Scopex

I feel that braid has certainly improved the welfare of the pike I catch, not that it helps me catch anymore, I wish!

Valid point Bottomfish however don't think if the line has snapped the b/s is all that relevant really as in all likelihood if it snags up the fish would most likely die regardless of b/s and that’s not taking into consideration the trace or large multihook lure it'll have to deal with. I use 80lb braid on my jerkbait outfit and have quite often straightened the trebles when they have snagged up. For deadbaits I use 50lb braid which has a diameter similar to 14lb mono. I feel that braid enables me to return my catch sooner and in better condition and that has to be a good thing.

Dave, It's on a thread on the sea fishing section. Certainly, agree you can't bully fish quite the same as mono, learned my lesson shortly after changing to braid by losing fish by being a little heavy handed.

Not that simple I'm afraid Stan, if anything, I've had to be a lot less heavy handed since changing to braid because of it lack of stretch compared to mono.

Surprised by some others views concerning the use of braid, I'm interested in others forum users use of braid when piking. Since switching from mono, I use 50lb for deadbaits/lures and 80lb for jerkbaits. I enjoy the benefits of using braid and personally feel that the extra b/s is a major benefit in that it enables me to return my catch sooner and in better condition. Also the threat of potential line snapping and the subsequent risk of the fish being tethered to some underwater obstacle or other are much reduced. Can't fathom the criticism that it is somehow unsporting? I'll stick to safeguarding the welfare of my catch, whether it's sporting or not! [ 18. October 2005, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: Scopex ]

Sorry you seem to think expressing an opinion that doesn't mirror your own equals moaning!

I'm with Stan on this one! PS- Good morning Stan, We'll be looking forward to your coming over in Feb. PS- DON'T LET SCOPEX FOLLOW YOU OVER! OHHHH NOOOO!! Now that doesn't surpise me! What are you agreeing to though, the objection to my use of heavy braid or is it it's sporting qualities? I'm stragely curious, please enlighten me?

Have to say for all it's name calling and bickering etc, this thread has shown how passionate anglers the world over feel about their own repective sport, regardless of whether we agree or not isn't of importantance, it also goes to show how different as well as similar we can be at both one and the same time! It's a funny old game this fishing...... Nite nite! P.S....I'm still right tho!!! [ 18. October 2005, 03:12 AM: Message edited by: Scopex ]

Because within 4 hours of not having a cup of tea they'll revolt and beat you to death with their walking sticks Shucks....I just knew there had to be a down side! Back to the drawing board methinks!

Why don't we simply place all our elderly relatives outside on the pavement, whilst we lock ourselves in with our stockpiled heinz bean and andrex mountains and wait till things have run their course? [ 18. October 2005, 12:41 AM: Message edited by: Scopex ]

Have to agree in principal with Jeepster. Fighting nutters intent on nicking your kit is not a clever or safe move unless you're super angler with some kind of mental powers! I'm not tho, but luckily a i'm big, bearded bloke, with a shaven head, in fact I look more likely to nick your kit!! So don't tend to have much agro! Not yet anyway! [ 17. October 2005, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: Scopex ]

Sunrise over a frozen Loch Heron

An old sunset shot of Loch Ronald with the loch starting to re-freeze! http:///www.geocities.com/the_cyberfish/pic/ron.jpg

Nope, it wasn't me....though I seem to remember being gassed by a few turds! Sorry, I'll get me coat!

Tell Santa you deserve em mate, you never know! Ho, ho , ho! santa

Snowbee do a FB or full body version of their neoprene chesties! Very good quality too. They have a size chart on the site. http://www.snowbee.co.uk/wading2.htm#1b

Take of yer wellies, the smell should deter them, if it doesn't they are probably a deranged maniac and you've had it!

I've used both reflective and white tape, the white being exceptionally good in low light conditions.

