When to re-tie (or replace) your crawler harnesses?

[Gritty]

My brother and I were discussing how long to go before re-tying crawler harnesses (or buying new ones). Pros seem to use new harnesses each tourny, which makes sense for them because of what's on the line.

But I'm curious what the rest of us do. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Gritty

[Steve B]

I run the area of line where the clevis spins through my fingers. If it feels rough or worn, I re-tie the rig.

I tie my harnesses with 20# Seagaur floro. I've used the same 'hot' spinner for days in a row, with many fish caught, and never had the line fail.

I use the stirrup clevises.

[whitetips(unlogged)]

Since my weakness on the tour was big water harness fishing I pretty much have devoted alot of time and effort into improving all aspects of harnesses. One thing for sure is when you really get into it you will have your favorite bead colors tied by the hundreds before the first trip.Pro or Am so difference. Now, since the Pro fishing is over for me I still prepare my fishing ahead of time and tie 90% of my harnesses with a 3 No. 2 Gama red hooks spaced about 3-4 in apart( my fist size), and 17# Fluorocarbon about 6-7 ft. I have pool toys from fleet farm that I wrap on. I learned this from a good Pro many years ago. Heading to Erie with 2 (10-12) rig foam tubes of each color i plan to use,plus all the components in case I need ti tie more of a certain color. I will there for almost 2 weeks, Between sharp teeth, gill plates and netting fish I will probably use them all. Once a hook breaks off, I switch, one niche and I switch. You never know when that 15 lber is going to bite, you want to be ready. Besides that with my passenger we are able to go 4 at a time. I will say hooks and clevis are not cheap I have container I throw all the discards into and reuse all hooks, beads and components on new rigs. just 28 more days to go. GLuck and tie up rigs when time allows. Good fishing is being prepared for all conditions that arise.

[silver shad unlogged]

You can fit three 13"foam tubes in a deep plano stowaway

[Keith207]

One day in the water and they are retied.

[whitetips(unlogged)]

I actually use a custom made B & B it will hold all weights components and tubes and 12-14 tubes. But went to fleet and noticed a new plano storage box that is about 6-8 deep with 16x16 approx, no dividers. Just imagine how many would go into that one. For bulk storage all rigs, looks like a good one.

[whitetips(logged)]

Hows the fishing?

[Klaas Act - Rich Ziert]

all the hoopla here seems to be centered on the rub, when that's only half the answer when thinking about the whole rig or the business end of the line.

When you are running blades and you beagle for your effort, change the rig every day - MAYBE EVERY 2-4 HOURS DEPENDING ON HOW LONG "YOUR DAY" IS. When fish hit regularly it's hard to remember maintenance in the heat of battle. Also, when bouncing/snagging bottom or whatever, change them as you "feel" important. It's a matter of discipline. . . of which I have little at times.

Rich

[went522]

I don't think I replaced but 4-5 harnesses total last year. Most of them that needed replacing lost the back hook due to wear from teeth. This is on 4 rods that were used 3-4 days a week and caught a PILE of fish. Those harnesses will go a long time. Can't say I've ever worn through the line by the clevis and I pull alot of spinners, the fact that I use the quick change plastic clevis may help line wear.

Last season had you seen my harness half way through the year, you'd cringe! That thing kept catching fish, not little ones either. I finally replaced it when the back hook broke off.

I don't recall losing more than one or two fish in the last 5 years due to a broken harness...and they get USED!

New season, I just threw away 3 or 4 harnesses that were nicked up real bad, a new one will be thrown on, it'll probaby make half the season and a hundred 5-8 lb. eyes.

BIRDDOG

[jet man unlogged]

Birddog
what you using for line?

[REW]

I try to make a point to replace or retie the harness before it breaks.

Use your own judgement. All that you have to do, is to run your fingers, or lips along the line, checking for nicks. If there are nicks in the line - change the harness.

Depending on conditions, this could very well mean changing a harness every time that you catch a fish. Or, it could be as seldom as every couple of years.

No line deterioration, and no nicks - no need to change the rigs.

If the line is deteroriating and losing strength, and or if it is getting nicked - change it.

Take care
REW

[REW]

P.S.
When jig fishing - depending on the size fish being caught - I will sometimes retie the jig after every fish caught. It seems that on even small fish, they can nick the line, and or the line can get nicked during the release.

With the use of a palamor knot, it is only about a 10 second deal to retie.
If I catch a nice sized fish - I will almost always retie.

If I catch a northern on mono, on a jig - I will retie - every time. It is virtually certain, that there will be nicks in your line after catching a northern.

Take care
REW

[went522]

Not sure which line it is, guess, 12lb mono??...I buy the pretied ones at cabelas. Yellow package, quick change clevis. Honestly, the line looks knicked up, is knicked up, kinked. It always seems the knicks are between the last 2 hooks, in my case, the vast majority of fish caught are on the top 2 hooks. If some guys are changing them out if they get knicked...ONE fish will knick them up. I run them till they break, they'll go a LONG time before breaking. The fact I use power pro for my main line with my drag set very loose probably helps prolong the life of my harness's. I also don't crank them in at mach 1.

If I were fishing for money, surely they'd be changed out at the first sign of wear. In my case, I'm there for fun, if I lose a fish, so be it, just means it was HUGE, state record for sure!! They just havn't been breaking on me and I've lost very few fish due to broken line. They look terrible but keep producing.

BIRDDOG

[BGunn]

REW,

>I try to make a point to replace or retie the harness before
>it breaks.

LOL,
That statement reminds me of something a co-worker once told me.
I was making out a list of material we needed to complete a piping job, and I was using a mechanical pencil. It must have had a bad piece of lead, and almost every other word I would write, the lead would snap. I was getting more than a little aggravated.

My partner then said "Ya know how to stop that from happening?"
I said (aggravated) "How"
He said "Just before it's going to break.... let up"
After a good laugh, it was back to work :)



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"No matter where you go in life.......There you are!"

" Knot Workin' " on Ch 68

[JerryA]

One thing to watch for is that you don't pinch the line with a pliers when you remove the harness from a fish's mouth. It's easy to grab the line with the shank of the first hook. This will crimp the line and cause it to break. Other than that we just feel for bad nicks from teeth or zebras. Doesn't hurt to retie your bottom bouncers a couple of times a day either.