Offshore reel spooling/top shot

[Jsnake4444]

Sent a Penn torque 60 2 speed that cals had blueprinted and low gear installed to BHP Basil on 8/9/22. Some background:I have spent close to probably $1300 or more with Basil over the last year and a half. Over the course of that time I have had numerous texts exchanges with him over top shots and other possible purchases. Note that he has his iPhone number on BHP for a contact. Now fast forward to yesterday 8/29/22. I had not texted him since 8/9/22 just to see if he received the reel. I texted him to see when the reel would be completed and got no answer so I called him. I stated my name and politely asked him roughly when the reel would be done since I had a trip on the 15th. He answer was that I text him way damn too much and proceeded to talk down to me. So long story short I requested my reel immediately be returned to me and I am now looking at recommendations for spooling and top shots. I have worked customer service my whole life and want to give my money to someone in my mind deserving of it. Would love to hear your guys recommendations. I have had great experiences with The Reel seat amount others. Let me know what you recommend

[Gremlin2009]

Try Atlantic Bait and Tackle. Shop is located on RT.36 in Middletown. Just tell Pete what you are targeting and he will set you up

[Jsnake4444]

Try Atlantic Bait and Tackle. Shop is located on RT.36 in Middletown. Just tell Pete what you are targeting and he will set you up

Thanks. I will definitely check them out.

[Pennsy Guy]

jsnake, can do it yourself if so inclined...I try to do 1/2 braid and 1/2 mono-at least 200 yds mono top shot. Trick is the braid to mono connection. I tie a foot-long loop in braid using a 5-6 turn surgeon's loop; then tie a 12 turn Albright to make the connection. After it's tightened, tag ends trimmed, a drop of crazy glue.
Guys use a heavier backing than the top-shot, but I like to use the same pound test as the mono---works for me. Just have to have enough tension when loading the reel to get the line tight.

[Ol Pedro]

Jsnake, I'm with Pensie. I'll be doing a 60 and an 80lb setup this week. I just do a modified Albright with a drop of superglue. I also run them out behind the boat to put tension on the mono/straighten the line out.

[Jsnake4444]

Thanks guys I think I am going to have a cpl beers this weekend and get it done. Do you guys think the glue is necessary?

[Jsnake4444]

jsnake, can do it yourself if so inclined...I try to do 1/2 braid and 1/2 mono-at least 200 yds mono top shot. Trick is the braid to mono connection. I tie a foot-long loop in braid using a 5-6 turn surgeon's loop; then tie a 12 turn Albright to make the connection. After it's tightened, tag ends trimmed, a drop of crazy glue.
Guys use a heavier backing than the top-shot, but I like to use the same pound test as the mono---works for me. Just have to have enough tension when loading the reel to get the line tight.

How many trips you on this fall? Looks like they are stacking up nice out there. I have a trip on the 15th.

[John D.]

I have been using Basil for almost 20 years and never had an issue. That being said, there is no substitute for good communication Re when you needed the reels by and his communication to you as to when they would be done by. As I am sure you know, Basil’s business extends well beyond NJ as he does a ton of work across the US and even some global business I think. And this is his busy season. I usually send him or drive over my stuff in the spring as I know sending him stuff after July would be almost impossible to meet a tight deadline. If he was rude to you, there is no excuse for that but I have never had that experience with him and his work has been flawless and timely for decades with me.

Sorry you had a bad experience and best of luck with your upcoming trips.

John

[Pennsy Guy]

How many trips you on this fall? Looks like they are stacking up nice out there. I have a trip on the 15th.

I'm on all the Gambler's 36hr trips, penciled-in on the Nov. 24's and hoping we do another dec. "trip in the snow". We can count on at least 1 trip being blown out.
Like Sandro on the DOT.COM, I could live out there, but the lunch barge doesn't deliver year-round...LOL

[Pennsy Guy]

Forgot, use the glue as an added insurance against the knot failure.
(A Gambler mate showed me this connection a few years ago; been using it ever since.) He saved my ass-pardon my French-more than once...
As Ol Pedro said, you can run out the mono, just make sure you're past the inlet buoy and inshore pots---seen guys spooled more than once!!!

[nmc02]

I recommend spooling your reel w braid, then splicing an end loop to connect your wind on leader connection...loop to loop. Best way in my opinion.
https://youtu.be/kfSSWesJNcY
https://youtu.be/UIWayrUgDtc

https://youtu.be/2u584MgOvrE

[nmc02]

Also, if you are using 80 lb braid....better off using 100 lb jb hollow, as it is smaller diameter than all other 80.

[Capt. Debbie]

Curious. Never understood this set up for tuna,

If the top half of your spool is all strechie mono you are essentially fishing with mono 90% of the time. Aside from spending extra money on expensive backing braid.. why bother?

I've heard the opposite set up which made more sense.

Cheap backing on the innermost spool. On top of that is your braid. Then the top shot is only about 50 yards of mono. That way the mono at the hook conceals the line and the braid does the real reel-in work.

The deep backing is only filler.

What's the advantage in this 50-50 with expensive braid kept underneath on the inner spool unused?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Curious. Never understood this set up for tuna,

If the top half of your spool is all strechie mono you are essentially fishing with mono 90% of the time. Aside from spending extra money on expensive backing braid.. why bother?

I've heard the opposite set up which made more sense.

Cheap backing on the innermost spool. On top of that is your braid. Then the top shot is only about 50 yards of mono. That way the mono at the hook conceals the line and the braid does the real reel-in work.

The deep backing is only filler.

What's the advantage in this 50-50 with expensive braid kept underneath on the inner spool unused?

