IFISH Experts call for advice Tough line vs Mono

[Capin' Dan]

Here is my opinion. Tough line is one of the greatest inventions ever. I think for sturgies, bottom fish and butts. BUT what about salmon and steelhead. Yes I like the smaller diameter, seems to hold up better and higher strengths.
I think that mono is better for salmonoids. the stretch is important because they are so fast when making thier runs even with good rods and reels with light drags I think the stretch is important. That is up until the point it is wrapped around your outdrive or you are hung up with ten other people in a hog line.
Keep fresh mono on your reels and you will have a more productive salmon season.
Remember: never fish tough line when your partners have mono it could be hazardous to your health [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] .
The stuff is like a razor blade running through the water.

[Kenia]

Dan
We have found out what happens to mono when it gets wrapped around tough line!! It frays and breaks off the fish!! Had fun fishing with You, We will do it again soon. Walleyes
will be post spawn next month.

[WaterDog]

This year I have switched to the spectra lines. I have both tuff line and power pro on my rods. Since 99% of my fishing is out of a boat I figured its is worth a try and I know a few guys the fish the braids exclusively. I like the small diameter, no memory and no uv deterioration. I'm tired of respooling my rods 2-3 times a year.

So far so good. Need to set the drag a little lighter for the hook ups otherwise it isnt much different IMO. I have brought a couple of springers to the boat and it seems I have more control during the fight. Only time will tell though.

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[fishuntr2]

Last tuesday I caught 2 salmon on braided line. Both fish were in the boat in a few minutes. The first fish didn't fight much, the second fish saw the net and twice ran for it. My rod was majorly bent and the drag was working,LOVE THAT SOUND ZZZzzzzzzz. When I finally brought the fish to the boat he was tired and was netted easily. I have yet to have a fish break off due to broken line. Last year was the same, the fish I caught were in the boat within minutes, unlike the folks we saw cutting loose and fighting their fish for 15 minutes to over 1/2 hour. NO Kidding. Maybe they were using light gear but didn't look like it. You are right that braided line might cut mono. I will continue to use power pro braided line, it is working for me.

[ 04-23-2001: Message edited by: fishuntr ]

[ryan fish]

My question is What is the life span of Tuff-Line.I've used it for a year now and like the way it handles fish.Hooked and landed many Salmon last fall on it with no trouble.

[wak'm&stak'm]

A person can never really appreciate the new small dia. lines (tuff, power pro, fireline....) until you hook them to a downrigger and send it 200 feet down. The low stretch is important here BUT there are only a couple releases that will hold it since it is so slick.
This is year 4 for some 100lb power pro that has been used and abused alot for sturgeon, halibut, and drug over reef after reef and I have yet to bust a fish off, I LIKE IT ALOT.

[MetalHead]

Well Dan I'll let you know after this week. I just spooled all of my reels with 35lb tuffline for the combat fishery at Wind River this week. I figured the best way to retain fish was to get them to the boat quick 35lb was the best way to do that and the small diameter (equivelent to 12lb. mono) should let my plugs run a little deeper with less line behind the boat. That and the fact that if I come in contact with another line while fighting a fish they will probibly loose a plug.

[Salmonator]

After using tuff plus for a few days on sturgeon up at hood river, I decided to stick with mono. You really have to know what you're doing with that stuff or you're gonna break a rod at the hookset or during a hot run close to the boat.
I agree about the people taking forever landing a fish after releasing from a hogline. We landed over a dozen fish this year on mono (actually, thinner co-filament) while at anchor and none ever took more than 5 minutes. The only times we broke loose was out of courtesy in a hogline or to keep the fish out of the crackers rope that anchored too close below us.
I do have 80lb tuff plus on my big-daddy rods, and it's great for fishing the deep water. Three years and it seems as strong as new... Joe

[ 04-23-2001: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

Run 50 lb tuff on everything now. Add
the buffer needed with appropropriate
size mono leaders. Can't beat it. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Coot22]

been using tuff plus 50# for years now and never had any problems. I use a longer leader then most people do and that is my shock absorber. I also use a light rod (Loomis 10-20 IMX Mag Medium. It has a lot of power in the butt yet a light tip. This helps to absorb the powerful runs that the salmon have. I love it for hogline fishing, bobber fishing and backbouncing. I can use lighter leads and long-line guys in hoglines. I always win when someone elses line wraps mine when I am fighting a fish, etc. I agree that mono has more stretch and can handle the power of a chinook better then a braid. However, when I use my lighter rod, keep a very loose drag, and use a long "shock" leader, I tend not to have any problems.

