Sea Angling for Spearos

[Mr. X]

The knot I was most pleased find today though it the 3-turn thumb knot:

THUMB KNOT - Fishing Knot
Thumb Knot - Step By Step - Knots - Thai Fishing Guide

The Leadertec website shows a simple aluminium tool to help tie this knot. What's so special about this knot? Well it's supposed to be the knot to to tie very thick mono. I wanted to try it out, to see if could be used to tie 1.5-2.5mm spear-line, instead of using crimps or glued whippings. However, unusually, despite several attempts to find this knot on-line, I had on several occasions failed to find any description beyond the reference on the Leadertec site. So was very happy to stumble across the above link, which describes a "thumb knot" (not what I call a thumb knot, a.k.a. the "overhand knot") which has 3-turns - I'm sure this is the knot.

I just tied the 3-turn thumb knot in 1.8mm strimmer mono (which I have used as spear line). It works quite well. It's a slip knot, so not suitable for making the usual fixed loops at either end of the spear line but could be used to directly attach the spearline to the spear gun muzzle. Unsurprisingly, it's fairly bulky, so it could not be used be used to attach to the spear end of a euro-style speargun. If you had no other option, I guess you could superglued it open or use the forward hole that some spears have; you'd also need a fairly large muzzle hole or an open muzzle.

[felipe felop]

if your heading for the west country for a bit of r&r this summer take a trip to trago mills,i hate the place but its ok for fishing tackle, i just picked up a sundridge 12' vitesse bass rod carbon fibre for 12.99, i don't think they know what price to put on them cos there £70 rods, just got to spot a bargain they also do various mono lines really cheap cos the machine that lays them on the spool isn't perfect so they can't sell them at rrp prices, a rip off anyway if you ask me,if i'm predator fishing i always use a braid knot/double the line or a palomar knot,if i tie a swivel to a mainline i always pass the line though the eye twice then wrap it seven times before i pass it back through both loops then insert the end halfway up the twists,then spit on it it to lube it up so itdoesn't heat up the mono making it weaker, i've never had a line break on me at that point cos it traps the line twice, sorry if this doesn't help you but might help others

[Mr. X]

Sounds good! You're the second person to mention Trago Mills, must check that out sometime. It's hard to allocate precious holiday time to mall-style shopping though, I usually avoid it like the plague. If it buckets down with rain all week, might manage it. £12 for a carbon bass rod! And I thought I had a good deal. I find it's often the little odds and ends that add up with fishing. I guess the stores need to make a living, pay the bills, pay the ever increasing council/income/sales tax. I make an effort to buy a few things whenever I visit a fishing store - they're a wealth of knowledge and I'm glad there are still a few around.

Watched the American knot pulling competition on youtube. Trilene knot did well but the Palomar was the best knot in all lines including braid - the line consistently breaks before the knot. Impressive.

[Mr. X]

I'm curious about multipliers. We've touched on it before. Seems like there are at two main types, shore & boat. I also notice they vary in size hugely. If you could only have one reel, for all your fishing, which would it be?

I've only used fixed spool reels, closed face & semi-closed face. I did once have a smallish Penn multiplier but only cast it in the garden, where the line kept springing off the spool & I got an instant birds nest on casting it (didn't realise you were supposed to stop it with your thumb!). So I would likely go with a fixed spool, Shimano 4000(-6000) - with model picked to suit the budget (Exage/Stradic/.../Stella). 4000 should be fine for spinning and light general fishing, perhaps something bigger would be better if boat fishing or travelling where the fish are bigger.

[atomichaggis]

Mr.X,

Shore and boat multipliers are worlds apart... very few casting multipliers have enough power or drag for boat fishing and boat multipliers are hopeless for casting.
The only trade off would be a rugged casting multiplier and a fairly big one at that.
You would most probably have to pimp the drag a bit too.

[Magpie]

Reels like the Daiwa sl20sh and sl30sh, and their posh versions, Daiwa Saltists, Penn 525 and 535, and the Okuma Magentix are fine for both beach and boat fishing.

They'd not be outstanding at either but they'd be perfectly capable.

[atomichaggis]

Took a little trip in the boat today and made the mistake of not catching some bait beforehand.
So with only 2 small mackeral I anchored up in around 160-180 metres and instantly got a bite.
Result was a Spurdog.
Lesson for the day is that Spurdogs are not infact small Tope and do have nasty little spikes in front of both dorsal fins.
Bait crisis followed and the rest of the session only saw a Poorcod and one sizeable fish lost before we steamed 10 mile home in crap weather and half metre waves.
Had to tow som kids to shore on the way home too which was interesting.

[atomichaggis]

Originally Posted by Magpie

Reels like the Daiwa sl20sh and sl30sh, and their posh versions, Daiwa Saltists, Penn 525 and 535, and the Okuma Magentix are fine for both beach and boat fishing.

They'd not be outstanding at either but they'd be perfectly capable.

Out of those the one with the best drag and spool capacity would be the one I reckon.
Is there no online comparison sites that test them to destruction?

Edit: Isn't the saltist an out and out boat reel?

[foxfish]

I use both the Daiwa sl20sh and sl30sh on my boat - not too bad but after 3 seasons they are looking very sorry for them selves.

[Magpie]

And how many times have they been cleaned in those 3 years Mart? As if I need to ask

Not used one myself Haggis but the Saltist is reputed to cast better than the Slosh.

[atomichaggis]

Not cleaning reels is expensive... I've killed reels in less than 6 months that way. Now its the first thing i do when i get home from a fishing trip.

I think it was the saltiga I was thinking of Magpie... proper badass boat reel, if that casts well then it would be the ultimate all rounder but I don't think it has any brakes. I think the Saltist is 'Saltiga lite'.

[foxfish]

It is true that I am not the best for nurturing my kit but my boss Accurate Boss Magnum reels at Anglers Center is as sweet as a nut after 10 years of abuse & zero maintenance! Definitely not for casting though.
My other reel that has lasted & will cast is a daiwa 550 reverse cone fixed spool, not sure exactly the model name, "big pit" maybe, but I have used it from my boats for 12+ years.

[atomichaggis]

Accurate Boss is similar to the Saltiga... looks bombproof. My tiagra would no doubt tolerate a bit of abuse but it is just to beautiful to neglect... hopeless for casting as well due to the lack of brakes and a big heavy spool.

Fixed spool might be the way to go. I noticed a lot of the german tourists use them up in northern Norway, Japanese use them for speed jigging and Italians who are world champs also use them from the boat.

Biggest Stella with the FD spool would be a good allrounder?

[agbiv]

I have to travel almost three hours to salt water in the Gulf of Mexico. I found that for my two pice rod computer velcro wire bundle ties work very well to hold rod (especially with reels mounted) together for transport. Chef Al

[Jonny250]

Nice fish Atomic, do you use lures in that depth of water when the bait is gone? sorry but i'm pretty ignorant on the angling stuff.

I met up with Magpie and Portinfer this a.m. for a paddle and fish. good to meet you finally Ed.
Magpies' new kayak looks superb, all the bells and whistles and fishfinders... Tom, do you carry an anchor??
Weather was just beautiful, we were blessed... and sooo calm.
i'm hoping that you guys have a report on a BIG fish... after i left.
I had a small bass to start - which went back. the next one was a small but 'keepable'. The last as i paddled in was better and a chubby little fighter. both went on the BBQ for lunch.
it was good to meet up for a DB kayak sesh, hopefully i'll be able to stick around for longer next time...
come on Ed/tom what was your result??