[buy2ls]

Maybe this has been mulled over a few times. Sorry guys but it seems the trend with topshots has been getting shorter and shorter.

From how I see it the shorter the topshot the easier it is for the dine to swim, which can result in more bites. The downside, chafing at boatside, spectra tangles rubbing on the anchor. I am sure there are more. What length do you guys consider to be too short and what might be too long and at what length does your RISK REWARD relationship balance out?

 

[fishybuzz]

Depends on what one is fishing for and if it's bait jigs on the hook or drifting what the water conditions are how good the bait is lots and lots of factors determine what length my topshot will be...

I have fished as short as 5 feet but mostly they run about 25'...my main goal is to get bit...then I'll worry about the details. 8)

 

[buy2ls]

Depends on what one is fishing for and if it's bait jigs on the hook or drifting what the water conditions are how good the bait is lots and lots of factors determine what length my topshot will be...

I have fished as short as 5 feet but mostly they run about 25'...my main goal is to get bit...then I'll worry about the details. 8)

Let's just say we are fishing the slide on the lower banks for large YFT.

 

[Baja Dreamer]

Maybe this has been mulled over a few times. Sorry guys but it seems the trend with topshots has been getting shorter and shorter.

Oh boy, here we go again!

From how I see it the shorter the topshot the easier it is for the dine to swim, which can result in more bites. The downside, chafing at boatside, spectra tangles rubbing on the anchor. I am sure there are more. What length do you guys consider to be too short and what might be too long and at what length does your RISK REWARD relationship balance out?

Let's just say we are fishing the slide on the lower banks for large YFT.

I like a short top shot although not as short as some. About 25'- 35' give or take does me just fine. What I like best is the contact you have with your bait, even with a heavy topshot. I've never had an issue with the anchor or at boatside because of fishing short. Many people say that you have no give or "cushion" fishing short and while that is true, if your drag is set properly you shouldn't need to worry about breaking off.

This post edited by Baja Dreamer 06/12/2008

 

[buy2ls]

Maybe this has been mulled over a few times. Sorry guys but it seems the trend with topshots has been getting shorter and shorter.

Oh boy, here we go again!

From how I see it the shorter the topshot the easier it is for the dine to swim, which can result in more bites. The downside, chafing at boatside, spectra tangles rubbing on the anchor. I am sure there are more. What length do you guys consider to be too short and what might be too long and at what length does your RISK REWARD relationship balance out?

Let's just say we are fishing the slide on the lower banks for large YFT.

I like a short top shot although not as short as some. About 25'- 35' give or take does me just fine. What I like best is the contact you have with your bait, even with a heavy topshot. I've never had an issue with the anchor or at boatside because of fishing short.


Many people say that you have no give or "cushion" fishing short and while that is true, if your drag is set properly you shouldn't need to worry about breaking off.

The same with fluro? more than 25' seems a bit pricey!!

 

[fishybuzz]

Maybe this has been mulled over a few times. Sorry guys but it seems the trend with topshots has been getting shorter and shorter.

Oh boy, here we go again!

From how I see it the shorter the topshot the easier it is for the dine to swim, which can result in more bites. The downside, chafing at boatside, spectra tangles rubbing on the anchor. I am sure there are more. What length do you guys consider to be too short and what might be too long and at what length does your RISK REWARD relationship balance out?

Let's just say we are fishing the slide on the lower banks for large YFT.

I like a short top shot although not as short as some. About 25'- 35' give or take does me just fine. What I like best is the contact you have with your bait, even with a heavy topshot. I've never had an issue with the anchor or at boatside because of fishing short.


Many people say that you have no give or "cushion" fishing short and while that is true, if your drag is set properly you shouldn't need to worry about breaking off.

The same with fluro? more than 25' seems a bit pricey!!

Pricey????? you just paid $3000 to get on the boat and have probably another $5000 in gear and you think 25' of FC is pricey.....lmao

Fishing the slide for BIG YFT ...25' of 130# soft steel...yea baby.

 

[buy2ls]

Well? maybe we ought to redefine "Pricey" as 10 100' Blackwater fluro topshots of 100lb, 130lb 150lb and a few of 200 for the hell of it. Really though see no need for fluro longer than 25'? You guys really like that Soft Steel huh? Do you like the Ultra? What about thier fluro?

This post edited by buy2ls 06/12/2008

 

[Baja Dreamer]

The same with fluro? more than 25' seems a bit pricey!!

For straight fluoro topshots I usually just dived the smaller coils or spools in half or in thirds, depending on how long they are. Seaguar 130 for instance I get in 15 meter coils and I just divide it in thirds. This gives me three topshots that are just over 16' long and in calmer conditions this is just fine for me.


FISH HARD!

 

[Baja Dreamer]

Pricey????? you just paid $3000 to get on the boat and have probably another $5000 in gear and you think 25' of FC is pricey.....lmao

That's one "gotcha" for David! ROTFL!!! 8)

Fishing the slide for BIG YFT ...25' of 130# soft steel...yea baby.

Soft Steel is good stuff alright, but I still like my Izorrope! :tu:


FISH HARD!

