I've found the yellow rod does double duty the action perfect for the dipsy diver #1 using #30 braid I have a couple of old Penn saltwater reels (garage sale ) I reel the hybrid leadcore onto one of the level winds when I want to use the rod for divers saving my hybrid line for future use works out pretty good
Just got the same rod and reel and spooled up exactly according to Cal’s specs for 18ft top shot and calibrated the reel by measuring out a hundred feet in my yard and then spiking the duolock in the ground with a screwdriver and ran the line back to my 100ft mark and it was damn near spot on! With a dodger and some leader to presentation should be perfect! Thanks Cal!
If spooling up a different reel/line and you don't know how much of each, you can spool it in reverse (top shot, leadcore, backing) so you can just top it off to fill up your spool with your backing at the end, and then take it off and put it back on the correct direction.
I'm confused. If you only get 5ft for each color, how can you get 30dt with 3 colors? I have ordered all components and want to be sure I spool correctly to get 30ft
Cal! You should make it simpler by tying your lines together using the "Blood Knot". I never had this knot fail me plus you don't need to use Super Glue. I just loaded up my low profile Okuma Convector and the line fits like a glove. Can't wait to try this out!
I ended up using the larger okuma cv-354 dlx reel which pairs up with the yellow rod very nice the rod reminds me of old school rods we used when I was a kid with modern guides & traditional cork handle I differed my line setup from cals just a little in that I used #12 mono for backing & 4 colors lead core with #10 berkely vanish for the 70 ft. top shot the smaller okuma 163 I found the spool too small to accomidate 3 colord of #15 lead core so I transfered that reel to my trout & kokanee rod spooled with #10 berkely vanish the hybrid rig ill use with trout trix worms , metal heads & pistol petes with a rudder as the pistol pete flies have a very small spinner so im not taking any chances I try to watch at least one FHS video a night during this stormy weather to get ideas for my next trip I have camanche new melones & don pedro nearby to fish as well as a few others
Awesome Content. Thanks for taking the time to do this. This may be a silly question, but could I use this concept but run stick baits as opposed to Flys? I want a system where I can run Flys and/or hardbaits with lead core and get it out away from the kayak as needed.
I should clarify I couldnt find the 5500 lc model in left hand have owned the 5501 lefties as well as the 6501 but couldnt find them in linecounter models im sure the okuma will work for me up until now ive been using spinning tackle for trout I plan on using your same line counter numbers when spooling the okuma
I'll use your knot, looks good. I clamp a spool of line onto my rattle reel, tighten it down a bit behind a huge washer and leave the reel on the rod to fill the reel
Hi Cal, What do you think of the Red Phillips knot? I wanted a knot that was easy to tie, small, and strong. I have used this knot for 5 years with no failures! Keep the vids coming. Thanks! Jeff
Thanks for the video I've been very curious about this lately. Is there any reason not to use mono in lieu of the fluorocarbon? Also would you run dodgers on this setup or not? Thanks Cal.
Cal, I've seen you use a couple of recommendations for spooling a conventional reel. One approach uses mono to start before braided, the other was to use silicon tape with braided following. I have seen many approaches on the tube but rely on your opinion as tried and true. Which do you recommend as the best, if there is one. Thanks
Ive pulled the trigger on one of your lead core rods I share your opinion on the abu garcia reels however the lc 5500 not available in left hand so ill be pairing it up with an okums cv-163 dlx (leftie) it has a line capacity of 180 yards of #12 mono ill be studying more of your videos also ordered metal head fly kit this is all new to me m sure ill have questions before its all said donei
Hi Cal, Be careful.... it's been my experience that these types of line counting reels (various makers) don't count accurately if the spool is not full. Thanks for the videos!
Hi Cal, regular subscriber and use your trix worms, trigger spoons and trolling flies. One question, i want to have my rig at 30ft without downrigger, but am confused. How do i get to 30ft with only 3 colors lead core if one color only goes 5ft down? I have ordered all the components but want to be sure i spool the reel correctly. Thanks!
Great video Cal! If I wanted to get down to 100 feet at Shasta how much more line would I let out, or would I need to add 3-4 more colors? Sometimes, the downriver are a pain in my 1991 Alumaweld with the old school narrow not made for downriver rails.
5 ft per color, there about, means 20 colors means 200 yards of leadcore. I don't think you can fit that much on a reel, unless you get a deep sea rod and reel set up then that might be too stiff.
I fish tahoe at 100 feet with leadcore. I load my whole okuma cold water 303 with about 18 colors of leadcore connected to 30 feet of 12 lb mono to 12 feet of fluoro. It gets me to 100 feet deep.
