Inline vs Snap Weights

[wakina]

limitlypps:

Inline weights are attached directly to the furthest end of your fishing line then you would attach whatever length leader or Harness that pleases you. Normally the leader and/or harness length is at least 60 inches and up to 84 inches, but it is most generally never longer than your rod length. Leader/harness lengths longer than your rod makes netting the fish much harder as you have less control over the fish at the boat.

Snap wts are attached several feet before the leader/lure/harness. An example for 30/30 would be 30ft of line out and attach the wt. then another 30ft of line out and attach the board, then leave the board out the desired distance from the boat.

This holds true no matter what size wt you use. The only varables are with the snap wts where you can change the distance from the lure/harness/leader to the attachment of the snap wt. and the distance of the snap wt to the board to achive the desired depth of your crank bait. The reason snap wts are used for the cranks is it allows the crank bait to dive and retain its desired action while targeting fish that are below the normal diving range of the selected crank bait. It also allows the crank bait to get to the desired depth within its normal dive cure with out as much line out which is an advantage to the fisherman. It also creates vertical swim of the baits while slowing down or making turns even wave action will create vertical swim allowing the bait to rise and fall as the boat goes up or slides off a wave.

Vertical swim is more pronounced if the wt is attached to the line closer to the bait, thus the vertical swim for an inline wt is more pronounced on the baits action than the vertical swim of a snap wt attached 30 ft ahead of the bait so long as both wts are the same.

PatSea:

You can use the snap wts with harnesses but you will only be able to determine how deep the wt is and not the harness. Harnesses unlike Crank/stick baits do not have the ability to dive on their own. If you attach the snap wt close to the harness then you would be able to determine depth more accurately but then you have to worry about the wt becoming tangled in the net since it is dangling from the main line. If it comes off while netting the fish (knocked off, shook off) and still over the side it will probably be gone to the bottom. Inline wts with harnesses are a much better option since the inline is integrated into the fishing line from reel to harness and is always permanently attached while fishing.

[cycleguy]

Wakina…. very enjoyable read….. thank you for posting.

My chance at coming over this spring fell apart, but I still read everything on this forum to learn about the area and how all you guys do it - with hopes for next spring. You all have a great body of water there, sure would be great to be close enough to just get out and learn.

Thanks again!

[PatSea]

[QUOTE=wakina;47574]limitlypps:

Inline weights are attached directly to the furthest end of your fishing line then you would attach whatever length leader or Harness that pleases you. Normally the leader and/or harness length is at least 60 inches and up to 84 inches, but it is most generally never longer than your rod length. Leader/harness lengths longer than your rod makes netting the fish much harder as you have less control over the fish at the boat.

Snap wts are attached several feet before the leader/lure/harness. An example for 30/30 would be 30ft of line out and attach the wt. then another 30ft of line out and attach the board, then leave the board out the desired distance from the boat.

This holds true no matter what size wt you use. The only varables are with the snap wts where you can change the distance from the lure/harness/leader to the attachment of the snap wt. and the distance of the snap wt to the board to achive the desired depth of your crank bait. The reason snap wts are used for the cranks is it allows the crank bait to dive and retain its desired action while targeting fish that are below the normal diving range of the selected crank bait. It also allows the crank bait to get to the desired depth within its normal dive cure with out as much line out which is an advantage to the fisherman. It also creates vertical swim of the baits while slowing down or making turns even wave action will create vertical swim allowing the bait to rise and fall as the boat goes up or slides off a wave.

Vertical swim is more pronounced if the wt is attached to the line closer to the bait, thus the vertical swim for an inline wt is more pronounced on the baits action than the vertical swim of a snap wt attached 30 ft ahead of the bait so long as both wts are the same.

PatSea:

You can use the snap wts with harnesses but you will only be able to determine how deep the wt is and not the harness. Harnesses unlike Crank/stick baits do not have the ability to dive on their own. If you attach the snap wt close to the harness then you would be able to determine depth more accurately but then you have to worry about the wt becoming tangled in the net since it is dangling from the main line. If it comes off while netting the fish (knocked off, shook off) and still over the side it will probably be gone to the bottom. Inline wts with harnesses are a much better option since the inline is integrated into the fishing line from reel to harness and is always permanently attached while fishing.

Wakina, excellent explaination. Thanks for sharing this and for all the other helpful tips you provide on this site. I'm still learning trolling and guys like you really speed up the learning curve