[Sanddune]

I have been using the tuff line for four years -still works great-use mono leader. Use 50# as the smaller diameter lines tend to dig in on the reel. My fishing has been on the bank both floats and drift. I have caught more fish since using it but boy does it wrap up on someone elses mono line- really twists together. I run a light drag and use my thumb. The line has allowed me to sometimes keep a fish from going where I don't want it and in crowded conditions let me get a fish in quicker.Just make sure you don't overpower your pole or oops! [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] I still have some reels with mono line and use them when appropriate-sometimes you need to go with the flow. You need to check the line like any line for nicks, frays and trim as needed. I have been very pleased with how it has worked for me.

[Bobberdown]

Well I have fished Tuffline, Power Pro, and Berkely Whiplash. Whiplash does not have the abbraision resistance it needs to hold up to the big brutes up at the Fishery. Broke too many off the first part of last year and decided to try Power Pro. 80 # Power Pro is smaller diameter than Tuff Line and you can stay down with lighter weight. Also it is round instead of flat. I like it much better than Tuff Line. It seems to have as much abbraision resistance also. 80 # Power Pro is about the same Diameter as 65 # Tuff. The dissadvantage is you cant see it as well as you can the Tuff line (the white). You just have to use what works for YOU! Good Luck!

[boater]

i only use tuff line for sturgeon fishing, anywhere in the salt i use 20 pound triline XT, it varys in small rivers from 8 to 20 pound test depending on what fish are in the river. i tried the small diamiter braided line pulling plugs and didnt like it, i feel personaly that with a larger diam. mono line that the water holds the line up more and allows me to get the plug further back from the boat before its digging in on the bottom and to me anyway i catch more fish this way.

[HarpMan]

TUFF line and the like should last many seasons, if you are worried about it wearin out, turn the stuff around and use the other end of the line by winding it onto another reel. For best results LOOSEN the drag around the boat, lift Firmly but Gently upon hookset, and use a mono bumper if your freaked about leader shyness or lack of stretch. Keep in mind when back trolling fish see the plug first. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[HOGTIDE]

I always keep 2 or 3 rods rigged with #50 tuff line for channel fishing when the upriver brights come in, 35 - 50 feet of water. It allows me to cut down on lead by about 33%, which is nice when you're dumping a 'pound' overboard for salmon. The stuff is unbreakable and does a nice job of telegraphing lure-action to your rodtip.

However, I prefer to use mono for salmon when possible. When trolling, I actually like a line with a bit 'more' water resistance, which allows the lure to trail further behind the boat. Fishing lighter lead with tuff-line does not give this same angle or feel. I also like to routinely check everyones drag pressure. Giving a pull on spectra lines often results in a sliced hand. Tuff knots aren't really tough, but they are an added pain when rigging several outfits. But most of all, my biggest complaint is the 'GUILT FACTOR'...those poor lil' ol' 18 pound springers, just don't have a sportin' chance, when a guy sticks it to 'em with some of that no-stretch fancy stuff! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[ 04-23-2001: Message edited by: HOGTIDE ]

[Killertraylor]

I fish 20 lb Maxima mono exclusively for salmon and sturgeon and toughline for deep ocean bottom fishing - halibut, lings, etc. I fish light salmon gear for sturgeon with Calcutta 400 reels in 2-15 ft. water and I broke two rods on hooksets about 4 years ago when I tried tuffline on sturgeon. I'm sure it works well on the "poolstick" sturgeon rods, but I won't use it on the lighter rods again. I've boated 20 springers this year on mono and not one has lasted more than 5 minutes. I've only broken a few fish off because 20 lb. mono wasn't enough - and both were sturgeon in the 8-9 ft. range. I've landed several oversize sturgeon on 20 lb. mono. and salmon rods - I don't target oversize sturgeon with this gear, but I seem to average one oversize a trip while fishing for keeper size sturgeon in the summer. If I were targeting oversize sturgeon I'd definitely use tough line - landing them faster is easier on the fish.

[Salmonator]

Yes mono leaders would help. With 80lb tuff line and 70lb dacron leaders, setting the hook on a sturgeon in 45 feet of water feels like setting a hook into a rock that is 5 feet from the boat with mono. After I heard glue cracks in the grip sections of two of my loomis's on hooksets I gave it up. Which brings up another question. Can a person expect a manufacturer to honor a warranty on a 12 to 25 rated rod if he's using 35lb and up superbraid? I think this might be where the loomis no-questions asked expedite system really shines... Joe

[ 04-23-2001: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

[Jim]

Power Pro all the way for everything...no questions it is awesome. Feel everthing and absolutely no problem losing fish, just have to teach my clients that a hook set is just a flick of the wrist!

10lb for steelies
20lb for Salmon
50lb for keeper sturg
100lb for oversized sturg

Jim