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Shock leaders.

Thanks for the info & chat Guys! So the general opinion is that if I can find a Shimano reel, the Ultegra 14000 XSD is the one to go for.

I've had another go at the shockleader on the Dragon reel, and done the half hitch/uni knot jobbie, and it does look slightly more compact than the double uni knot I did before.

I've also had another play with the bail arm roller, and put a thin washer behind it which has given me a fraction more clearance. The actual roller slips over a brass bush (no bearings) and the brass bush is slightly shorter than the depth of the roller, so as soon as you tighten down the retaining screw, it locks the roller up. Very poor design, but hindsight is wonderful! Plenty of silicone grease was applied. It was £60's worth of reel on special offer, so not that cheap.

Any comments on my question about the Penn Surfblaster I versus the Surfbalster II? Is there any major pitfalls or differences between the two? The Surfblaster I's I saw earlier both have spare spools so I guess that is a bonus if there isn't a spare spool with the new II's. As I mentioned, briefly thought about a new Surfblaster II but nobody seems to have stock. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
Trampster said:
Thanks for the info & chat Guys! So the general opinion is that if I can find a Shimano reel, the Ultegra 14000 XSD is the one to go for.

I've had another go at the shockleader on the Dragon reel, and done the half hitch/uni knot jobbie, and it does look slightly more compact than the double uni knot I did before.

I've also had another play with the bail arm roller, and put a thin washer behind it which has given me a fraction more clearance. The actual roller slips over a brass bush (no bearings) and the brass bush is slightly shorter than the depth of the roller, so as soon as you tighten down the retaining screw, it locks the roller up. Very poor design, but hindsight is wonderful! Plenty of silicone grease was applied. It was £60's worth of reel on special offer, so not that cheap.

Any comments on my question about the Penn Surfblaster I versus the Surfbalster II? Is there any major pitfalls or differences between the two? The Surfblaster I's I saw earlier both have spare spools so I guess that is a bonus if there isn't a spare spool with the new II's. As I mentioned, briefly thought about a new Surfblaster II but nobody seems to have stock. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
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Slowing your cast up and making things smoother helps as well. An extra oz of lead can make a difference
 
Valleyboy said:
You get used to it though. You can tell a dog from a bass from a flounder. I get a lot more end tackle back using 60lb braiid and 30 lb rotten bottom and snoods than I ever thought possible. Clean ground I switch down to 30lb braid and braid leaders. Don't have any problem with wind knots with 2 speed oscilating reels
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Yea I guess but I’ve been happy enough with mono up to now.

It’s a case of...

7A4A602F-3DCA-441A-813C-FC4398EB8DB9.jpeg
 
Valleyboy said:
If it's not broke.......
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I’m actually gonna swap my estuary flounder year back to mono this year. Got 20lb braid on there at the mo, but usually only lobbing out and as you know, flounder aren’t the most vigorous fish.
Not so much for bite detection reasons, but I find the braid does pick up the micro weed and leaves easier as it sticks and is harder to remove.
Plus it goes a bit rough and fluffy after a few trips.
I’ve got spare spools anyway, so gonna load up with 15lb straight through and see how that goes.
It just seems to me that I’ve enjoyed using the braid less than I used to the mono, so want to go back old school again.
I think I only put braid on in the first place as thought I could use lighter leads but tbh seems to have been about the same.
 
Mr Fish said:
I’m actually gonna swap my estuary flounder year back to mono this year. Got 20lb braid on there at the mo, but usually only lobbing out and as you know, flounder aren’t the most vigorous fish.
Not so much for bite detection reasons, but I find the braid does pick up the micro weed and leaves easier as it sticks and is harder to remove.
Plus it goes a bit rough and fluffy after a few trips.
I’ve got spare spools anyway, so gonna load up with 15lb straight through and see how that goes.
It just seems to me that I’ve enjoyed using the braid less than I used to the mono, so want to go back old school again.
I think I only put braid on in the first place as thought I could use lighter leads but tbh seems to have been about the same.
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Yep that's my big dislike of braid is the way it picks up fine weed and you can't jus slide it down like with mono. It sticks like hell
 
Valleyboy said:
Yep that's my big dislike of braid is the way it picks up fine weed and you can't jus slide it down like with mono. It sticks like hell
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Hmmm never had a problem with it, I am useing spider wire 8 and it slide just as if it was mono. Getting it off is easier In lumps feel, coz the small diameter seems to cut the weed as you pull it , but I wouldn't tempt it with mono .

Just deferent experance I guess.
 
Mukiwa said:
Hmmm never had a problem with it, I am useing spider wire 8 and it slide just as if it was mono. Getting it off is easier In lumps feel, coz the small diameter seems to cut the weed as you pull it , but I wouldn't tempt it with mono .

Just deferent experance I guess.
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It’s more specifically the estuary scenario because the water can be full of bits of leaf, fibres, very fine weed. Looks a bit like shredded bog roll (and sometimes it is!)
Builds up a small but irritating layer that has to be picked off a bit at a time
 
Mr Fish said:
It’s more specifically the estuary scenario because the water can be full of bits of leaf, fibres, very fine weed. Looks a bit like shredded bog roll (and sometimes it is!)
Builds up a small but irritating layer that has to be picked off a bit at a time
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Ahhh lettice sea weed, can be a pain that, if it dries on you kit it's a real bugger
 
Mukiwa said:
Hmmm never had a problem with it, I am useing spider wire 8 and it slide just as if it was mono. Getting it off is easier In lumps feel, coz the small diameter seems to cut the weed as you pull it , but I wouldn't tempt it with mono .

Just deferent experance I guess.
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I find that nanofill stuff not so bad for it because it's smoother
 
Mr Fish said:
It’s even finer than that. It is literally like fibres or fluff.
I guess it’s plant fibres. Every bush and tree alongside the river sheds into it
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That's the stuff. It can lock up solid with 4x braid before it even gets to the leader not
 
Mr Fish said:
It’s even finer than that. It is literally like fibres or fluff.
I guess it’s plant fibres. Every bush and tree alongside the river sheds into it
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Wow I have not come across that problem, most of my fishing is esturay , and like you say there some stuff that rather not get caught in the line. Is it all year or parts of the year mate ?
 
Mukiwa said:
Wow I have not come across that problem, most of my fishing is esturay , and like you say there some stuff that rather not get caught in the line. Is it all year or parts of the year mate ?
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Autumn really, next few weeks until the trees etc have shed.
It’s quite a small estuary, I think they’re bigger in your area?
 
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