JD, My brother and I are going to the Nushagak River, Alaska this summer for King fishing. We are getting ready to tie up some double hook rigs from the trip. My question(s) are:
Guide recommends using Maxima line for leaders and main line. Said they have never used braided line or flouro-carbon.
What do you think? Flouro-carbon leaders and braided main line a good choice? Does Flouro-carbon hold well when used to snell a hook?
Thanks, Dave N.
Dave, after guiding up there for 7 seasons on the ‘Nush, I can tell you that I never used anything but single barbless (no double rigs). The reason: there are so many fish up there that…
A) You’re going to hurt too many small kings with the double rig
B) You’re going to get hooked in the hand at some point
C) You’re going to spend too much time messing around, unhooking fish when you could be fishing
Unless the fishing is tough (rare), don’t bother tying too many double rigs…I think the slowest day I ever had up the guiding was 18 kings to the boat and we had as many as 100. Maybe take a few just in case you hit it at the worst possible time and there aren’t many fish.
As far as flouro goes, definitely not necessary. These fish are about as leader shy as bluegill. I’m not sure where you’re fishing, but in the lower river, it’s all pea gravel and you may not lose a rig to a snag all week. Plenty to fish, however…
Have fun!!
Leave a Reply