Help me build my setup...

[balistikb]

Ok guys I need advice. I just got two international 50vsw on Star 80-100 rods with large roller guides.
Can you give me advice on what line to put on?
What size leader?
And what size snap swivel?
I will be trying night swording .

Thank you in advance.

[bajakian]

Ive got 600 yards of 130 Jerry Brown with 150 yards of 80 momoi Diamond. My wind ons are 30 foot of 220 momoi with a loop to loop conection. Use a 300 lb ball bearing snap swivel. Some people will crimp their connections rather than snap swivel. There are plenty of variations on that theme but that is the general idea.

[WhItEoUt 23]

Solid advice from the Doc,Instead of a snap swivel try a Spro with a crimp i've had the snap swivels fail on me.One of the advantages of using a spro is you can reel the spro into the reel allowing you to get a lot closer to the fish for that gaff shot in the head with a snap swivel you gotta take wraps on the leader.Good Luck out there

[Hookup]

I have 3 50's for night swording as well. Everyone does it a little different but here's my setup:

I have my reals spooled with 80 pound hollow core Spectra (I use Jerry Brown). I have 100 feet of 150 pound mono spliced to the spectra as a top shot. Next, I have a large snap swivel I think it's 300 pound crimped to the line where I attach my 10' 300 pound leader. I attach my light to the snap swivel with a long line clip and attach my weight to a wax loop on my 150 pound top shot also using a long line clip that is about 20 feet away from the snap swivel.

When retreiving the line the weight can be easily removed from the top shot and can be realed right up to the snap swivel where you will only have about 10 feet of leader.

As I said everyone has there own variation but this setup has served me well.

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by WhItEoUt 23

Solid advice from the Doc,Instead of a snap swivel try a Spro with a crimp i've had the snap swivels fail on me.One of the advantages of using a spro is you can reel the spro into the reel allowing you to get a lot closer to the fish for that gaff shot in the head with a snap swivel you gotta take wraps on the leader.Good Luck out there

Dave I use a snap swivel and a short leader of about 6 feet. To date I have not been burned by the snap though I know it can happen. Its just a little easier changing baits with the snap. The windon acts as a second leader if the fish gets wrapped in it. I definitely like the idea of not having to leader fish when you have only a few guys, especially at night. A bad wrap and a pissed off big fish can result in tragedy especially when you cant see the guy who has been pulled over board.

[TTesterman]

look at your rods and see what size guides you have ... sometimes larger leaders / wind-on's get caught up because people try to go too big and that will chaff the line and wear on your gear for fish failing... use at least 80lb (I like 100 JB because it is easy to rig and accepts almost any size mono) and see what size mono and wind-on mono goes through with out rubbing.. your rods may be different from thiers...

[iriesoul]

I HAVE HAD 2 DAYTIMERS COME UP WITH THE SNAP SWIVLE OPEN! Needless to saya I will not be using snaps anymore for daytiming. Nothing like getting the fish boat side and looking up to see the leader barely hanging on to an open snap!

[bajakian]

The other side of that issue is that thin braid can get stuck along the side of the roller and get nicked and then fail. Thicker braid is less likely to do that.

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by iriesoul

I HAVE HAD 2 DAYTIMERS COME UP WITH THE SNAP SWIVLE OPEN! Needless to saya I will not be using snaps anymore for daytiming. Nothing like getting the fish boat side and looking up to see the leader barely hanging on to an open snap!

Maybe you should close them before dropping!!!!

[NightCrawler]

Originally Posted by bajakian

Maybe you should close them before dropping!!!!

I have an identical setup as Baj and have never had a problem with open
snap either, Although I run a tight ship NO or until
the spread is out

Go with the 130, much cheaper than 80. Also keep your leaders short 6ft
no point in using a windon and then using long leaders...

Sounds like you got the stars with windon guides those will work out
just fine.

[balistikb]

You guys are killing me....lol
So many different variations. Ok if I get braid, (JB?) how do I splice mono onto it? I have never seen that before.