That's great Cal. I was going to try and contact you for this information. Heading to your store after this note to see if you still have any of those Arbu left. Should go well with my Vance ULT 762 rod for long linning. I just don't use a downrigger on my kyack. Trolled all summer with a spinning rod and did very well in the high mountain lakes but changing out from a trolling set up to a casting set up takes away from my fishing time. Can't wait for spring, roads are closed now to where I go. Again thanks for the info...
Why use 15lb lead core instead of 27lb or 36lb? I’m gonna be trolling for salmon in Sacramento and might try this setup but not sure what pound lead core I should be using
When you are actually putting braids on your casting reels it is not recommended to use monofilament for a backing my word Vice is use braided line for your backing it does not slip on the spool I've been using braids for quite a few years and it works real good try my mess up once used braids for your backing I'm just saying
Hey Cal, I’ve been using heavy braid on my catfish bait cast rig. No top shot! I’m getting allot of twists or tangles in my line. Seems to do better with less line on the spool. Less line that is because I’ve had to cut out a mess. What am I doing wrong?
Is that reel like the Abu Garcia ambassadeur altum dlc where once you get your line down to the depth you want and engage the reel you can back reel about ½ a turn and it reduces the drag by ½ish so it acts almost like a bait runner?
I can't find a video on your deep lead core rig? I would like to set up a lead core rig for getting down 40ft or better. What would you advise for reel, backing, braid, lead core and top shot? Thank you, Mike
Hi Cal, what are the advantages of the hybrid setup? I'm used to braided backing, ten colours lead core and then the top shot. Why do you only use three colours and mono to start with on the spool??
3 colors gets us down to 20' or so, which is about as deep as we typically need to fish. We also like to keep the setback under 200'. It also allows us to use a standard 5500 reel.
I would like to purchase one of your lead core rigs but it looks like your sold out on the fish hunt shoot website! Any idea when you will be getting some in stock?
We have a container of them coming, but it will be a couple of weeks before we see them. Sign up for an email notification on the store so you will know when they are available.
If you have only one color out of lead core and the 60 feet top shot how much do you think the top shot changes your lure depth? It wouldn’t still be running at 5 ft would it?
Just ordered 2 abus and plan to set up this way as well. Now 3 colors would be your shallow rod and go down to 15’ with 3 colors? Now when you say they go down to 30’ is that with ) colors? Also when you set back do you stop when the leadcore color touches the water, rod tip, or let out to a certain counter? Did I miss a video with your explanation on how to run it? Thanks
I only use 3 colors with 15 or 20 lb braid backing...With three colors out and 25 feet of braid I'm down around 20..With 50 feet of braid I get down 25 to 30....I have one rod with a longer topshot of fluoro that I use for shallowish work and one with a shorter topshot that I use for deeper work....
@@FHSTackle great, I got ahead of myself and found the rest of your videos on this. I now have 2 abus set up this way! I cannot wait to get out and give this a shot.
You obviously have a method that works for you , but I have a couple questions about a couple lengths of line you were giving as you filled the reel. I have some 18# Suffix Performance lead core line. Each color is 10 ft long. That is what you used, except it it was 15 lb. line. I was under the impression that all Suffix line had 10 foot colors. You said you loaded 3 colors of line and that it was 90 feet of lead core. Wouldn't 3 colors be 30 feet of lead core, not 90? My second question has to do with using the line counter to measure the line you were adding. As I said earlier, you have a method, probably through trial and error, that works for you, but those numbers you were looking at on the line counter were not accurate. As I have been told by Pros, videos and experimented with myself, line counter reels are only accurate when you have a full spool of line. One has to calibrate the exact amount of line to get anywhere near close to the numbers that the line counter is telling you. For example, when you put the mono on, you said you were adding 80 ft. or something like that. The line counter displays the revolutions of the spool at full capacity. Since that was the first line you put on the reel, there is no way that was actually 80 ft. or whatever the line counter number was since the diameter of the spool of line was so small at that point. However, I do understand that it is the number on the line counter you use for filling an AG 550 the same way every time. It is practical, but not accurate to quote the line counter numbers to get the reels all filled alike. Did you purposefully not mention the line counters inherent inaccuracies at different stages of filling the spool to keep things more simple?
Not often. We abuse multiple lead core options on the guide boat with very few issues. Line twist will definitely mess up the lead, so use quality trolling swivels.
Great info. I strongly disagree with the abu recommendation! The quality has really went down over the years! Their warranty and customer is awful!! On top of that the made in China and South Korea low profile bait caster reals are junk! Hopefully this trolling reel recommendation is better then their bait caster offerings! Buyers beware!!
