TAKEOFF
TECHNIQUES
T-SHOTTING
A SIMPLE IMPROVEMENT ON THE BRAID-TO-FLUOROCARBON LEADER SYSTEM
David Swendseid is a details guy. Currently DUO Realis’ U. S. manager and R & D specialist, Swendseid has worked in product development and promotion in the fishing industry for nearly 25 years, primarily developing Japanese companies in the U. S. market. If you’ re a fan of the tackle coming out of Japan, then you know that Japanese manufacturers sweat the small stuff. They measure in minute fractions of ounces, design with the most capable computer software, and polish up every last surface.
That attention to detail trickles down to the methods by which Japanese baits are fished and the equipment used to fish them. Which is where Swendseid comes in. He’ s the guy who helps American anglers adopt new Japanese tackle and, when necessary, apply the new products to the American fishing scene.
Swendseid also possesses a cache of knowledge on the performance characteristics of fishing tackle and has developed systems for maximizing gear performance for a variety of popular techniques, particularly finesse techniques.
One such system is what he calls“ T-shotting.” It’ s actually a spin-off of a saltwater rigging system called topshotting, where anglers replace heavy tackle and monofilament line with light tackle and thin, high-strength braided line connected to a heavy shock leader.
Swendseid’ s T-shotting adaptation combines braid and a long fluorocarbon leader on spinning tackle. It’ s a great way to save money, cast farther and improve landing percentages using light-line techniques such as spybaiting.
By Curtis Niedermier
The Knot
Swendseid prefers the double-unit knot, which is one of the simplest to tie. For best results, he says the fluorocarbon needs to be wrapped around the braid with two wraps more than the braid gets wrapped around the fluorocarbon – nine wraps with the fluoro and seven with the braid, for instance. Swendseid says this helps prevent the wraps from slipping under pressure.
“ The more refined your knot, the better the release on the spool – as long as you make the knot really tight,” Swendseid says.“ If I’ m fishing a tournament, I’ ll drop a little bit of Super Glue on there and let it cure before I put it on the spool.”
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fluorocarbon leader
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3.
4.
Overlap both lines, and form a loop with the fluoro.
Wrap the fluoro tag end around both lines seven to nine times, passing each wrap through the loop.
Draw the fluoro down, but don’ t cinch. Repeat with the braid, making five to seven wraps.
Draw down the braid. braid main line
The Setup braiD – Fill the spinning reel with braid – up to 30-pound test. fluoro – Tie on about 25 to 35 feet of fluorocarbon in whatever pound-test rating you’ re comfortable using.
5.
Lubricate and slide the two halves together. Cinch by pulling on the tag ends, then trim.
22 flwfiShing. com i february-march 2017