Q&A
68 | fishingworld.com.au | March 2015
I see a lot of photos in
magazines of fish taken on
bait rigs with the sinker right on
top of the hook. I’ve been fishing
for 30 years and was always
taught to use a short trace to the
hook with the sinker above a
swivel or brass ring to keep it
away from the hook so the bait
presented more naturally. Am I
wasting my time using a trace?
John Brooks – Dee Why, NSW.I used the same trace style rig as
you for many years but gradually
started using less lead and smaller
sinkers so that the bait moved around
with water movement rather than being
anchored on the bottom. As the sinker
size reduced, the need for the swivel and
trace became less important. Like many
other anglers, I started running thesinker straight on top of the hook and
eliminated the swivel altogether. Feel
free to continue using a trace but the
sinker running straight to the hook is
a very simple and easy to use rig that
works just as well.I’ve just gotten into saltwater f ly and am
having great fun chasing salmon around
Sydney Harbour. I’m using a seven weight
outfit with an old weight forward f loating
line. The f loating line does the job but I see
guys casting a lot further than me. What
lines do you use and what backing is best?
Jonathan Vassallo – via email.Those guys outcasting you will be using
intermediate lines with a braided core
and running line. These clear lines sink
slowly and are designed for maximumcasting distance. Rio, Scientific Anglers
and Airf lo all have clear intermediate lines
in their ranges. It usually pays to give these
lines a good stretch before casting as this
will reduce the tangles with the running
line as it shoots on the last double haul.
If you really want casting distance then
run a weighted shooting head line and
braided running line behind it. Shooting
heads have a very fine lead core that gives
them a lot of weight and punch power and
the 20lb braided running line behind
shoots a long way.Q A
&
Greg Finney is one of
Australia’s best known
fishing writers. Send
your fishy questions to
Greg at Fisho’s Q & A.PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
® SINKER ON TOPPEL AGIC FLY LINES
Running a small sinker direct to the hook when
bait fishing is a very simple rig that works well.Game fishermen (and women)
use mono lines because they
break below IGFA line classes.Use clear intermediate
lines or shooting heads
for casting distance when
chasing pelagics on fly.A
A
Q
Q
Like most fishos, I use braid line
and f luorocarbon leaders for most
of my sportfishing these days. I’m
wondering if you can see the demise
of monofilament nylon in the next few
years? Is it still relevant?
Braid Fan – via email.Mono isn’t going anywhere, mate.
A lot of anglers still use mono for
their fishing. For example, I use mono
when chasing snapper with bait and
berley and f luoro Platypus Pre Test in
four kilo when fishing for blackfish
from the rocks. Game fishermen also
use mono lines almost exclusively as it
can be manufactured to break below
certain line classes. At this stage, I can’t
see mono not continuing to be a very
important part of the fishing scene.IS MONO EXTINCT?
A
Q
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