What went wrong back then... the line or the reel?

[stickbom!]

Not sure if that many of the regulars here actually popped for GTs in the early 80's but I've heard stories of anglers clamping down on drag knobs of their spinning reels with pliers in order to lock down their drags. Then there's anglers who encountered deformed main-shafts/sheared gears/busted anti reverse... but I've never really heard of anglers complaining about their nylon lines So was there a problem with nylon lines to begin with? I've never really heard of wind-knots or line snagging on guides with nylon and since a little stretch actually might help keep that lure connected to your fish better, why isn't anyone using nylon lines on modern day spinners when popping for GT? Any thoughts?

[Sportfisherman]

Originally Posted by stickbom!

Not sure if that many of the regulars here actually popped for GTs in the early 80's but I've heard stories of anglers clamping down on drag knobs of their spinning reels with pliers in order to lock down their drags. Then there's anglers who encountered deformed main-shafts/sheared gears/busted anti reverse... but I've never really heard of anglers complaining about their nylon lines So was there a problem with nylon lines to begin with? I've never really heard of wind-knots or line snagging on guides with nylon and since a little stretch actually might help keep that lure connected to your fish better, why isn't anyone using nylon lines on modern day spinners when popping for GT? Any thoughts?

Mike ,

It takes too long to subdue the GT with nylon line , if CnR is the rule of the game , PE line it ought to be then .

Sportfisherman .

[stickbom!]

hmmm... I've snagged the bottom with 30lb nylon (non-tournament grade) and almost busted a nut (or two) trying to break free... lets just say we fish 20lbs+ of drag on 30-40lb nylon... just like we do with 60-80lb braid... why would it take any longer to land the fish?

[zeck]

How about casting distance?

I for one will not be able to cast further with 20lb mono than if I were to use PE#6 line.

[Sportfisherman]

Originally Posted by stickbom!

hmmm... I've snagged the bottom with 30lb nylon (non-tournament grade) and almost busted a nut (or two) trying to break free... lets just say we fish 20lbs+ of drag on 30-40lb nylon... just like we do with 60-80lb braid... why would it take any longer to land the fish?

Mike ,

Nylon stretch n stretch before it breaks , with PE line will break once it is over the breaking strain due to absence of stretch . With nylon you fight the stretch n the fish n the water pressure , with PE you fight only the fish .

Casting distance , PE line wins hand down , at least for me .

Sportfisherman .

[stickbom!]

100% agree on casting issue. But lets just say its close quarter combat like in Komodo where the boat can sneak up on a structure with engines off... and you can get that popper into the strike zone with a light lob... would 40lb mono do the job? Hell its amazing Tuna anglers in the east are landing YellowFin Tuna over 100lbs with nylon lines... and on spin gear too!

[Makaira]

Errrrrrm........ nothing went wrong ....... just that technology improved things & it made sense to adopt braided line for this genre of fishing because of the advantages it offered, the most important of which is improved casting distance.

As far as the reels are concerned, things only started to go wrong when braided lines came into the picture. The non-stretch of braided lines soon took it's toll on the reel components.

Opinions differ of course

[Sportfisherman]

Originally Posted by stickbom!

100% agree on casting issue. But lets just say its close quarter combat like in Komodo where the boat can sneak up on a structure with engines off... and you can get that popper into the strike zone with a light lob... would 40lb mono do the job? Hell its amazing Tuna anglers in the east are landing YellowFin Tuna over 100lbs with nylon lines... and on spin gear too!

Mike ,

Perhaps the next time you have a chance to go back to Komodo you try it but 40 lbs. mono , I don't think so but you can try it . As for me , I am addicted to PE line and can't see myself using it for anything except leader .

I was told by A.G. that in Malaysia there is no need to stop the GT , just let it run out of stamina and then reel the GT in but you
know that does not happen in Komodo , right ?

Beside with CnR in mind , it's better to finish the fight in the shortest time .

Sportfisherman .

[Sportfisherman]

Originally Posted by Makaira

Errrrrrm........ nothing went wrong ....... just that technology improved things & it made sense to adopt braided line for this genre of fishing because of the advantages it offered, the most important of which is improved casting distance.

As far as the reels are concerned, things only started to go wrong when braided lines came into the picture. The non-stretch of braided lines soon took it's toll on the reel components.

Opinions differ of course

Mak ,

The use of PE line break lots of rod tips too but a reasonably long shock leader with makes sense , I use double the distance from spool lip to the rod tip .

Sportfisherman .

[Jacktrevally]

30lb line are still used on the West african coast for Surfcasting and they have pulled shark and fish over 200lb!

[Blackmarlin]

Originally Posted by Sportfisherman

Mike ,

Perhaps the next time you have a chance to go back to Komodo you try it but 40 lbs. mono , I don't think so but you can try it . As for me , I am addicted to PE line and can't see myself using it for anything except leader .

I was told by A.G. that in Malaysia there is no need to stop the GT , just let it run out of stamina and then reel the GT in but you
know that does not happen in Komodo , right ?

Beside with CnR in mind , it's better to finish the fight in the shortest time .

Sportfisherman .

Hi all,

In fact I was told by a very old timer, that when you hit a GT, and when it start the run, if you can free your tension, the GT will stop it run bcos there is no tension to it, the harder you pull, the faster the GT will run for it's life, but the fun of fighting a biggies is also lost.


Happy New Year to all