[flukesnatcher]

i just put on 30 lb power pro on my shimano stradic. now if i am going to throw bombers and plugs should i add a swivel and a mono leader or should i tie the bomber directly to the power pro. and my second question is when clamming at night what length of leader is good. i normally fish for flounder with a 3-4 ft long leared of fluro.

 

[Fly fish]

I would highly reccommend using either a swivel or connecting the PP to Flourocarbon some way. I find the flourocarbon to be less visable than mono and will not frey as easily when a toothy fish hits it. The reason I mainly use it is because the PP is so limp that the line will tend to get tangled around the hooks more often with PP than with a flouro leader. I don't like using the barrel swivel because it tends to get caught in my tip at night, which is not a good thing. Use about 3 feet of flouro connected to your line- ADD A TEASER about 1 1/2 ft. above the plug. You will get more fish.
Also, when fishing clam, use at least a 3 ft. leader.
Good luck.

 

[Chasmandu]

Fly Fish. I forgot all about using a teaser haven't used one in years, and I agree. In the past I just tied a loop on the leader and attached the teaser. Would you offer any tip on what is the correct knot to use?

 

[The Reckoning]

I tend to think that 30lb is overkill. I typically use 10-12 lb, and just use a leader @20-30lbs. I don't have issues with breakoffs, and usually use very short leaders. I've never used a teaser, but have never heard any negatives regarding them.

 

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

I can anwser the the PowerPro question....
Depending on what size lure's you are throwing
will deterimine I think if a leader is needed...

Normally on my light plugging outfit I use
20lb PP on a Shimano Sustain and tie direct
to my smaller Bombers,Lure's etc.that are under
1oz...
Now,like mentioned above for any lure's over
1oz whether you are using 20,30 or 50 PowerPro
you will need some type of Leader so like
FlyFish said your line doesn't get tangled
around the Hooks on you Lure..

 

[Bob ECT]

I always tie direct.

 

[Sheet_Da_Bed]

I use Uni to Uni or the Crazy Alberto knot

 

[PAWayne]

For throwing plugs, I use 30lb PP tied to a spro barrel with about a 24" to 30", 20lb or 30lb flouro leader. May not need 30lb PP, but I go blind trying to see anything smaller.

 

[earlybird]

This is all great advice. At night, it doesn't
seem to matter. My last night trip I was fishing
with a friend who tied direct, while I had on a
flouro leader. He caught 4 bass to my 1.

 

[chunking]

When plugging in the back I always use a swivel and a two foot leader. Where I fish the stripers seem to be feeding mainly on shiners up against the sod banks.

I use 10 pound Fireline and a twenty pound mono leader. I found out years ago that the swivel actually helps when fishing with plugs.

Shiners are chased by everything that swims and flys. It's an everyday fact for them and they know just how to handle it. As long as they have a few feet of room between them and the chaser they swim relaxed.

I found that a surface plug snapped on the surface will keep the shiners moving a few feet in front of it. Then I realized that when I snap the plug with a swivel the swivel jumps right behing the shiners and they jump causing the little splashes that draw in the big fish. tied
direct the shiners seem to just swim along in front of the plug with no worry.

I have caught many fish tied direct but now I always go with the swivel.

For clam I use a three foot leader on to a snap swivel. Most effective for me.

If I have a problem with crabs on clam I switch to a dropper loop. What I want is a rig that will keep my bait just off the bottom. Most crab problems during the cold of striper fishing are green crabs and spider crabs.

Neither crab can swim so you only have problems when the bait is on the bottom. A dropper loop rig does that if tied right. I make sure the loop for the weight is about 8 inches below the loop my swivel is on. Then a leader to my hook about 15 inches long. This short high set up keeps my baits a few inches off the bottom and away from the crabs.

Good luck.

 

[FlukeAssasian]

Use a uni to uni knot to put 20 lb fluro on the PP works very well for me.

 

[Bgsdad]

For plugs I tie direct. I have stared using to fifferent type of "snaps" since my eyes aren't what they used to be for tying. The work pretty good.

One looks like a very small paper clip. I think I got them in Wal-Mart. Never had one fail. The line will break before they straighten out. The other I just bought in Cabela's because they just came out with a new larger size. I used the smaller ones for freshwater & loved them They are like a small "J" that closes tight to the shank and also work well.

It also makes changing plugs a lot faster!

I only use a leader when I use a teaser. I have found the leader overrated for plugging. I will attach a barrell swivel to the leader and snap that to one of those clips.

 

[Fly fish]

Fluke,
I found the best way to attach a teaser is to cut your line where you want the teaser, tie a blood knot with one tag end being about 6", pull tight and clip off the small tag end. Tie your teaser to the 6" tag and fish away. The blood knot makes the line stick out at a 90 degree angle, which keeps it from tangling or wrapping around your leader. Has always worked for me, and seems to be an incredible knot when connecting two lines of similar diameter.
Also, a dropper loop seems to work, but I really don't use it often.
Good luck, and use a teaser!!!