First of all yes, I have used the search function and spent hours reading / looking. There are hundreds if not thousands of posts, making it difficult to find a consensus.
I'd like to hear from folks with actual experience using these on your boat.
1. For Madmacs leader / topshot rigging, what is optimal lb test? Some say that 200 lb interferes with the action, and that 130 or 100 is best. I'd rather go heavier, if it still fishes right.
2. When trolling multiple Madmacs, is it best to keep them all the same size?The implication being that each size has an optimal speed. Or is it fine to have say a 240 way back, and a 200 or 160 closer?
3. On the Halco Max 190, they come with Mustad single hooks. They don't indicate the part #. Are those hooks strong enough? I don't like the looks of the stock split ring, so will replace those for sure.
Thanks for any help, Mark
Fishing these madmacs is pretty straight forward once you get a feel for it but one thing I think I can expand and add some to this post.
I fish 100 lb meter braid, to Bimini twist to 130 or 135 lb wind on leader. Moimoi or Izor. Use mono, it will help to absorb the absolutely brutal shock when a large tuna bites your lure passing by at 12 knots…. I prefer 9 yards or approx 25 feet.
Direct tie to the lure, I use a 4 turn uni.
I fish my short 150 yards and my long 200 yards.
240 and 200 are my go to sizes. I like the new red bait color not because I think the color gets more bites, but specifically because the bottom of the lure is clear, so after catching a fish I can see if the lure is cracked somewhere as indicated by it filling up with water.
Change out the rear hooks at minimum to a size 5/0 SST 66. I use double trebles on the 240.
My short is always on my starboard my long is always on my port. This is because if I see a breezer, you need to pass the breezer at distance, then turn into it. I’m more accurate Turing to starboard than port.
When approaching a breezer do not run your boat over them, this is why I fish them so far back, as I pass the breezer completely, I then turn right to starboard and the short will pass through the breezer a few seconds before the long. Many doubles this way.
Set your drag softly, just enough to not creep out while you’re trolling at 11-13 knots. Your reel is at stop, inertia is real. Basically, when they strike that lure, it take a bit of energy to allow the line to spool out. Bodies at rest want to stay at rest. If your drag is too tight, and you’re dragging a heavy lure at 13 mph and a 150 lb tuna strikes that lure, you can imagine the force exerted to the system. If everything is too tight, pop goes the fish. When I hear people say, got bit on the “madmac, and it didn’t stick” I assume their drag set was too tight. I’ve lost very few fish on the initial hook up, maybe 2.
Once the fish is on, set drag appropriately.
Some breezer schools will bite the madmac good while others don’t. If they didn’t bite on the first pass, switch to the flyer and kite immediately. don’t troll the madmac through foam, they don’t bite them. If you see foaming fish, deploy the kite 100% or your usual surface jigs and baits depending on the size of fish.
Lastly, if I see someone already fishing a kite, or jigs on a breezer or former, I give them a wide berth. No one likes to be buzzed by a boat making wake at 13 mph when they are trying to position themselves to fish that spot of fish.
Good luck 🍀.
