4 stix wrote:
I have just been given a Kilwell black shadow 14" rod & it has a BS390 surf reel which has been pre loaded with 10kg or 20lb breaking strain nylon, is this heavy enough or should I put on 20 or 30 kg line? I see snapper rigs rated at 80lb should my line be this heavy 80lb? also the snap swivel should they be the same as the line rating or slightly heaver? I haven't been fishing since I was a kid 30 years ago. where I will be fishing I don't know somewhere up the coromandle around hotwater beach maybe. |
Hi
If the line is in OK condition then you should be fine..
You will get abut 10 feet of 80Lb mono on that reel ( not really but you will get SFA on there)
Your rod and reel will have an approximate optimum range of line weight or casting weight.
Important to observe as a guideline.
a 14 foot BS presuming is this model
http://www.kilwell.co.nz/products/category/QKRJILFH%20surf/BLS1403SU
is rated to 140g or 5Oz.
So sinker plus bait shouldn't exceed 5 Oz's. If you do exceed this you will find the rod seems to over bend when casting then will flop about all noodle afterward.. Not a great feeling especially when you hear crack/split/tear as the rod snaps. Not a high chance of this happening but good to be aware of it.4 Oz sinkers would be the maximum weight IMO
If you are casting vigorously or far then the rule of thumb is to have a shock leader that roughly matches 10Lb's to Oz's
that is
if you are casting a combined weight of 5Oz's then a shock leader of 50lb breaking strain is recommended.
4Oz's = 40Lb's breaking strain etc etc...
If you are casually lobbing a lump of lead in between having a beer/ playing with your kids/Bikini inspecting then this isn't so important but be very aware of how much damage an errant sinker might do to a person or property
Likewise. The reel will have a guide to what breaking strain it should have. Presume that the line on it is still OK and within the reels stated guidelines.
If fishing sand you could feel comfortable from 10 to 20Lb line weight. The thicker or heavier Weight you go the less line you will get on the reel and probably less distance you will cast.
Regarding rocky terrain? I fish Wellington and the Wairarapa and rarely do I go over or under 20Lbs.I figure that if you go too low then you may lose a fish due to strength or abrasion - 20lb line is between.37 and .4 mm diameter. Greater than this and line capacity suffers.
Note that some will say this is too heavy and for them they are right. These are only guidelines.
Take extra hooks, line and sinkers and be careful when next to the sea.
Don't forget a sand spike also as it is hard to hold a rod and have a feed at the same time
Go to the walkabout forum and read the how to read a beach post about 73 times
http://www.fishing.net.nz/asp_forums/a-guide-to-reading-the-beach_topic82433.html
Hope your holiday goes well
"You don't have to be smart to laugh at a fart, but you have to be stupid not to."