[Uncle Russ]

Folks,

For the next trip (Big E) I am planning to have a "ready rod" rigged at all times for the occasional ling or school of Mahi Mahi that shows up while everyone else on the boat is catching bait for my use or at any other time. The rod is a Smith 70MH which is similar in many respects to the OTI 7 foot spinner I have held briefly. (I'm sure there are differences, but it is similar.) So, the rig will be about as light as a medium-heavy bay outfit, but with a Stella 5,000 mounted on it with 40 pound braid and maximum drag capacity of at least 10 pounds, it will be a bay rod on the same steroids those wrestlers are killing themselves with up in Yankee land.

My first question involves this outfit: I plan to keep a live bait hook on it at all times. First, how big should the hook be? Second, how long a fluorocarbon leader should I use. (I am assuming about 50-60 pounds and no weight.)

Next: Do any of you have a better use for such a standby rod for surface cruisers than for use with live bait?

Another issue, unrelated, is this: While catching bait, what rod would you want to have nearest you "just in case." A popping outfit? Jigging? The "ready rod?"

Thanks, and I will probably start pestering everybody again for new information as this second trip unfolds.

Russ

 

[fishologist]

look at my kingfish leader at KINGFISH for your leader, i can also make them out of mono or flurocarbon, but that whoo or kingfish could cut you off.
the first couple of places you wont have any live bait so make sure you have a couple of cigar minnows that are easy to get to so you can put a line in the water fast, because a lot of people have figured that little secret out,

we had 4 in the group so 2 of us would go after ling and mahi at the weedline and the other two would catch bait, then we would switch off at the next spot.

 

[gman]

Yankee land??? Where exactly is that. I have the same setup for party boat tuna up here, basically for mahi around lobster pots. I would go with a short leader maybe 36" fluro leader using a uni-uni connection with a medium circle hook becuase most fish will pounce the bait and take off so the circle would help on the hook set maybe a 7/0 or an 8/0.

Are you sure you only get 10lbs opf drag out of the stella. I have the brand new Japanese 4000 version which I bought overseas and it definately has some balls at top end. I havent measured it but

 

[Snagged]

Russ,
All extra gear is kept on the upper deck on the BigE.
A 6/0 hook on a 10 inch metal leader would cover ling and dorado.
When it time to catch bait, catch it or some just might be more than a little ticked at you come AJ or grouper time.

 

[Uncle Russ]

Thanks, Gentlemen. I may pick up a couple of those KF leaders, fish.

gman: Didn't mean Yankeeland fishes differently. Just that your wrestlers use heavier duty steroids.

snagged: No, I definitely will do my share catching bait. We are even getting down there early to try to put some piggy perch in the tank before getting on board.

I have reached the point where I can hardly get any work done. (Glad I don't work for Drifter any more.) It's going to be good going after some AJ--I was actually disappointed we didn't do any bottom fishing off of Venice--if you can call wading around in yellow fin up to your butt disappointing!

By the way, TJ or Tom: Can you tell me how to post a picture that doesn't have a web URL? I have to show you what a tired old man looks like who can't even stand up to hold his fish by the tail. (I figured I hijack everybody else's threads--I might as well hijack my own.)

Russ

 

[gman]

i didnt know we had wrestler LMAO. Glad to read some fishing today. Im gutting my bathroom for the wife.....OHHHHHHH JOY!! nothing like sheetrock, spackle and tile to put a smile on my face

 

[Uncle Russ]

gman: I should qualify the 10 pounds of drag. I agree with you that the 5K will almost certainly handle more than that. It is the rod I am thinking about. Smith Ltd lists maximum drag as 5 KG on the lower portion of the rod. I think it would take more, but since I got it from Japan, Academy won't give me a refund.

Russ

 

[gman]

I put about 35lbs on my smith amj52ex and it was fine. I believe its rated for 28 but i understand completely about the fear of breaking an imported product. I have the same fear on both my stellas nd my smith jigging rod

 

[Uncle Russ]

I thought long and hard about one of the AMJ rods, but I ended up deciding that at some point, I want a Nirai, primarily because it is a butt joint rod with a maximum break-down length of 44 inches. I think I will get that for heavy jigging just because of the portability, and then an OTI for anything lighter than 250 grams.

 

[Enoch]

I have a "heavy - yankee" ready rod on the boat.


This is my second double duty rod:

Shimano Tiralejo 8ft MH-Long Cast Guides
Shimano Sustain 5000FE
PE 4, Daiwa boat braid


I used to have the trevala MH 6'6" do the job, but the dorado's abuse the rod and the vanstaal 150g. I've moved beyond this setup already...

Anyhow, I have the PE4 lined to a FG (mid) knot. Then to 3 feet of 50lb Seagaur Flouro tied to a spro ball bearing swivel and then solid ring and Owner 9/0 assist hook.

This way I can tie up a popper/swimbait at the expense of a split ring if needed.
Nomad GT style.


.

 

[Enoch]

where is uncle russ anyhow? ur, show urself!