Do you topshot your braid (barra , bass)

[NAGG]

Hi All

I was on the phone to a mate yesterday & the conversation turned to the cost of braid and how to get the most out of what you paid for it .... buying cheaper braids , imports etc
OK!!!! ..... the conversation progressed ::)
What about on reels where the working part of the braid is minimal.
We have baitcasters / spin reels that have capacities of 120-150 yards depending line class but we really only use 30-50yards at best ....... eventually our line capacity falls to a point where we loose performance and we need to replace it :'( ..... or do we :-?
From a personal perspective ..... I like to use reasonable quality braids , nitlon being a favorite. .... & at around $50 for a 150M spool - it hurts when you throw away 70-80M of often pristine braid all because the capacity level has fallen. :( - but on the quiet - I'll let you in on a little secret ....... I dont :o

When it comes to my barra , bass & bream baitcasters / spin reels I'll topshot ...... Usually I reverse the braid first so that the smaller length is in the lower portion of the spool ....... this also reduces the knot having an effect on casting or thumbing.
Now with the amount of barra casting that I'm doing ..... I reckon I'm saving a 150M spool of braid per each outfit per year ...... or about $300 - add to that another $150 for my bass outfits ........ not a bad little saving.

So how do you get bang for your buck - do you do the same ?
or ....... No way!

Cheers

Chris

[snodger 08]

Yep, I do the same Chris. The stuff at the bottom of the spool is pristine, so why not use it hey.

[Apollo]

Chris

Yes I do top shot but the couple of times I have been spooled down to the braid to braid join by a fish, I really start to rethink that top shoting was not a good idea. What connection do you use?

Steve

[NAGG]

Chris

Yes I do top shot but the couple of times I have been spooled down to the braid to braid join by a fish, I really start to rethink that top shoting was not a good idea. What connection do you use?

Steve


Hi Steve

Having confidence in your chosen joining knot is critical - I have full confidence in a double uni knot....... its proven itself in my fishing over the past 15 years including light game fishing.
As for barra ...... over the past 4 years - the amount of times I've been down to the knot ...... I could count on 1 hand. Having said that .... there are times where I will cut a wind knot out and re tie using the double uni - that's how much confidence I have:)

Chris

[Luc]

On my bass gear, I topshot with aroung 50m of braid and when it gets to low simply top shot again.

Do the same on the outfit I same for jacks & barra.

Luc

[tunaticer]

Similar, I top-shot braid to braid, generally winding the full 150m onto the spool first then top-shotting with older braid, then reversing it on the spools so im not wasting the new 150m by cutting it at the full mark. Keeps that joining knot further away from the coal face.

I also wash my braids once a year in very warm soapy water by running it through a jig that fits into a bucket of water and runs the line around several wheels under water. Nothing worse than getting low into the reel under drag and salt shards glue the line together after drying wet with salt.

[NAGG]

Similar, I top-shot braid to braid, generally winding the full 150m onto the spool first then top-shotting with older braid, then reversing it on the spools so im not wasting the new 150m by cutting it at the full mark. Keeps that joining knot further away from the coal face.

I also wash my braids once a year in very warm soapy water by running it through a jig that fits into a bucket of water and runs the line around several wheels under water. Nothing worse than getting low into the reel under drag and salt shards glue the line together after drying wet with salt.

I wish that I could get a year out of a spool of braid ::) ..... barra fishing just takes too much of a toll on it !

Chris


Chris

[snodger 08]

I wish that I could get a year out of a spool of braid ::) ..... barra fishing just takes too much of a toll on it !

Chris


Chris

Thats cause you do too much of it.... Is there such a thing??? ::)

[Apollo]

Hi Steve

Having confidence in your chosen joining knot is critical - I have full confidence in a double uni knot....... its proven itself in my fishing over the past 15 years including light game fishing.
As for barra ...... over the past 4 years - the amount of times I've been down to the knot ...... I could count on 1 hand. Having said that .... there are times where I will cut a wind knot out and re tie using the double uni - that's how much confidence I have:)

Chris


Thanks Chris, that is what I use as well. I must say, it has yet to let go, but when you see that knot run through the guides to a rampaging fish, your heart beats just a little faster;) I also use a different colour braid to easily tell when I am getting into the serious zone.

