[TeamOso]

but Im bored and cant sleep, so Im gonna post this.
Im plannin next year to do some hardcore tuna fishing with every buck I make. Im plannin on getting a TLD 25 on an ugly stik for Christmas, and although its nothing special it is a decent reel to get started (hopefully). This reel will handle the larger tuna right? Also my real question, knowing that the TLD aint much of a caster, is a Spheros 14000 a decent beginner spinning reel for tuna topwater action? If So would just any ugly stik be suitable. I think it would be nice to have this combo because I love shimano and they are in the same clas pricewise. What do yall think? With this equipment I think I will have a basic starting foundation, and as much as I would love a stella and an LX 2 speed, that aint gonna happen for awhile so I would rather get 2 decent setups, and focus on the tackle to catch the big ones.



What do yall think?

Kevin

 

[MrBill]

Oso, I realize funds are your problem. Your just a young kid so buy the heaviest duty ugly stick spinner academy sells. It might lack some backbone when pulling up the fish, but it won't break. I think you can get by with an ugly stick, but no longer than 7 feet. Good luck on your trip in December. Is the boat full?

 

[newman]

The TLD 25 will certainly handle any YFT you are likely to run into on your trip to the floaters. Put 300 yds of 80# spectra and go with 50-60lb for your topshot.

As far as spinners I had the opportunity to field test the New Quantam Boca 80 spinning reel last Sept on the TBB charter and that reel was incredible! It had no problem whipping 2 YFT in the 50-65lb class on back to back casts with a Tuna Hunter. The drag was set at 15# but one of the fish was pretty spunky and was racing off the drag so I started tightening it up. After the fish was landed we checked the drag and it went to 20# with more to go. This reel has just gone on the retail shelves and is about $210. I will be adding this spinner to my arsenal this year.

Now the rod I was using was a short 6' jigging rod that was far from ideal for throwing poppers and only by letting out a foot and a half of line and years of casting was I able to reach the edge of the lights. The moral of this is to mount your spinner on a 7' rod that will handle 50lb spectra.

Good Luck Kevin!

 

[TeamOso]

The TLD 25 will certainly handle any YFT you are likely to run into on your trip to the floaters. Put 300 yds of 80# spectra and go with 50-60lb for your topshot.

As far as spinners I had the opportunity to field test the New Quantam Boca 80 spinning reel last Sept on the TBB charter and that reel was incredible! It had no problem whipping 2 YFT in the 50-65lb class on back to back casts with a Tuna Hunter. The drag was set at 15# but one of the fish was pretty spunky and was racing off the drag so I started tightening it up. After the fish was landed we checked the drag and it went to 20# with more to go. This reel has just gone on the retail shelves and is about $210. I will be adding this spinner to my arsenal this year.

Now the rod I was using was a short 6' jigging rod that was far from ideal for throwing poppers and only by letting out a foot and a half of line and years of casting was I able to reach the edge of the lights. The moral of this is to mount your spinner on a 7' rod that will handle 50lb spectra.

Good Luck Kevin!
Hey newman thanks for the info on the boca, I have a small quantum spnning, and they hold up nicely against the saltwater. I was thinking braid, but what not do I use to connect the braid to the topshot? I have no idea, and havent found any sites, maybe it has been mentioned before, but how do you do it?

 

[Ragman]

Hey Kevin!

Look through the "knot" thread at the top of this board.

 

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

Hey newman thanks for the info on the boca, I have a small quantum spnning, and they hold up nicely against the saltwater. I was thinking braid, but what not do I use to connect the braid to the topshot? I have no idea, and havent found any sites, maybe it has been mentioned before, but how do you do it?
A knot is great for connecting lines. I'll just suggest a few.
Midnight knot
Reverse Albright
Uni to Uni
Yucatan

http://www.360tuna.com/3-tackle-rigging/t-49/favorite-knot-sites/

 

[TeamOso]

Hey ragman, I found a loop to loop wgich looks like it would be simple enough. Now my question is where do i find wind on leaders???
How much do they cost? Would 50-60lb work for bottom stuff on my trip also>?
I have a ???yd spool of 50# big game that I would love to use, so if a loop to loop would work without a wind on leader, what is a good knot?? I feel so ignorant


Kevin

 

[newman]

Double your spectra giving you about 2' of doubled line and tie a Reverse Albright knot. There is NO NEED to tie a bimini and make a loop as all it is going to do is offer another failing point. I used this connection on my last 2 trips and it did not fail. It is very simple, but MAKE SURE you and someone else wear gloves to cinch down the knot. You do need to people to make sure it is fully cinched down and won't slip as with any knot joining spectra and mono.

