Well I was making some top shots for my trip coming up and thought I would take some pictures again in case anyone was interested. You could write a book on this stuff there is some many different angles and techniques but here is the basic. NOTE:The pictures are a little blurry it is tough to take them that close with only 2 hands
I will try to fix them later.
First of all you will need a few things; this is a list of what I use. Not all of it is necessary but makes the job easier
JB Hollow Spectra
Some Line
A small amount of solid Spectra
Some JB adhesive
Some burns rigging needles
Leader spool
Razor blade
Sharp scissors
Top Shot Holder
Today I used 130# Spectra and 60# mono
First off wind the desired length on mono onto a leader wheel or old spool
Note: 100yds 60# Izor fills about half of the standard spool like shown, 80# is about 2 3rds and 100# is almost full. I’m not real precise when it come to the length.
Next find the rigging needle that is closest to the mono diameter. Now take a razor blade and shave off the end of the mono to a point so it will fit inside the end of the needle and not fall out.
Now here comes the fun part. Thread the needle into the Spectra. Getting it started takes some practice. Try bunching the end to help open it.
Now start to PULL the Spectra ON TO the needle… I repeat PULL the Spectra ON the needle. Don’t try to push the needle into the spectra. What I have found to work the best for me is to lay the Spectra out flat and straight and point the needle straight at it a grab the Spectra about a ¼ inch from the end of the needle and pull it onto the needle like in the pic below
As the Spectra strats to bunch up on the needle just lightly push it up the line
Repeat this until you have the spectra 4 ft up the line.
Then push the needle out the side
Scoot the Spectra up until you can remove the needle from the line.
Then Scoot the Spectra back over the mono end. Be careful not the pull the mono out as there is nothing in place for the “Chinese Finger Cuff” to work. Pinch the end where the mono exits the spectra and you can smooth out the spectra up the mono.
OK Now we have our mono inside the spectra
I use a top shot holder for the next step but I have done it make shift with a couple clamps.
Secure your line in the holder
There a few ways you can do the next step. I will do all three here but anyone of them is sufficient.
You can just put a dab of JB Adhesive (this is a 2 part adhesive) on a small spot of the spectra where the mono exits and this alone is enough to hold the spectra in place under slack conditions
Or you could serve a small length about 1 inch up the spectra to about a ¼ inch below where the mono exits. I used 50# solid spectra but you can use any small serving material. Remember we just need to hold the spectrain place under slack conditions
Or you can just make series of half hitches along the same area and this works well also although it is not real pleasing to the eye.
OK now we have our 8ft piece of spectra attached to our top shot.
Now we need to attach our top shot to our main line. Here we will do a loop to loop connects. You would repeat these steps on both your main line and your top shot.
Making the loop
With the end of the line towards you insert the latch needle about 6 inches from the end and run it up about 4 inches
Bring the line back through.
Detach needle hold loop with thumb and forefinger of left hand and with the right hand work back the outside covering and basically turn it inside out
Starting about 2 inches from the end loop insert the needle toward the loop abd grab the tag end and pull back through and smooth out then trim loose ends
And there you have it one top shot ready to fish
I'm sure I left some things out, I fill them in tommarrow :cheers
Good luck on your trip, let me know if you have any extra fish.
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