Steve

[NAGG]

Thanks Chris, that is what I use as well. I must say, it has yet to let go, but when you see that knot run through the guides to a rampaging fish, your heart beats just a little faster;) I also use a different colour braid to easily tell when I am getting into the serious zone.

Steve

Steve

You'll be surprised how much pressure that knot will take ..... its a good join.

Once you hit that knot ..... maybe back off slightly on the drag pressure - that may reduce the stress :D

Chris

[NAGG]

Thats cause you do too much of it.... Is there such a thing??? ::)

Never ! - I would have been there this weekend if I didn't have to do work stuff :(
..... Hopefully i'll get up there in mid July too ...... & early August - fingers crossed!

Chris

[Tropicaltrout]

Yeah very much the same Chris;) , also when I spool up the reels each spool of braid there's a bit that gets left over thats my topshot later on.:)

Also as peace of mind, that area of high use the first 5 yards or so I cut off and that's were I join the topshot of the remaining braid from the spool. Probably a conferdence thing or a bit finatical but I just think that area is getting rubbed up trees or what ever so rather then risk it if I should run down to the knott I just cut it off for peace of mind....

Nath

[Pete62]

Ok, so I lost 20 odd mts of line off my twin power yesterday so I want to take it off, put some poorer quality braid under, reverse the good braid. What's the trick with taking the braid off and reloading after I fill the spool a bit.

Tie the end around my sons finger and then set him off on his bike??

Pete

[snodger 08]

Ok, so I lost 20 odd mts of line off my twin power yesterday so I want to take it off, put some poorer quality braid under, reverse the good braid. What's the trick with taking the braid off and reloading after I fill the spool a bit.

Tie the end around my sons finger and then set him off on his bike??

Pete
I have a couple of cheap nasty reels I transfer the good stuff too.
Steve

[Steve B]

Do pretty much the same.

Have been thinking about importing 1000 yrd spools of my favorites....you can spool exactly what you need too...some good savings.

Sometimes its worth asking you local tackle store if they sell braid off their spools. I know a tackleworld that did 3 spools of FINS for me once, charged by the metre. worked out around $20 per baitcaster or something similar.

cheers Steve

[themissus]

Ok, so I lost 20 odd mts of line off my twin power yesterday so I want to take it off, put some poorer quality braid under, reverse the good braid. What's the trick with taking the braid off and reloading after I fill the spool a bit.

Tie the end around my sons finger and then set him off on his bike??

Pete

It's the only time the Alvey's get used these days, loading braid on and off.

[Obi _ Wan]

Do pretty much the same.

Have been thinking about importing 1000 yrd spools of my favorites....you can spool exactly what you need too...some good savings.

Sometimes its worth asking you local tackle store if they sell braid off their spools. I know a tackleworld that did 3 spools of FINS for me once, charged by the metre. worked out around $20 per baitcaster or something similar.

cheers Steve

Looks like a few Tackleworld stores do that, I've had the Sandgate store do that for me a few times now with Finns braid.

It is certainly a cheaper way buying off a bulk supply than it is buying 150yd spools.

Cheers,
John.

PS. Even buying, locally, the 1000 yd/meter spools is a cheaper way to buy braid.

[ejackulate]

Hi guys
I do the same as steve and obi as fishing and outdoor world charge about$30 to spool my baitcasters with fins and when i weigh up the price of that compared to getting smoked at the Daly or Shady camp and losing my first metrey i will get my wallet out every time.

Hopefully the metre mark will get hit this weekend at the mighty Daly;D

[snodger 08]

Hi guys
I do the same as steve and obi as fishing and outdoor world charge about$30 to spool my baitcasters with fins and when i weigh up the price of that compared to getting smoked at the Daly or Shady camp and losing my first metrey i will get my wallet out every time.

Hopefully the metre mark will get hit this weekend at the mighty Daly;D

Good luck bloke. Watch out for the rock bar hey.
Steve

[NAGG]

Looks like a few Tackleworld stores do that, I've had the Sandgate store do that for me a few times now with Finns braid.

It is certainly a cheaper way buying off a bulk supply than it is buying 150yd spools.

Cheers,
John.

PS. Even buying, locally, the 1000 yd/meter spools is a cheaper way to buy braid.


Hey John

Do they do it with other brands of Braid or are they just limited to Fins ?

Chris

[Obi _ Wan]

Hey John

Do they do it with other brands of Braid or are they just limited to Fins ?

