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JDS Pony Mullet
Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 63 Location: New Braunfels
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: surf leaders and trout |
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Rainy day question.
When casting in the surf for trout at this time of year, (smacks thick) would it be a good idea to use a short, relatively thin leader? Last time I was down I did not do this because I did not want the leader to spook the trout but I lost a lot of terminal tackle because of it. Thanks,
JDS |
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kyle Horse Mullet
Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 221 Location: HOUSTON
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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USE A FLOUROCARBON LEADER, MORE EXPENSIVE BUT PRACTICALLY INVISIBLE. _________________ SURE DO MISS THE BLUFF |
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IslandMike Full Grown Flour Bluffian

Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 1620 Location: Padre Isles
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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I asked something similar to this one time and the response was that trout and reds are not really leader shy. I really only use a leader on the rare occasions when I use bait. Just a personal preference. _________________ Save the seagrass......Shoot some ducks |
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O.B. Flour Bluffian in training

Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 352 Location: Corpus Christi
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Not often, but I have caught trout from the surf on a steel leaders with live mullet while targeting redfish. The biggest was 20". |
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topdog15 Full Grown Flour Bluffian

Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 4566 Location: Flour Bluff
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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A spanish will cut through florocarbon as well. Trout are very leader shy for the most part although they will occasionally be caught w/ a leader. When I fish for trout in the surf I use florocarbon. If the spanish are thick, I'll switch up tactics and go w/ steel. _________________ "Ya'll must eat a lot of fish" |
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FB PHIL Flour Bluffian in training
Joined: 11 Oct 2006 Posts: 455
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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| I usually just use a 2' piece of 30-50# mono because of hits from smacks or the abrasive mouths of big skipjacks or bluefish. If you start getting cut off alot just use some 27# plastic coated copper colored wire leader. This is thin enough that even the shy strikers like smacks will usually hit it and it will hold up to the abuse. It can also be knotted (carefully) without use of crimps. I never use manufactured leaders with all the beads and garbage on them. |
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JDS Pony Mullet
Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Posts: 63 Location: New Braunfels
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the info. JDS |
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kweber Full Grown Flour Bluffian

Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 2399 Location: Hondo
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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anyone use the brown tooth-proof 30lb single wire w/ haywire twist? _________________ the creepy uncle that scares the kids.... |
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Nailsy Pony Mullet

Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 84
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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| topdog15 wrote: | | Trout are very leader shy for the most part although they will occasionally be caught w/ a leader. |
I would disagree. I've seen many trout/reds caught in the surf using steel leaders. Most croaker fishermen tie salt shakers and beaded leaders to their main line hoping to increase their odds, and I know many professional trout anglers that tie artificials directly to braid with no "invisible" leader. _________________ "Bring your friends, we'll give em' a ride in SUCK MY WAKE" |
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larry meinert Member White Shrimper Boot Club
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 886 Location: Dallas Texas
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I only ever get down to the Island for 5or 6 days at a time and only 5 or 6 times a year. I use whatever bait I catch in the surf. I never caught a trout ‘till I read on this site that trout don’t bite on stainless. I found black thin 12” leaders at Academy. I put two together with a hook in the middle and a weight on the end and caught 3 nice trout. |
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mastergunner Member White Shrimper Boot Club
Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 579 Location: Portland
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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I use the same leader for everything, 40lb mono, only had it broken 2 or 3 times in 4 years. I could say flounder don't like it because I HAVEN'T CAUGHT ONE SINCE I MOVED HERE 4 1/2 YEARS AGO!!!!!!!!!! _________________ Mastergunner, supporter of hardheads for state fish of Texas |
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topdog15 Full Grown Flour Bluffian

Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 4566 Location: Flour Bluff
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | I would disagree. I've seen many trout/reds caught in the surf using steel leaders |
I didn't mean to imply that they couldn't be caught on steel, just that your odds are much better when not using such a highly visible material for a leader. I too have seen many trout caught on leaders, but I've seen many, many more on flourocarbon or mono. _________________ "Ya'll must eat a lot of fish" |
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