I've done primarily all my fishing off a dock in the river since I moved up here less than a year ago, so my inshore knowledge could use some help. I have braided line on my setup, and use maybe 14-17" of mono leader with a jighead and arties lately catching flounder by working it towards me and continuing that process. I found that if I tried to work it slowly, I was more prone to catch on oysters almost every time.

My question is, can I use this method when I get my kayak in the near future for reds and trout as well? Should I continue to use a leader on the braid or does it not matter? My method for trout has been to slap a live shrimp on a cajun thunder rig and just wait it out. Any help would definitely be appreciated.

Your stated Flounder method will work just fine for the Trout once you get out in your kayak. Give your Artie's a little twitch up in the water column every now and then to get those trout fired up for it.

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Hobie Pro Angler 12
Hobie Outback

Thanks, I figured it will be a trial and error process, I'll have to meet up with y'all once I get a rig

I always use mono or flouro leader with my braid unless im frogging in freshwater for bass because its alot more visable than a leader! Especially when throwing arties anything that helps it look as real as possible is a plus! good luck!!

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-Brandon
KC kayaks and All Wet Team rider

I use flurocarbon leader also with my braid, but I like for it to be in the 4' to 6' length. Once i see signs of fraying i cant cut and retie to the leader. Live bait under the cajun thunder works great for trout and reds, not to mention topwater plugs.

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Kevin

Hobie Outback
Native Mariner 12.5 (Propel Drive)
Diablo Paddlesports Adios

Heard this tip last week. Take a perm black marker and color your braid for the first 3 ft or so when tying your braid directly onto your lure.

There was also a discussion about the use of swivels for attaching lures. Like the guy said " If you catch fish with metal jig heads/spinners/treble hooks dangling down, do you think the fish is going to refuse a lure because of some little swivel tied onto the line"???? Sounds reasonable but not sure I can bring myself to use a swivel

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Hobie Pro Angler 12

What purpose does the black marker serve?

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Jackson Cuda

I vary my set up depending on what I'm doing. If I'm throwing a spinnerbait then I just tie my braid directly to the lure. You're fishing a fast moving bait and looking for a reaction bite so the fish doesn't have a long time to inspect your bait and possibly detect the braid. If I'm throwing a soft plastic jerk bait or an unweighted DOA shrimp then I usually use some type of leader to have more of an undetectable presentation. I don't get crazy with the length though. I don't think I've ever used more than a 2.5' leader regardless of what I was using for bait or what game fish I was after. Here around Jacksonville we are rarely cursed with crystal clear waters as can be found down in the Keys. Luckily our water always has some amount of stain to it which helps to disguise terminal tackle and braided lines.

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2012 Hobie Pro Angler 14

supposedly hides the line with the dark color

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Hobie Pro Angler 12

i guess i go against what alot of guys are saying, i never tie any kind of lure/jig/hook or anything directly to braid...i connect my braid with a foot or 2 of flouro with a uni-knot. i only use a swivel with a fish finder rig, like if im fishing for flounder off the docks, or for sheepshead. if im not using a weight, i dont use a swivel. And a cajun thunder, with a mudminnow under it, when worked right, can be as deadly for flounder as any other rig.