Super Sliders
A horizontal slider (shown at right) starts with a crankbait snap tied to one end of a
piece of 16-20 pound test fluorocarbon long enough to get the bait down to where
you want it. Tie the opposite end to the large split ring on an Off Shore OR-16
Snap Weight Clip; attach the snap to the lure.
To fish both your main line and the slider simultaneously, let out the main line with
a crankbait or spinner rig, just as you would at any other time. Attach the planer
board when you've reached the necessary letback, then let it begin tracking to the
side. When the board is approximately halfway to where you'd like it, clip the Snap
Weight Clip to the main line and let out the slider lure behind the boat. When the
slider bait is tracking, clip another crankbait snap around both the main line and
the Snap Weight Clip split ring, then let the planer board travel out the full distance.
The Off Shore clip is usually strong enough to hold the slider rig in place on the
main line, even when a big walleye hits, just as the clip does on a planer board.
The crankbait snap joining the main line and split ring is just an added line of
defense to ensure you won't lose your slider line (and any fish that might be on it)
should the clip come unbuttoned.
To make the setup even more effective, tie a small dropper line to the split ring and
attach a float. Next, let the planer pull the main line out far enough so the float
glides across the surface. It works like a strike indicator for the slider line, and is
especially valuable for indicating when the lure has fouled on weeds or is dragging
a small fish.
When a walleye hits the slider, reel up to the snap, release it and land the fish
hand-over-hand, just as you would if you were hand-lining. If a fish hits the main
line, simply begin reeling until you can reach and unsnap the slider, then get it out
of the way. Continue reeling up to the planer board, remove it and reel in the fish.
It's very easy once you do it a time or two.
The same slider rig can also be used to vertically troll 'crawler harnesses with
bottom bouncers or Snap Weights (shown at lower right). With bouncers, rig a
'crawler harness as you normally would to fish the bottom, then let out line and clip
on the slider to target high-riding walleyes.
The distance between the bouncer and slider depends on the fish. Keep in mind
that the main line will be at a 45-degree angle from the bottom, so if you mark fish
seven feet off the bottom, attach the slider about 15 feet up from the bouncer.
When running Snap Weights, a good option when walleyes are suspended, let the
first harness out on about 20 feet of line, add the weight, then let out more line and
add the slider. Again, remember the 45-degree rule when attaching the slider.
Be sure to note how much line you let out with each rig so you can duplicate the
presentation that works.
A horizontal slider (shown at right) starts with a crankbait snap tied to one end of a
piece of 16-20 pound test fluorocarbon long enough to get the bait down to where
you want it. Tie the opposite end to the large split ring on an Off Shore OR-16
Snap Weight Clip; attach the snap to the lure.
To fish both your main line and the slider simultaneously, let out the main line with
a crankbait or spinner rig, just as you would at any other time. Attach the planer
board when you've reached the necessary letback, then let it begin tracking to the
side. When the board is approximately halfway to where you'd like it, clip the Snap
Weight Clip to the main line and let out the slider lure behind the boat. When the
slider bait is tracking, clip another crankbait snap around both the main line and
the Snap Weight Clip split ring, then let the planer board travel out the full distance.
The Off Shore clip is usually strong enough to hold the slider rig in place on the
main line, even when a big walleye hits, just as the clip does on a planer board.
The crankbait snap joining the main line and split ring is just an added line of
defense to ensure you won't lose your slider line (and any fish that might be on it)
should the clip come unbuttoned.
To make the setup even more effective, tie a small dropper line to the split ring and
attach a float. Next, let the planer pull the main line out far enough so the float
glides across the surface. It works like a strike indicator for the slider line, and is
especially valuable for indicating when the lure has fouled on weeds or is dragging
a small fish.
When a walleye hits the slider, reel up to the snap, release it and land the fish
hand-over-hand, just as you would if you were hand-lining. If a fish hits the main
line, simply begin reeling until you can reach and unsnap the slider, then get it out
of the way. Continue reeling up to the planer board, remove it and reel in the fish.
It's very easy once you do it a time or two.
The same slider rig can also be used to vertically troll 'crawler harnesses with
bottom bouncers or Snap Weights (shown at lower right). With bouncers, rig a
'crawler harness as you normally would to fish the bottom, then let out line and clip
on the slider to target high-riding walleyes.
The distance between the bouncer and slider depends on the fish. Keep in mind
that the main line will be at a 45-degree angle from the bottom, so if you mark fish
seven feet off the bottom, attach the slider about 15 feet up from the bouncer.
When running Snap Weights, a good option when walleyes are suspended, let the
first harness out on about 20 feet of line, add the weight, then let out more line and
add the slider. Again, remember the 45-degree rule when attaching the slider.
Be sure to note how much line you let out with each rig so you can duplicate the
presentation that works.
.
by Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson of North American Fisherman (April 2007)
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