Thread: Braid on surf/rock setup ?

Hey fishos, some advice pls

I have braid on my softbait rod / spinning reel, and it is awesome. Casts further and super sensitive for feeling bites/knocks.

Question is : worth looking at converting my larger coffee-grinder reels to braid for surf casting and rock fishing ? Currently spooled with line that feels like a bugy cord compared to the braid

Online there's all kinds of horror stories about fingers being sliced open by braid when casting larger weight rigs. Is that just an issue when you hold the line against the rod when casting with a spinning reel ? I've never used a conventional / overhead reel, but it doesn't look like there would be that much chance of slicing a finger with those ?

Braid with a leader FG knotted on, gives your finger something to hold when casting and a bit of abrasion resistance in the rocks/surf.

Originally Posted by berg243

i found braid to be hotter when feathering the spool so adjusting tension was a bit more critical on the spool and I use a air cannon for casting so don't have to hold line for casting with either type anymore.

Got any pics/a how to on the aircannon?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/9-Liter-BEA...-/232487131220

These are great, just a bit expensive. Nz retailer wants $400 odd dollars for them. However, the trigger trips super fast, and a spare barrel could be made real cheap to make and easy to swap, as it's threaded on.

Next step-up is a drone to get the bait out

https://www.africahunting.com/thread...5/#post-501931

Looks the part. What caliber,twist rate .....
Cobber had one made of stainless with a bbq igniter in it. A couple of squirts of Wella hairspray and push the button. Used to fire polystyrene cups full of frozen water 300ish m, they also went through tin walls......apperently.

Originally Posted by oraki

Looks the part. What caliber,twist rate .....
Cobber had one made of stainless with a bbq igniter in it. A couple of squirts of Wella hairspray and push the button. Used to fire polystyrene cups full of frozen water 300ish m, they also went through tin walls......apperently.

I made a steel one a while back. Would fire a frozen onion through both sides of a wheelie bin

Originally Posted by berg243

this one a bit safer as you only use compressed from a bike pump. I use one that you put your feet on the base to hold it steady that way no large explosion from someone overcharging fuel mixture.Attachment 101945

It's not like gunpowder, it doesn't 'create' its own oxygen- google stoicometric ratio. Overcharge will result in less pressure or even no bang.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Braid with a leader FG knotted on, gives your finger something to hold when casting and a bit of abrasion resistance in the rocks/surf.

Yep, about 8-10m of 60lb mono ahead of the braid allows finger-saving casting without lowering your BC much

I have braid then the FG knot then a wind-on leader, used all day today and no worries on the fingers. Hard to go back to mono I’m afraid...


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@Tommy, what kind of "trigger" mechanism did you use on yours. Might be a fun lathe project for winter...

Originally Posted by ebf

@Tommy, what kind of "trigger" mechanism did you use on yours. Might be a fun lathe project for winter...

I had a coil and a hot little motorbike sparkplug. I'm trying to remember where it is at the moment, mate was using it up north last I recall

To use for fishing, I would just make a pvc one with a BBQ piezo from Bunnings (really cheap). Be much easier to lug over dunes etc

I have a small one here somewhere made out of UPVC which works a treat with Weller. Only ever tried potatoes as ammo and never fishing so must give it a go.

Personally @ebf I wont use braid off the shore again due to i'ts propensity to grab rocks and tangle. I't a complete MF'er to break if you have to. Maybe if I was fishing for Kingfish with live bait I would consider.