[RiskTaker]

Originally Posted by iriesoul

I HAVE HAD 2 DAYTIMERS COME UP WITH THE SNAP SWIVLE OPEN! Needless to saya I will not be using snaps anymore for daytiming. Nothing like getting the fish boat side and looking up to see the leader barely hanging on to an open snap!

I use those 400# Heavy duty Tuna Swivels. They take strong hands to close but they are virtually guaranteed not to come un-buttoned on you. More times than not it is angler error, forgetting to snap the swivel closed in the first place as the root cause for this Boo-boo.

I have also personally experienced thin braid, jumping the roller and sliding on the axle instead of the roller, ultimately snapping the line when a line mark jammed from a run with the fish. I have heard that it is also virtually impossible to jump the roller if you use a Winthrop guide for your tip. My rods have Aftco Roller tips, so I have to be careful how the rods are pointing when the specctra is paid out. A swivel tip really reduces this risk but you cannot retrieve jumbo wax loops or rubber band loops through the ceramic grommet.

It is up to you how you choose your compromise. But I really like swivel tips when using braid for drift fishing applications. (Swivel rod holders are the way to go too.)

BalisticB - I use JBHC 130# as my mainline and can splice 300# (Jinkai) directly into 200# braid, cinched with a serve and glued.(This also requires an in-line step up (130# -->200#, 300# mono inserted into the 200# HC section.) This is the more permanent method. Loop to Loop, treating the Mono as if it were a wind-on, of some desired length gives you some interchange versatility. (which is the method I prefer mostly). But if you go down the mono in Hollow core method, spend the $70 and get yourself a hollow needle set. I have had difficulties feeding 200# mono directly into 130# Hollow, which includes 100# HC as well.

[OFFDUTYpushbutton]

The key to doing your HC to mono wind on connection is to "open" the braid first. The needles are used to do this, but you can also use a piece of single strand rigging wire. Cut a piece about 2 feet long, bend it in half, and pinch the bend tight with your pliers. Now you have a makeshift needle to "open" the braid, thus making insertion of the mono easier.

We are using straight mono on our drifting set-ups, so the roller problems are not there. On our DD gear, Tommy Greene's place changed out the swivel tip and roller stripper to oversized ring guides for us...thus eliminating the HC jumping the roller problem.

[iriesoul]

think what you want...I fish for a living and I check all swivles before they enter the water. I am not the only one who has had this problem...

[balistikb]

Can't I just do all mono?

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by iriesoul

think what you want...I fish for a living and I check all swivles before they enter the water. I am not the only one who has had this problem...

Steve -I was just kidding.

No one is arguing that a swivel cant open. But a heavy duty one is unlikely to. And you cant argue the convenience factor of snap swivels.

There are many ways to do just about everything we do and they all have their pros and cons. Just my 2 cents.

[TTesterman]

go at least suffix or ande 60lb and wind it on there tight. do learn to tie a bimini twist and make you some wind-on leaders. I like snap swivels crimped onto my wind-ons and short leaders. set your strike drags at 14ls and adjust from there. You need a good belt / harness set up and sometimes with the 'line stretch' and 'line drag' in the water you have to reel faster than any type braid. have fun!

[NightCrawler]

Originally Posted by iriesoul

think what you want...I fish for a living and I check all swivles before they enter the water. I am not the only one who has had this problem...

steve you da man!! I've heard snaps opening. Not that this has ever happened to you, But I have seen people do some stupid shit Like i've whatched a guy put a line out, attach light, weight, send it down to desired depth than scratch his head, then instead of attaching a jug, reach for another weight attach it and send it back down some mo. That was some crypto

[iriesoul]

nah its all good... I use sampo 350lb ball bearing swivles... I had a 66 inch pumpkin up the swivle hit the tip and it was open. then a few weeks back I had a smaller fish 60 inches and get him up and the swivle is open.... I just decided not to rick it anymore. The stancyks have said the had the same thing happen before and richard was crowned the pioneer of daytime swordfishing by the sword club so I will take HIS word on it. All of my baits will be crimped from now on.

