Too Heavy?

AussieJosh1996 · #1 04-12-2010, 07:43 PM

Hey guys, Ive been lure fishing for bream every now and then in between fishing for flathead. I only own 1 rod and reel therefore I use 8lb braid and 12lb Vanish Fluorocarbon leader so that I can fish for both species without having to change line around. (I also fish for Jacks, Trevally, Whiting etc.). So I have only ever caught about 3 bream with this set-up (on plastics) and was wondering if my leader is to heavy and thats why I find it difficult to catch these bream on plastics. Also, what would be a good size leader for just catching bream and what would be a good size leader for my fishing of flathead & bream.

Cheers Josh

bargeass · #2 04-12-2010, 08:04 PM

Mate you will get away fishing 6lb for both no worries. I do all my flatty fishing with 6lb, unless I go specifically hunting the big girls, then I go up to 14lb. But 6lb should be good middle ground for you.

The G factor · #3 04-12-2010, 08:43 PM

you should be able to catch more than 3 bream on 12lb fluoro mate. It wont HELP your chances, but it wont stop you from catching them.

Just invest in a lighter breaking strain, so when the flatties arnt on the chew, chase some bream. Or, go 8lb as a happy medium. I do heaps of breaming with 8lb. Its also decent to land some good flatties, but it does depend on where they are hooked and if they have taken the lure deep down

AussieJosh1996 · #4 04-12-2010, 10:32 PM

Yea cheers guys, I have just bought 4lb and 8lb Vanish so that I can try both and see how they go.

Cheers Josh

Alex · #5 04-12-2010, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AussieJosh1996

I have just bought 4lb and 8lb Vanish

Josh,

Do yourself a favour and stick to the better fluoro - Nitlon, Sunline FC, Yamatoyo, even Berkley FC, etc. Vanish would be the last in a list if I were to choose a fluoro leader.

There is nothing worse than losing a big fish due to a weak, poor quality leader.

Cheers,

forsterfisho · #6 04-12-2010, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Josh,

Do yourself a favour and stick to the better fluoro - Nitlon, Sunline FC, Yamatoyo, even Berkley FC, etc. Vanish would be the last in a list if I were to choose a fluoro leader.

There is nothing worse than losing a big fish due to a weak, poor quality leader.

Cheers,

I use Vanish and have had no problems with it, i use it 4,6,8 and 10lb.

I've found that 6lb is plenty to catch bream and whiting and 40-50cm flathead. I've landed a 75cm on 4lb fluro - just take your time and let the fish have its way...

M4tt · #7 05-12-2010, 12:14 AM

My opinion but Vanish is horrible stuff, get's abraded very easily, and break's under its stated strain. Get some of the stuff that Alex has suggested.

slick41st · #8 05-12-2010, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M4tt

My opinion but Vanish is horrible stuff, get's abraded very easily, and break's under its stated strain. Get some of the stuff that Alex has suggested.

I have had probs with vanish too, the first reel of 6lb i had was good, the next was rubbish and cost me a heap of fish in a comp - never again

Chamelion · #9 05-12-2010, 01:29 AM

I was using 12lb and 20lb vanish as leader material for a while until it became apparent that my 8lb FC rock was more capable than even the 20lb vanish. Abrasion is a real problem with the vanish, it just can't handle it.

I tend to use either 6lb or 8lb... Most of my recent 60+cm flatties have been taken on 6lb no worries.

The G factor · #10 05-12-2010, 02:47 AM

what do you mean the 8lb is more capable than the 20lb vanish? Ive used 8lb rock and its great stuff, as is v hard, but saying a line is more capable at those breaking strains, I dont get it. 20lb vanish is much more abrasion resistant to 8lb rock, and quite obviously heaps stronger. Ive used vanish from 6-20lb and didnt find too many problems with it initially. Overtime I found that it didnt hold up, so thats why I made the change.

But yeah, what do you mean by more capable?

Chamelion · #11 05-12-2010, 02:59 AM

Well, I've lost more fish via rub throughs using the 20lb vanish than I have the 8lb FC rock... Could be a fluke I guess? Breaking strain is another matter altogether...

Bit of a brain fart - I should clarify that the vanish I'm using is the 300yd spool, not the leader specific smaller spools. I assume that may make some level of difference. *slaps head*

AussieJosh1996 · #12 05-12-2010, 03:07 AM

I bought the 4lb leader and went for a fish this arvo. It went OK in terms of it holding up against flatty, but it didnt catch me a bream. I caught a butter bream on a TT Switchblade (vibe lure) and 3 flathead on a Squidgie Wriggler in blood worm colour (soft plastic). I did end up buying Vanish and after catching these 3 flatties I didn't have any abrasion damage to the leader.
So, what would be your go to lure for bream in terms of soft plastics?

Cheers Josh

forsterfisho · #13 05-12-2010, 03:19 AM

Wrigglers, squidgy bugs, 2inch gulp shrimp, 2 inch gulp jigging grubs.

What size jigheads do you use? generally you need jigheads as heavy as the ones you need for flathead - a very general statement.

Chamelion · #14 05-12-2010, 03:27 AM

Most of my bream have come on 100mm wrigglers.

AussieJosh1996 · #15 05-12-2010, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forsterfisho

Wrigglers, squidgy bugs, 2inch gulp shrimp, 2 inch gulp jigging grubs.

What size jigheads do you use? generally you need jigheads as heavy as the ones you need for flathead - a very general statement.

I was using one of those jig heads where the weight goes inside the lure (hidden weight system or something), it is also very light and not really what i'd use for flathead.