Joined
·
1,105 Posts
To all: In getting ready for the next trip (52-hour Big-E on 9/1), I have been going over in my mind what I learned offshore of Venice. I now have extreme confidence in my knots and leader connections, and a much less inflated idea of how much drag I need to fish. (I am aware more drag will be called for on a party boat than on that private charter). But I also developed some questions as a result of that trip.
First, casting distance: I knew I was not very skilled before the trip. Typically, with 65 pound PE line, a popping rod between 7 and 8 feet, and either a Stella 8,000 or 20,000, I am able to cast only about 50-60 meters. I think I saw at least one reference to someone using the OTI 7 1/2 foot 50# rod to get up to 90 meters. That is impressive. Having watched a couple of videos of folks casting poppers, I think two of my faults may be: (1) following through too far with the rod tip, instead of stopping at about 10 o'clock, and (2) not gradually accellerating into the power snap at the end.
Two questions in this regard: Using the class of tackle I mentioned, and a safe, overhead cast with only about 3 feet of line hanging off the horizontal rod at the start, what would be a reasonable distance for a relative novice to achieve with a 4 ounce popper?
Also, do you think on one of the popping rods mentioned, the 8,000 with a smaller spool diameter or the 20,000 with a larger one would be best for acheiving distance. (I have noticed very little difference using my questionable technique.)
My last question regards popper rigging: So far I have been blessed with not getting hit by any toothy critters. Due to popping limitations on the Venice trip, I have only caught one blackfin and one huge skipjack on surface lures. But I do know some folks rig their poppers on a short wire bite leader. I now know that you do not need a great length of leader or fluorocarbon when popping due to the agitation of the water that presumably hides the connection to the lure. And from what I could tell, the main trick to catching a yellow fin on a popper is (a) finding the damned things and (2) getting something that floats in front of them with a hook in it. It would seem to me that under those circumstances, lure action would not be all that big a deal and a 6-9 inch wire bite leader might be great insurance. Do you see any negatives for using such a leader?
Thanks as always for your help.
Russ
First, casting distance: I knew I was not very skilled before the trip. Typically, with 65 pound PE line, a popping rod between 7 and 8 feet, and either a Stella 8,000 or 20,000, I am able to cast only about 50-60 meters. I think I saw at least one reference to someone using the OTI 7 1/2 foot 50# rod to get up to 90 meters. That is impressive. Having watched a couple of videos of folks casting poppers, I think two of my faults may be: (1) following through too far with the rod tip, instead of stopping at about 10 o'clock, and (2) not gradually accellerating into the power snap at the end.
Two questions in this regard: Using the class of tackle I mentioned, and a safe, overhead cast with only about 3 feet of line hanging off the horizontal rod at the start, what would be a reasonable distance for a relative novice to achieve with a 4 ounce popper?
Also, do you think on one of the popping rods mentioned, the 8,000 with a smaller spool diameter or the 20,000 with a larger one would be best for acheiving distance. (I have noticed very little difference using my questionable technique.)
My last question regards popper rigging: So far I have been blessed with not getting hit by any toothy critters. Due to popping limitations on the Venice trip, I have only caught one blackfin and one huge skipjack on surface lures. But I do know some folks rig their poppers on a short wire bite leader. I now know that you do not need a great length of leader or fluorocarbon when popping due to the agitation of the water that presumably hides the connection to the lure. And from what I could tell, the main trick to catching a yellow fin on a popper is (a) finding the damned things and (2) getting something that floats in front of them with a hook in it. It would seem to me that under those circumstances, lure action would not be all that big a deal and a 6-9 inch wire bite leader might be great insurance. Do you see any negatives for using such a leader?
Thanks as always for your help.
Russ