Chris

Chris, I have only seen the Finns braid there but i will ask and let you know.

Cheers,

John.

[Pete62]

Previously I have had my reels loaded by a "friend" who works at a tackle store but for those who do it themselves how much "load" do u add when u spool up. Do u just run it through your fingers or some other form of resistance.

I was thinking of slightly overloading the spool with no resistance then running it out with a deep diving lure attached and winding it back under resistance from the lure.

Pete

[BR65]

Previously I have had my reels loaded by a "friend" who works at a tackle store but for those who do it themselves how much "load" do u add when u spool up. Do u just run it through your fingers or some other form of resistance.

I was thinking of slightly overloading the spool with no resistance then running it out with a deep diving lure attached and winding it back under resistance from the lure.

Pete

I used to use the missus to provide the resistance on the new spool, then she woke up and realized re-spooling my reels wasnt really "quality time together" despite my protestations. Now I have to re-spool solo, and she just provides resistance in general.
Now days I just run it thru a rag in my left hand to pack it down firm, slightly over fill, and then do as Poit said.
I havent changed baid since last year, but it will be getting time to reverse it on the spool, prob at the start of spring.
Do I top shot braid - nope

[Si]

yeah i do the same. saves a bit of money. unless you have an exact spare spool or even reel (to ensure line lay is nooice) its a bit of friggin around taking it off onto a spool (old braid is on the bottom, then spooling it onto a spare spool or handline or whatever (old braid on the top) and then back onto the the spool you want so the new line is on the top. urrrgghh, that hurt my brain.

[BR65]

that hurt my brain as well!!

I just run it up and down the fence line of the yard a few times, and hope the local moggies dont find it untill I get it re-spooled.

[NAGG]

Has anyone ever had a problem ? - knot failure maybe:-?

Brian - I was a bit like you in that I wouldn't top shot - that was till I had a breakage which lost me a full long cast length of line ...... we retrieved the line / lure re- tied it and continued to fish ..... for the rest of the trip - the penny dropped after that ........... :)
So these days ....... I do a reverse & top shot which lasts till I feel that I need to do a new entire line change or its affected my casting.

Chris

[BR65]

I hear ya mate, I just reckon I have enouh to wory about with dodgy hook set, hard ware suitability, worn leader, loop and leader knot, jumping fish, timber I can and cant see, with out the added worry of a braid to braid join knot in the middle of a tuff fight, specially if Im free spooling a fish and have a lot of line out while Im dealing with the first tree in front of me.
Each to their own, what ever makes us happy, yada yada yada.

[NAGG]

I hear ya mate, I just reckon I have enouh to wory about with dodgy hook set, hard ware suitability, worn leader, loop and leader knot, jumping fish, timber I can and cant see, with out the added worry of a braid to braid join knot in the middle of a tuff fight, specially if Im free spooling a fish and have a lot of line out while Im dealing with the first tree in front of me.
Each to their own, what ever makes us happy, yada yada yada.

I wont ever try to convince anyone that its the done thing ........ What you have said is spot on
As I mentioned earlier ...... my join would rarely see light of day - when it does , then it usually means another topshot ....... I also have the confidence in my connection...... probably even moreso than my leader knot .

chris

[BR65]

side note - have you ever been spooled?

A couple of years ago I was fishing Chrome Alley up at H, threw the Classic into a suicide lay down, knew it was dumb but there just had to be a fish in there.
Twitch twitch smash, as expected the fish threaded me thru the lay down on its way to deeper water, and all I could was free spool, and leck in to try and un-tangle.
I couldnt sort it, and that fish just kept going, there is no sound worse than hearin your mono backing go ping at the spool knot, I can tell you!
Had a win though, I motored around to the back side of the snag, pulled the short end of the braid thru, and managed to retrieve 120 meters of 50lb bionic and the lure complete with bent hardware and no barra

[vet]

THe short answer is no. Never have, never will. I don't use mono backing ever, so there is no joins in my line except the leader knot. There have been quite a few occasions where I have been spooled and the braid knot on the spool has held and managed to turn a fish that would have been lost if I had mono backing. An extra join is an extra risk in my book, but each to his own. cheers scott.

