Spectra brand

Just saying it is another way to fish.  The Tuna guys use hollow spectra.  Jerry Brown brand and thread the mono into it say like 5 ft.of mono into the spectra then they glue the connection and use dental floss on the joint.  Why, because there are no knots or crimps to fail.  And they land big fish.

Also, Allen....if you say there is "no way" you would have landed a big fish on just spectra alone..how do you know?..that just a judgment call.....I say  to you that you have  never try spectral alone.  I do  it all the time. There are alot more factors in landing a fish.  Then, just the line only.  Location,  depth, if you have a good hook set, reel and rod set-up....so on and so on.

Also, there was a 4 lb test club for salmon...Don't know if they are still around. Nobody mooches in the bay area anymore.  They would used 4 lb main line and then a top shot of 15 to 20 lb. test.  Try that and see if you need a top shot of 40 lb mono.  If you get a nick in 4 lb you done.....If you are landing a 20 to 30 lb. salmon on 4 lb. test. I think spectral is pretty strong by itself.

My 2 cents.

Ken kickfish

Just saying it is another way to fish.  The Tuna guys use hollow spectra.  Jerry Brown brand and thread the mono into it say like 5 ft.of mono into the spectra then they glue the connection and use dental floss on the joint.  Why, because there are no knots or crimps to fail.  And they land big fish.

Ummm ... not just that.  The splice goes through the rod eyes cleaner as well.  The knot gets big with larger mono.  I don't have a problem with knots.  I'm comfortable that I tie splice knots that are at least 90% breaking strength.  If someone isn't, then just tie the spectra to a swivel and use 4-5 feet of leader.  Nothing wrong with that either.

Also, Allen....if you say there is "no way" you would have landed a big fish on just spectra alone..how do you know?..that just a judgment call.....I say  to you that you have  never try spectral alone.  I do  it all the time. There are alot more factors in landing a fish.  Then, just the line only.  Location,  depth, if you have a good hook set, reel and rod set-up....so on and so on.

Ummm ... where did I say that?  I can land big fish on a piece of sewing thread, and we're not talking heavy duty button thread either.   

And yes, I've tried plain spectra before, enough times to know that it doesn't work for me.   Trust me, I'd love to have less knots if I thought I could get away with it.  I use 20# spectra for almost all my fishing.  If you're using 65# that may be the difference.

Also, there was a 4 lb test club for salmon...Don't know if they are still around. Nobody mooches in the bay area anymore.  They would used 4 lb main line and then a top shot of 15 to 20 lb. test.  Try that and see if you need a top shot of 40 lb mono.  If you get a nick in 4 lb you done.....If you are landing a 20 to 30 lb. salmon on 4 lb. test. I think spectral is pretty strong by itself.

Um ... they still used a top shot!!!  I'll bet they used that so the 4 lb main line didn't get nicked.

Are you a member of the 4 lb club?  Have you ever caught a fish that is 10 times the breaking strength of your line.  I have, and we still used 400# mono topshot.  I wonder why.

Do you see a theme here?

-Allen

I have never seen a lingcod broken off with a mono topshot (other than when the fish got stuck in a cave), but I've seen several break off without the topshot.  Braid loses strength much faster than mono because each strand of the braid that's cut goes loose in the braid for several inches above and below the nick, so several minor nicks in close proximity can quickly reduce the strength down to zero.

Also the topshot is nice for handlining fish, I use 50lb and can lift small keeper lings by the topshot.  This cuts down on net use and is better for the fish if they're going to be released.

I pre-tie 2 hook rigs, using a teaser increases the catch by about 30% and pre-tying allows me to avoid seasickness from tying on the kayak, as well as wasting precious fishing time tying knots.

Ken uses 65lb braid, (right?). there is more spectra there to still work if it gets abraded.

I think most people that use braid use it on a small reel and use 30lb or under so they can fish lighter jigs deeper. But then they need an abrasion resistant topshot.

I use 30lb braid doubled for a couple feet tied to a snap swivel. then I have several 3' to 6' mono leaders pre-tied with duolock snaps. This minimizes retying on the yak.

PowerPro. Easy on the guides and strong!!

I use PP 50# on a lot of my rigs, but always with a topshot of some kind.  Thinner is even better, but thinner than 50# can be hell on wet hands...cheese knife!  The upside is the sensitivity and the drifting are unmatched.

I tie on all of my topshots with a uni to uni which has never failed me on a yak. In my experience its essentially impossible to generate enough linear force on a yak to bust off any decent knot.

For rockies I use a 25# mono topshot that is about 18-24 inches long.  The 25# mono is MUCH more abrasion resistant than the 50 spectra.  Also if you get snagged you can usually break off 25#, straight 50# spectra in kelp is IMPOSSIBLE to break off...BTDT.  Also, the short leader is all that is left if you gotta bust it off, which also is a cool thing for sea creatures and my fellow divers.

In baja I use 50# with a 10-15 foot 25# flouro topshot. This set up has been flawless.  I really love being able to pack a lot of line onto smaller reels for yak fishing.  It has allowed me to put almost 400 yds on my small Toriums, and I have gotten close to seeing the bottom!  I love those days!!!!

Allen,

Never did the 4 lb.test on Salmon...seen it done on a party boat.  Done 12 lb. on 30 to 35 lb. Ablies and this was only 12 lb. mono....no leader.  And, done a 140 lb. yellowfin tuna on only 60 lb. mono. Took me a hour and 20 mins. to bring it in.

I have landed lings from 15 to 18 lbs on just Spectra on my Yak.  Maybe, because I don't go under gun (Big reel, big rod and Heavy Spectra).  I can pull theses fish away from the rocks and their homes.  I many fish irons because I like the noise factor.  Also, I think 50 to 65 lb. Spectra maybe like 16 to 20 lb. test mono in dia.

Some guys don't know how to tie a good mono to spectra knot.  Alot of times the spectra will just cut though the mono (I think you even said this in the past).   This just give the guys that do get seasick one less thing to think about on the water.

 And,  I think you have to have confindense in how and what you are fishing with.  Knew this Freshwater large mouth bass guys at work.  He had a $20 grand bass boat and told me that he had never caught a fish on a spinnerbait?  He was not a newbie bass guy, either.

I guess I must do a great job of "Photo Shopping my pictures" because I guess I really did not caught those Rockcods and Lings on Spectra "only".  2 and 3 weeks ago.

Ken kickfish

Also if you get snagged....the short leader is all that is left if you gotta bust it off, which also is a cool thing for sea creatures and my fellow divers.

Good point, Sean--that's just as important as catch and release, in my mind. 

Janice aka "Big J"

Do you see a theme here?

-Allen

I do! I do!