Replies to This Discussion

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Carl Rechsteiner on July 29, 2015 at 6:13

Tobias

Good series of questions for thought.

I've only been "spooled" once in over 60 years....can you see tarpon on a bass rig? Wrong gear for wrong fish of course, but was very exciting for a short time. He snuck up on me when I was stalking a big red - had to give it a go you know.

I use my bass gear all the time in skinny salt water and rarely use anything over 12# test line except for leader material. Looking at around 120 yrds of line on most bait casters. Just like the challenge. Have landed/released numerous bull reds in the 30+ range as well as even bigger black drum and a couple of very large 50+ gars with this gear. It's more about knowing your drag system and knowing the fighting characteristics of your target fish. That and some lucky boat handling.

On high quality spinning reels you can usually get low yardage spare spools that hold half the line (bigger spindle or core) or just get a spare and add several layers of tape before tying on you line - Pop taught me to do this on the old Mitchell 300's. I think most of your reel mfgrs just follow what they know and have always done, trying to cover a wide range of bases for their product.......plus line is relatively cheap in the overall scheme of things. There's also the "break-off" factor to consider, if you fish where there is a lot of structure - rocks, brush, oysters, etc. You really don't want to be respooling every time you turn around. That and reels perform much better when filled to designed capacity.

Like you said all kinds of factors to consider (that's why cane poles are so cool - no worries).

Back when I fished tournaments I respooled roughly every other month. Now just when the line feels stiff. However I respool for saltwater every trip (once or twice a year). Losing a big fish due to negligence just makes me nuts, yeah I'm pretty fanatical about checking knots and strip checking my lines before I start fishing (but that's just me).

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 29, 2015 at 9:44

Carl,

OMG can I see you trying to get that tarpon on a bass rig LOL

Tobias,

99% of my fishing has been saltwater for larger fish.  We respooled annually and still not the entire amount.  Some of those large Penn Reels hold 350 plus yards.  We used a technique called backing.  We would have the last 100 yards saved when the old line was taken off and it would become the backing for the new line, spliced into the new line.  We could do this for a 2 year period..IF we were diligent and always clear water  washed the line after every days use.  The time it took to do the wash was worth the $ saved.  When your talking about 6-8 reels with that much 50# and 80# mono.

The fresh water gear may be done the same way.  We had the reels spooled before moving to Ga and time will tell but I still think we will use the backing technique beyond the 50 yard point.

KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Carl Rechsteiner on July 30, 2015 at 5:28

Believe it or not I managed to stay connected to the tarp for almost 15 min. Very intense, learned a good lesson about putting a float on the ol' anchor line. Hunting for that got us calmed down a bit afterward.

Used to do the backing trick before I started fishing tournaments, but most bass gear just doesn't require that much line and definitely not that heavy. Doubt one could get 50 yds of 80# on a little Shimano bait caster, much less get it to spool off well.

Can sure see using the heavy stuff on that bull dolphin you posted earlier. Yowsa!

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 30, 2015 at 14:09

Rofl Carl.  I also wouldn't want to take on the dolphin with the 4# test on the trout rod!

Permalink Reply by Shlomo ben Maved on August 27, 2015 at 17:32

I have never lost a fish to too little line but I've lost a lot to frayed, dried out line.

My spinning reel holds 250 yds of 12# but I load only 200--balances better.  At the end of the season there is less then 100 yds left on the spool.  I remove the frayed etc, part every once in a while, depending on how rough we're fishing. If there is lots of rocks or sunken trees or thick weeds it gets changed more often but in calm, clear water I may go a whole day without snipping off more then a foot or so from around the swivel.