Top Shot... or no Top Shot

[HeadHunt]

I am spooling one 50 and four 30's with 130 lb. JB Hollowcore, which of course is white. I have read several pro's and con's about adding 50-100 yards of mono topshot. I would like some real world advice on two areas of concern I have.

If I do not use a topshot will all of that white line in my spread hurt me trolling for tuna even though I have 30 feet of flouro leader?

Also, if I do not have a topshot and I run about 12-14 lbs. of drag at strike, should I be concerned about having almost zero stretch on my lines?

I know one guy running without topshots and he tells me not to worry about the lack of stretch and not to worry about the white line spooking the fish. I know lot of experienced anglers are now using JB so how are you guys setting up for trolling?

Thanks,
Alan

[hubris 1]

i fish green dot dacron on all my rods. i splice in the double line so there are no knots. no bimini or spider, just a smooth as silk splice. offshore knot to a swivel, and on that goes the 9 ft leader with rig. i dont get the top shot thing. stretch? i have never broken off a fish because i didnt have stretch. i personally dont like to fish with mono on the offshore gig. everytime i do with someone else we always lose my lures, my spreader bars, my rig's. dacron doesnt have all the nick problems that mono has. personally, leave the top shot out. i dont buy into its use at all. i do like mono for chunking however. jmo.

[HeadHunt]

hubris,
that is pretty much the setup I am going to use. Wind on leader to a small swivel connected to the main line with a cats paw (i think thats what it is called). I don't understand this topshot thing either, unless the stealth is important.

Thanks,
Alan

[HeadHunt]

offshore knot to a swivel, .

OK, thats the same as a cats paw. How many loops can you put in your knot and still be able to untie it without having to cut your loop?

Thanks

[hubris 1]

it gets a little funky if you undo it. yes it is a cats paw....if that what you call it. i was hoping someone else would give their input on this. offshore knot is also a name for it. i like the dacron, didnt when i first met dacron but, chuck richardson showed me how to splice it for the double line and i have never used mono again. for trolling, i really dont like mono even a little. its so easy to splice i would just cut and splice if i was you. the line is super durable too. i watch all the guys in tournaments putting new mono on the day before a tournament. just remove the double on dacron, resplice, and your as good as new. can someone now tell me i dont know what im talking about. i'll listen. i will sit right here and not say a word.

[HeadHunt]

it gets a little funky if you undo it. yes it is a cats paw....if that what you call it. i was hoping someone else would give their input on this. offshore knot is also a name for it. i like the dacron, didnt when i first met dacron but, chuck richardson showed me how to splice it for the double line and i have never used mono again. for trolling, i really dont like mono even a little. its so easy to splice i would just cut and splice if i was you. the line is super durable too. i watch all the guys in tournaments putting new mono on the day before a tournament. just remove the double on dacron, resplice, and your as good as new. can someone now tell me i dont know what im talking about. i'll listen. i will sit right here and not say a word.

I know several guys just doing one loop and they untie it when they change leaders. I've seen them land some big fish and the connections held fine. Time will tell. The splicing is easy but I am just getting used to "serving" the splices. That takes a little practice and you cannot do that on the water. It sounds like yours hold up well without serving.

Alan

[hubris 1]

i dont do wind on leaders. i like a tug and a pull at the end! i put seven wraps in the line for the offshore swivel with a loop lock. my leader is only the length of my rig. usually 9 ft. my line is hardly in the water, just the leader. guy's laugh, thats ok...........i bring them home tuna. and they need to ask how many bill fish, i fly no flags. except maybe an american!

[ifish42na]

One thing to consider is having all spectra out in your spread means a higher probability of losing it in a tangle, cut-off or snag. If you use a mono topshot, besides the benefits of shock absorption when trolling, if you foul a line chances are you'll be losing cheap mono, not expensive spectra. Other than live bait fishing with a short wind-on, the topshot is a smart choice for trolling and chunking IMO.

[pitch bait]

What the purpose of the double line if you arent connecting a wind on leader? Why dont you just tie the swivel? In my opinion it is important to have the top shot for shock absortion. The stretch in the mono helps when the fish suddenly speeds up and it takes some of the pressure off the hook from ripping a big hole in the fishes mouth. Stretch also helps from the shock on the leader when they surge next to the boat from snapping the light leader. If you are using all braid or dacron I would atleast suggest using a soft rod. The dacron does help on the hook up keeping the stretch out drives the hook in the fishes mouth. I believe this is important when fishing way off the baot a quarter of a spool. If you arent there to start turning the handle 1/10 a second after the bite to take up the slack in the mono then I think braid or dacron will help your hook up ratio. I think this is why we all fish on different boats.

[Tunaman 1]

That is what I run also