the belly out of the line. hope this helps, my bro used the same technic on tailor of bruns bar in a twelve footer with wonder wobblers and worked a treat. oh by the way the speed is 4 to 5 mph with the old spoons which is app 6.4 kph or 3.4 knots hope this helps
cheers
joe

[pmartyna]

My ole mate Laurie used to fish the GB reef back in the early days (He was on the first refrigerated ship out of NQ. They used a rig pretty much like that including the snubber, and towed it behind diesel powered dories they drove with their feet.

They were using piano wire trace though... Ouch!

While you are getting your tiretube snubber ready here's another tip from Laurie. Cut 1-2 inch sections of tire tube from variuos sizes of tube. Slide 1 over each of your main line holding fingers (2 if using piano wire!). Saves on the cuts and burns, and gives you much better grip.

There is a great product I use for flyfishing that does the same thing. It's called digigrips and is actually made for golfing. made of neoprene and a special stitching. Works a treat, and actually helps my arthritis on those cold wet mornings!

The other thing you should try when trolling this way is what Laurie called "Feather Wogs" or just "Feathers". They are hard to find now, but are a fishhead shaped piece of metal chromed and sometimes with red plastic eyes. White maribou feathers are tired behind the head and sometimes wrapped with a red plastic bib.

I have made up a couple of "Tube wogs" and barrel sinkers cut in half and pounded into shape for our trip to Hinchinbrook next week. Let me know if you want more details.

Cheers,

Paul

[rick k]

Thanks Jaybee and Paul,

Paul, we used to use those rigs for mulloway off breakwaters when there was a fresh. We called 'em feathers. No doubt the moths have eaten all of mine.

I'm off to the bike shop. I've had a few mono burns, can't wait for a few more from the 31lb mono wire. 2 layers, I think I'll go for 3.

Thanks again,

Rick