On May 2, 7:55*am, Vic Smith wrote:
On Sat, 2 May 2009 07:28:45 -0700 (PDT), CoachPotato

wrote:

I prefer mono over metal leaders mainly because of the kinks. And I
can easily make my own leaders with mono (80#) where I can't so easily
(and cheaply) with metal.

I thought a couple times about getting a crimping kit and materials to
make up my own metal leaders, but it's so easy buying what I need off
the rack I never did. *If I ever get to where I can fish more I still
might do it. *

At least I did have the pleasure of fighting that big ol' sturgeon
clear to the net - and would likely have had to release it anyway as
it may well have been over 66". That's my story and I'm sticking to
it... ;-)

Maybe you should rethink that. *From your telling of it I estimated
that fish at a minimum 6'. *That's 72."

--Vic

I'm pretty certain that it wasn't a six footer - by visual estimate.
I've caught several six-footers and there is a huge difference in
weight between about 65 incher and a 72 incher. Those over 72" that
I've caught were all females and very big girths - and over a hundred
pounds. The 65 inchers are also often females, but sometimes a male.
This one was slender enough that I think it was a male. Can't really
sex 'em for certain, but the males are generally stronger for their
size and sometimes put up much longer fights.

This 65 inch male back in '04 was about the best fighter I've ever
gotten to the boat: http://fishwisher.spaces.live.com/bl...1394!198.entry

Dale