[jjdbike]

I apologize in advance for bugging you guys w/ so many question, most of which have probably been asked before. Especially this one as I asked it.
I love the sensitivity of braid. It many benifits for jigging as I can feel waht the jig is doing and even if a cod brushes by or when a haddock does the fast light tap-tap-tap. Also, casting well, i.e., distance & accuracy, is directly realted to partyboat jigging success.
Now, I know that braid tangles SUCK!. I usually just cut immediatly and re-tie.
I also know that grabbing braid with bare skin is dangerus (although not so bad w/ my 65lb braid). However, If I get a fish with weight it's getting gaffed, by a mate or myself.
As I am by far no where close to a cod jigging expert, I'll need the crew on my side & wouldn't want to piss anyone off or have them aviod helping me like the plague. I also know that w/ no shocker hook sets need to be more subtle and reeling them in needs to be very smooth with awareness of the boat rocking as not to tear hook out (especially big haddock).
When casting, dealing even the best knot can be a challange. To be honest, it tears up my thumb (meow).
Sooo, to jig on a not too crowded p-boat, e.g., Eastman's marathon, is the mono shocker really neecessary?
Please be honest & specific. I cut my shockers off & am struggeling with weather or not to re-tie them
Thanks yet again, you guys are great

JD

 

[638475]

Yes the 30 ft of Shock is needed, the "no stretch" of braid is too much and you run the risk of tearing the hook out....here is the only knot you need

It finishes nice and low profile.....

 

[gevans]

The post before is true. Th albright is the best knot for mono to braid. Here is a great sight for knots because of the animation.
http://www.animatedknots.com/

 

[657065]

The albright is a good knot but no that great for casting look at others that will go through the guides better to avoid problems I've seen a lot of nice lures go flying off when that little tag on the leader side hangs up so cut it as close as you can.
6 to 8 foot leaders is what I use with a uni to uni,PR, mid knot etc. braid will cut into mono/flouro so use a wrap type knot

 

[639621]

The Albright will catch and that tag end of heavy mono with cut up your thumb when casting / leveling. Uni-to-uni or the other knots suggested are better choices. And yes, the mono cushion is a good idea so as not to lose fish and also to be able to break off without losing the more costly braid.

 

[kramelop]

Just like they said...

I like to use a shock leader and I prefer the albright to other knots for joining braid to mono... I only differ in that I like 30-40' for my bait fishing, and I like 100' plus for my jig setup. I've actually had about about 125' on my the jig setups I've fished recently. I think most here would agree about the stretch of mono, but I dont know how many have really considered how little stretch there is in just 30 ft of 50# mono vs 200'+ when fishing deeper. Taking into account the 6-8' sweep that most make with the rod tip, even if there is some give in the rod, I personally dont feel there is enough give in 30' of mono to adequately cushion for jigging with just a 30' shock leader.

I've come to this conclusion based on some research and talking to some die hard mono enthusiasts. I'm sure that there are plenty out there to disagree with me and just as many that have grown accustomed to the shorter shock leader and jig just fine with it. Just my opinion and found this seems to work for me. Mark

 

[MakoMike]

contrary opinion

I only use about 1 6 foot leader when jigging, rest of my line is 65-pound braid. Never had a problem. I tie a spyder hitch at one end of the leader and loop the jig on, and a barrel swivel at the other end to minimize spin.

 

[reelfisher]

As has been said a shcik leader is important on a jiging setup for the stretch factor and also abrasion resistance. 60# mono can hadle a lot more abrasion than even 65# or 80# braid. Personally I ue 30-40 feet and like it jsut fine. I do use an albright and all I do to avoid tearing up my thumb on the connection is to keep the knot to the side of the reel. I can thumb the other side when casting.

 

[638475]

I actually use a lighter to round over the "thumb sticker" that you can get from a Mono/Braid albright and I have NEVER had a problem even when tuna fishing....

 

[jjdbike]

All realy great info.
Mako Mike please check your PM's
Thanks so much
JD

 

[chumslk]

MakoMike wrote:
I only use about 1 6 foot leader when jigging, rest of my line is 65-pound braid. Never had a problem. I tie a spyder hitch at one end of the leader and loop the jig on, and a barrel swivel at the other end to minimize spin.

Ditto. Been doing it that way before spectra was avail. with gudebrod
(dacron). Takes seconds to change a jig out, dislike snap swivels. Just enough of a shock to cut down on line tangles when fish is in the boat and an added cushion to avoid hook pulling. MM, curious what # shock with 65 # spectra ? Thanks.

