Are you using top shot? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

InfidelYak · 09-12-2016, 05:18 PM

Sorry of this is already a thread, but I searched for it and couldn't find anything. I've never used too shot growing up and was never shown what it actually is. Some of the research I've been seeing says that top shot is a good safety. So Im looking for opinions, I currently have 60 braid on two of my reels. Should I throw some mono on top just incase? Or is it uneccesary? And if I did, what weight should I use? I usually just fish the bottom with live bait, or troll with live as well. Thanks in advance gentleman.

ful-rac · 09-12-2016, 05:29 PM

I don't...I just go spectra to floro to hook.

ful-rac · 09-12-2016, 05:30 PM

It's personal preference really, nowhere does it say you must or you must not.

jorluivil · 09-12-2016, 05:43 PM

I go spectra to floro or spectra to mono but never flor to mono or vice versa. I have a shit ton of 40 lb test mono so I'm using that on all of my reels right now.

maquinapescado · 09-12-2016, 10:31 PM

The only reason I ever do that is on my jig stick. Iron IMO throws a little better with a casting distance top shot of mono. That being said, I still don't do that anymore as I can cast pretty well with just braid to fluoro.

YakDout · 09-13-2016, 04:48 AM

Four foot section of 30-40 lb seguar tied with a tony pena or similar connection should do you fine. More line capacity this way and better chances of cutting through kelp. Remember you cannot have your drag set as high as if you had a mono top shot. No stretch with the spectra.

PapaDave · 09-13-2016, 07:53 AM

Braid straight to the hook....

taggermike · 09-13-2016, 08:58 AM

One of the big reason to use braid in LJ is so you can cut yt n wsb out of the kelp. A top shot prevents this kelp cutting benefit. I run 65lb braid to a 3-5' leader of 30 lb fluoro. Some have found a short leader to braid doesn't provide any shock absorption to cushion head shakes or quick runs that can cause break offs or pulled hooks. I haven't found this to be an issue. Use a heavy old all glass cal star that is softer than a graphite rod.

Braid can be a pita to break off if you get hung up on the bottom but its lack of stretch provides much greater sensitivity when bottom fishing. Imo particularly for light biters like halibut. It's finer diameter also lets you used less weight to fish comparable depths than with mono.

Many people do not like to cast braid and will use a 50-100 yard top shot of mono on jig sticks. It took some practice but I now prefer casting braid and use the same 3-5' leaders on my surface iron rods.

Well those are my reasons to not use top shots. A good time to use a top shot is definitely when on a sports boats. Tangles are going to happen and braid tangles can be a nightmare. Cutting out of tangles and losing 20-40 bucks worth of braid sucks. Mike

09-12-2016, 05:18 PM	#1
InfidelYak Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Socal Posts: 37	Are you using top shot? Sorry of this is already a thread, but I searched for it and couldn't find anything. I've never used too shot growing up and was never shown what it actually is. Some of the research I've been seeing says that top shot is a good safety. So Im looking for opinions, I currently have 60 braid on two of my reels. Should I throw some mono on top just incase? Or is it uneccesary? And if I did, what weight should I use? I usually just fish the bottom with live bait, or troll with live as well. Thanks in advance gentleman.

09-12-2016, 05:29 PM	#2
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	I don't...I just go spectra to floro to hook. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

09-12-2016, 05:30 PM	#3
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	It's personal preference really, nowhere does it say you must or you must not. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

09-12-2016, 05:43 PM	#4
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	I go spectra to floro or spectra to mono but never flor to mono or vice versa. I have a shit ton of 40 lb test mono so I'm using that on all of my reels right now. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

09-12-2016, 10:31 PM	#5
maquinapescado Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 326	The only reason I ever do that is on my jig stick. Iron IMO throws a little better with a casting distance top shot of mono. That being said, I still don't do that anymore as I can cast pretty well with just braid to fluoro. __________________ Climb, Surf, Fish, Repeat

09-13-2016, 04:48 AM	#6
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Four foot section of 30-40 lb seguar tied with a tony pena or similar connection should do you fine. More line capacity this way and better chances of cutting through kelp. Remember you cannot have your drag set as high as if you had a mono top shot. No stretch with the spectra.

09-13-2016, 07:53 AM	#7
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,473	Braid straight to the hook.... __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...

09-13-2016, 08:58 AM	#8
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	One of the big reason to use braid in LJ is so you can cut yt n wsb out of the kelp. A top shot prevents this kelp cutting benefit. I run 65lb braid to a 3-5' leader of 30 lb fluoro. Some have found a short leader to braid doesn't provide any shock absorption to cushion head shakes or quick runs that can cause break offs or pulled hooks. I haven't found this to be an issue. Use a heavy old all glass cal star that is softer than a graphite rod. Braid can be a pita to break off if you get hung up on the bottom but its lack of stretch provides much greater sensitivity when bottom fishing. Imo particularly for light biters like halibut. It's finer diameter also lets you used less weight to fish comparable depths than with mono. Many people do not like to cast braid and will use a 50-100 yard top shot of mono on jig sticks. It took some practice but I now prefer casting braid and use the same 3-5' leaders on my surface iron rods. Well those are my reasons to not use top shots. A good time to use a top shot is definitely when on a sports boats. Tangles are going to happen and braid tangles can be a nightmare. Cutting out of tangles and losing 20-40 bucks worth of braid sucks. Mike