[WhItEoUt 23]

Originally Posted by balistikb

Can't I just do all mono?

Yes you can and with no problem 60 pound backcountry will put you in the game tight lines..

[ameristrat]

If you're in the Boca area, go to Ray's. He has custom made snap swivels just for swordfishing. They are ball bearing swivels and the snaps are very difficult to open and close without pliers. They come at $4 a piece but they're great. They will not open.

I use mono for night time. 50 lb suffix. I like mono but I'm old-fashioned I guess...

[billspilingup]

K.I.S.S.

Stop into RJ Boyle's shop in Lighthouse Point, ask some questions, and they'll set you up right.

I'd suggest go all mono (simple and it works), wind-on (if rigging is giving you questions, wiring fish is definitely out so just wind-on), and crimp your bait leaders (6ft) directly to a 300lb swivel (no snap to open).

Don't mess around with harnesses, just fight the fish from the rodholder (that way, in your sword virgin excitement of a hookup, you don't let the line go slack while fiddling with a harness you didn't adjust before hooking up).

Good pair of leather gloves - the orange ones are easily cut by a sharp bill.

[balistikb]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I think I am going to go with 60lb mono on my reel to keep it simple and to keep the cost down.
Now do I bimmini twist the end of my line to form a loop? This is where I connect my wind on right? How heavy of a wind on and leader?
Is Capt. Bouncers video on swordfishing any good?
Thanks

[Tunaking]

I have used these for some time and never had a problem with them opening

Sampo Staylok swivels

[billspilingup]

Originally Posted by balistikb

Thank you everyone for the advice. I think I am going to go with 60lb mono on my reel to keep it simple and to keep the cost down.
Now do I bimmini twist the end of my line to form a loop? This is where I connect my wind on right? How heavy of a wind on and leader?
Is Capt. Bouncers video on swordfishing any good?
Thanks

The problem with videos is they don't talk back when you have a question apart from the recorded content. Go into a good tackle shop (Bass Pro doesn't count) when they aren't busy (weekday, mid-morning for example), spend some money, and ask for advice/help. When you leave, you'll have a basic understanding of what you're going to be doing, your tackle will be right, and you'll have laid the foundation for a friendship with a tackle store owner that'll steer you right on future purchases and help.

[TTesterman]

I have never seen it personaly but he is a good fishing Creature. the end loop of your bimini is where the windon connection is made. you can you tube biminis and wind-ons in 2009... the connection is just like a cats paw kinda thing.

[iriesoul]

Originally Posted by Tunaking

I have used these for some time and never had a problem with them opening

Sampo Staylok swivels

And you have caught a daytime sword fish? I havent seen you post any just asking... As i see it when I look at the swivle I can see it may be possible that when the fish is changing directions it may be possible for the loop crimped into the end of the bait leader to be able to catch the swivle and open it... Who knows what the heck is going on down there with a 20lb pullin one way the fish pulling the other then the boat pulling another....

I just know I will never use a snap swivel for my bait again....Crimping takes 2 seconds and I know its strong

[ameristrat]

Always a good choice Steve

[balistikb]

Ok another question, how much weight avarage on night time sword fishing?

[Disco Lady]

Originally Posted by iriesoul

And you have caught a daytime sword fish? I havent seen you post any just asking... As i see it when I look at the swivle I can see it may be possible that when the fish is changing directions it may be possible for the loop crimped into the end of the bait leader to be able to catch the swivle and open it... Who knows what the heck is going on down there with a 20lb pullin one way the fish pulling the other then the boat pulling another....

I just know I will never use a snap swivel for my bait again....Crimping takes 2 seconds and I know its strong

COÑO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I to don't like snaps!! but i have never had a problem with them. And i have hade my share of open ones..just by the best dam!! one you could get.

DL,