Trolling the Tube and Worm with Braid

Nowadays, I do nearly 100% of my tube and worm trolling for striped bass with lead core line. I find using lead core is just easier for me, my catch rates are higher, and I've developed a system that works well for my boat and the good folks that fish with me.

Yet there was a time not too long ago when I trolled the tube and worm using braided line. Back then I would troll two lead core setups from my port and starboard rod holders, and two braid setups off my port stern, and starboard stern rod holders.

I avoided tangles by properly spacing the four lines. For example, say I set the lead core setups at 3 colors. I would then add a small rubber core sinker (usually around a quarter of an ounce) to my braid setups. I would let out between 40 and 50 yards of braid. This would place all my tubes at a productive depth; however the tubes fished off braid would be farther behind the lead core tubes. The spacing between the tubes allowed me to troll relatively tangle free.

I no longer do this because it's a lot of work clearing and setting lines when fishing on my own, and on top of that it's confusing for folks new to the trolling game.

But there's another added bonus to trolling the tube and worm via braid. Braid makes it possible to troll the tube and worm using very light conventional, or even spinning tackle.

Braid has a superior poundage strength to diameter ratio, compared to monofilament and lead core. It's very possible to pack over 200 yards of 40 pound braid onto a light spinning or conventional setup. If you want to add a bit more sport and challenge to your tube and worm trolling experience, then trolling with braid may be worth exploring.

When trolling with braid, it is important to avoid line twist. Twisted braid is a huge pain in the butt. Replacing an entire spool is also rather expensive. To avoid line twist, be sure to use a high quality snap swivel, and also consider tying a barrel swivel a yard or so up from the tube.
A setup that's worked for me in the past went a little something like this:

1) Load a your favorite light tackle spinning or conventional setup with 150-200 yards of 40 pound Power Pro braided line.

2) Using a Palomar knot, tie a high quality 100 plus pound strength barrel swivel to the bitter end of the braid.

3) Tie a 4 foot section of 50 pound monofilament or fluorocarbon leader to the open end of the barrel swivel using a Trilene knot.

4) Tie the bitter end of the leader to a high quality 100 plus pound snap swivel.

5) Snap a productive tube onto the line.

6) Attach an appropriate rubber core sinker to the leader a couple inches down from the barrel swivel.

Unfortunately, I have not worked out a weight and line to achieved depth ratio just yet. When I trolled with braid, I never knew for sure just how deep my tubes were fishing. This is another reason why I no longer fish this method.

However if you stick with braid long enough, I am sure that you will develop a precise ratio for achieving a desired depth. When you do, please tell me about it! Click here to learn more about trolling for striped bass