|
|
  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Fishing Line Tips
June 28, 2009
Fishing line is the weakest link between the angler and a trophy fish. When fished correctly, a large fish can be landed on the lightest of line. If not, even the smallest of fish can break the line. By following a few basics reminders, your next encounter with a trophy fish might result in a wall mount.
Begin by matching the diameter or the line’s breaking strength (pound test) to the tackle being used. Most fishing rods have line size recommendations printed on the blank just above the hand grips. As a rule, the smaller the line’s diameter, the further the line will cast. The reel should be filled to within a sixteenth of an inch of the spool lip. An overfilled spool will cause the line to spill, tangle or backlash.
When you purchase new line, it’s best to have it filled on a line winding machine. If that’s not convenient, thread the new line through the rod guides, tie the end to the reel spool, and drop the new spool into a bucket of water. As you turn the reel handle, the spool will spin in the water. This will provide enough friction to allow the line to tightly fill the spool.
Next, set the drag to approximately fifty percent of the line’s breaking strength. The drag adjustment is on the front of the spool on many spinning reels and on the same side as the reel handle on a bait casting reel. Refer to the instructions if you can not find it.
The two major causes of line twist are (1) a lure that spins during the retrieve and (2) the continual turning of the reel handle when the line is hung or a fish is pulling drag. To prevent twist, use a snap swivel with a lure that spins, and don’t reel when the drag is engaged. Once the line becomes twisted, it must be replaced or restored to its original condition. The easiest way to restore twisted line is to remove all the terminal tackle and tow the twisted section behind the boat for a quarter of a mile or so at ten miles per hour. When the line is retrieved, it will be limp and the twist will be gone.
Fishing reels are designed to store line and to provide a drag mechanism that prevents the line from breaking. They are not intended to be used as a winch to wind the fish in. Instead, simply pump the line. Lift the rod and pull the fish in your direction. When the rod tip is at the 11:00 position, reel down while keeping a bow in the rod. When the rod is almost parallel to the water, raise it again and repeat the process. If the fish takes drag, stop reeling, keep a bow in the rod until it stops, then continue the pumping process.
Small lures are easier to cast on light action spinning rods and reels with six to ten pound test line. Freshwater baitcasting reels will handle heavier lures and terminal tackle and can be loaded with monofilament line to twenty-pound test.
Tips from Gus!
Monofilament line should be checked frequently for rough spots and signs of wear.
Cut off any worn sections, or better still, replace the entire spool with new line. Line should also be replaced if it is at least a year old or if it appears discolored or opaque.
Upcoming Events:
Saturday, July 18, 2009, Light House Marine Services will offer a State and NASBLA approved Boater Safety and PWC Class. Registration fee is $49.00 for the eight-hour session beginning at 9:00 a.m. The class will be at The Peninsula Yacht Club in Cornelius, NC. Graduates receive an approved picture ID certificate of completion, and may also lower their boat insurance rates. To register, or for more information, call Capt. Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org.
Hot Spots of the week are the deeper sections of Mountain, Reed and Davidson Creeks. Stripers are being caught on live and artificial baits between forty-five and sixty-feet deep. Bass, perch and cat fishing continues to be good to very good, particularly from dawn until 9::00 a.m. Lake Norman’s water temperature is in the mid eighties and the lake level is about 1.7 feet below full pond.
Captain Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is licensed by the US Coast Guard, a member of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, and is an outdoor columnist and a full time professional fishing guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his web site, Fishin' With Gus! at www.FishingWithGus.com or call 704.617.6812.
For additional information e-mail Gus at Gus@LakeNorman.com
|
|
|
|
|
