Top shot braid for shallow (60-120') Bottom fishing

[biposto]

I'dto like add a top shot to my 4/0 for bottom fish for better feel and less stretch, need some advice in braids. Never used them before and am cluless. Thanks

[Ice Cream Man]

For that depth you won't need much of 80# Green PowerPro - 200 feet should be more than enough ..........
I have also found that reels that are NOT fully spooled, have more power especially on a 4/0 - without any donut worries .......... ICM

[REDWEISER]

Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man

For that depth you won't need much of 80# Green PowerPro - 200 feet should be more than enough.

Should do it.

[biposto]

Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man

For that depth you won't need much of 80# Green PowerPro - 200 feet should be more than enough ..........
I have also found that reels that are NOT fully spooled, have more power especially on a 4/0 - without any donut worries .......... ICM

so should I take off all the momo first and run straight PP? explain "donut"

[fatcat14]

I would fill the spool up halfway with mono or some other cheap backing. (you can often find cheap spools of 100lb dacron backing). Then put 150 to 200 yards of power pro on top of that. I attach the two using a uni knot. 200 yards might seem like to much braid, but when get something big you'll be glad you had it. Braid is also easy to tangle, if you only put 200ft on your reel you will adding more very soon. The 200 yards you use this time can be used for backing the next time you re spool you reel. Filling up the spool also give you more line retrievel per crank.
Good luck

[Greg Manning]

I use just enough mono to cover the spool a couple of layers and the I use 100yds of 130# Suffix. Don't cut yourself too short because there will be times where you lose line with break offs and such. That way you can keep fishing and it doesn't cost enough to matter to just put on an extra 150'.

ICM gives you great advice on not filling the spool....it is a big help to your drag. I use 4/0 often but with a full spool many grouper we catch can spin them backwards.

You'll get different opinions but I am pretty much a grouper fisher 75% of the time and for us Power Pro is terrible. Doesn't tie as well as others and has mysterious break offs. I like the Suffix braid over anything we have used and we have tried many of the brands.

[biposto]

well, I've got a full spool of Yo-Zori 40lb on it now, so I'll take 2/3 rd's off, and put a 300yd spool of what lb test braid? 50, 65, 80,130 the Grouper I'll encounter will probably exciede 40-50 lbs max. Now, do I put any tape or something between the mono and braid so It doesn't wieve/cut it's way into the exsisting mono? Do I connect it to the mono, or tie on like a new spool?

[Ice Cream Man]

I've got a full spool of Yo-Zori 40lb on it now, so I'll take 2/3 rd's off, and put a 300yd spool of what lb test braid?
I like 80# on conventional reels & 65# on a spinning reel
Do have 65# Izorline Spectra that came on a Saltiga with purchase .........

Now, do I put any tape or something between the mono and braid so It doesn't wieve/cut it's way into the existing mono?
No tape between the mono & braid ........
Uni to Uni knot will be fine .........
You will need about 20 to 25' of 80 to 100# Fluoro Carbon wind on leader tied on with a PR Knot - Wind on leader slides thru the guides without hang ups & something to grab onto to control your catch .....
( Arlen at Tex's Tackle ties it for me )..........

A "donut " refers to the line being cranked back on to spool in one small area - instead of thumbing it evenly across the spool ....... ICM

[Ice Cream Man]

Originally Posted by fatcat14

I would fill the spool up halfway with mono or some other cheap backing. (you can often find cheap spools of 100lb dacron backing). Then put 150 to 200 yards of power pro on top of that. I attach the two using a uni knot. 200 yards might seem like to much braid, but when get something big you'll be glad you had it. Braid is also easy to tangle, if you only put 200ft on your reel you will adding more very soon. The 200 yards you use this time can be used for backing the next time you re spool you reel. Filling up the spool also give you more line retrievel per crank.
Good luck

Never had a problem with braid tangling - especially with 4 to 16 oz. of weight on a bottom rig .......
I do sometimes get back lashes from hell, when using braid on a bait caster ..... ........


A reel with a 6 to 1 retrieve will still only give you 6 to 1, whether the spool is full or half full ..........
But a half full spool will give to more torque - similar to the smaller gears on a 10 speed bicycle .......... ICM

[biposto]

Cool thanks all!

[Greg Manning]

I go with braid directly to an offshore snap-swivel...attach the 3 way swivel of your bottom rig to this. If you plan on jigging you need the shock leader ICM is talking about. The PR is a very good knot for braid to mono and I used it for a couple of years. It is not the easiest knot to tie in the boat and I switched to a Red Phillips knot a couple of years ago....it is real easy to tie and still has a low profile for guides. Like ICM says, braid in this size does not tangle easily.

[fzero]

Originally Posted by Ice Cream Man

A reel with a 6 to 1 retrieve will still only give you 6 to 1, whether the spool is full or half full ..........
But a half full spool will give to more torque - similar to the smaller gears on a 10 speed bicycle .......... ICM

The gear ratio determines how many times the spool turns per full crank of the handle. The line retrieval rate also depends on the circumference of the spool. A 5" diameter spool has a circumference of 15.7", so 15.7" of line is retrieved per turn (of the spool). A 2.5" spool has a 7.8" circumference, so half as much line will be retrieved.

The torque is proportional to the radius of the spool, so a full spool will apply more torque (and require more force on the handle). The smaller gears on the front crank of a bicycle require less torque to turn, which makes it easier to pedal.

[fatcat14]

i thought I was right about line retrieval and the amount line on the reel, but didnt want to get in a pissing match.

[Ice Cream Man]

Fzero ...... It's about learning something new, thanks for the explanation ........
Fatcat ...... please accept my apology ........ ICM

[plugmeister]

FatCat is right on!