big loss at fort ross

I read somewhere people wrap it around the outside of their reels, then break it off. never tried that.

I wrap my line on the butt of my rod and slowly "reel in" the snagged line by twisting- turning the rod until the line breaks.

 I like this idea too, but if I did this with spectra, my foam grip would be thrashed.

surprisingly, it did not ruin my foam and cork grips.......I guess if you do this enough, it will eventually do some damage.....but....you can always ask Erik to re-build you a new foam/cork handle  

thanks guys, that why we fish. I will be back the same as always. chef

For Rockfish, I use about 10 feet of 30lb mono to 30lb Powerpro, using the albright knot.  At the end of my mono topshot, I have a snap swivel and attach my leader.  
Since you some times need to break off snags, my leader consist of a short piece (6 inches) of 20lb mono tied (blood knot or uni to uni knot) to 30 or 40lb mono about 4 feet..  If I need to break off, either the 20lb will give or the 30-40lb leader will give (due to abrasion).  To date, I have not had the top shot break.  

Also, I usually change leaders about twice a day, depending on how frayed/nicked up the leader gets.  That is unless I break off.

I've had my share of fish (and snags) break off on 20lb mono as if it were 10lb test.  Lesson learned for me after losing a decent fish and a jig yakside.

Stuart

FWIW... in my opinion 25# mono is ideal for rockfishing.  I can break it off if it is hopelessly snagged, though it takes a bit of work sometimes, and it is abrasion resistent enough to not have to re-tie too often.

Currently I'm using 25# Izorline which I've found to be really tough and low stretch.

I also use 20# on my lighter stick... but I check for abrasion and re-tie often when using 20#.  My 20# line of choice is Momoi.

I don't like dealing with leaders and topshots just because I don't like to hassle with that stuff.

As for breaking off snags... I've never found it necessary to wrap the line on anything.  I just button down my drag, thumb the spool, and with the other hand, I pinch the rod a few inches behind the first guide, holding the line against the rod with my thumb.  With the rod tip pointing into the water, I pull with the rod top directed toward the snag so that the line is pulling straight from the spool without putting any stress on the rod.   I use the swell for a little help as well... works fine for up to 25# test... though sometimes it takes a few tries.  

If you wrap it the line on your grips and ruin them... just be sure it isn't your fore grip that you're ruining...  easy to replace a rear grip... not so easy to replace a fore grip.

Erik

Damn, losing a 30lb ling would make me broken man...Sorry to hear it.

Erik,
You got me thinking.

I think I'll try using 15 feet of 25lb mono topshot and just cut off a couple feet every hour or two.  At the end of the day, add a new section of mono topshot.  hmmmm.....

Stuart

Stuart, that's exactly what I do.

-Allen

Thanks for the confirm Allen.  I will use this setup.

Stuart

Careful on  your spectra to mono connection.  The thin spectra can cut the knot.  I use a uni to uni knot connection and I double up the spectra when tieing so it is effectively thicker.  I've only been using spectra this year for bottom fishing, but haven't had this connection break on me yet.  I do do something similar for tuna rigs, but use 80# spectra there connected to 50# mono.  That spectra is not as thin, but I still double up nonetheless.

-Allen

Heartbreaker Chef!  I caught a toad on a Tady earlier this year.  I use 50# spectra with a 30# leader...so far so good.

I have used the albright special to join 40lb mono to 5 to 12lb mono.

it is a knot designed for joining very thick leader to thin line, according to Vic Dunaway's Bait Rigs and Tackle.

Apparently Jim Sammons uses spectra with 15 feet of mono leader joined with an albright special. he's the kayak4fish so cal guy.  he just cuts off the leader during use until it's less than 3 feet then puts on another 15 feet. no snaps no swivels so he can wind the whole leader through the guides.

right now I have a supply of small snaps and swivels so I'm using them,
but when I run out, I may go the long leader joined with an albright special to spectra route. I can't tie that knot on the yak tho.

erik, I think you are right that a lot of hassle can be avoided,  especially for rockfish by just ignoring the leader, but it could be a bad habit that does not translate to other fisheries well. I had a small tarpon abrade my 30lb line in florida and later I read that people often use 80lb leaders on tarpon because of their toothless but rough mouths. Not sure what else is out there up here, thresher, 40lb WSB? But I think I will use a heavier leader in case I do hook up with the whopper, and so I'm in the habit
of using one.

It would be nice to quantify the drop in bite due to a heavier leader. Sometimes a light leader has to be used, like with trout, just to get the bite, but I don't think this is the case with rockfish? don't really know.

I also spent a lot of time catching small barracuda, but their rear teeth are like scissors, they cut any mono and wire is required. So one always had to make a wire leader (and use the hayworth? twist). I was a little surprised that no fish here seem to require that. maybe threshers?

I carry a 6" piece of closet rod just for the purpose of wrapping Spectra and even mono. Pulling against your spool will really give you grief in future backlashes.

As for swivels and snaps, I use a Spider Hitch when making a live bait rig and I'll attach a quality ball bearing swivel on the main line Spectra to hook the rig, other than that I stay away from the hardware and always use a Flourocarbon top shot starting at about 20-25' and just clip away pieces as I re-tie. I think it does make a difference with some fish in very clear water conditions.

I give...........  I know what a leader is, but what do you guys mean by "using xxx topshot"?
Pat

Top Shot just refers to a "leader" that is much longer than what most are used to using as in my case where I run 20 plus feet of Flourocarbon line. For some types of fishing guys might run a lot more than that but for rockfish I prefer to keep that sensitivity that Spectra offers so I keep the top shot shorter and clip away at it as it abraids or gets nicked.