Light Tackle

[robfisher]

Having just invested in a really thin crucial rod and spinning reel with light line and having had success with it in these difficult conditions I wonder how many of you out there subscribe to the theory that when fishing is tough you lighten up on tackle and go with smaller lures? I must say that it is a hell of a lot of fun catching fish on such light tackle?. But what worries me is what the hell will happen if I hook a big Mr Lincoln on this rig?

[Guest]

It makes sense to me going light, and it really is fun. Remember January when I got that 2.76kg on my Berkley Cherrywood 5'6 on 6lb/2.5kg line? That was real fun, but what IF? That day you donated your new 6" dinger to the 'monster', I too hooked a decent fish, but I had absolutely no confidence in setting the hook on a fish like that, so when he jumped it was all over.

My feeling is that if you go light you have to go top of the range, anything less and you just going to be donating your tackle to the fish and possibly killing it with a hook stuck in it's throat. So things like drag and condition/quality of hook become absolutely critical for the hook set.

Talking about hook set, us bassers are the most anal creatures of our species when it comes to 'saving the planet and all it's creatures', while flying down the dam at full taps burning up gallons of fossil fuel every second. Then tell me this - Why are we not using circle hooks?

I vote for 4 stroke 5hp's and circle hooks! :lol: :lol:

[Warrenx]

Robf , ive caught most of my big fish on a similar rig and its great fun , I am not sure what would happen with a 5kg plus fish??
The only thing I have done is to use 14 pound line rather than the light stuff you are supposed to use with it otherwise you going to battle aroung structure.
I often down scale my lures when the fish are not keen however this also seems to down scale the size of the fish you catch, which is not always a bad thing when nothing else is bitting.
When I down scale the lures I like to sight fish for small bass it often gives you and indication of what the fish are and arent interested in and this info can hopefully be translated to bigger fish feeding habits ??

[robfisher]

I have gone top of the range with this rig? but if I had hooked that beast from the deep I recon the rod would have snapped based on what the rod did catching a 1,4kg Lincoln the other day? mind you these bass seem to tire really quickly? we were videoing some catches the other day and the bass fight for a really short time and then give up? so if I could keep the drag perfect and stay calm who knows? maybe I could catch a big fat Mac truck on the light tackle?

OK so what is a circle hook?

[Guest]

It is a hook that will not get stuck in a fishes throat if swallowed. This is becoming the 'norm' in salt water game fishing.

[robfisher]

I even down scaled to 10lb line on this rig? even thou I swore I would never again use 10lb line at Inanda? I have learnt a lot since those days and if I hook a Mac Truck and can keep it away from structure then I reckon I have a 50/50 chance of landing him?

[robfisher]

OK I?m off to search for some circle hooks? mind you since seeing BM remove what I thought was a hook stuck forever from a fish during the tour and subsequently managing to do it myself I?m feeling a lot happier at removing hooks from gut hooked foooshies.

[Guest]

Maybe a very good question for Gareth-John??? 8O

[robfisher]

And ask it I will when he returns from overseas! I really want to book a day with him for training? I have heard that his tours are awesome and the information feed is huge? even for the more experienced fisherman!

[Guest]

I had a booking with him some time ago and pulled out due to the boat becoming a bit 'busy'. So just make sure when you book that it starts and finishes with just the two of you.

[robfisher]

Oh big time! I certainly don?t want to share my time on a day like that! Thanks for the heads up? maybe we should go 3 up? you and I and Gareth?

[Guest]

As a social fish I think that would be great, but as a guided tour I'm not sure, I will probably feel a bit funky asking 'doff' questions. :lol: I would want to fish Midmar though as the venue. Super tough fishing, you will learn more that way I think.

[robfisher]

No problem? I want to do the tour/course on Inanda or Albert Falls? I really hate Midmar?

[Guest]

Inanda becomes a 'Midmar' during the Classic sometimes. :-?

[bassmaster]

Ok and back to the topic.... :lol:

I never use light line anymore that is why I have started using Fluorocarbon line. 12-14lb fluoro is very hard for the fish to see and you can still use small baits on that size line. Why take a chance in losing a great fish? Fishton landed a dorado on 10lb fluoro!!! Show me a bass that is going to pull harder than a dorado??!! 8O

The light rod and small spinning reel is still going to give you a great feeling of fighting a big fish. Snapping a rod is not easy and if you stay calm and fight the fish correctly your chances of landing it will increase...