Messages

676

Tackle Talk / Glow stick bite indicator

« on: November 04, 2014, 11:26:10 AM »

I learned this trick from a Texas shark fisherman and it carried over well when I went to florida. I mainly used the technique on my heavier shark rigs but it worked just as well on the long rods, you just have to compensate for the line you take up when you put the rod back in the holder. I would usually attach the glow stick about 4 feet away from the tip with a tight line and it would work out well when I adjusted the line after getting the rod in the holder.

very simple. crack your glow stick and if it doesn't have a hook on the end just cut one side so it does. place the butt on the line and wrap it around making a half hitch then attach the hook part on the line closest to your rod tip. when line gets pulled out the glow stick goes with it and usually comes off shortly after or as soon as it hits water. there is no danger of breaking your line while doing this.

677

Rod Building / Mudhole CRB 14-17lb , 6.5'

« on: November 04, 2014, 11:18:58 AM »

this was my first attempt at building my own rod. turns out it wasn't for me.  built this one so Hannah could have a lighter rod to play with the skipjack and smaller YFT we run into so often. Unfortunately she hasn't been able to use it yet due to her pregnancy. looking forward to her being able to use it next spring.

very simple wraps. main goal was just to keep them tight and get good guide spacing and alignment. Baby steps right? underwraps could be a bit smaller and I learned a few things with flex coat while building this rod. main thing is the guide placement is good, Hannah likes it and the fish don't care if I have too much flex coat on the last two guides.   

678

Rod Building / Dragon scale wrap.

« on: November 04, 2014, 10:57:58 AM »

Here's a dragon scale I did last night. first one on a blank and it turned out well.

Size D blue thread for the diamonds and size D metallic Blue for the overwrap.  I'm not very good at this whole wrapping thing so I cant really give a step by step but my first wrap was spaced 1" apart, I wrapped the length I wanted then came back 180* the opposite of the first wrap, then I followed back the way I started about 1/4" apart from my first and just kept going until I had a bunch of diamonds.

679

Tackle Talk / Re: Mono to mono leader knot?

« on: November 04, 2014, 10:52:03 AM »

thanks! he's quite the character!

I've had better success with getting braid to cinch down properly using the alberto and Albright than mono so they are still a viable option. Braid is just more flexible and if mono kinks too tightly, it will break (that tight crease creates a hotspot when cinched down and weakens it greatly) and if you cant cinch it down tight enough, it will eventually and break, so you have to adapt and learn which knots work best for the diameter lines your using. I would still recommend trying the Uni to overhand even though your using braid but I wouldn't fish it like straight 100lb due to the overhand shock leader knot. fish it like 40lb and you'll be straight. I've had that connection hold with several tests using a spring scale under 20lbs of pressure (most of our surf casting reels are maxing at 15) so you could push it further, just not my recommendation.

as for the loop to loop. I've only used them offshore, and they weren't my setups but it seems like a good connection and as long as your mainline doesn't break you can change out shock leaders quicker than anybody who's tying knots. you can also apply more pressure to this connection than the uni to overhand.

Good luck! you guys have been killing it out there!

680

Tackle Talk / Re: Mono to mono leader knot?

« on: November 04, 2014, 10:09:45 AM »

Albright knot for 40-50 connected to 130-150. alberto is difficult to get set right with those lines. For 30/40 connected to 80-100lb I use a 5 turn uni (mainline wrapped around shock leader) to a single over hand (shock leader around mainline). we've caught lots of big sharks using this and it casts well. I only use the Albright for the heavier stuff because I've been slide baiting and its more streamlined for the trolley to slide over.

for the uni to over hand tie your uni first and get it tight on the shock leader but not cinched down. leave a good foot length tag end. then tie your overhand with the shock line and leave a long foot length tag end. slide the two together within a millimeter or two apart and wet it with saliva, make sure its super wet. now cinch down your uni knot and carefully pull it to touch the overhand. cinch down the overhand and you'll notice they might move apart about a millimeter, MAKE SURE YOU CLOSE THIS GAP!. getting it nice and wet with saliva pull the two knots together (by pulling the mainline and shock line) then re tighten both knots a couple more times for good measure and then pull the lines to make sure the gap is closed. the knots have to be tight and touching otherwise they will break.

Hannah and I approve of this connection!

681

Salt Water Shore Fishing Reports / Re: Time to Roll Up My Sleeves (8/19)

« on: September 14, 2014, 03:13:01 AM »

those big ones just keep you going back for more! I'm expecting one of you guys to beach one of these hammerheads that's been stalking the shores soon.