Trolling rapalas - advice needed - swivel to braid or FG?

[flyfisherman]

Hello


We just recently purchased a boat and dabbled in trolling rapalas offshore hangklip … rods are those Elbe fiberglass boat rods - the Bonita 9-12kg ones. Reels are Shimano Stradic SW-B with 30lb braid. Rapalas are the x-rap magnum 10 and 15s.


So for the regular yellow tail and skipjack and bonito the gear heald up fine and no breakages occurred… however last weekend we ventured out deeper and got stuck into some small yellowfin in the 20-30kg range… hooked 3 landed 1. The lost ones it seems the FG knot parted?


So my question - can you troll with 30lb braid and use a swivel to connect say a 1-2m leader or how do you experts connect the braid to leader for trolling? I don’t want to loose any fish due to breakage as I actually feel bad that they now cruising around with a rapala in their mouth.

So I guess my questions are:

1. Do you use a swivel to tie your braid to fluoro leader when trolling rapalas or an FG or Bimini/albright?

2. Do you use a non slip loop knot or clip to connect rapala (and do you remove the rapala split ring)



Any advice appreciated!!!


Thank you

 

[DJP]

1m is too short leader for trolling, you can increase it to 3-4m, will also help with landing the fish at the boat.
If the break is at the FG then it was most likely that knot was made poor because on 30lb braid you should struggle to break the FG. As alternative you can use a PR bobbin to make a knot, for me it's easier and actually a bit stronger than an FG.
You can use lure clips or loop knot. If you use lure clips just don't use too big ones on the smaller rappies (check next to the boat if the swim well).
Just fyi sometimes snoek bite at the knots (are you using bright coloured braid?) so it may actually have been bitten off by another fish.