kite set up

[maz888]

Hey guys have enjoyed checking this site all season seems to be a bunch of good guys here. Looks like my season is over unless the wind dies this week but the way things have gone this fall I doubt it.

Ok so I am getting myself a new toy I plan to go with a shimano 80 on 80 # rod to be fished from the rail I want to set this rod up for the kite only we have 3 other Penns that are loaded with dacron for deep baits or to troll with. My question is what is the best line to use I was thinking jb hollow core but am up in the air on test and yardage. Second question what is the best method to attach leader to the braid. Found this year at times when the wind was down the heavy mono top shot made it hard to keep the kite and baits up.

Any other thoughts comments on the kite method would be appropriated

Thanks in advance

Jason

[Massbaytuna3]

We have been using 200lb Tuff Line XP on our kite "bait" rods. Any braid (hollow) 130-200lb is suitable. We like the TL XP because it is extremely durable, and a little less expensive, and 200lb TL XP has about the diameter of 50lb mono. It IS hollow, although is not advertised as hollow. Splices very easy.

I think we have about 1000+yds or so on our 130s with a little 200lb dacron as backing and 500-700yds on a few of our 50s. With the capacity that hollow braid gives you, you can leave quite a bit of room under the cross bar on the reel so if you want to add mono top shot at a later time you can (when switching over to chunking, etc)

The braid makes kite fishing much easier; especially in light wind and with larger baits. To attach the swivel/leader to the braid I just make a loop splice. We have used biminis (super glued) and palomar knots as well, but loop splice is the way to go, 100%. There are a few good vids on how to make one here on SFC. Joe Shute has a good one. I have a little power point packet I made for last years seminar if you want a copy of that as well; has the splice step by step.

Hope that helps.

-Bryan

[ironskippy]

The braid is the way to go. To keep the small baits in the water ( pogies, Macks, Pollock etc), it is mandatory to use a light weight line. You can do it with light mono but you lose the line strenght that is almost mandatory to have a fair shot at some of the fish you will hook next year.

Braid has 3 drawbacks 1. Mystery failures with shock 2. Lack of stretch can and does pull bait hooks 3. Price

I still use braid and solve or mitigate the problems the best I can. I mitigate failure #1 by using a high quality hollow core. I have eliminated break offs in the braid by using good hollow core. I have not seen a non hollow braid I can trust day in and day out. I have taken care of the lack of stretch by using a long noodle of a rod. Not a perfect solution to the issue but it certainly helped my cause. The price issue was easy to solve. I use the braid like a topshot on top of Dacron. 275 yards is all I have on my dedicated kite fishing rod. The stuff is easy to splice so have no fear of working with it.

For a leader connection, splice a loop in the end and then use an offshore swivel not to attach the swivel - NO failures with this connection.

jb

[maz888]

Thanks Bryan and JB I appreciate the insight I will get the Braid for next season and hopefully increase our Kite success.

Bryan if you don't mind shooting me over a copy of that PP I would like to have a look at it. Mazzol.Jason@gmail.com

JB what kind of rods are you using ? if you don't mind sharing might as well put together the right set up for the job.

Thanks again
JM