"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message
news

Pardon me if this has already been discussed. I'm getting ready
for a trip to Rio Unini in the Amazon. We're going after Peacock
Bass. I'm planning to use 65 lb braid (Power Pro). If I tie braid
right to the lure am I more likely to break the line or rod than
with a leader? I hear they fight like Tyson. :^)

Also, I've been trying various knots to tie the leader (12 lb
mono) to the braid with varying degrees of success. If you have
any suggestions about the best knot to withstand Peacock abuse I'd
like to hear it.

Thanks in advance.

Hello Robert,

While I don't have a lot of experience with peacock bass, having
only fished for them in Miami, I do have a fair amount of
experience with 65 pound PowerPro and with muskies, a large, hard
hitting fish.

If you tie the line directly to the lure, you will stand the best
chance to land fish. I'm not a fan of using leaders, rarely
finding fish to be leader shy. However, whether you break the rod
or the line is going to depend on the rod you're using. I use 50
and 65 pound test on rods I've built using St. Croix blanks. Their
flipping stick and light muskie rods have held up to the higher
poundage lines pretty well. The best way to avoid rod breakage is
to set the drag so that there is a slight amount of slippage on the
hook set, then use your thumb on the spool to apply more pressure
on the fish if needed. I did blow up one rod using PowerPro, but I
had the drag cranked down as tight as possible and pulled a five
pound bass out of the water on a hook set.

Thanks Steve,

That (no leader) seems to be the concensus so far. I'll try it. I
have one St. Croix rod. It's a Premier series, 7 foot, 2 piece. I
thought I'd bring two spinning rods and reels with me. The outfitter
has bait casting gear. Jerry from Highroller Lures (a good guy)
suggested when fishing shallow lagoons I alternate casts to the shore
line and the open area. He says he's caught big PB that way. Seems
sensible enough if the water is shallow. Your thoughts?

I've done some experimenting and found the Uni-Uni knot to offer
the best strength for a connecting knot, but it works best when the
leader line diameter is the same as the PowerPro.

I tried that knot after reading your post and you're right. It's
easier with same sized lines. I'll try working without a leader for
a while. Is the single Uni knot good for tying line to the lure or
is there a better one?

Thanks again for all the help.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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