Hi Erik, glad you like the site....... post a pic of the big fish????

Richard "Faz" Fazakerley

Hi Rich: Richard Fazakerley told me about your site so I thought I would check it out. I fish exclusively salt water but I use power pro extensively and it has saved several fish from spooling me. Last weekend I caught and released an 80# Black Seabass using 50# power pro and 25# mono topshot. I pull the spectra off every season and dry it out and put a little electrical tape on the arbor so the line doesn't slip and because spectra shrinks a tiny bit. What connection do you guys tie the spectra to Flouro?
Great Site
Erik Kristiansen

Fishing the new stren braid for over a year and noticed that it doesn't fade nearly as badly as the other brands.  I like the stren over all other brands I have tried so far.  Cost more but definitely worth it.

Mark

I'm not familiar with the new Stren braid yet but they all fade after a while. I use Power Pro and have for about 4 years now. I usually color  mine with a black permanent marker back and forth across my spool. Camo if you will. I color the 10' closest to the bait solid black. Same on my musky rods and it lasts for quite a few trips.
Mark

I'm falling out of my seat as we speak Rob, hilarious. Yea the Viagra and Cialis work great for you flippers out there.
Russ

Hey at least I'm not in need of Cialis!!

Rob,

The mono slips over wood and branches better as well as it does not lock into the material as does Power Pro as witnessed when flipping and pitching around branches and stuff like that as well as your rod, fingers,etc.. Too stiff of a rod sounds like a personal problem, he,he. But that does make sense.
Russ

Myself and Dave Jarrell had a similar issue at the Silver Lake Fish-in. We stuck good fish only to lose every single one. It's almost like too strong of line or a rod simply rips the hooks out of there mouths. It's almost like using a stiff rod for cranking. When I brought the issue to my Dad, he actually told me you can use to stiff of a rod. I couldn't belive this coming from a guy that flips the Delta and Clear Lake. I think a good strong mono still gives you a buffer when the fish pulls back against you while your really putting the pressure on in cover, like a pressure release valve. Instead of ripping the hook out, it stretches to compensate. 

Also when you set the hook and it comes through the fishes mouth, you have chance of that point sticking into something else. When it does the fish can pull and since the hook stays in the wood or whatever, it can pull free. It's a matter of luck. If you can get the hook to stick in the roof of the mouth where the hook doesn't come all the way through, then your chances of landing the fish probably triple. Maybe smaller hooks would help??

I will definitely agree with Russ on this one.  I have never personally experienced a more frustrating couple of days fishing than this weekend when it came to losing fish.  There were so many occasions where either myself or Russ, had hooked a really good fish after pitching tight to wood, only having it wrap us around the wood structure and just come off. 

What I have later theorized after reflecting on this weekend is that because of braids no stretch qualities and its tendency to burrow in on anything it comes in  contact with...in this case small tree limbs, your strong hookset now became useless because you have lost all leverage on the fish.  No matter how great your rod is, it isn't going to help you when the fish pulls against the limb in the opposite direction using physics against you. 

I believe braid is still for certain applications like lilypads and weeds but have come to the conclusion it can really be liability or detriment around wood structure.

Just my two cents....

Bob

ps  I know some of you out there think Russ is definitely over exagerating the amount of fish we both lost this weekend, but I am here to tell you what he said was absolutely the truth.  I realize at times Russ has been known to embellish things a little now and then, but what he said was right on the money in this case.....Don't use braid around wood it sucks!  I'm going back to Mono.

To all who want to listen,

I lost over 30lbs of largies at the Potholes tourney this weekend on Power Pro. Yes its great for skipping, but when you are flipping and pitching it in tree's and heavy brush and the fish wraps you around the stuff you might as well forget it. I am going back to mono or flourocarbon. Have never lost a fish with either of these two when fishing in the heavy cover and it was a good lesson learned. Even my partner Bob Payseno lost over 20lbs of fish on it and he was just as frustrated as I was.

Even though I had tilt/trim problems on Sunday, I could have brought over 20lbs to the scales on Sunday. All I can say is, "Thats the way it goes", and never again will I use power pro for these conditions.

The largie bite was on on sunday we just didn't execute.
Russ

Quote:

I saw you trying to lasoo that fish around the tail with the line loop.  You need to go to the rodeo to see how the big boys do it.

Dip,

You are so right. While I was fishing with Dipsnort on Sunday at Sawyer I was skipping 20 lb Power Pro with the ugliest loop knot in my line and still skipping way under docks. Works every time right Dip?
Had a great time trying to get that 7+ to bite.
Russ

Quote:


You can even cast that stuff with a big tangle in it.  Am I right, Russ?

I tried 20 lb Stren braid on my G.Loomis SJR843 "Aaron Echterncamp Special" last week. This is a Spinning Pitching Stick for swinging Gitzits into the willows at Potholes. Will work great with Senkos, too.  Loved it, nice stuff, just like Smitty said. Previously, I hated this rod, but now, it's the cat's meow. I would say, don't crank up the drag any/much more than with monofil.

Sarge,

Stealth is made by spider wire. I use 65lb power pro an flip/pitch rods and 20 on skipping rods. Absolutely sware by it, Thanks M. Wells for showing it to me. Was real frustrated at first with the stuff then got the hang of it. Great for the Potholes.
RB