 

[fishybuzz]

Pricey????? you just paid $3000 to get on the boat and have probably another $5000 in gear and you think 25' of FC is pricey.....lmao

That's one "gotcha" for David! ROTFL!!! 8)

Fishing the slide for BIG YFT ...25' of 130# soft steel...yea baby.

Soft Steel is good stuff alright, but I still like my Izorrope! :tu: FISH HARD!

I like the kinder and gentler Soft Steel Ultra....... Izorrope is too stiff for my delicate disposition The only heavy FC I only use is Seaguar...in the lighter weights 20# thru 60# I like Seaguar, Ande and Triplefish FC.

This post edited by fishybuzz 06/13/2008

 

[Baja Dreamer]

Well? maybe we ought to redefine "Pricey" as 10 100' Blackwater fluro topshots of 100lb, 130lb 150lb and a few of 200 for the hell of it. Really though see no need for fluro longer than 25'?

First off, those lengths certainly would be expensive! 8*

But there is no need at all for fluoro topshots that long. You don't get the same amount of stretch in fluoro as you do in mono, and if it's rough enough to need that long a topshot, you don't need flouro for stealth anyway!

Another way to look at it is; If 2'-4' works for a leader on lighter lines, why would you need more than that on your heavy rigs? Many boats recomend using a 3' fluoro leader on a heavy rig, but personally, I don't like the extra knots, crimps, or other hardware so I just use a straight fluoro topshot.

You guys really like that Soft Steel huh? Do you like the Ultra? What about thier fluro?

Yup! It's good stuff and so is the Soft Steel Ultra. I like that in the 175 lb. because it has the same diameter as 130 Izor and it's very limp line as well as being strong.


FISH HARD!

 

[wahoodad]

I have been fishing about 8 to 10 feet of straight Seaguar flourocarbon for big fish, big swell or flat calm, landing them. Trust me, it is not for everybody. The abuse my body takes on some headshakes sometimes makes me wonder why I do it, but I really like the way it fishes.
It's not for every boat either. Some boats have a problem with the short topshots, some welcome them.

 

[Baja Dreamer]

I have been fishing about 8 to 10 feet of straight Seaguar flourocarbon for big fish, big swell or flat calm, landing them. Trust me, it is not for everybody. The abuse my body takes on some headshakes sometimes makes me wonder why I do it, but I really like the way it fishes.

The 'hoodaddy has a standing appointment with his dentist after every long trip to get his fillings replaced! 8*

It's not for every boat either. Some boats have a problem with the short topshots, some welcome them.

Really?! Hhmmm, which ones? FISH HARD!

This post edited by Baja Dreamer 06/13/2008

 

[fishybuzz]

Fair warning Buy2ls what I would call short Wahoodad calls it long....he is the master of he short topshot.

Mike Lacky on the Vag likes a boat length of mono topshot...

 

[Bearwell]

For the slide, I'd say there's not much need for a short topshot. The boat's moving and you're slowly dragging the bait through the water (due to imperfect freespool). In fact, I'd argue that the more drag your line has (more mono), the less your bait will get dragged behind the boat. Once the boat stops, then a short topshot might be important again but by then, you should be bit.

On the Excel, they recommend 200# leaders for the slide since they are not line shy, etc.

I use a 50yd topshot with either straight tie 130# Izorline or 200# Izorline leader.

Chris

 

[buy2ls]

For the slide, I'd say there's not much need for a short topshot. The boat's moving and you're slowly dragging the bait through the water (due to imperfect freespool). In fact, I'd argue that the more drag your line has (more mono), the less your bait will get dragged behind the boat. Once the boat stops, then a short topshot might be important again but by then, you should be bit. On the Excel, they recommend 200# leaders for the slide since they are not line shy, etc. I use a 50yd topshot with either straight tie 130# Izorline or 200# Izorline leader. Chris

That's interesting. The drag of the longer topshot helps pull line off the reel to get the dine into the zone when you are sliding back. So It would make sense to have one longer rig set up for slide drop back and a short one for flylineing. Very cool Jeff

This post edited by buy2ls 06/13/2008

 

[wahoodad]

I have no problem getting a bait back on the slide.

 

[Iron Thrower]

I have no problem getting a bait back on the slide.

Same here David,,,,,,,, Being Polish, I don't understand his concluision. (being polish, spelled that wrong)

Ray

 

[Baja Dreamer]

I have no problem getting a bait back on the slide.

Me neither.

And a slight problem I noticed for the folks using a longer top shot was that as the heavy mono line would start to come off of the reel, it would also have a tendancy to "unwind" on their spools and make a sort of a "light bird nest". This made it much harder to get the line off of the spool than it was for those of us using the short topshots and only had to watch spectra come off the spool.


FISH HARD!

 

[Overflow10]

.......a slight problem I noticed for the folks using a longer top shot was that as the heavy mono line would start to come off of the reel, it would also have a tendancy to "unwind" on their spools ....

Now that is a problme I have when using longer lengths of Izor-rope 130. Great line but even on a 50 size reel as soon as it looses a little tension on the spool it kinda goes "sproing" (get that technical term??) and then there is a mini-birds next to deal with...... I love that line when I am tying knots or hooked up but man it can be frustrating getting it out.