So what your saying is that you, the mono-filament goes on first, the lead core second and we attach small lengths of mono-filament each time it breaks?
Love that u use a double uni knot to connect your lines. It’s one of the best knots to connect braid to mono. 👍🏼👍🏼
I've found the yellow rod does double duty the action perfect for the dipsy diver #1 using #30 braid I have a couple of old Penn saltwater reels (garage sale ) I reel the hybrid leadcore onto one of the level winds when I want to use the rod for divers saving my hybrid line for future use works out pretty good
Just got the same rod and reel and spooled up exactly according to Cal’s specs for 18ft top shot and calibrated the reel by measuring out a hundred feet in my yard and then spiking the duolock in the ground with a screwdriver and ran the line back to my 100ft mark and it was damn near spot on! With a dodger and some leader to presentation should be perfect! Thanks Cal!
That is an awesome set up!
Great informative lead core content. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing your hard earned knowledge so freely Cal. I have learned a lot from you and I greatly appreciate it.
Thank You
If spooling up a different reel/line and you don't know how much of each, you can spool it in reverse (top shot, leadcore, backing) so you can just top it off to fill up your spool with your backing at the end, and then take it off and put it back on the correct direction.
Ooooo....Good idea...LOL
Clever
My tacklestore has done that for me for a couple decades
I'm confused. If you only get 5ft for each color, how can you get 30dt with 3 colors? I have ordered all components and want to be sure I spool correctly to get 30ft
Cal! You should make it simpler by tying your lines together using the "Blood Knot". I never had this knot fail me plus you don't need to use Super Glue. I just loaded up my low profile Okuma Convector and the line fits like a glove. Can't wait to try this out!
Same formula works just fine on Okuma Magda, MA 20 DXT, GEAR RATIO 5.1:1
Much thanks Cal works great!!!!!! 👍
Good to know!
I ended up using the larger okuma cv-354 dlx reel which pairs up with the yellow rod very nice the rod reminds me of old school rods we used when I was a kid with modern guides & traditional cork handle I differed my line setup from cals just a little in that I used #12 mono for backing & 4 colors lead core with #10 berkely vanish for the 70 ft. top shot the smaller okuma 163 I found the spool too small to accomidate 3 colord of #15 lead core so I transfered that reel to my trout & kokanee rod spooled with #10 berkely vanish the hybrid rig ill use with trout trix worms , metal heads & pistol petes with a rudder as the pistol pete flies have a very small spinner so im not taking any chances I try to watch at least one FHS video a night during this stormy weather to get ideas for my next trip I have camanche new melones & don pedro nearby to fish as well as a few others
Man I needed to see this. Thank you
Yes!!
The FG Knot is perfect for joining mono to braid, its fast to tie.and its super strong.
takes me some time to tie it correctly but i love it too. I just used it for topshots tho
Also in newer videos you talked about how you have experimented with shorter top shot lengths. Any more videos on that?
Actually yes…. I’m down to 12 feet at times and I keep hooking fish….. I’m also running leadcore off a downrigger …. I’ll do a video on that…
Awesome Content. Thanks for taking the time to do this. This may be a silly question, but could I use this concept but run stick baits as opposed to Flys? I want a system where I can run Flys and/or hardbaits with lead core and get it out away from the kayak as needed.
I use my braid for backing to the lead core to the vanish leader no sence having more knots then absolutely necessary
Right On!
I should clarify I couldnt find the 5500 lc model in left hand have owned the 5501 lefties as well as the 6501 but couldnt find them in linecounter models im sure the okuma will work for me up until now ive been using spinning tackle for trout I plan on using your same line counter numbers when spooling the okuma
Check out the Willis knot for connecting lead core line to mono or fluorocarbon. Pretty slick reliable knot.
Thanks John!!!
I'll use your knot, looks good. I clamp a spool of line onto my rattle reel, tighten it down a bit behind a huge washer and leave the reel on the rod to fill the reel
Awesome
Hi Cal,
What do you think of the Red Phillips knot? I wanted a knot that was easy to tie, small, and strong. I have used this knot for 5 years with no failures! Keep the vids coming.
Thanks!
Jeff
Thanks for the video I've been very curious about this lately. Is there any reason not to use mono in lieu of the fluorocarbon? Also would you run dodgers on this setup or not? Thanks Cal.
