spin question

[MatthewP]

I am much more familiar with fly tackle than spin, so here's my scenario and question: I take one spin/bait trip each year to my dad's place in the Chesapeak Bay area. Bait is the name of the game. The fish range from 15 to 30 lbs, with a 40 not out of the the question. The tackle is moderately heavy - conventional reels - 25 lb mono. Not being a huge fan of conventional reels, I'm bringing my own tackle this year. I have a Penn Slammer 460 that's spooled with 35 lb braid (I think). I usually use the reel on my 8 1/2 St. Croix for spin/searching. I have two questions: would the 460 be up to the task (as far as capacity), or should I add a 560 to the stable? What about mono vs. braid in a bait situation? Mono leader to braid? What knot to connect? Thanks.

[Ray]

I use the slammer 460 and it's pretty damn tough, but if you really have a decent shot at 40# fish, I'd go with the 560. Better to be overgunned. For bait braid is the way to go with a flouro leader. You need that feel.

[stripah]

I have the 460 and have caught a few fish over 30 lbs and one 40 in the past couple of years. I matched it to a St. Croix Tidemaster thats rated 15-40 lb its an excellent eelin combo and does a damn good job. BTW those fish were all caught on 15 lb Yozuri Hybrid with a 4 ft 50 lb Flouro leader.

[MatthewP]

Thanks for the input, guys. I have to agree on the 460. Great reel. I did break down and buy the 560 also (yeah, because lord knows I HATE to buy new tackle ;) ). What knot are you guys using for a braid to mono connection? I've heard the albright mentioned, but I must confess that after trying to learn that one, it seems like a real pain in the *%#. On of the guys at Red Top (forget his name) swore by the uni to uni knot. That one is easy to tie, so easy in fact that it seems too good to be true. Anyone use a uni to uni, or other knot? Thanks

[stripah]

I would use an 80 lb Spro barrel swivel.

[lemaymiami]

Here's how I was taught to rig braid by one of my customers.... first double your braid with a niine turn spider hitch, then splice leader to braid with a nine turn uni (for the braid) to a six turn uni for the mono leader (if mono is heavy drop down to as few as three turns - say for 60 or above). This setup has held on fish up to and over 200lbs. I don't use more than 100yds of braid so at least half of my spool is mono. The connection for the backing to braid is similar, but the mono is doubled with a bimini twist first, then a six turn uni to a nine turn uni for the braid. You need the extra turns on the uni because of the stuff's tendency to slip....

One of my customers (a girl) beat an 80lb bull shark yesterday on this setup in a small river. The fish burned at least 50 yards in to the backing before she turned him. That rod is set up with 20lb braid to 12lb mono... the knots I've listed above routinely go back and forth through the guides under great pressure without snagging or fouling. Hope this helps

[MatthewP]

Capt. Bob,
Thanks for info. It's definitely important that the connection go through the guides easily. Do you think I can substitute a bimini for the spider hitch to double the braid before tying the uni? (I'm more familiar with the bimini - spent hours practicing it this winter).

Tight Lines
Matthew

[stripah]

You could use the bimini but the spider hitch is a piece of cake and much quicker to tie it also might have a slighlty narrower profile.

[Roop]

I was taught the spider-hitch braid to fluro connection for my first braid rig for stripers & think it's rock solid.

However, on the boat, with fish busting all around, I'll just go uni to uni for simplicities sake.

For tuna on my big spins, I think Capt. Bob has the best solution.

Good luck,

Roop

[lemaymiami]

You can use a bimini but I'm told you'll have to do 40 turns instead of the usual 20... I haven't tried it so I can't recommend it. I routinely double all my mono rigs with a bimini twist, just haven't tried it yet with braid... the spider hitch is nothing more than an overhand knot with the line doubled except you continue passing the loop through the overhand knot until you've done it nine times. Here's the easy way to tie a spider hitch: double the line in the length chosen, then form a loop with the doubled line and hold it your weak hand with thumb and forefinger, allow your thumb to stick out about a half inch. Take the remaining doubled line and wrap it around your thumb nine times then pass the end through the loop being held by your weak hand. Pull it through and as it comes tight allow one turn at a time off of your thumb when all are gone tighten carefully and slowly until the spider hitch is formed. When completed hang the doubled loop on a fixed object and pull the main line and the remaining tag end tight so that the spider forms a really tight small knot. Remember that braid is extremely slippery and any loose portion of the knot is likely to slip suddenly and cut into the rest of the line causing failure so tighten the stuff carefully. It will also slice up the angler handling it if allowed to slip under pressure... Wearing gloves when tying a bunch of knots with braid is a good precaution along with a small pair of pliers to hold the tag end. Good Luck

[teflon_jones]

I've caught more than a few stripers, including quite a few double hook-ups of 30 lb'ers with my dad, on Penn tackle with live bait in my time striper fishing. I've always used 20 lb mono tied directly to the barrel swivel of a 20-30 lb wire leader. And a fish finder rig is always in the equation. My dad lives down on the Chesapeake in VA and I've done a bunch of striper fishing down there. The last time, I hooked a nice sand shark. :D It took me 20 minutes to bring it in, and without the wire leader the fish would definitely have been gone. There's a lot of sand sharks in that area, so I'd be prepared!

[striper man]

i would forgo the braid for mono the braid will catch too much water and make your bait not able to hold bottom. i would also get a baitrunner type reel with a large spool compacity to hold heavy mono.you dont need a fancy rod to baitfish a uglystick or any other fiberglass rod would do. a heavy action of 1-6oz or even 6-10oz depending on surf or currents

use a fishfinder rig shown here http://www.hatterasoutfitters.com/fulldrumrig1.htm use circle hooks and you can buy sinker slides and your local surf fishing shop

[MatthewP]

Just posting a follow-up, guys. As mentioned, I wound up going with the slammer 560. Actually, I brought both the 460 and 560. Landed the fish below on the 560 rigged with the connection described by Capt. Bob above. Worked great. Thanks for the help. FWIW, the 460 would've held up to the fish. 51". No idea how much it weighed, as the fish was released. Biggest I've ever landed.

[lemaymiami]

Very nice fish...

[teflon_jones]

That's one PURTY fish... :eek:

[MatthewP]

Thanks, guys. After we boated the fish, my brother said "you may as well quit striper fishing now. You'll never top that". He's probably right, but that won't stop me from trying :brow . Now to do that on the fly.....