Stan, I don't disagree that the amount of force being transferred to a fish would be considerably less than many would expect, in fact I know this to be the case, I just suspect a short jerkbait rod loaded with 80lb braid may exert a little more than the three or four pounds quoted, I maybe wrong but I'll post the results in any case just for curiosities sake. It wasn't the braids strength but rather its sporting and conservation abilities which were under question. [ 15. October 2005, 08:12 PM: Message edited by: Scopex ]

Interesting point Stan, sorry I can't be that scientific as my spring balance is still on the boat. But have just tried lifting my lead bag with my jerkbait setup and it weighs 9lb 15ozand it did so no probs, rod went round to about 90 degree, had to lock my finger on the spool to stop the clutch from slipping (Abu 6501) but no probs nothing snapped!

I've straightened out 3/0 trebles on snagged lures on more than one occasion, so suspect it more than three or four pounds as braid has very little or no stretch. [ 15. October 2005, 04:10 PM: Message edited by: Scopex ]

No way!!.....Shrimp pins are SO last tuesday, this week I'll be mostly using.....3/0 trebles!

Scopex I understand what you are saying, and their is the difference. For bottom fishing here to catch Grouper we use heavy leader(50-80# mono)but that is to catch a fish normaly over 15#.The Grouper can pull 80# main line in to a hole in a matter of seconds with full drag on standup gear. This being said we could catch the Grouper with 130# or more but we dont for the sport and conservation of the fish. I'm sorry Bottomfish you still obviously don't understand, what I've said if you are trying to compare 80lb mono to 80lb braid, sure the b/s is similar but their abilities and my reasons for using them are somewhat different. To put it in perspective, before turning to braid for dead baiting for pike, I happily used 15lb mono for many, many years and I still use 20lb mono on my surf reels. Now that I'm using braid for dead baiting, I use 50lb which has roughly the same diameter as 14lb mono, not simply because of its b/s but for its low stretch and casting abilities, it's diameter also the fact that it adds a modicum of safety if a fish gets snagged is another bonus and one that can't simply be overlooked. Sure I could drop down to say 15lb or so braid but it simply wouldn't have the abrasion resistance needed for the waters I fish, Scottish lochs, so why should I, what’s sporting about using gear not up to the job in hand? Any fish I am lucky enough to catch have just as sporting a chance to throw the hook as any on mono, probably more so in fact as braid doesn't cushion the fight and it's all too easy to lose a good fish by being to bold! For the big jerkbaits I use 80lb power pro which has the diameter of about 16lb mono, it casts well, doesn't crack off on the cast when chucking some of the really massive jerks about, is pretty resilient to abrasion and means that a snagged fish isn't a dead fish. If you are suggesting that giving the fish the chance of snapping the line and leaving itself tethered to some underwater obstacle to die, is somehow more sporting, please elucidate as I for one cannot see how? I simply don't understand of why you infer that my using 80lb braid can be negative to conservation, I would have thought the opposite applied? At least you didn't descend to the name calling diatribe that some of your fellow countrymen did. If speaking your mind means or voicing your opinion, ends up with you being called stupid, ignorant, w@nkers, well I for one am happily accept the moniker! Our fishery in Florida are a dream for you from what I see posted. Believe we know we are living a dream this is why we take the pics you so dont like, Again I say that we take pics to record the glory not killing of the fish. I fully appreciate and applaud the role of fishery conservation that takes place in your country, hopefully we can learn some lessons from it but like many Brits, find the whole idea of conservation and dead trophy shots, which many simply are now lets be honest here, a bit of double standard! I've no problem with killing or eating fish, I regularly do myself, as dead fish..is a tasty fish! Scopex [ 15. October 2005, 03:12 PM: Message edited by: Scopex ]

You really do have no sense of irony do you? I refuse to lower myself to your childish name calling. And in the words of the late, much missed, Ronnie Barker.....naff off!

Sorry Bottomfish,you miss my point. The use of 80lb power pro for casting heavy jerkbaits is not uncommon in the UK, and it ensures you get both lure and fish safely to the bank. I personally think the sport is in finding, catching and playing the fish, not simply battling against the risk your line snapping. Fishing so light that you have to play the fish nearly to death or risk your line snapping doesn't equate to sport in my eyes.