How many people use handlines ?

[Handliner]

Just wondering for interests sake, How many people use handlines ? and in what application ?

Myself I use them mainly for reef fishing and they range from 40lb to 150lb Shogun or Schneider mono. I try to target Tuskies, Cobia, Cod & Fingermark and handlines really are the only way to go for the powerful brutes. The main reason I use handlines is because they are extremely cost effective.

Gerry

[griz066]

Not me got too many rods 7 Reels ::) just wouldn't feel right goin fishin without packing the reels up in the little protective bags :-[ and putting them in the backpack then sliding the rods in there protective cloth sleeve's :'( and putting them in the 6" pvc tube for protection >:( then loading it all in the ute :-? then doin all that in reverse when we get to the spot >:( then pack it all up again for the trip home :'(

Handline you say ::) hhmmm!! betta get one ;D

[trout3030]

Yep handlines for me most of the time. 45 pound schneider for reef fishing.

[Piscatorial_Prowle]

hand lines for me when Reef fishing 40 - 60lb schneider is the goods,
You don't seem to miss as many fishing using the old handline compaired to using rods.

[sid_fishes]

well i have to admitt my old man only uses a hand line[ and he outfishes most of us] so why is it better, cause i was brought up using a rod

[Biff]

Sorry guys. For me, you just can'y beat the sound a screaming reel makes.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :D :D

[onerabbit]

Handlines was all we had when I was a kid, & the only time (twice) I have fished north of the border was in Cairns, with handlines on the reef, up there , was the way to do it, Id hate to try it on the shelf though.

Muzz

[Kenny]

Yep....I use handlines for deepish water pier/jetty fishing......100 pound line with a nice and lively baitfish on the end. Usually, if something bites, it's going to be big....and just a matter of hauling it in.

I caught a dugong once on the old Picnic Bay (Magnetic Island) jetty. The ferry had come in while I thought I had something BIG on the end of the line. When the thing surfaced, it surprised the heck out of me, because dugong's usually eat sea grass. But this one must have gotten curious or something and gulped my live bait fish. The people on the ferry were amazed. The only thing I could do was to pull in as much line as possible and cut the line and hope that the dugong wouldn't get tangled up.

[Feral]

In a boat I use a handline, generally 12lb line.

In a river from the bank (freshwater fishing), I use handlines, set em up on a stick, same 12lb line. Set 3 or 4 in a fan pattern into the water in from of me. If I am feeling really lazy, I will bell em and have a snooze!

[revs57]

Got sick of my hands being cut to peices even with finger stalls, nothing like the sound of a tld going off

cheers

Rhys

[dicko1980]

I think I'm going to convert to handlines for shallow reef fishing, less then 30m. Got bricked to many times on the weekend by trout. Time the rod loaded up they were already back in their holes. Resulting in have to tie leaders back on and wasting valuable fishing time. I was using 30lb braid. If I did manage to pump the fish up off the bottom for the first metre, it was all over for them though.
:'(

[FishOn]

When I go north 50lb handlines over the reefs for trout etc in 3-20m of water. Using a rod allows them too much line and time before you can apply pressure to stop them getting back into the sharp stuff.

No other way to do it as when using a rod almost every one is lost.

Kind regards
Trevor

[seatime]

We use handlines exclusively for trolling spoons for macks and snapper bottom banging.
U need the handline to hold onto the paravane when trolling and on the reef u can lock up with the handline and let the belly and stretch help play the fish when using mono.

Steve

[rick_k]

gelsec,

Last trip to Stanage Bay bought a lovely camphor laurel spool with green venetian blind cord, then multi strand wire, swivel, then mother of all barrel sinkers, swivel, then mono wire, then barra spoon for Spaniards.

Any idea how to fish same? Not so much location, as how much venetian blind cord to leave in reserve for runs etc? Have caught a few spaniards to 15kg on rod and reel; but the handline is a bit of a mystery.

Love the immediacy and simplicity of handlines for reef fishing. Admittedly the water was shallow.

[seatime]

rick_k,

When using a handline trolling for mackeral I run about 100lb line to the Yamashita paravane, with a swivel about 10m in front of the paravane then 30lb to the spoon. I don't use any wire.
It can be hard to hold onto if u go faster than about 4kts hence the 100lb. The trace to the spoon is about 8m with 2 black swivels.
Keep the paravane just behind the wash. When u get a hit keep trolling till the paravane pops to the surface, this helps set the hook. It can get tricky when u get the paravane back to the boat, then u have 30lb line to play and if the fish runs u need to let the paravane and swivels slide back thru the hands. cheers Steve.

[falcon01]

I estuary fish and use rods for the bread and butter type but if I want to catch a shark I use handlines as these things have sand paper skin and put up a good fight. Nothing beats a handline with 50lb line on it

[maat]

no fun without a rod ;D

[Handliner]

Well there are some like people around, I really havent seen anyone except my brother use a handline in years.

Good response guys, thank you.

Gerry

[Krazi-kev]

Going up soon to Lucinda and want to use a handline to target Figermark underneath the walk-on Jetty at Lucinda ;D

What should I be using as bait. I was thinking of loading it 100lb nylon and using a big metal 140gm lure for jigging. :P

Am I on the right track :-/
ta

[wayneoro]

okay few months back i bought a collection of silly oak handlines some have basic cord then 20ft s/s multy strand then 20ft mono trace [no sinker] 2nd style basic cord mono then sinker mono cork mono trace 3rd style basic cord mono sinker wire trace i assume they were used by an old pro fisherman and i intend to use them just not sure on the basic purpose of each setup

[blue-mako]

i use handline at almost every outing unles im sp fishing.... ive caught all my threadfin salmon from the river on them, a few bull sharks and bronze whalers, shovel nose rays, sting rays just about everything ive cort on a handline.... there all loaded with anywhere between 40-60lb with a few snapper leads at the bottom and 2 live bait hooks further up..... i caught this shovel nose ray on a live herring on a handline at nudgee beach

cheers, troy

[scraiga]

stopped using handlines when i was 12. Guess this was when the testosterone kicked in. Boys and there toys! Also it just so happens that the one and only time i've ever been spooled by a fish was with a handline. Big beach handline it was, loaded with 20lb mono. Still wonder to this day what was on the other end??