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    02 januari

    Sturgeon tackle choices
    Tackle Choices!
    (The subtle seduction of all fishermen...)
     
     
    The fishing gear options available to the modern angler are overwhelming! One cannot possibly be aware of all the offerings of tackle manufacturers, let alone know which is the best choice. If five anglers were asked to name their favorite reel, those five anglers would likely name 15 different reels.
     
    My tackle choices below are not based on any vast knowledge of tackle. Some items I bought on a whim, some I bought because I didn't like what I had and researched the market a bit to find something better. For whatever reasons, here are a few of my tackle choices:
     

    Baitcasting Reels

    The conventional baitcaster reels are best suited for my Delta fishing. They cast well, have plenty of room for lots of line and they usually have good drag (brake) systems to handle larger fish. Here are some of my reel choices:


    This is Penn's International 965 baitcaster reel. It is a high quality, mid size reel that is excellent for Delta fishing. My 965 is solid, smooth and up to the task of reeling in any sturgeon. My only complaint is that it tends to lock down with the slightest touch, making it necessary to always double check it when setting it on freespool. This, and the 975LD (below) are my first choice sturgeon reels.
     


    This is the     Penn International 975LD reel. It's a super smooth lever drag baitcaster with level wind. This is my favorite reel for sturgeon fishing.
     
     
     Shimano's Calcutta 700, my "Big Gun" sturgeon reel. With this reel I am set to handle anything the Delta will dish out. Its one fault: the clicker creates more resistance to the light pull of a sturgeon than the Penns.
     
     

    This is my Shimano Charter Special, another "overkill" reel for the Delta. It is an  excellent combination of lever drag and level wind. Note that there is no "star" wheel to set the drag, drag is set by the lever. Most lever drag reels do not have the level wind feature which automatically reels the line in equally across the spool; this reel does. This reel also has the heavier clicker resistance that I have been avoiding when fishing for sturgeon.

    Fishing Line:
     
    I use Power Pro 50# test super braid for everything except lake trolling. This overkill approach is likely considered to be vulgar by hi-brow fly fishermen, but I'm just a baitslinger, so I don't know any better. Power Pro 50# is the same thickness as 12# mono line. So, even 20# mono is thicker than my 50# super braid, and therefore has more float and resistance to being cast or trolled. Also, more Power Pro can be spooled onto any given reel, by far, than mono of the same strength. The more line on the reel, the less likely an angler is going to be spooled by a large fish.


     
    Setting the hook on a fish with mono line results in some of the force of the set being lost due to the stretch of the mono. Set the hook with Power Pro, and there is no stretch so the hook will set deep and sure. That's one reason why I choose super braid line.
     
    Imagine bait fishing with shad for stripers and hooking into a 100 lb. sturgeon. This scenario rarely happens, but it is always possible. The easy handling braid will likely see the monster to the boat, 20 or 25 pound mono may not. That's another reason why I choose a super braid.
     

    Terminal Tackle

    Image of Cabela's Premium McMahon Black Snap Swivels - Per 12Here's where a little extra money is well spent: buy first quality terminal tackle. The photo at left is of a stainless steel ball bearing snap swivel. The snap end squeezes together, opening up just enough to attach the leader. This particular snap is about the toughest type I've ever used, it is very, very strong. In the case of super braid line, the recommended knot is the very simple Palomar knot, which seems to be the only knot I can remember how to tie. With this snap swivel holding line to leader, the fisherman can be confident that the line and the leader will not part company while fighting a big fish. I hope.

    My home made leader:

    Note that the hooks are separated. I attach a crimp to keep the first hook from getting any closer to the bottom hook. I like to keep the hooks from tangling and, hopefully, make a succesful hook set more likely. I made this leader longer than usual for some reason.

    The shorter the leader, the less there is to wave in the current which would allow the bait to be off the bottom. If the bait ain't on the bottom, you ain't sturgeon fishing! In addition, I often attach a small rubber core weight near the hooks in moving water to ensure that the bait stays on the bottom.


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