Post by fishsci on Aug 6, 2023 20:51:08 GMT -5
In many posts here, it seens that those who throw small spoons behind a 3-4 oz sinker, have come to settle on a leader length between the sinker and the spoon of 10-12 feet long. My question is whether this is just a result of group acceptance, or if there are any members who have tried shorter leaders and feel that they have sufficient evidence that 10-12 ft is required for best results. It would be very much easier if a shorter leader could be used while being even close to as effective.
If so, I am wondering why that longer leaders could be necessary. It does not seem like it is because the sinker needs to be that far away to not be seen and scare away a mackerel from the spoon -- but how could anyone know that for sure? The other possible explanations that I can think of are:
1) The long leader allows for more obble/twist of the spoon to be built up in the leader before the spoon cannot spin as much (btw most saltware fish are not attracted to simple twisting/spinning -- like other fish like salmon are). In my early days, I worked as a mate on charter and head boats, and when the clients had caught enough fish and we mates were exhausted from landing fish after fish (kings, dolpin, bonito, etc.), we just rigged bait (ballyhoo or threadfin herring) so that it would spin -- and we got a nice break from having to land fish and rebait.
However spoons wobble from side to side, but usually slightly more to one side, and that builds up twist in that direction.
2) The other idea that I can come up with is that the long leader allows the spoon to stay several feet above the bottom when the heavy sinker sinks to the bottom, as most spoonfishers periodically allow to keep the spoon deep. That more slowly falling and fluttering spoon might look very attractive to mackerel that typically cruise a few feet above the bottom when they are not actively pursuing prey.
Does anyone else have reasonable, rational ideas? Have you tried shorter leaders (thinking 8 ft or less? Do you have any theory as to why such a long leader is needed? Any thoughts would be helpful -- except those that say that you say that only because you are an expert, but have no idea or no explanation.
If so, I am wondering why that longer leaders could be necessary. It does not seem like it is because the sinker needs to be that far away to not be seen and scare away a mackerel from the spoon -- but how could anyone know that for sure? The other possible explanations that I can think of are:
1) The long leader allows for more obble/twist of the spoon to be built up in the leader before the spoon cannot spin as much (btw most saltware fish are not attracted to simple twisting/spinning -- like other fish like salmon are). In my early days, I worked as a mate on charter and head boats, and when the clients had caught enough fish and we mates were exhausted from landing fish after fish (kings, dolpin, bonito, etc.), we just rigged bait (ballyhoo or threadfin herring) so that it would spin -- and we got a nice break from having to land fish and rebait.
However spoons wobble from side to side, but usually slightly more to one side, and that builds up twist in that direction.
2) The other idea that I can come up with is that the long leader allows the spoon to stay several feet above the bottom when the heavy sinker sinks to the bottom, as most spoonfishers periodically allow to keep the spoon deep. That more slowly falling and fluttering spoon might look very attractive to mackerel that typically cruise a few feet above the bottom when they are not actively pursuing prey.
Does anyone else have reasonable, rational ideas? Have you tried shorter leaders (thinking 8 ft or less? Do you have any theory as to why such a long leader is needed? Any thoughts would be helpful -- except those that say that you say that only because you are an expert, but have no idea or no explanation.