[NAGG]

Never been spooled - though I came close last year when on a borrowed outfit I got down to the last bit of line ....... when the big girl got to cover - That is the only time I have ever seen a barra run non stop against a fully loaded rod -thumb on spool (80M) ...... just amazing
Whitey had a good un go probably a similar distance - though he wasn't generating a lot of drag pressure.

Chris

[Obi _ Wan]

I was almost spooled one night at Faust, she must have run 80 to 100 meters, and that was on a blacksheep drag up tight and thumbs on the spool :o

All went slack and i wound it back, all the braid plus the leader was there the big girl pulled the lure through the bottom of the loop knot, the knot was still there, didn't slip or fail in any way, just straight through the 80lb leader :-?

That double uni knot is a good one, i have been using it on the lighter outfits for bass and snapper to join the leader to the braid, no problems to date. ;)

Cheers,
John.

[NAGG]

THe short answer is no. Never have, never will. I don't use mono backing ever, so there is no joins in my line except the leader knot. There have been quite a few occasions where I have been spooled and the braid knot on the spool has held and managed to turn a fish that would have been lost if I had mono backing. An extra join is an extra risk in my book, but each to his own. cheers scott.

Taking every connection out of the equation is sound advice Scott...... no doubt

Though when generating 4kgs of drag only - It hardly stresses a good knot...... I know I'm yet to bust a knot on a barra ( lots of leader failures , loops & line break)

If I was fishing for hard/fast running pelagics - tuna , marlin , wahoo etc ....... I wouldn't even consider a topshot

Chris

[NAGG]

btw ..... If I was trolling for barra - I wouldn't use a top shot .....

Chris

[Tropicaltrout]

Not been spooled yet want too just to say I have.:P

I came close last muster trip when Miss Piggy took off we where in trouble for a moment there with anchor line wrapped up in the leccy I would say ten yards left.... looking back funny at the time stressful!::) :-X ;D

[Whitto]

Not been spooled yet want too just to say I have.:P

I came close last muster trip when Miss Piggy took off we where in trouble for a moment there with anchor line wrapped up in the leccy I would say ten yards left.... looking back funny at the time stressful!::) :-X ;D

But she was well worth it Nath:D

[NAGG]

Not been spooled yet want too just to say I have.:P

I came close last muster trip when Miss Piggy took off we where in trouble for a moment there with anchor line wrapped up in the leccy I would say ten yards left.... looking back funny at the time stressful!::) :-X ;D

All was good Nath ....... cool heads prevailed - along with a burnt thumb :D

[snodger 08]

Nath that's an absolute horse. :o Bet your thumb was an inch shorter by the time she stopped.

[Pete62]

Nath that's an absolute horse. :o Bet your thumb was an inch shorter by the time she stopped.

He was just practicing with that one, first Barra on a soft plastic.

Pete

[snodger 08]

He was just practicing with that one, first Barra on a soft plastic.

Pete

Nice practice session then8-)

[Big_Ren]

But she was well worth it Nath:D

And that was one of the last times we ever saw the Hat, the actual hat that is::) Bout time for Mark II Nath I reckon.

Cheers and looking forward to sharing a cold one with you next weekend, as well as the rest of you boys and girls.

Paul

[robersl]

I Got spooled at mondy but it was a 3.5 bluefin and a 15 merc they go a tad harder than the barra i am just glad i did not thumb the spool and i i had topshoted that reel so the line broke freely with a bit of presure with braid i may of pulled it out of my grip if the braid failed to break

shane

[Big_Ren]

I Got spooled at mondy but it was a 3.5 bluefin and a 15 merc they go a tad harder than the barra i am just glad i did not thumb the spool and i i had topshoted that reel so the line broke freely with a bit of presure with braid i may of pulled it out of my grip if the braid failed to break

shane

I remember the day Shane. I am still surprised how calm and cool you remained.

[Obi _ Wan]

I remember the day Shane. I am still surprised how calm and cool you remained.


Suprised Paul??????? I can't believe it either:o

When i first heard the storey i thought that Shane would have been ripping trees out by the roots and throwing them at the offender :o

Perhaps it was the shear stupidityf the guy in trhe Bluefin with the Merc on the back :-?

You would have to believe that the guy had to have several as he could not be that stupid from just playing with one! ;D

Shane, you deserve a medal mate, for displaying such a calm and accepting attitude;)

Cheers,

John.