A lot of the need for braid is line capacity on smaller reels so when the fish hits and wants to spool you, you have more capacity since braid takes up less space on the reel and gives you more capacity. The need for mono serves 2 purposes, as a shock leader and your ability to leader the fish when it's close since braid will cut your hands.

Other benefit is mono is easier to see than braid in your spread so you can see how trolled stuff is laying out there in your spread.

Lastly braid does not doesn't degrade over time like mono does so all you need to do over time is change your mono top shot.

[shrimpman steve]

What Gerry said

[Ol Pedro]

Mono is easier than braid in tangles.I don't know how many times that I have come close to losing a Finger in a multi-fish tangle. Mono is also forgiving when fish are close and get squirrelly. Straight braid jigging no problem. Just a piece of floro, modified Albrite, and the jig of your choice.

[Jsnake4444]

I have been using Basil for almost 20 years and never had an issue. That being said, there is no substitute for good communication Re when you needed the reels by and his communication to you as to when they would be done by. As I am sure you know, Basil’s business extends well beyond NJ as he does a ton of work across the US and even some global business I think. And this is his busy season. I usually send him or drive over my stuff in the spring as I know sending him stuff after July would be almost impossible to meet a tight deadline. If he was rude to you, there is no excuse for that but I have never had that experience with him and his work has been flawless and timely for decades with me.

Sorry you had a bad experience and best of luck with your upcoming trips.

John
I have given him my business for a cpl years and I also send him reels during our offseason. But when it’s your job and you deal with the whole country there is in all honesty no downtime. He could of not sent me a shipping label or just explained that he was too busy. But I would say 3 weeks and still not touching my reel then getting short when a paying costumer calls him is unacceptable in my world. It’s not like he does it for a free. His services are definitely priced at a premium and one would expect good service. I have received numerous private messages telling me that people have had the same experience with him but they don’t want to say it publicly because they have no other options. Your results may vary but I want other options for my money. Thanks

[Jsnake4444]

Mono is easier than braid in tangles.I don't know how many times that I have come close to losing a Finger in a multi-fish tangle. Mono is also forgiving when fish are close and get squirrelly. Straight braid jigging no problem. Just a piece of floro, modified Albrite, and the jig of your choice.

I agree that’s why I usually prefer 150 yards of mono top shot

[Pennsy Guy]

Mono is easier than braid in tangles.I don't know how many times that I have come close to losing a Finger in a multi-fish tangle. Mono is also forgiving when fish are close and get squirrelly. Straight braid jigging no problem. Just a piece of floro, modified Albrite, and the jig of your choice.

^^^That and I think all PB's require X number yards mono top shot bait fishing (chunking)...

[Capt. Debbie]

Why not 50 yards of mono an the rest braid. You're not very likely to get tangles 500 feet from the boat.

Also boat side 50 yards of mono top shot is plenty to be a shock absorber and easier to hand line in.

Again.... why several 100 yards of mono topshot instead of just 50 yards? And the the rest be braid ( as much as you can afford) to the backing of cheap "stuff"?



I agree that’s why I usually prefer 150 yards of mono top shot

[2na]

Fill it with Momoi 60LB mono and be done...that's plenty.

[Jsnake4444]

Why not 50 yards of mono an the rest braid. You're not very likely to get tangles 500 feet from the boat.

Also boat side 50 yards of mono top shot is plenty to be a shock absorber and easier to hand line in.

Again.... why several 100 yards of mono topshot instead of just 50 yards? And the the rest be braid ( as much as you can afford) to the backing of cheap "stuff"?

I agree that 50 yards would be fine for most cases. I prefer over 100 yards if possible because getting into one tangle can cost 50 yards easy. So if I have 150 yards I am still in the game with that reel instead of stopping and have to respool a topshot during a hot bite. Also the reason I like to bring several setups. A few extra minutes in the water usually pays off.

[Pennsy Guy]

When one fishes lighter lines (40-30#) with a couple of heavier tuna on and in, it's probably a very good idea to respool before the next trip, especially if they didn't come in clean---and they seldom do on a PB unless you're lucky. That "X" posted earlier is 100-200 yds...
There is a BIG difference PB fishing and private, charter fishing.
Enough is enough...Capt. Frank, you load your reels like you prefer and I'll do the same. Tight lines always...

[Capt. Debbie]

Reminds me of an impressive mate.

We did an overnight canyon on a PB out of Belmar,

One guy hooked up and the fish ran side to side close in. A birds nest of everything on the hooked guys line.

The mate hand lined the hooked guys rod end to the nest. Saw the tensioned fish end line Cut in both places and retied the hooked guy's line to fight the fish to the boat.

Was impressive as hell to watch. I was next to the hooked up guy and got a great experience.




I agree that 50 yards would be fine for most cases. I prefer over 100 yards if possible because getting into one tangle can cost 50 yards easy. So if I have 150 yards I am still in the game with that reel instead of stopping and have to respool a topshot during a hot bite. Also the reason I like to bring several setups. A few extra minutes in the water usually pays off.

[Capt. Debbie]

I do, and just trying to see if there's a good reason to change from some guys that know what they are doing.

Always a better way to make a mouse trap.




When one fishes lighter lines (40-30#) with a couple of heavier tuna on and in, it's probably a very good idea to respool before the next trip, especially if they didn't come in clean---and they seldom do on a PB unless you're lucky. That "X" posted earlier is 100-200 yds...
There is a BIG difference PB fishing and private, charter fishing.
Enough is enough...Capt. Frank, you load your reels like you prefer and I'll do the same. Tight lines always...