Best Assist Cord??

[Jason4606]

Not trying to over-complicate this... But there are so many variations in size, weight rating, material, weave, hollow, solid, etc... out there, it's just crazy!

What type/brand/weight cord has proven best for you? I see many adding flash/bucktail to hooks, is color a factor at all?

I fish for typical GOM critters with 50-80lb rated gear (actually in the process of upgrading to the 65-80 range, but I'm hoping to have at least one heavy rig before my next trip!) and jigs typically 120-300gm.

This is still all new to me, so the advise is definitely appreciated.

Thanks!
Jason

[d-a]

Jason

why make them when you can get good ones so cheap?

360Tackle :: Terminal Tackle

d-a

[hatidua]

Jason,

PM me your mailing address. I have a spool of the stuff and while I know how to make them, I'm more inclined to simply buy them pre-made as the post prior to mine suggests. I'll happily mail you the spool I have and you can make them yourself if you want.

[BretABaker]

if you really want to make them, kevlar cord works very well.

[peterk814]

the best stuff i have used is jerry brown hollow core 500lb test. You can make the assist loop by pulling through the hollow core, and then snelling it onto the hook. Extremely strong and failproof

[Atlantaking]

Not that I recommend it, but I've used 200 Lb Dacron Planer Board Line<--(click link ) and it held up OK. I caught a few nice AJ's with it (the bright orange line hanging out of it's mouth is the planer board line)

Hopefully, my July trip with Chip will let me test the "Ghetto Assist Cord" a bit more

hatidua, if Jason4606 doesn't take it, I'd like to take the spool of assist cord off your hands. Lemme know

[Jason4606]

Thanks guys! OTI's hooks are awesome! But I had a few reasons I wanted to at least be able to make my own.

Main reason is that I have more time to rig and dream about fishing than actually get to the coast and fish. So this would actually be fun for me!

Another reason is to get away from digging through a bunch of different loop lengths and hook sizes to find the right combinations for a particular jig. I know this isn't a new idea, and I haven't worked out the sizes yet... But I'm thinking that I could get away with 2 cord combos for what's in my bag right now. Both would be ~5" long single cords, (small hook version may be a little shorter?) one with ~4/0 and 6/0 hooks on each end, and one with ~6/0 and 8/0.

Another non-original thing I like about this is being able to adjust the loop length based on the jig. So I can offset them for a longer jig, then pull them up even when I swap to a shorter jig. I guess I could even loop them several times through the ring to make the whole thing shorter, but I digress...

Also thinking like you Peter. If I can get good hollow core, I could loop one hook, double the entire length, and end up with one knot in the whole rig that is wear resistant and failsafe.

I have some hooks that came rigged with a really BIG and slick hollow core that's all snagged up just from hitting the velcro on my bag... I saw the Jerry Brown hollow core mentioned in another thread. I'm guessing it has to be a lot better than the no-name stuff I have? Is the 500lb still fairly small/easy to work with?

Thanks!
Jason

[Sea Crappie]

Here's another vote for kevlar. Don't care for spectra on assist hooks.

[papio]

I make all my assist with kevlar. For toothy critters - cant' beat split rings and barrel swivels.

[Formula4Fish]

Jason,

I've been using kevlar and have been pleased with it.

I get it from Angler's Pro Shop