Thread: Learning how to dock shoot

Originally Posted by cajun fryer

what is better longer or shorter rod?

I've tried it with rods from 5' to 8' - Microlite to UL to Med - and settled on my 5'6" or 6'6" fast action tip rods. Having a wide spool or "long cast spool" reel is a key factor, regardless of rod length, as is having limp/supple line that hasn't got a lot of set coils in it. I usually tie off the tag end of line and pull off 50' or so, then stretch it out by pulling it tight & holding it for a few seconds ... then let off & repeat the process a couple more times, before reeling the line back on the reel under moderate to heavy tension (finger/thumb pressure). That seems to relax the line & take out most of the coils that occur from the reels sitting unused for long periods, plus remove a lot of the twists that may have occurred from the last time it was used.

... cp

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I've tried it with rods from 5' to 8' - Microlite to UL to Med - and settled on my 5'6" or 6'6" fast action tip rods. Having a wide spool or "long cast spool" reel is a key factor, regardless of rod length, as is having limp/supple line that hasn't got a lot of set coils in it. I usually tie off the tag end of line and pull off 50' or so, then stretch it out by pulling it tight & holding it for a few seconds ... then let off & repeat the process a couple more times, before reeling the line back on the reel under moderate to heavy tension (finger/thumb pressure). That seems to relax the line & take out most of the coils that occur from the reels sitting unused for long periods, plus remove a lot of the twists that may have occurred from the last time it was used.

... cp

Thanks for the equipment tips. I mostly use ultra and light tackle and flexible, low memory line really helps. Memory coils, stiff line and line twist can ruin your day, especially with light tackle.

I've been looking at the Pflueger Arbors, specifically because of the large diameter spool. Have you used them? I'd be very interested in your opinion on them.

The way I fish is very hard on line. I'm constantly dragging it on pilings and I'm also using it to fish for wipers and largemouth, and a big fish can stretch that line beyond it's recovery point even if it doesn't break. So I change out from the backing forward a couple of times a season on the tackle I use most, but sometimes I'll find my line has taken a set and coils or twist (or both) are a problem.

I usually only discover these problems when I'm fishing. I've found it helps, if your line is dry, to let it soak up some water. I tie on a ball-bearing snap-swivel and attach a small bell sinker with just enough weight for casting distance. I cast as far as I can and point the rod tip down, forcing the line under the water. If I have the patience I'll let the line sit and soak for a couple of minutes. Then I'll reel in slowly and apply tension to the line by lightly pinching it with my towel (ok, it's a t-shirt rag). Try pinching in front of the first line guide to hold your place with the butt of the rod against your body. This will also help untwist the line if that's a problem (the ball-bearing swivel helps) and cleans any crud that's sticking to you line. (I find a lot of stained water and that stuff is definitely on your line and in your reel.

I repeat the process until the line loosens up. Or it doesn't, and I just do something else. But unless the line is really bad you can usually make it usable for the day.

Originally Posted by SpeckMaster

Thanks for the equipment tips. I mostly use ultra and light tackle and flexible, low memory line really helps. Memory coils, stiff line and line twist can ruin your day, especially with light tackle.

I've been looking at the Pflueger Arbors, specifically because of the large diameter spool. Have you used them? I'd be very interested in your opinion on them.

The way I fish is very hard on line. I'm constantly dragging it on pilings and I'm also using it to fish for wipers and largemouth, and a big fish can stretch that line beyond it's recovery point even if it doesn't break. So I change out from the backing forward a couple of times a season on the tackle I use most, but sometimes I'll find my line has taken a set and coils or twist (or both) are a problem.

I usually only discover these problems when I'm fishing. I've found it helps, if your line is dry, to let it soak up some water. I tie on a ball-bearing snap-swivel and attach a small bell sinker with just enough weight for casting distance. I cast as far as I can and point the rod tip down, forcing the line under the water. If I have the patience I'll let the line sit and soak for a couple of minutes. Then I'll reel in slowly and apply tension to the line by lightly pinching it with my towel (ok, it's a t-shirt rag). Try pinching in front of the first line guide to hold your place with the butt of the rod against your body. This will also help untwist the line if that's a problem (the ball-bearing swivel helps) and cleans any crud that's sticking to you line. (I find a lot of stained water and that stuff is definitely on your line and in your reel.

I repeat the process until the line loosens up. Or it doesn't, and I just do something else. But unless the line is really bad you can usually make it usable for the day.

Sorry, no, I don't own any Pflueger reels.

I usually pre-stretch the line on my casting reels ... but, if/when twists occur while I'm fishing, I will drag the empty line behind the boat (at idle speed) to remove those twists. Or, if I happen to notice the twists beginning to occur while casting ... I do cast to open water & pinch the line between thumb & forefinger while reeling back in, and raise the rod high as the bait gets within a couple of yards of the boat ... and once the bait clears the water, allow it to spin out any twists, dipping the bait back into the water only long enough to slow the spin so it doesn't simply twist the line in the reverse direction.
And I also/always have back-up rods/reels that I can use in the event of catastrophic twists/coils, birdsnests (professional overruns), or any malfunction that may render that outfit useless or too time consuming to "fix" on the spot.

... cp

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Sorry, no, I don't own any Pflueger reels.

I usually pre-stretch the line on my casting reels ... but, if/when twists occur while I'm fishing, I will drag the empty line behind the boat (at idle speed) to remove those twists. Or, if I happen to notice the twists beginning to occur while casting ... I do cast to open water & pinch the line between thumb & forefinger while reeling back in, and raise the rod high as the bait gets within a couple of yards of the boat ... and once the bait clears the water, allow it to spin out any twists, dipping the bait back into the water only long enough to slow the spin so it doesn't simply twist the line in the reverse direction.
And I also/always have back-up rods/reels that I can use in the event of catastrophic twists/coils, birdsnests (professional overruns), or any malfunction that may render that outfit useless or too time consuming to "fix" on the spot.

... cp

I do a lot of shore fishing in spots that take some walking to get to so I tend to carry only the tackle I expect to use. That's usually 3 or 4 rigs so 1 breaking down isn't disastrous. I usually have backup tackle in the car but sometimes it's not practical to trek back. I change line out often enough that stiffened line usually isn't a problem. I stopped using braid on any reel that I don't have a backup spool of mono or flouro for because of impossible to fix on the spot tangles.

I developed that technique for untwisting line years and years ago when I only had one good ultralight rig and before I wised up and started carrying a little spool of fresh line in my tackle box. Took me a while to figure out it was easier to change line a couple of times a season than to mess with it when I could be fishing. Your way of watching the jig unwind is easier and for extra casting distance it would be easy to add a split shot.

There was a problem with the Arbor reels, I had three and all of them an they had a clicking problem when reeled. Don't know if they got the problem fixed, but the factory sent me supremes instead and They are good reels. The factory said all the arbors they had did have same problem