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Holding the Line on
the Super Braids
Fill to the top of the spool
Spectra lines do not
stretch much. I've read 2 to 5 percent and that's a heck of lot less than
mono. No stretch properties is plain wonderful and lends itself for deep
trolling with less line belly/blowback when used for deep downrigger
trolling (140'-200'+). Lack of elasticity allows you to quickly get
the fish on a direct-drive tight line. Resulting in better hook
penetration, boosting the your bite vs.
landing ratio.
Super braids when used in conjunction in your diver
program will allow divers top reach depths to, and exceeding 100'.
Extremely valuable for summer fishing when the thermocline is generally
deep. Splicing on a 15' to 30' leader of 30# mono works like a dream
with Slide Divers. This allows a longer lead than the static length
Dipsy Divers are plagued with. Put aside your line shyness thoughts
if you're using an attractor program. Meat rigs and flies are all
tied on 40 to 50# test and the fish bite on it ...right?
All good things comes with a downside. Braided super lines do not have
the cushioning, soft shock-absorber effect of forgiving
monofilament. Gentle rod handling with no violent hook-sets will pay
dividends when using minimal stretch braid fishing lines.
Progressive Tension
Compressed Braid
This is something I do not
fully understand, but the way it's been explained ...the continuous
wraps inside a baseball, or golf ball where each overlaying wrap tightens
up down to the core.
This explains why there's no reels
have ever built with plastic spools. The photo at the top of this paragraph shows the
braid towards the bottom of the spool as been compressed from tension.
Bigger is
Not Always Better!
I've heard some proudly proclaim, "I use 50, or 80 pound
test braid!" This is an flawed belief, cuz bigger is not better when
it comes to the diameter of the fishing line you're dragging thru the
water.
The simple fact is, thicker
...is just more water resistance & less depth attained with your divers, or more blow back
to contend with on your
downriggers. Then, this turns into a self defeating conundrum of the
reasons why
you went to thinner diameter super braided string in the first place.
Get Neat with Heat
Melting the end
Melting the ends of super braid will prevent unraveling and help a knot
never slip. Spectra fibers melts at 152 degrees Celsius.
The equivalent of
305.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Melting can be done with a good
hot soldering iron too, but matches and lighters should be onboard for jobs
like this, or melting ferrule cement for gluing rod tip-tops back on.
Protect the knot with your thumbnail and
let a lighter, or a match singe/melt the ends together. Keeping in
mind all Spectra Fiber line is woven like cable from many tiny threads.
Not melting these ends will result in a raggedy fanned-out frayed looking
knot tag end.
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Spooling
Up
All Super Braid is
Wasting Money |
Partially Fill with Mono
Before Adding Braid |
When spooling up with expensive braid use mono as a
backer. This is a helluva lot cheaper than filling the entire spool.
Besides, the bottom section will never see use anyways.
During my long tenure
(1983-2003) as charter skipper on the Great Lakes of Michigan, Huron and
Erie I've had customers land King Salmon the best part of 35 pounds.
Never did any fish register on a reel's line counter more than 750' of
line and that was with a 330' head start with line off the reel to the
diver. So, deceased line capacity presents no problem.
I'm sure you've heard big stories about people
couldn't turn fish and just kept peeling line are just that: stories!
Stories pertaining a foul hooked fish. A 15 pounder hooked in the
middle of the back is like trying to drag a log in side ways. If you
suspect a foul hooked fish stop the boat, pull lines and back
towards the fish if possible. This will save time in trying budge an
immoveable object.
It's a
Not!
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Blood Knot Splice
Braid to Mono |
Blood Knot
Make 6 turns contrary
to the above knot
demonstration |
In this day and age there's
absolutely no excuse for not having
a good knowledge base on several types knots. The knots I've used
most are the easiest tie, at least for my fingers. Trilene, Palomar,
Blood Knots, along with knowing how to snell will cover all the usual
bases in our Great Lakes fishing.
On my Great
Lakes Info Page there web gateways to Albright, Crawford, Uni-Knot and
Improved Clinch knots. If you Google "fishing knots" there's a bunch
of websites offering video instructions. The winter off-season is a
great time to practice knots that costs little to nothing, only your
effort.
Take time to learn the correct name with each knot. Treat knots with
the respect they deserve, cuz it's your last hands-on contact point to
make sure
your terminal tackle does not fail.
Cortland
Spectron
Cortland's 35# test Black Spot Spectron
Thin .010" diameter
I used this line since at least 1994 for good rationale. Like it's
strong as goat rope, lasts for multiple seasons and most importantly does
not break! I've tried many brands and never seen the diver depth, or
serviceability this fine string offers.
You can find cheaper. Remember the cheaper will cost
you a bunch more the first time your bargain brand line
breaks and you drop a diver/flasher or flasher/meat rig to the bottom of
the pond. Power Pro 30# has failed me.
Fireline? I could never even get close to the same depth, but a least the
Fireline is not as breakage prone as Power Pro. PP in 50# test does
not break, but then you run into the wall of diameter vs. strength issues
limiting depth vs. line out.
Spectron can be purchased in 1200 yard spools and my
webstore: www.michiganangler.com
for .08 cents a yard.
The main reason behind selling this line is, because I use it! |
