Making Bait Harness

[Painter1]

I decided to make the crawler and leech/minnow bait harnesses for out group heading for a Canadian Fly-in trip. I am a newbie at making these so I apologize if my questions are elementary.

We fish for Walleye with a M action spinning rod, spooled with 8 to 10 lb line. Most of the harnesses I am seeing are made with 14# plus. What size and type line are you using?

I watched 2 video on tying the snells. One of them wrapped 7 times and the other one wrapped 12 times. How many wraps do you make per hook?

I bought some of the floater type beads that string onto the line. I am assuming these would NOT be used in conjunction with a spinner, since the spinner would weigh it down. If you want the bait to float up off the bottom how many of these floats are needed and how do you secure them?

I ordered #2 and #3 Colorado blades with #2 folded clevis based on the little I learned by browsing, For walleye fishing what size and type of blades and clevises do you use?

Last one: How many beads or does it really matter?

Thank you for your help

[saskcat420]

Hey painter, When I tie my own walleye harness, I use 17 # line. When i tie snell knots I use 7 wraps per hook. I dont think that it matters how many wraps you use. 7 wraps seem to work for me. When I put floats on I use 3-4 floats and still use a spinner blade too. Usually a #2 colarado blade and it still floats. I usually use #3,#4,#5 colarado blades. As far as how many beads to put on a harness is all up to you. I have seen 3 beads up to 8-9 beads on a harness.

[atijigs]

There are many different ways to snell a hook for a crawler harness. Non of which you would need 12 wraps. Do yourself a favor and get some bottom bouncers. That will keep your spinners off the bottom. You can use floater beads or jig heads too if you choose. The bottom bouncer will help reduce the snags. As far as the number of beads goes, you just want enough to keep the blade up around the hook eye on the top hook. If the blade is lower than that it could act as a shield and block the top hook. Clevises need only be big enough to spin freely. I prefer the plastic ones that you can just snap a blade on. Makes color changes easy. For line I like 10-14 lb. Fluorocarbon. Tough enough to bring a big pike in if needed. Good luck and have a great time.

[Painter1]

Thanks, guys. That is solid information I will use. I really appreciate it