braid for irons?

[MarkT]

I don't use fluoro with iron. Iron is a reaction bite and the fluoro doesn't add anything save expense. Save the fluoro for a pick bait bite.

I've seen people throwing iron with straight mono but you better bring your A game as there's zero margin for error. I prefer enough mono over the spectra that I'm casting with the mono, not the spectra. I don't want the knot going through the guides on the cast and I don't want to cast with the spectra to avoid spectra backlashes. I save the short topshots for baitfishing or kelp cutter rigs. I use a San Diego knot for tieing on the iron.

While I love my 525 mag and will pick up the Squall 515 when it comes out I prefer a larger spool diameter for casting the iron. I prefer a reel like a Daiwa SLX40, Torium 20, Penn 545 GS or the classsic Newell 332. The line comes off the larger spool smoother and it doesn't have to spin as fast which also helps with backlashes.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by MarkT

While I love my 525 mag and will pick up the Squall 515 when it comes out I prefer a larger spool diameter for casting the iron. I prefer a reel like a Daiwa SLX40, Torium 20, Penn 545 GS or the classsic Newell 332. The line comes off the larger spool smoother and it doesn't have to spin as fast which also helps with backlashes.

For larger heavier Iron bigger then a 6xjr I actually do like the larger diameter spooled reels. The problem is I don't know of any that come magged directly from the manufacturer, so I don't really like them for spectra, and don't really use them that much. The exception being that I do have a Saltist 30T that I magged myself and occasionally use for heavy Iron with 50 Power Pro Spectra with a short forty pound Fluoro topshot. For topshots I always use fluoro because I just don't buy Mono any more.

Mark I kid you not I was just looking at my SL50SH, SLX50, SLX40, Torium20, and Avet JX and thinking man I should just sell those suckers. Your welcome to them.

Last time I used one was the Torium down at PV where I landed a 90 pound YFT on it. If I'm not mistaken it's the only real fish I ever put on the thing.

Jim

[MarkT]

Don't knock 'appopriate' reels. I still have a Torium 20, Penn 545 GS, ProGear 545, Avet JX and a ProGear 540 (larger capacity but same width as the others). I use the Torium and both 545's for iron with 30#. The JX and PG are for 40#... both surface and yoyo. For yoyo I still have an old YTS that gets the job done.

I throw Tady 45's, C's (and similar) on 30# with these for the 3B's. I throw 45's, Salas 7X lites, etc on 40# for YT. I tie 6xJr's, 6x, #5 and #6 onto 40# and drop/toss them over the side... I don't usually tie one on and throw for the horizon but I did when we got into a bite on log cuda on a muli-day trip and all I had for iron were the yoyo jigs.

Locally, I throw iron for the 3B's on 25# on a Torium 16, ProGear 280, Avet MXJ or Penn 535 GS. I'll probably take one of these on a 690J out on Sunday.

[newguy01]

Originally Posted by Jim Day

For larger heavier Iron bigger then a 6xjr I actually do like the larger diameter spooled reels. The problem is I don't know of any that come magged directly from the manufacturer, so I don't really like them for spectra, and don't really use them that much. The exception being that I do have a Saltist 30T that I magged myself and occasionally use for heavy Iron with 50 Power Pro Spectra with a short forty pound Fluoro topshot. For topshots I always use fluoro because I just don't buy Mono any more.

Mark I kid you not I was just looking at my SL50SH, SLX50, SLX40, Torium20, and Avet JX and thinking man I should just sell those suckers. Your welcome to them.

Last time I used one was the Torium down at PV where I landed a 90 pound YFT on it. If I'm not mistaken it's the only real fish I ever put on the thing.

Jim

how did you magged your reels lastist?

thanks

[-scallywag-]

I've read alot about fishing spectra on the iron (mostly for plugs) and have tried it out a couple times on a few jig sticks/reels, and the three biggest draw backs for me are,
A) guiding the line back on the reel with my thumb, and getting picked up on the retreive (ouch!!!)

B) as Jim pointed out, The line is easily damaged by backlash, exc.. and the damage is hard to see, and since i suck and 99% of my backlashes happen with boiling fish around, cutting line and re-tieing kinda takes me out of the game.

C) You just cant put as much pressure on 50lb spectra as you can 40lb mono, and since on the yak you are almost always near lobster bouys, anchor lines, structure, kelp ,exc... it really helps to be able to lock the drag down without worrying too much about straitening hooks or popping the line...although as Jim pointed out, drag settings and rod action make a huge difference when fishing spectra. Once the fish is on, mono is much more forgiving.

In LJ from the Yak I use #65 spectra + 40/30 or 20flouro leader for all my bait poles, my yoyo and jig sticks are 40lb mono.

BUT....Almost all those issues are not a problem if you go to a spinning reel, and as kooky and far fetched as it sounds I think Jim is right on about the spinners and spectra being superior, but I don't see them becoming popular with the avarage "SoCal" fisherman because it's just not "cool".

- Lifted Diesel 4x4's with huge shiney rims/tires that never see dirt or a trailer = COOL

- Out casting/catching the deadheads on the bow using a coffie grinder & spectra = NOT COOL

[MarkT]

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

- Out casting/catching the deadheads on the bow using a coffie grinder & spectra = NOT COOL

I dunno, that sounds way cool to me.

[newguy01]

thanks jim for the info iam going to try it in mw 2speed avet and my saltist 20. any suggestion on where to get the magnet?

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by newguy01

thanks jim for the info iam going to try it in mw 2speed avet and my saltist 20. any suggestion on where to get the magnet?

I'd buy them here: http://www.kjmagnetics.com/

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by newguy01

how did you magged your reels

I magged the reel with two D61 Neodymium Rare Earth Disc Magnets.

Basically I stuck I piece of stainless alloy in the side of the reel, glued it in with super glue, then stuck a couple of the rare earth magnets I had sitting around on to it.

I wish I could say this was some profound feat of engineering but in all honesty this is probably the easiest mod I have ever done on a reel, as it only took maybe 15 minutes, and I did not even bother to take the reel off the rod.

I just sheered the stainless with my foot sheer. Cleaned it and the sideplate with some acetone, and then glued stainless tab in place with super glue.

The magnets just stick right on it.

No pics but here's an Avet SX I did the same way.






The magnets are on there good, hard to pry back off once on, and they do not seem to want to shift or move. The only issue I can think of would be corrosion of the magnets themselves, but since I can change them out and have cheap supply of them supply this should not be a big deal. They are chromed and I grease them, but set, but I may end up looking at various ways to seal them in the future.

Here's the video of some testing with my Avet SX after the conversion I did.

In the test the reel is filled with thirty pound Power Pro spectra and I'm casting a 2 ounce tennis ball, as you can see the reel does not backlash even though I am not thumbing the spool during the cast and I'm consistently casting maybe forty to fifty yards. I could of cast it further but there's limitations due to the size of the lot, and the power lines.

Fun stuff... that works!!

Jim