[robersl]

Suprised Paul??????? I can't believe it either:o

When i first heard the storey i thought that Shane would have been ripping trees out by the roots and throwing them at the offender :o

Perhaps it was the shear stupidityf the guy in trhe Bluefin with the Merc on the back :-?

You would have to believe that the guy had to have several as he could not be that stupid from just playing with one! ;D

Shane, you deserve a medal mate, for displaying such a calm and accepting attitude;)

Cheers,

John.

Well thanks John But i am a lover not a fighter ,beside he had 3 backup men lol but i did go and have a quite chat to them at the camp kitchen explaining that they had cost me $50 of braid and a brand new f18 been on the line less than 20 minutes with upgraded hooks but i do not think it got through

shane

[Tropicaltrout]

And that was one of the last times we ever saw the Hat, the actual hat that is::) Bout time for Mark II Nath I reckon.

Cheers and looking forward to sharing a cold one with you next weekend, as well as the rest of you boys and girls.

Paul

Hey Pauly .... it was a sad day to discover the hat had goonnee:(

But a new one was needed anyway the old one was beging to be a heath hazard... anyway I asked santa for one but I dont know I might have to go for a shop before the muster... I think shades and sails had a clearance sale on::)

[Obi _ Wan]

Hey Pauly .... it was a sad day to discover the hat had goonnee:(

But a new one was needed anyway the old one was beging to be a heath hazard... anyway I asked santa for one but I dont know I might have to go for a shop before the muster... I think shades and sails had a clearance sale on::)

Hey Nath, If you are travelling through Rockhampton call in there mate. They seem to have the hats with the biggest verandah's i have ever seen, shade the whole boat i reckon.

Cheers,
John.

[BR65]

Buy a new hat Nath, it just aint the same without seeing you with it on.
We all have our favs, that black thing of mine has ben stuck on my noodle for every trip bar 2 I think, they become good luck charms!

[darylive]

Ok, so I lost 20 odd mts of line off my twin power yesterday so I want to take it off, put some poorer quality braid under, reverse the good braid. What's the trick with taking the braid off and reloading after I fill the spool a bit.

Tie the end around my sons finger and then set him off on his bike??

Pete

Yes, is there another way?


Previously I have had my reels loaded by a "friend" who works at a tackle store but for those who do it themselves how much "load" do u add when u spool up. Do u just run it through your fingers or some other form of resistance.

I was thinking of slightly overloading the spool with no resistance then running it out with a deep diving lure attached and winding it back under resistance from the lure.

Pete

Always let the spool out and re wind under a slow troll. A Slow Troll!
If there's one handy.

And the same applies after a session in the salt.

[themissus]

Yes, is there another way?



Always let the spool out and re wind under a slow troll. A Slow Troll!
If there's one handy.

And the same applies after a session in the salt.

We can help out with that!! Come to think of it Jackson would probably quicker on his pushie:D

[Big_Ren]

Hey Pauly .... it was a sad day to discover the hat had goonnee:(

But a new one was needed anyway the old one was beging to be a heath hazard... anyway I asked santa for one but I dont know I might have to go for a shop before the muster... I think shades and sails had a clearance sale on::)

We might have to chip in a get you one Nath. It's just not the same. You could use it to hold all the lucky prize lures at Muster;D

I'm amped about next week....spoke to Prinny and he said you lucky bassards will be there Wednesday night. I hope you get into them early. Gaz and I are not arriving until mid morning Saturday so we might see you up the lake at lunch for the crew's famous sausage sizzle.....bring your fry pans boys and girls....and the appropriately coloured sauce hey Daz::)

[Big_Ren]

that black thing of mine has ben stuck on my noodle for every trip

Not sure about that Rakey:o Hope Benny is not reading this;D

Cheers
Paul

[Big_Ren]

Suprised Paul??????? I can't believe it either:o

When i first heard the storey i thought that Shane would have been ripping trees out by the roots and throwing them at the offender :o

Perhaps it was the shear stupidityf the guy in trhe Bluefin with the Merc on the back :-?

You would have to believe that the guy had to have several as he could not be that stupid from just playing with one! ;D

Shane, you deserve a medal mate, for displaying such a calm and accepting attitude;)

Cheers,

John.

I am a small lump of a lad as you know John but not for a moment would I like to upset Shane at any time, especially when he has a rum in his hand:o.

See you next week mate. Really looking forward to catching up with you.

Cheers
Paul