Need Spectra/ Braid Input

tloucks · #1 Jan-17-2012, 07:48 PM

I have always used strictly mono for all of my fishing but keep hearing spectra/braid is the only way to go to feel the bites fishing in 150-300ft. of water. With rockfish season opening in a month and a half I am thinking about making the switch.I have a reel full of about 300 yds. of fresh mono.
Am I making the right move?
What do I need to buy?
Should I have the tackle shop do it for me?
Can I use some of my current mono as backing?
Any recommendations or input is appreciated.

Thank you,
Tom

mcrae · #2 Jan-17-2012, 07:53 PM

You will not regret it.
Do not buy Power Pro.
Have the tackle store spool it for you.
Use the spectra as backing not mono. This way you can use the reels for everything.

scrubber · #3 Jan-17-2012, 08:05 PM

Go to a tackle shop, try Baja Fish Gear in Lomita, CA. Buy some needles for splicing and hollo spectra for making nail knots top shot leaders. It's really easy and simple to do. BAJA FISH GEAR in Lomita, CA. Talk to the guys on the phone, they can ship you a reel already set up, if you ship the empty reel to them. The spectra needs to be put on tight, with a line winding machine, not like mono.

Charles_Sterlin · #4 Jan-17-2012, 08:49 PM

McRae, why do you recomend staying away from Power Pro?
I am about to take off the Jerry Brown Braid from my halibut reel and Lingcod sticks and respool with Power Pro ( i have it on several rods and have had good luck w/ it)

Which do you recomend?

scrubber · #5 Jan-18-2012, 08:26 PM

Don't get the waxy or died colored kinds. They stick together.

mcrae · #6 Jan-18-2012, 10:02 PM

x2

When I live line a bait it's a lot easier if the line is not waxed. I consider buying spectra an investment. It last for a very long time. Therefore, I try to get a product I can use for all kinds of fishing,not just rock cod. Buy the good stuff and buy it once. Buy lower quality and you will have to upgrade.

saltwaterfish · #7 Jan-18-2012, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles_Sterlin

McRae, why do you recomend staying away from Power Pro?
I am about to take off the Jerry Brown Braid from my halibut reel and Lingcod sticks and respool with Power Pro ( i have it on several rods and have had good luck w/ it)

Which do you recomend?

Power pro sucks its waxy the color comes off and the line sticks together at times.... Why are you going to get rid oud one of the two best spectras (jerry brown or izorlin) for powerpro?

lasparky11 · #8 Jan-19-2012, 11:29 PM

Head over to Bob Sands in Van Nuys. Ditch the mono, I use Izor solid up to 50#. Sal has one of Cal's new spectra tensioning machines up & working.

Charles_Sterlin · #9 Jan-21-2012, 09:04 AM

The reason I am dumping jb is on my avet MX trying to trip a dowrigger I broke off the 30lb (that reel will only pull 15lb of drag) and my electric managed to to snap the 80. . Last time I had to break off the 80lb power pro I had to use a cleat and a towel...i know neither line was a raided so maybe two bad batches....

garety · #10 Mar-21-2012, 08:31 PM

My favorite trick for spooling spectra is

get a phone book, open it up, put the across the page close it, and then set the phone book on the ground and put a 50 LB weight on it or a leg of furnature, and pointing the rod towards the phone book start cranking.

With lighter spectra... I have 12 lb fire line crystal on a spinner that i probably use 40 times a year. It seem that every 6 months or so it needs to be re layed so i just let it out behind a boat and then reel it back in... though with that I just use a glove to apply the tension.