Reel Repair by Alan Tani

What is the length of the topshot on your #30, #40, #50, #60 rigs? 

Why did you choose those lengths?

I understand, I think, that the longer the topshot the better the cushion.  Maybe different lengths for different applications?  I'm thinking of Danny Wade preferring 130-150 YDS of #40 mono topshot on his jig stick.  He said he doesn't want to feel the knot pass under his thumb when casting.  Then why not just have 2-3' of mono, all of it hanging below the rod tip so only the braid is passing through the guides when casting?  Poor shock absorption?

At cedros and on the long range I use 10 to 20 feet. Lots use longer and lots use less .. all work.

Cheers

Todd

Good lengths Tod.  And  I only take 50#.

Jim - Good questions, I'm glad you are really thinking about your trip but...don't overthink it.  To answer your question "most" of my long range setups are full Spectra and the flouro topshot/leader is maybe 6' - enough so that the knot connection never has to pass through the guides.  BUT - I also have a couple of reels from years ago that the topshot is pretty long, as in 100+ yards of mono.  The "thinking" (I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong) is that the basic length of your cast would be mono, much more forgiving than Spectra (I have found this to be true) and you also have that extra "shock absorber effect" on bites.  Truthfully, I don't stress it, my JX (long mono topshot) and my TRQ25NLD (short flouro) pretty much overlap in their duties in my usage, and I really am fine both ways.  Sure, there are other considerations, such as in a tangle your long mono is gonna be a victim, but my thought is that if you are in a classic "boat wrap" you have bigger issues and getting sawed off is what it is.  Different lengths for different line classes in my mind is just "fertilizer".  With the long topshots (my JX and my Int 20) I do replace them every year, as I do with the short ones but obviously there is a cost there.  Seriously I would go full spectra and allow for a short topshot/leader. - john

Quote from: Brewcrafter on Today at 02:23:46 AMJim - Good questions, I'm glad you are really thinking about your trip but...don't overthink it.  To answer your question "most" of my long range setups are full Spectra and the flouro topshot/leader is maybe 6' - enough so that the knot connection never has to pass through the guides.  BUT - I also have a couple of reels from years ago that the topshot is pretty long, as in 100+ yards of mono.  The "thinking" (I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong) is that the basic length of your cast would be mono, much more forgiving than Spectra (I have found this to be true) and you also have that extra "shock absorber effect" on bites.  Truthfully, I don't stress it, my JX (long mono topshot) and my TRQ25NLD (short flouro) pretty much overlap in their duties in my usage, and I really am fine both ways.  Sure, there are other considerations, such as in a tangle your long mono is gonna be a victim, but my thought is that if you are in a classic "boat wrap" you have bigger issues and getting sawed off is what it is.  Different lengths for different line classes in my mind is just "fertilizer".  With the long topshots (my JX and my Int 20) I do replace them every year, as I do with the short ones but obviously there is a cost there.  Seriously I would go full spectra and allow for a short topshot/leader. - john

With a 6' topshot, your surface jig must be hanging 6' down from the tip when you cast, right?  I'm not there.  I'm only letting the jig hang about 2-2.5' from the tip before casting.  Getting 200' casts so far, pretty straight.  Occasional backlashes, but not too bad.


How is mono more forgiving than spectra when casting?

My bomb and surface iron rigs have a 3' leader. One surface rig got broke off and now has enough mono that I don't cast braid. Both ways work. Heavy bait reels have 25' fluoro, lighter have ~50'.

You are doing much better on casting practice than me.  But when you see the really experience old salts that, iron is practically touching the deck behind them, and the cast itself is almost like a trebuchet.  It is a joy to watch (and I cannot execute it, but I blow at casting).  As far as the mono being more forgiving, on a cast it tends to "fluff up" when you are on the verge of a backlash so that you can slow the spool down in the cast.   Spectra does the same thing (physics are physics) but once it begins to "fluff up" in my experience you are pretty much already screwed...but again, I suck at casting. - john