03-31-2025, 06:29 PM
I agree that downriggers are probably the best for depth control but I understand what Skunked Again is saying. I fished lead core for many years starting as a small boy at Strawberry. My dad owned a Mercury 9.8 trolling motor and would rent a wooden boat from Frank Madsen. We would troll around Haws point area early in the morning and late in the evening. I would usually fish a Strawberry Wobbler on a lead core at 3 colors. That little Merc outboard would lull me to sleep (or half sleep anyway) and about then, a big old Yellowstone cut would slam it. The lead core line had no stretch so all that energy would transmit directly to my hands and my heart would jump right up in my throat. I'm surprised I never lost a rod overboard! I definitely woke up fast and enjoyed fighting a big fish. Mono has too much stretch to get that kind of enjoyment from a hit. I guess braid is better but I agree with Skunked about the thrill getting slammed with the rod in your hand. I can still remember that electric adrenalin rush of a hard hit on lead core almost 60 years later!