Fishing Behind The Dam Again

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm sorry if it seems like this is a retort but even XRaps need "tuning" in cold water - none of them I've ever used (40+) have ever suspended perfectly, that is not rising at all, or sinking even a tiny bit. The best value for dollar spent I've ever used for suspenders is the XCaliber XS4, suspends beautifully with minimal tinkering. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageXCALRIP-XCSB.html#pImage'

Has the weight transfer system for long casts, but still has the Rogue "wobble" that XRap don't have in cold, cold water. There's a lot of fine tuning in jerkbaits.

Perfectly? I agree, at least I haven't seen one. It has been my experience however that the Rogue needs more than most. I'm not sure about the "wobble", the Pointer and the X-Rap have what I call a rocking motion with the Pointer's being the most pronounced. An X-Rap is not a Pointer, but for the cost I think its close enough more often than not. I'll admit 50 degrees is about the bottom limit of what I fish, but I do fish a lot in that range. I've had lots of opportunities to fish the Rogue and the X-rap side by side in the Pothole and for me its action goes to the X-Rap and colors to the Rogue. As far as effectiveness on Jack Salmon (sorry I'm old and didn't grow up with Walleyes) in my hands, they're about even in ineffectiveness.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Oops, meant ask if anyone has checked the water temperature below the dam?

[smallmouthjoe]

Oops, meant ask if anyone has checked the water temperature below the dam?

I'm sure they're well above where a stream in winter should be. I might try to hit it again before the week ends so I'll give you a better idea later.

[Guest csfishinfool]

Went down behind the darn today, the first time I have fished from the darn to the bridge. Caught two small bass one smallmouth and one largemouth, also broke off a fish while setting the hook. I was out trying my new spinning reel out and trying 15 pound braid tied to a floro leader with a double uni knot. Both fish ate a jig on the current seam of an eddy. The braid allowed me to feel every little thing down there. Plus one fish was across the river when hooked, so there wasnt much stretch in the line. Also I could cast much further with the braid. It was a good trip to get the feel for the new system, now I need to fine tune a little bit with leader lenghth before tournment time comes around. I was using a bright yellow braid made by power pro, you can see it like crazy it was awesome. If you have trouble with line tangle and twists, or hammering the hook home on a spinning rod I recomend that you try this power pro line. I found out about this set-up from an article that interviewed Luke Clausen, a finese expert.

[Wayne SW/MO]

The problem with braid, when attaching it to another line, is its diameter and the fact that flouro and braid are slick. The Uni isn't bad, but make sure you do 6 or so wraps. I personally like the Albright, with a touch of glue. You should also be aware that fluorocarbon doesn't have much stretch to avoid shock. This same trait will make braid seem weaker than the equivalent mono at times. Some flourocarbon also seem to be a little more brittle in cold water, at least fly tippet seems so.

When using braid and Flouro you probably want to make some adjustments in how agressive you set the line.

I always use a fluorocarbon leader with braid, except for top water and jerkbaits. The thing about a leader is that you save your braid which can last years, and when it wears on the end, turn it around.

[smallmouthjoe]

I ,personally, could never go back to mono. The advantages of super-line far out weigh the extra cost.

Wayne, do use a brightly colored braid when tying direct to jerkbaits? I've been using a leader for fear that the fish would be spooked by the line when the bait was suspended.

[Wayne SW/MO]

No its a green loaded with 20/6 Tuff XP. I just "stare" at the point of entry when I pause. I've seen two takes on a jerkbait in cold water and in both instances the fish moved the bait sideways slightly on the take.

[Guest csfishinfool]

The problem with braid, when attaching it to another line, is its diameter and the fact that flouro and braid are slick. The Uni isn't bad, but make sure you do 6 or so wraps. I personally like the Albright, with a touch of glue. You should also be aware that fluorocarbon doesn't have much stretch to avoid shock. This same trait will make braid seem weaker than the equivalent mono at times. Some flourocarbon also seem to be a little more brittle in cold water, at least fly tippet seems so.

When using braid and Flouro you probably want to make some adjustments in how agressive you set the line.

I always use a fluorocarbon leader with braid, except for top water and jerkbaits. The thing about a leader is that you save your braid which can last years, and when it wears on the end, turn it around.

Yeah i noticed that you need a pretty long leader or your floro will snap. I think im going to try a seven to eight foot leader, glue and taper the knot so it will fly through those guides. Might see me out there again if I dont try to go kill a deer.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Take a look at this knot, you might tie one and see what you think. I like it for lines that are of different diameters. If you burn the end of the flouro and hit it with a drop of super glue its stronger than the lines.

Albright