Cal, I've seen you use a couple of recommendations for spooling a conventional reel. One approach uses mono to start before braided, the other was to use silicon tape with braided following. I have seen many approaches on the tube but rely on your opinion as tried and true. Which do you recommend as the best, if there is one. Thanks
Ive pulled the trigger on one of your lead core rods I share your opinion on the abu garcia reels however the lc 5500 not available in left hand so ill be pairing it up with an okums cv-163 dlx (leftie) it has a line capacity of 180 yards of #12 mono ill be studying more of your videos also ordered metal head fly kit this is all new to me m sure ill have questions before its all said donei
Hi Cal, Be careful.... it's been my experience that these types of line counting reels (various makers) don't count accurately if the spool is not full. Thanks for the videos!
You mention a leader? Details on the leader set up please.
Hi Cal, regular subscriber and use your trix worms, trigger spoons and trolling flies. One question, i want to have my rig at 30ft without downrigger, but am confused.
How do i get to 30ft with only 3 colors lead core if one color only goes 5ft down? I have ordered all the components but want to be sure i spool the reel correctly.
Thanks!
I think I'm going to try this.....
Great video Cal! If I wanted to get down to 100 feet at Shasta how much more line would I let out, or would I need to add 3-4 more colors? Sometimes, the downriver are a pain in my 1991 Alumaweld with the old school narrow not made for downriver rails.
Down riggers! Darn autocorrect!
5 ft per color, there about, means 20 colors means 200 yards of leadcore. I don't think you can fit that much on a reel, unless you get a deep sea rod and reel set up then that might be too stiff.
I fish tahoe at 100 feet with leadcore. I load my whole okuma cold water 303 with about 18 colors of leadcore connected to 30 feet of 12 lb mono to 12 feet of fluoro. It gets me to 100 feet deep.
@@tkbilly I want to try this, have you had success running lead core this deep?
@@mbeckwith7514 I haven’t used this exact setup, I just do leadcore to mono to flouro. It works amazing.
That's great Cal. I was going to try and contact you for this information. Heading to your store after this note to see if you still have any of those Arbu left. Should go well with my Vance ULT 762 rod for long linning. I just don't use a downrigger on my kyack. Trolled all summer with a spinning rod and did very well in the high mountain lakes but changing out from a trolling set up to a casting set up takes away from my fishing time. Can't wait for spring, roads are closed now to where I go. Again thanks for the info...
You'll dig using the leadcore...Works Great!
So 15 lb lead core. But how do you feel about the new suffix 832 advanced lead core?
It’s fine…. Works great…. A little harder to work with…. Not sure the increased price is justified
Same birthday as me
Why use 15lb lead core instead of 27lb or 36lb? I’m gonna be trolling for salmon in Sacramento and might try this setup but not sure what pound lead core I should be using
When you are actually putting braids on your casting reels it is not recommended to use monofilament for a backing my word Vice is use braided line for your backing it does not slip on the spool I've been using braids for quite a few years and it works real good try my mess up once used braids for your backing I'm just saying
I've heard the exact opposite. People start with mono as backing and then add the braid.
A word of voice I do not start with monell as backing special would braid because itasse braid to braid that's how it's post be done
Hey Cal, I’ve been using heavy braid on my catfish bait cast rig. No top shot!
I’m getting allot of twists or tangles in my line. Seems to do better with less line on the spool. Less line that is because I’ve had to cut out a mess.
What am I doing wrong?
No backing either
Spinning rod or bait caster?
Is that reel like the Abu Garcia ambassadeur altum dlc where once you get your line down to the depth you want and engage the reel you can back reel about ½ a turn and it reduces the drag by ½ish so it acts almost like a bait runner?
No I don't think so....You've got to adjust it manually by moving the star....
I can't find a video on your deep lead core rig? I would like to set up a lead core rig for getting down 40ft or better. What would you advise for reel, backing, braid, lead core and top shot? Thank you, Mike
25 ft is about the most you are going to get out of the hybrid setup. We use a downrigger to get deeper than that.
Hi Cal, what are the advantages of the hybrid setup? I'm used to braided backing, ten colours lead core and then the top shot. Why do you only use three colours and mono to start with on the spool??
3 colors gets us down to 20' or so, which is about as deep as we typically need to fish. We also like to keep the setback under 200'. It also allows us to use a standard 5500 reel.
How would you spool a Penn ware fare 20 level wind line counter with hybrid leadcore.
Its the same general setup: Braid backing, 3 or 4 colors of lead, and a top shot.
How much backing do you let out when fishing deep? Does more line out make you fish deeper ?
To an extent. If you let out 50' of backing, it pretty much bottoms out at max depth. ~Wes
I would like to purchase one of your lead core rigs but it looks like your sold out on the fish hunt shoot website! Any idea when you will be getting some in stock?
