Willy Dino Meet Up? Sat Dec 10

I am fishing very similar to jammer. The only differences are the following.

I use 30lb braid since the thinner line has less current drag and lets me use less weight and is easier to break if I get hung. The downside is that it is not as strong for really big fish - especially if they roll up the line and nick it with their scutes. However, I am willing to live with that tradeoff, but it is definitely a tradeoff.

I tie my Dacron leader directly to the swivel between my braid and leader rather than having the extra snap swivel that jammer shows in his rig. I am a firm believer in using as little terminal tackle as possible since each piece is a potential point of failure.

PDX brought up some excellent points. I personally started with a lighter braid but was loosing a lot more fish that way as they were cutting the line with the scutes. Sturgeon definitely like to roll up on the line. I started experimenting with breaking off a heavier line and found that if turn my Outback down river with my rod pointing backwards over my head with rod tip pointing off the back and over my rudder and gave it some gas I could still snap my 65# braid. Most of the time it would break on my top knot, however if I had any scuffs in my line it might break there. Now pointing down river to break it isn't always easy either. You need to be very careful. As things are tightening up ready to break, I usually reach up now with both hands and both thumbs on the spool and hang on until it breaks. If it wouldn't break, I would quickly open the spool and accelerate downriver until my rudder is working and then quickly turn back up river so I can reassess. I also weigh 205lbs though. When picking what braid works best for you, I would start with something lighter until you feel comfortable breaking off when snagged and move up in strength from there.
Also PDX had mentioned keeping it simple. He's exactly right. I wouldn't have added the extra snap swivel, but only added last Saturday because the was a lot of grass and leaves in the water that kept pushing to the bottom of my main line which was causing my Dacron leader to get all tangled up. Try and keep it as effective, but simple as possible.

I weigh about 200lbs but being new to kayaking I am still pretty chicken in my kayak so I will probably stick with 30lb braid until I break it off on a big fish. Then I will curse and switch to heavier braid. So far I have only broken the leader - when I used 30lb and was not checking it. I did switch to a 70lb leader. Also, being cheap it would be impossible for me to throw away good braid.

The one tip I would give about breaking braided line is that I always carry something to wrap the line around to break it off. The problem with using the spool as the break is that the braid can bury very deeply in itself and really get badly stuck. I used to have this problem when I used 20lb braid on my carolina rig rod. It may be that this is not a problem for the heavier braid but it was a real issue for thinner braid (I have not run the experiment with 30lb). I used to carry a 1 foot dowel rod, but now I use my pliers handles as the thing to wrap around. I go around them 6 to 10 times and the braid does not slip when I break it.

Wish I could make it but my wife is running a race that I'm required to be at on the 10th

Oh wait, I'm in! I got the wrong weekend!

WhoooHooo....I'll be there for sure (I hope). I'm already giving Oregon Non-Resident license fees, I might as well contribute to whoever wins the pot too. My terminal tackle set up was the same as Jammer has pictured, when I started the day. By the end, I didn't have any beads left at either side of the slide.  I hadn't broken off, so that supports their use in buffering the knots. After seeing that and previously assuming they were overkill, I've gone from "Whatever" to "Holy Crap...don't ever rig without them" At least not for Dinos.

We just got Next Adventure's approval to turn this into the first get out and fish event.  So what does it mean?  Well, there will be an official "snack yak" piloted by yours truly.  I will have warm beverages, snacks and other treats to keep you guys going.

Nate we will need you out there with us. Just checked the 10 day weather.... On Friday the 9th it says rain/snow in portland............ Welcome to winter.

We just got Next Adventure's approval to turn this into the first get out and fish event.  So what does it mean?  Well, there will be an official "snack yak" piloted by yours truly.  I will have warm beverages, snacks and other treats to keep you guys going.

Well now I am definitely in!

gonna try & make this one, definite maybe

A definate mabey here too!

Erik

Wait a second..... It's going to be catered?  And it'll snow???
If I hear that DC's gonna be there with his good friend Johnny, I'm in.

-Spot-

To get Spot to come, I will bring the popular Mr. Walker and/or my pet wild turkey - purely to appease old man river btw, or in case one of us gets shot and we need something to numb the pain.  But only if the Jade comes with a picture of Mr. Patoes (or a bottle of glue) to prove he existed.

Saturday, just keeps on getting better.  Thanks to Pelagic Paddler the snack yak is getting replaced with a BBQ sled. 

Awesome!  Something to look forward to.  I already have the necessary permission slips signed and notarized!

My "No, I can't make it". Just became a very good possibility.  Looking forward to the 10th.

SteveHawk or should it be "Nocrabsman"  Talk amongst yourselves.
 

My "No, I can't make it". Just became a very good possibility.  Looking forward to the 10th.

SteveHawk or should it be "Nocrabsman"  Talk amongst yourselves.

Basing the title on our last trip, to Netarts (and so you're not alone), I think maybe No Crab Society would be accurate. And then there was today at Rooster rock where I joined the ranks of Men Without Sturgeon.

Thanks C I T for letting me borrow your paddle today.