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Tourney
Feb. 28
Clarks Hill
Article from TackleTour.com
Introduction: Perhaps no single review in recent TackleTour history has garnered as much attention and received as much comment as our March 2007 article comparing some of the more popular and well known fluorocarbon lines on the market today. It was our full intent to launch, from that previous article, a series of spinoffs and standalone product reviews, but it was becoming more and more obvious that there were some remaining, nagging issues that required our attention. Like how about our claim that fluorocarbon lines have as much stretch, if not more, than our baseline monofilament; or our use of the Polamar knot to assess knot strength; and how about the whole visibility issue? Yeah, how about all that stuff? Let's find out!
Once again, our group of test subjects
Stretch II: Rather than take what was left of our supply spools to filling our reels and go fishing, we took them all back to the lab for some additional tests. Enter Mark Gibson, a Materials Research Specialist with more than 25 years experience working for a Multi-National Manufacturing Company. Since material properties are his forte and fishing is a passion of his, Mark was keen on sharing with us some of his experience in this area - specifically as it related to stretch with nylon monofilament versus fluorocarbon lines. In short, when we conducted our initial tensile tests, we noted all our test subjects experienced a degree of stretch, wet or dry, and all were comparable to our Trilene XL. Since the differences between our wet and dry measurements were negligible, we chose to abandon the wet tests in our first go around in the interest of keeping things moving.
FC Stretch Test Results: Products in red displayed the most stretch, while products in black showed the least. Some stretched even more after soaking for various lengths of time (color key at top of chart)
We formulated a plan and started retesting when Mark got in touch with us to point out it can take up to two full hours for nylon monofilaments and even copolymer lines to become saturated to the point their ability to resist stretching will be compromised. Fluorocarbon lines, on the other hand, should show no significant change regardless of saturation. We took note of his points and continued with our tests for each line measuring stretch first dry, then again after soak times of half an hour, one and a half hours, and three hours. The actual sample lengths of line were two feet (plus or minus an inch) with a constant load factor of three pounds.
Indeed, we did find that after an hour and half constant soak in water, our Trilene XL stretched more than when dry or even after a half hour soak. The majority of our fluorocarbon lines remained constant throughout but, surprisingly, a small number of them were affected by extended time in the water. These numbers are highlighted in red in the table above. Unfortunately, even with the extended soak times, some of the more elastic fluorocarbons exhibited stretch values that were more than the water laden monofilament. It seems, as we found in our abrasion tests, the easier handling lines like Gamma Edge FC and Seaguar Invisx, had a greater tendency to stretch than did the stiffer, less manageable lines like Sunline Shooter FC and Maxima FC. But that's not all. As has been typical in this investigation, while testing this one characteristic we found yet another to peak our interests.
Planer Board Tactics
Infomation from waterbugz.com
Reservoir Tactics
This technique works best for live bait and can be modified depending on how fast you troll. I use a Minnkota power drive unit and typically run between speed #3-#5, or for others it is just a slow troll just enough to keep your baits off the bottom. The technique will keep your bait near the bottom of the water column and the stripers that are in less than 30` of water are usually close to that bottom. Hooks are your choice but you will need size #7 split shots for this method.
• For every ten feet of water use one #7 split shot about four feet above your hook
• For every foot of water put one yard of line out
EXAMPLE- Fishing in eleven feet of water you would put one #7 split shot about four foot from the hook and you would let out thirty three foot of line then clip on your planer.
EXAMPLE- In eighteen feet of water you would have two #7 split shots about four foot from the hook and you would let out fifty four of line then clip on your planer.
EXAMPLE- In twenty eight feet of water you would have three #7 split shots and let out eight four feet of line then clip on your planer.
Current, wind and your speed are the factors of concern. Remember if your getting hung up occasionally on the bottom you doing it right. If your getting hung up every time you get in the target area then either speed up or remove a split shot. A great spread is two planers on each side of the boat, one about 50 feet away and the other about 20 feet away.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR SIDE PLANER:
Place your bait out the proper distance using the above formula. Place the line through the snap swivel and close it, then place the line in the yellow clip (do so by squeezing the center of the clip and it opens) just barely in the pad about 1/3 entrance. Remember a rhyme 'yellow clip is closest to rod tip' and you will have it pointing correctly.
Questions?
Call Jeff Tomlin at (704) 902-7246
Down & Out, Inc.
Statesville, North Carolina
