What is the formula for hellbender petspoon rig with 20lb. line. How many feet of line equals how deep. Thanks for any help

Billy Seaman can give a formula for your question. I can only say simply, the more line you let out, the deeper you get. I generally let out to the count of 14. It just seems to be a good depth for me and I am either going to catch fish or not. It doesn't seem to help if I let out more or less line. Just put soe miles under that boat.

Billy's instructions are here.
http://www.texasfishingforum.com/.ubb/Forum4/HTML/000316.html

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steve pine

Thanks Joe and Spine I remembered reading a thread before on how to calculate depth on this rig, but first try with it this year and had a brain fart duh. Thanks

[This message has been edited by Wildferret (edited 06-18-2003).]

Here is a response that I got some time ago that seems to work real well. Remember master Steve says depth is real important. I have also found this to be true. I was marking fish with my finder. I was counting out depth, my buddy was just casting the rig behind us, letting out a little more line and locking down. I caught fish 2 to 1, but could not talk him into using a counting out his line. Hardheaded I guess.
I think this post came from Ernest Paty. I saved this into word, printed out several copies to keep into the boat.
OK GUYS, HERE IT IS YOU CAN DONATE 10.00 DOLLARS A PIECE TO BILLY SEAMANS CHURCH FOR THIS WOUNDERFUL SETUP.
1-HELLBENDER
2-#12 OR #13 PETSPOON
3-3/4 ONCE WAIGHT(DIVES DEEPER)OR DONT USE
4- 5-6 FOOT LEADER AT BACK
5- ACADAMY HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED
6-IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN HOW TO USE THIS AND CATCH ALOT OF FISH BOOK A TRIP WITH BILLY SEAMAN.
7-I HOPE HE STILL TALKS TO ME AFTER THIS.........

USE THE MAGNUM HELLBENDER.
FOR 10-16' WATER COUNT TO 15.
16-20' COUNT TO 25
20-30' COUNT TO 35
GET THE IDEA. IF YOU PASS A SHALLOW SPOT AND START BUMPING BOTTOM, RAISE YOUR ROD UP OR REEL IN UNTIL YOU ARE CLEARING THE BOTTOM.
HELPFUL HINT. I TROLL WITH GOLDEN STREN, 17-20# TEST. WHEN YOU START FISHING MARK YOUR LINE WITH A BLACK MARKER AT THE THREE ABOVE LOCATIONS. THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO COUNT ANY MORE. ALSO USE A 14# TEST CLEAR LEADER. IF YOU GET THE SPOON HUNG, YOU USUALLY ONLY LOSE THE SPOON.
GOOD LUCK
ERNEST
Rick

I've bookmarked Billy's instructions on my PC. Anytime the question comes up, (about a zillion times a year, I think), I copy the bookmark into my response.

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steve pine

Excellent posts, all. The question I had with the count-down method for the trolling depth is: how fast are you trolling to get to your target depth?

The general consensus is to troll about 3 mph, I troll anywhere between 2 and 3 mph.

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