Wire Line Rigs 

A typical set-up for deep-water wire line fishing should include a short, stiff rod that has plenty of flexibility throughout its length, a single- or multiple-action quality reel, capable of fast retrieval, a lead core line or monel, and terminal tackle with a silver or gold flashy spoon such as William's whitefish or wobbler. Because sense of feel is very important in this type of fishing, I prefer monel line which, because of its nature, can transmit the slightest touch of bottom rather than absorb it as other lines do.

Line weight and diameter are as varied as monofilaments, ranging from as low as ten pound-test to as much as 60 pound-test, providing the angler with an adequate selection. Although line preferences vary almost as widely as their selection, the average line weight does not exceed 20 pounds and a great number of fishermen use even lighter ones to present bait more naturally.

When choosing lures for wire lining, keep in mind that good lake trout lures should have a noticeable movement during the jigging caused by proper boat control -- there's a definite snap of the lure. It is the backward fluttering movement and the subsequent straightening of the lure by the forward movement that causes this snap.

Nearly all wire liners prefer to use spoons and wobblers as terminal tackle, but there are those who troll live or dead bait in combination with a large lake trout harness known as a Christmas tree. With numerous spinner blades in golds, silver, and copper, steadily increasing in sizes from two to four inches, these rigs measuring up to six feet in length and terminated with a live or dead minnow become very unwieldy as well as downright tiring after long hours of constant pressure from these large spinning blades.

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