 

[SkeeterRonnie]

Shimano SPheros 14000 with upgraded carbon fiber drags. WHEN you get the reel, send me the spool and I will put them in and ship it back to you for free, with the stock washers in a little baggie to throw away once you look at them...lol.. Ugly Stick Tiger Tiger spinning rod, or a Penn Slammer spinning rod. That will get you a decent topwater setup that will handle 80% of all YFT.

 

[TeamOso]

Hey skeeter ronnie, I will definitely do that, it will be a few months.


Kevin

 

[TeamOso]

Double your spectra giving you about 2' of doubled line and tie a Reverse Albright knot. There is NO NEED to tie a bimini and make a loop as all it is going to do is offer another failing point. I used this connection on my last 2 trips and it did not fail. It is very simple, but MAKE SURE you and someone else wear gloves to cinch down the knot. You do need to people to make sure it is fully cinched down and won't slip as with any knot joining spectra and mono.
Wowo just lookd that knot up on Power Pro's site, and it looks like even I could do that

Im just hoping sant will leave that TLD 25 under the tree

Thanks 80 JB using about 20ft of 50lb topshot.


Kevin

 

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

Practice your knots before the trip.....

 

[TeamOso]

Ill have about 1 1/2 days assuming I get the reel.
50# is OK for Aj and YFT? 20ft ok?

 

[North Texas Fiberglass]

Oso,

I have to agree with the other guys. If you only had one rig, go with a spinning rod.

You will still be able to chunk with it as I learn on the GEM trip, plus you can throw ANY top water bait out there.

If you go with the 25 TLD, you will be really limited. It is a good chunking real, but rather limited.

 

[TeamOso]

I sorta thoguht about that, but I am also gonna be using the reel for bottom fishing also.

 

[Argo]

hey oso, how old are you? write a little bio up, what kinda grades you makin? whats your parents story? I will see what I can do for you.

 

[TeamOso]

Hey argo, Im 15, and go to Incarnate Word Academy, which is a private Catholic school. I wouldnt say my grades are superb, but they arent bad. Up until now they were A's and occasional B. But HS hit me like a freight train, I am now 1 A, B's, and maybe a C. I love to fish, inshore is fun, but there isnt anything like being out on the bluewater. I am grossly looking forward to being a deckhand on the wharf cat when I turn 16 August 23. My parents are lawyers, although I can tell times are tough for them right now, between us at private school and my bro at Baylor. My dad is usually preoccupied with work, and the time he has off at night is relax. He doesnt mind dropping me off with my kayak, but he aint much of a fisherman. I play baseball and soccer. My mom is Ok, with taking me out there to my fishing spots with my kayak also. Just my dad isnt the kinda guy who drools over a 45 Bertram, he just like ok. I dont think he would ever buy a boat even if he owned Microsoft. So basically the reels and things I get are with my own money or are presents. This coming trip I am going with my Grandpa, which I dont know if that he necessarily likes to go for the fishing or just to spend time with me. I am really hoping I can score the TLD 25 for Christmas, so he can see that there are better reels and tackle available other than the broken raggedy penn 4/0 boat equipment.

This is about all I can think of now, I dont mean to sound morbid, but I dont even know how my eyes are open its day 3 of hell week AKA exam week. These exams are make or break considering they count as 33.33333333333333333333333333333% OR 1/3 OF OUR GRADE


Merry Christmas
Kevin

 

[txseadog]

Ugly Stick Tiger Tiger spinning rod, or a Penn Slammer spinning rod. That will get you a decent topwater setup that will handle 80% of all YFT.

I have used and slightly abused heavy Slammer that I will give you if we can arrange the transportation from my house to yours. Send me a PM with some contact info...

 

[SkeeterRonnie]

TxSeaDog.. I will ship it to him free of charge. I think I still have a rod tube at work, if not, I will make one out of PVC. I have daily UPS shipments, wont be any problem. Let me figure out when I can meet you. As much as others have done for me, I enjoy helping others any chance I get. BTW~ Check left work at 3pm today...hehe... Yippeee!!

 

[TeamOso]

Wow guys thats awesome. Thanks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. This means so much to know that people can be so giving,