Deep-Drop/Chunking Reel

[Uncle Russ]

A quick question:

I am leaning somewhat toward using the same reel (Accurate ATD 50-W) for deep bottome AND for chunking for a year or two--I'm feeling kind of cash-deprived lately. I recognize that a rig this heavy may not be the most fun to use for chunking, but I am actually most concerned with the inconvenience of having to re-rig from a big snap swivel to a wind-on leader and vice-versa.

My question is this: On a boat like the Big E, am I correct in assuming that you rarely bottom fish and chunk in the same water? The picture I am getting is that the floaters where you do the chunking are in water too deep for bottom fishing and that I should usually have plenty of time to re-rig between the two.

I know some of you are going to tell me how fast you can re-rig a Bimini or braided loop. All I can say, is you have never seen me in action.

Thanks,

Russ

[ksong]

All you need is a barrel swivel.

[Minnow]

Uncle Russ,

When Big E fishing for YFT in the floater, NO BOTTOM fishing is allow LOL.
It takes too long to touch the bottom , Floater/ spar rig generally are too deep for bottom fishing.

You will have plenty of time to re-rig for bottom fishing.JMO

[jig]

On the big e trips, chunking is at night, and then they run in a few hours during the daytime for AJ/Grouper fishing. So you have plenty of time.

Cash strapped Accurate owner. Reminds me of the buddy with a porsch who could not afford new tires. :-)

[Uncle Russ]

Thanks, guys.

Kil: I am pretty sure you are joking from the smiley-face, but I have read that some folks actually do rig with a swivel just before their windon?

TJ: Pretty much what I figured. Thanks.

Jig: Your analogy is exactly correct. I have a couple of reels I haven't even bought line for yet. If the 50W had not come with JB line on it, I might be using it as an anchor for my Flat Cat right now. Purchasing the gear for any expensive hobby is a lot like the story (I think it's one of Darrell Royal's, but I'm not certain) about the old rancher in West Texas who won 20 million dollars in the lottery. When a reporter asked him what he was going to do with the money, he said: "Well, I guess I'll just keep on ranching until the money's all gone."

The good news is that my first trip on the Big E is prepaid. The bad news is that at this point, I have been dealing with TJ and Randy enough that the money is just all gone.

Russ

[Uncle Russ]

I would like to expand this thread to one other sort of related question:

I have been advised by at least a couple of you that my 665HXC/700H rig is not optimal for chunking--not so much because of any line capacity issues, but more because of the 6/1 gear ratio--i.e., you can't put it on the rail and crank the sucker in. But I got to thinking, if I were willing to short pump the fish and reel down on retrieval, would the gear ratio make any difference?

Rick: Don't you use the Twinspin 30 for chunking? If so, that is a 6/1 reel and as Kil had to explain to me a few weeks ago, you can't use the rail with a spinner either.

So what am I missing? Is the Calstar 700H too heavy and long for short pumping? Or do folks just always use the rail with a chunk?

Russ

[Uncle Russ]

MrBill: Not until September, although I will get in some bay and jetty fishing prior to that. Right on about cabin fever. I'm getting as bad as Oso! My wife has had seven eye surgeries in the last year and a half and it keeps me close to the yurt. On the other hand, (knock on wood) it's looking better.

So you seem to be confirming my point. If I'm not using the rail and just pumping and reeling down, what difference would a 2-speed OR low gear make? I suspect I'm missing something but can't figure out what.

I used to be a real man (or thought I was.) And I could be again, if I had a time machine.

Russ

[MrBill]

Uncle Russ,
None of us are getting any younger. Hope your wife gets better. My mother's health has gone down hill the past couple of years and helping out does take time. But, some day we will all need help and let's hope there is someone to help us.

The Low gear is your best friend when fighting any fish over 40 pounds. You will not believe how much power you have to lift a fish when in low gear. I think you are a fool by not fishing a two speed reel in deep water. Just take my word for it, low gear is 5 times as easy to pump up a large fish than high gear.

When fishing very deep water such as the floaters, the only time to use the high gear is when you are changing a bait or jigging. Once you let out a chunk of bait, change to the low gear. If you need to change baits or retrieve the chunk to let out again, put it in high gear. Low gear is a arm saver and lets you put mucho pounds of pressure on the fish. Pressure is the key to success in bringing up tuna and amberjacks.

I also might add that the quality of rod is very important. A well made rod with lot's of lifting power will aid you when using the low gear. Together, a low gear and a high quality short rod will put fish on the deck in very short order. There is no reason that a 75# tuna should take more than 15 minutes with 20 pounds of drag. With 30 pounds of drag, a 2 to 8 minute fight should do it.

[mcgolfer]

uncle russ
i usually chunk with a 50 2 speed. i was only using the twinspin to see how the reel would handle the 40 to 90lb tuna we were catching. that twinspin will be in the rod holder when i am chunking at the lump. i know the twinspin will handle larger fish but long fights cut into others fishing time.

the issue with a 6to1 gear ratio is with larger fish there may come a point in the fight where you physically can't budge the fish and can't gain any line by cranking. that's where a 2 speed shines. i chunk with my reel in high gear and only when i get to the point that it becomes very hard to gain any line do i switch to low gear. i will switch back to high gear when i have the fish turned. so as i am fighting a fish i switch gears several times to keep the pressure on the fish. on a really large fish you may have to stay in low for the majority of the time. however if they make a run at the boat you better shift into high and crank like hell or you will lose contact with your fish and stand a good chance of losing the fish......rick

[Uncle Russ]

Rick and MrBill: Between your two posts, although your techniques of exactly when to use the low gear may vary somewhat, I think I definitely get the picture. So I am definitely back on the reservation as to using a 2-speed for chunking.

So back to using the big spinners for casting and perhaps jigging. I would probably use the 6/1 Twinspin 30 for jigging because most, if not all experts seem to agree that the higher gear ratio is best. But what are your opinions as to the best gear ratio for casting poppers--the 6/1 Twinspin or the Stella 20,000 Power Gear? If popping is anything like chunking, I would think the somewhat better cranking power of the 20K would be the ticket for fighting the fish after the hookup?

Rick, I realized you were using the TS for chunking as a change of pace and not as your go-to gear. What you added about the lengthened fight clarifies it for me. I realize on the party boat scenario, you have to limit the fight somewhat. That's why I am still considering not bringing my flyrod on the boat with you. In reality, I was assuming you were ending the fight as quickly with the big spinner as with the heavy conventional gear. I think I've been reading too much about those guys in the Pacific jerking 100 pound GT out of the water with spinners like Rio Grande Perch on a cane pole, and I was assuming you were accomplishing the same thing in terms of fight time with YFT.

And, as always, thanks for the free lessons. If I were trying to learn to dance, this would be costing me $50.00 an hour.

Russ