Line and tackle weights

[catfish58]

Re: Line and tackle weights

I've lost several large blue cats due to their mouths fraying braded line. I have not lost one since I started using wire leaders.

 

[gpfishingdude]

Re: Line and tackle weights

Some of the biggest fish are caught by people who are crappie fishing with light line. The reason I switched to 30# power pro is because I have less problems with it on an open face reel than I do with the monofilament. It doesn't develop a memory like the mono does and tend to want to curl up and jump off of the reel spool. I use 50# power pro on the casting reel and lose fewer lures to the weeds. The fish that put up the hardest fight for me was a Chinook salmon that was snagged in the back while trolling in Lake Michigan. It pulled line out on the drag many times before I got him in the boat. That was with a good sized open faced reel spooled with heavy mono and the fish weighed close to 28#. Snagging a big one in the back is like hooking a minnow in the back, they go where they want to.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Line and tackle weights

I'm guessing you don't run into many submerged trees and reefs out where you are fishing, if you did, it would be heart-break city fishing 10-15# braid.

Na, we don?t fish around barancles covered rocks, the 46 miles of bridge pilings on the CBBT or the thousands of oyster bars out there.

The video was shot by a friend of mine over the barnacle encrusted rockpiles at CCNPP using #10 braided line

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6KINxwTmw0&feature=player_detailpage

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Line and tackle weights

Yup, just as I thought, pretty much wide open.

It's a different story fishing with reef's/rocks that go to the water's surface far away from shore, or trees that can't be seen. I have to imagine it's pretty darn easy to steer a fish away from a piling, when you can see the piling sticking out of the water. The equivalent out here would be to troll directly underneath the pier/bridge with pilings on each side of the boat, when a fish hits, it's not if the fish is going into a piling, but when and which one.

While you have barnacles, we have quagga mussels, lots of sharp things growing on everything under the water's surface in both places.

It's just a different fishery, what works for you, won't necessarily work for us, and the other way around. I would probably be a laughing stock on the east coast throwing an 11' surf rod,,, from the bow of my boat, but that's common place down here...

 

[MRS]

Re: Line and tackle weights

I am also a westcoast horse um out of the stuff fishing guy sometimes you just got to do it that way.
Who is this guy?

sorry fishrdan but love this photo I am still trying for the 20#er.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Line and tackle weights

Yup, just as I thought, pretty much wide open.

It's a different story fishing with reef's/rocks that go to the water's surface far away from shore, or trees that can't be seen. I have to imagine it's pretty darn easy to steer a fish away from a piling, when you can see the piling sticking out of the water. The equivalent out here would be to troll directly underneath the pier/bridge with pilings on each side of the boat, when a fish hits, it's not if the fish is going into a piling, but when and which one.

There is nothing wide open about any of these locations. All three locations are notoriously hard to fish because of the structure that you can't see.

Looks can be deceiving. The location with the rocks going down into the water is the absolute worst of the three becouse of the currents involved.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Line and tackle weights

Interesting thread. I am a freshwater guy who intentionally uses line that is a little to heavy. I finesse fish and like to keep the same hook all day long. My only real motivation to be a minimalist with line size is so I can cast further and more accurately.

I suppose if I was a tourney guy I would use lighter line. I use 10-12# braid for bass but I think 6-8# is really all I need if I make sure the line is not worn out anywhere near the hook (retie after every hit etc...)

On second thought 10-12# is also a better choice for tournaments. Cant risk loosing a keeper.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Line and tackle weights

Very interesting!

All I can add is that I've caught many 29"+ pike in the weeds with a 6' light rod on 4# Floroclear. Guess I'm doing it wrong.