Insurance Policies

Part 2 of 4

Would you buy Insurance if it wasn’t mandatory? Is insurance as important as companies tell us it is? Is Insurance for things that we can’t control? Should we have to pay for what ifs? As tournament anglers we have insurance on our trucks, boats and ourselves. We spend all this money on what ifs. Then we pay an entry fee that could be as little as $10 up to as high as $1500 not to mention we have to pay for gas, hotels and food. We don’t have any insurance on all that money, but what if we could buy a little insurance policy for that time on the water during a tournament.

Here is the second insurance policy that you can pick up at any tackle store in your area.

Line Policy – Choosing the right line is a lot more than just picking a brand and line test. Try to purchase the best line you can afford in your budget range. Berkley makes different types of lines to suit all your needs. The three most common lines are Mono, Fluorocarbon and Superline. Every line type has its time and place but monofilaments are still the most popular because they are easy to use, and are considered an all-purpose line. Berkley makes monofilaments in a wide range of colors and is available at a fairly low cost even the super mono lines like my personal favourite Trilene TransOptic. I fish a lot of tubes and I like to watch my line and one of the main reasons I use Trilene TransOptic is because it changes from clear to gold in sunlight. It has Hi-Vis color above the water and is clear below the water line. I feel the fish a little better because I have confidence in the line I have chosen for this technique. Another line that I have been experimenting with is the new Trilene XL Armor Coated.

I would like to get started with details on the characteristics of my two most commonly used lines Monofilament, Fluorocarbon and also like to give you my suggestions for what lines to use on different baits.
Before I get started I would like to stress the importance for getting the best performance out of your fishing line. Always try to match your line test (diameter) to your rod and reel specifications.

Monofilament:

Ø Mono has been around for years and is a great all round fishing line that will work on all rigs.
Ø Mono line is more forgiving and offers more stretch, which in turn acts as a shock absorber. It helps anglers land more fish.
Ø Mono is in general more abrasion resistance against rocks and sharp structure.
Ø Mono sinks at a slower rate.

I like to use monofilament for topwater baits because it holds the front of my bait up and gives the bait its true acting. This year I have been using Trilene XL Armor Coated on my spinnerbaits rod and I have been having great results.

I like using mono all year round on my spinnerbaits because the helps keep my bait higher up in the water column. I also like the fact that mono has a little stretch so I don’t rip the bait out of the fish’s mouth.


Fluorocarbon:

Ø Fluoro sinks at a faster rate than mono.
Ø Fluoro has no stretch and nearly invisible underwater.
Ø Enhanced knot strength and greater sensitivity.
Ø Great for leader material.

I like using Fluorocarbon on my Carolina rigs because Fluoro has no stretch and nearly invisible underwater and you can get away with a heaver test line. When fishing tubes I use Fluoro because it gets your bait down to the bottom quicker, with less bow in your in your line which in turn gives you better connection between you and your tube. Anything weightless works perfect on Fluorocarbon, it has a different fall rate and in turn result in a higher bite rate.

Knowing how fishing lines works and how it will affects different bait will help you pick out the best line for you and land more fish in your boat. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of lines and line tests (diameter). If you find a new combo please pass your knowledge forward.

Here is a must have tip, the next time you’re on the water, make sure you check your line for frays or nicks after every fish or after every five or six casts. Take your thumb and index finger and start feeling the line from your bait to four or five feet up the line.

Next Part 3 – Hook Policy

Thanks again,
An obsessed angler
Jason