We have a container of them coming, but it will be a couple of weeks before we see them. Sign up for an email notification on the store so you will know when they are available.
Nice set up. Which rod's lbs you reccomend with this ? Like 10/20lbs or less?
10/20 will work…..You should check out my yellow leadcore rods… they are 8/20 and I designed them specifically for leadcore trout fishing!
@@FHSTackle Amazing!
If you have only one color out of lead core and the 60 feet top shot how much do you think the top shot changes your lure depth? It wouldn’t still be running at 5 ft would it?
I’m confident that it will be close to that when on the troll….
@@FHSTackle Thanks Cal!
Just ordered 2 abus and plan to set up this way as well. Now 3 colors would be your shallow rod and go down to 15’ with 3 colors? Now when you say they go down to 30’ is that with ) colors? Also when you set back do you stop when the leadcore color touches the water, rod tip, or let out to a certain counter? Did I miss a video with your explanation on how to run it? Thanks
3 color rod gets me to 5-15 feet and 6 colors gets me to 5-30’?
I only use 3 colors with 15 or 20 lb braid backing...With three colors out and 25 feet of braid I'm down around 20..With 50 feet of braid I get down 25 to 30....I have one rod with a longer topshot of fluoro that I use for shallowish work and one with a shorter topshot that I use for deeper work....
@@FHSTackle great, I got ahead of myself and found the rest of your videos on this. I now have 2 abus set up this way! I cannot wait to get out and give this a shot.
You obviously have a method that works for you , but I have a couple questions about a couple lengths of line you were giving as you filled the reel. I have some 18# Suffix Performance lead core line. Each color is 10 ft long. That is what you used, except it it was 15 lb. line. I was under the impression that all Suffix line had 10 foot colors. You said you loaded 3 colors of line and that it was 90 feet of lead core. Wouldn't 3 colors be 30 feet of lead core, not 90?
My second question has to do with using the line counter to measure the line you were adding. As I said earlier, you have a method, probably through trial and error, that works for you, but those numbers you were looking at on the line counter were not accurate. As I have been told by Pros, videos and experimented with myself, line counter reels are only accurate when you have a full spool of line. One has to calibrate the exact amount of line to get anywhere near close to the numbers that the line counter is telling you. For example, when you put the mono on, you said you were adding 80 ft. or something like that. The line counter displays the revolutions of the spool at full capacity. Since that was the first line you put on the reel, there is no way that was actually 80 ft. or whatever the line counter number was since the diameter of the spool of line was so small at that point. However, I do understand that it is the number on the line counter you use for filling an AG 550 the same way every time. It is practical, but not accurate to quote the line counter numbers to get the reels all filled alike.
Did you purposefully not mention the line counters inherent inaccuracies at different stages of filling the spool to keep things more simple?
If you look closer, you'll find that it's 10 yds per color, not 10 ft
What lb lead core are you running? I happened to notice they have a lb test.
Mostly 15
Do you have the lengths for Okuma saltwater on your store?
No, you’ll have to play with them a bit
Thanks for an awesome instructional! How often does the lead core break on you?
Not often. We abuse multiple lead core options on the guide boat with very few issues. Line twist will definitely mess up the lead, so use quality trolling swivels.
@@FHSTackle Thank you!
Coated copper, winding motor copper works much better 22ga to 28ga
Now I know!!😎👊🤟
Yes!
@@FHSTackle oh yeah..and Thanks a lot Cal!!😊✌
And what type of rod do you use for that setup
My signature series leadcore rods...I'm out of stock on them right now...
Any chance you have the amount of line needed for a okuma convector cv-15d reel?
Nope...You just have to play with it, but when you figure it out...write it down...LOL
@@FHSTackle No worries! the okuma is slightly smaller so I was thinking of going with 450ft braid... I'll let you know how it turns out.
@@oocchiverdio Did you ever finalize the the amount of line needed for the Okuma.
Bait cast
🧐
Great info. I strongly disagree with the abu recommendation! The quality has really went down over the years! Their warranty and customer is awful!! On top of that the made in China and South Korea low profile bait caster reals are junk! Hopefully this trolling reel recommendation is better then their bait caster offerings! Buyers beware!!
I've had great luck with the 5500s, but the Okuma Coldwater series work well too...
I believe that's called a double uni knot.
can you use a lead core rod with all mono for other types of fishing?
Yes
So what your saying is that you, the mono-filament goes on first, the lead core second and we attach small lengths of mono-filament each time it breaks?
Use a mono or braid backing, 3 colors of lead, and a 30-50’ leader of flouro. Tie a trolling swivel to the flouro and run your dodger/ lure off that.