 

[jjdbike]

I wonder if MakoMike uses the spyder hitch w/ a loop to loop for quick changes or ties it around snap ring for even more movement of snap ring?
I think Mako Mike uses 80 lb Jinkai as his shocker. I was going to use 50 lb Ande mono line to 65lb power pro but now wonder if it would be better to use 60 lb Ande mono leader material which seems quite stiff. Whut do ya think?
Thanks Chumslk & MakoMike

 

[MakoMike]

chumslk wrote:
MakoMike wrote:
I only use about a 6 foot leader when jigging, rest of my line is 65-pound braid. Never had a problem. I tie a spyder hitch at one end of the leader and loop the jig on, and a barrel swivel at the other end to minimize spin.

Ditto. Been doing it that way before spectra was avail. with gudebrod
(dacron). Takes seconds to change a jig out, dislike snap swivels. Just enough of a shock to cut down on line tangles when fish is in the boat and an added cushion to avoid hook pulling. MM, curious what # shock with 65 # spectra ? Thanks.

I use 80 pound Jinkai for the leader. I feel looping the jig on also add more action and lets it "wobble" more.

 

[jjdbike]

Mako Mike could I please other you to clarify what you mean by "looping the jig"?
The kind of looping that would allow quick no-tie jig changes (if that's what you mean I don't see how it would allow for more jig wobble) or do you mean tying the spyder hitch with the split ring tyed "permanantly" inside the knot?
Also I am thinking that the 50lb Ande is enough for this trip as most of the catch is pollack & haddock & in Aug don't think I'll be catching anything huge. What do ya think...as my 60 Ande leader mono is soooo stiff.
Thanks again.
JD

 

[ctwhitechin]

100 feet of leader? man that's extreme....30-40 feet gives plenty of stretch..you get the best of both worlds....minimal stretch from the braid but enough stretch from the mono when you need it, especially good with two big pollack that want to go in different directions...I agree w/Mako, I use 80lb Jinkai for my topshot, but you'll get away w/50lb mono....alas, there aren't too many big fish around anymore,and if you do hook a 50pounder, use your head and you'll get him up.

 

[DaveB]

NO!

No you don't need a shock leader. I Haven't used one for years and I haven't had any problems. Most people say that a shock leader is needed because they fish braid as if it was mono. Lock down the drag and swing for the fences when setting the hook. Yup you need to do that with mono because to get a good hook set you have to take the stretch out of the line. Braid doesn't stretch (much) so set the drag properly and set the hook firmly and you're good to go. If you're dropping fish do to head shakes then you're setting the drag too high. Bottom line, fish braid as braid.

 

[tunafever]

I only use about 10 feet of mono for tuna jigging with braid, pe line and I don't think I ever drop a fish because of no stretch. I do hate the owner 4x hooks and reitterated that feeling after dropping some fish on swimbaits/poppers in Texas. I prefer the gamakatsu 4x and have to pick some up before my 3 day this wknd.

 

[bretabaker]

tunafever wrote:
I only use about 10 feet of mono for tuna jigging with braid, pe line and I don't think I ever drop a fish because of no stretch. I do hate the owner 4x hooks and reitterated that feeling after dropping some fish on swimbaits/poppers in Texas. I prefer the gamakatsu 4x and have to pick some up before my 3 day this wknd.


i had the gamakatsu 4x on my tailwalk, they performed well. good hooks.

my leader is 10-15' for tuna as well. id like to fish cod more, but they don't exist here.

 

[MakoMike]

jjdbike wrote:
Mako Mike could I please other you to clarify what you mean by "looping the jig"?
The kind of looping that would allow quick no-tie jig changes (if that's what you mean I don't see how it would allow for more jig wobble) or do you mean tying the spyder hitch with the split ring tyed "permanantly" inside the knot?
Also I am thinking that the 50lb Ande is enough for this trip as most of the catch is pollack & haddock & in Aug don't think I'll be catching anything huge. What do ya think...as my 60 Ande leader mono is soooo stiff.
Thanks again.
JD

Just pass the loop through the top of the jig or the split ring (depending on how the jig is rigged) and then pass the jig through the loop. As far not catching anything big at this time of year, here are two fish we caught last Saturday.

This post edited by MakoMike 07:46 AM 08/12/2008

 

[tunafever]

Bret, next time Kil has a charter you can stay by me and we'll drive up and go. It's definitely worth it, although from Texas it's a long ways. YOu could also make a family visit so you can kill two birds with one stone.