PHOTO BY CHARLES WALDORF finesse game . The hi-vis colors turn the lines into veritable strike detectors as the “ tick ” from a bite is more noticeable .
Also , being able to see the line helps keep track of the bait at all times .
“ Hi-vis line is a huge help in watching the bait sink and hitting the bottom ,” Meyer explains . “ If it ’ s 30 feet and the bait stops at 15 feet , a fish probably got it . With a dark line on a cloudy day , I might miss that cue . With hi-vis line , you can see your line falling and know immediately when something isn ’ t right .”
“ It ’ s an overall orientation thing for me ,” Lucas says . “ I want to know where my line is at all times . Wind and current can blow your line around in funny directions , and if I can ’ t see it , I ’ m not sure where my bait is or what it ’ s doing .”
In terms of actually spooling the braid on , there are many different theories on how it should be done . Some lay the new spool flat on its side with the label up ; others say it should spooled up clockwise . Ehrler spools braid onto his spinning rods just like he would a baitcaster , with the spool vertical and the new line coming off the top .
“ Just pinch it between your thumb and forefinger to Brent Ehrler create tension so it spools on tight ,” he advises . Daniels has spooled on new braid just about every
As examples , Lucas uses 15-pound-test Berkley Big Game way possible . No matter how you put in on , he suggests monofilament and fills about half the spool with backing pulling about 50 to 100 yards of braid off the freshly spooled while Meyer will spool on about 50 feet of 10-pound-test fluorocarbon as backing . between your fingers to eliminate any twists that occurred
reel into the yard or parking lot and reeling it back in
“ The backing doesn ’ t have to be anything expensive ; old during the spooling procedure . mono will do ,” Daniels adds . “ It just acts like a binding agent , As for how much main line to put on the spool , the perfect helping the braided line find footing and get traction so it amount for each pro falls somewhere between 1 / 16 to 1 / 8 won ’ t slip . Once you spool up 100 to 150 yards of braid over inch from the rim of the spool . Put on too much line and wind it , the backing will never be seen until you re-spool again .” knots will occur ; however , if the gap is 3 / 16 to 1 / 4 inch or more , casting distance becomes compromised . The good news about braid is that once you have it
BRAID IS BEST spooled on , it can last for years . These pros will often go an
Once solid backing is laid down as a base , spooling on entire season or two before changing the braid . Most say it ’ s the main line is next . In terms of fusing the backing to the the attrition of hundreds of reties on the braid ’ s length rather main line , nearly any simple fusion knot will do : uni-to-uni , than physical wear that eventually forces a re-spooling of blood knot or Alberto . As Daniels points out , this union will new braid . be so far down the spool that it will likely never get tested ; a “ I like to have a pretty full spool on the reel ,” Meyer says . fish would have to strip the drag 100 yards before getting to “ Once that gap between the braid and spool rim grows to the knot . about 3 / 16 of an inch , I change it .”
When it comes to choice of main line , the panel is unanimous that braided line on a spinning reel is the only way to go . The attributes of a high-quality braid far outweigh the LEADERS AND LENGTHS other options of fluorocarbon or monofilament as the primary As for leaders , the panel again reaches common ground fishing line . on their go-to leader size for finesse fishing with spinning On the lighter end , both Lucas and Bertrand mostly spool tackle : fluorocarbon in 8-pound-test . This may vary with conditions , but all start with that . up with Berkley X5 8-pound-test braid . Meyer ’ s go-to is a 10- pound-test Daiwa J-Braid ( X-8 ). Ehrler prefers 12-pound-test “ The leader is the most adjustable component in the spinning gear system ,” Daniels says . “ I start with 8-pound-test
Sunline XPlasma ( X-8 ). Daniels is on the heavier end with Seaguar Smackdown ( X-8 ) in 15-pound-test .
Seaguar Gold Label , but if the water is dirty or I ’ m fishing a
While preferences in pound tests and strand number ( X wacky rig around heavy cover , I have no problem going to number ) varies a bit , hi-vis line color is a must for this crew . 10- or even 12-pound test .” Whether it ’ s Berkley ’ s crystal white , Sunline ’ s light green ,
Ehrler ’ s go-to leader line is Sunline Sniper ; Meyer Seaguar ’ s flash green or Daiwa ’ s chartreuse , being able to employs Daiwa J Fluoro Samurai ; Lucas and Bertrand stick see the main line at all times is a critical component of the to Trilene 100 % Fluorocarbon .
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