mono or braid for your Tuna reels?

TH · 07-15-2007, 02:55 PM

putting together a couple new tuna rods/reels
been running braid but as I was looking/talking to a bunch of people at the dock last weekend I saw the majority of guns running mono

any feedback from you pros?
Mono what pound?
Braid?

what is your preference?

What rods are you guys running?

Grady252 · 07-15-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TH Rods

putting together a couple new tuna rods/reels
been running braid but as I was looking/talking to a bunch of people at the dock last weekend I saw the majority of guns running mono

any feedback from you pros?
Mono what pound?
Braid?

what is your preference?

What rods are you guys running?

I use braid 65lb.......... I have room for a top shot because it is the same gear I use on the long range trip. I do not run a top shot, on the long range boat the trend is going with braid and very short top shot.... Easier for the live bait to tow braid and short top shot...

I have been a fan of braid for 15+ years, so that is my preference....

StickFish · 07-15-2007, 04:05 PM

For trolling I use a braid main line either 65# of 80#. I really like Izorline, but in a pinch will use Power Pro or Tuff XP. If it was more affordable I'd use Jerry Brown Hollow for the main line.

I use a loop to loop top shot connection. Currently I use about 10' of Berkeley Hollow 80# with a spliced loop on one end and a 5' Chinese Finger cuff on the other for the 50# Izorline blue mono. I serve the mono to hollow joint with between 60 and 80 half hitches and some spectra glue. Top shots for my tuna reels use 100' of mono.

The troll setups seem to be working on The Dance Floor so far this year - only failures have been from crossed lines and a fish under the hull. One trip out on BOE's boat and we had to retire one rod at the end of the day when the mono started to fray - Captain America on the purple rod and plumbing parts what a day.

Live bait - all mono - don't know anything about that subject yet

HOGGEMIN · 07-15-2007, 04:18 PM

I run 80 lb Izor spectra but am going to switch to Jerry Brown Hollow spectra. The Jerry Brown hollow allows a easier connection on my mono top shots. The hollow allows for a easier to make loop on my loop to loop connection. I can make a chinese finger loop easier than tying a Bimini loop. which I prefer to use on my spectra to mono connection. the loop to loop allows me to be able to change the top shots if needed on the boat with out tying a couple of knots I just carry some pre made top-shots of various lbs and lengths. This gives me the ability use my reels for both Tuna and Halibut with out wasting top-shots. I like a very short Mono top shot for halibut of 10 feet, while for tuna run 100' for the various boats I fish on. If I had my own offshore boat I would run various lengths to form my lure spread in the form of a W.

I hope this is not confusing to you.

HOGGEMIN · 07-15-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickFish

For trolling I use a braid main line either 65# of 80#. I really like Izorline, but in a pinch will use Power Pro or Tuff XP. If it was more affordable I'd use Jerry Brown Hollow for the main line.

I use a loop to loop top shot connection. Currently I use about 10' of Berkeley Hollow 80# with a spliced loop on one end and a 5' Chinese Finger cuff on the other for the 50# Izorline blue mono. I serve the mono to hollow joint with between 60 and 80 half hitches and some spectra glue. Top shots for my tuna reels use 100' of mono.

The troll setups seem to be working on The Dance Floor so far this year - only failures have been from crossed lines and a fish under the hull. One trip out on BOE's boat and we had to retire one rod at the end of the day when the mono started to fray - Captain America on the purple rod and plumbing parts what a day.

Live bait - all mono - don't know anything about that subject yet

Ted all mono is great but spectra is easer for you bait to drag through the water if you have to long soak your baits. Think about your bait size, up here our sardines are kinda small. It's easer for the bait to drag the spectra than mono. This does not mean straight mono, but to also use a mono top shot. Jerry Brown makes hollow spectra in 60lb and 40lb

wdlfbio · 07-15-2007, 07:42 PM

I run 25-40# mono. My casting and bait reels have 25-30# and my trolling gear is 40# with 80# leader. The heavier leader is simply in case we want to lift them in the boat rather than gaf them. I like the mono because it is much easier to cut if there's a problem. I'm not a fan of heavier lines because it's too easy to get in the mindset of just yarding fish in instead of fighting them. Nothing wrong with the heavier stuff, as most of our fish aren't leader shy. I just like more of the fight and finess needed with light line. Besides, we're only talking 15-30# fish. It's not like a 85# bluefin is going to show up. Sure would be a hoot though

StickFish · 07-15-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOGGEMIN

Ted all mono is great but spectra is easer for you bait to drag through the water if you have to long soak your baits. Think about your bait size, up here our sardines are kinda small. It's easer for the bait to drag the spectra than mono. This does not mean straight mono, but to also use a mono top shot. Jerry Brown makes hollow spectra in 60lb and 40lb

We talked on the phone about this and I'm sort of thinking more along the lines of that - braid main for live bait - loop connection and a bunch of different weight tops for different type of problems - makes sense. Guess I better order 50 more leader spools

20# Mono
25# Mono
30# Mono
40# Mono
Repeat with florocarbon
Repeat those eight for 3 rods OK so I don't need 50, but you get the idea

Trick question of the day is how long of a top for up here and just what is the visual acuity of the abli?

Hunt'nFish · 07-16-2007, 07:33 AM

Am I talking to Terry? This is Mike, Ken Knifong's Bro. I think you bumped into him down Gold Beach way and set him up with some fine bass rods.

My TUNA troll rods pull double duty as shallow water halibut rods. So I run Penn 321's w 300yd 80lb Stren Super Braid. Works ok for both but have found the braid can twist up pretty bad pulling clones and jets. Bead chains & good ball bearing swivels can help but still I have to cut the line and peel it off behind the boat to let it unwind itself.

Deticated TUNA troll rods would pull better w/ 30-40 mono but I like the capacity and strength braid brings to the table. On hook up I don't have to worry about line capacity, I can let it peel drag until we have multiple hook ups before stopping the boat to fight fish. With mono you'd better have a big reel if you run mono.

many folks give me a hard time about my 321's, ....small, level wind and all, but I make do. Oh well, never did conform to rules well. Just understand that twist is an issue and deal with it or go mono if $$ for big reels is no issue.
Good luck this season.
Hunt'nFish

PS: for TUNA casters I run Quantum 1421's w/ 50lb braid with 75yd 20lb P-Line copolymer topshot, I toss them on a 7'9" 50lb Buzz Ramsey. Works but needs a slightly stiffer tip. But oh boy can they toss a swimbait a country mile.

Dan9113 · 07-16-2007, 07:54 AM

I run 80# hivis spectra on my troll rods. No topshots.

For my casting rods I use 50# green spectra with about a 4-5' leader. Haven't really noticed that our albis are all that leader shy.

Dan

Chesapeake · 07-16-2007, 09:21 AM

We run 65 or 80# braid main with about 100 feet of mono for a topshot. We run 50 or 60# mono for the top shot.

I connect the mono to the braid with an Albright or maybe its an Improved Albright.

Never yet had a fish break off (knock on wood).

I like the fancy bimmini twists, wind on loops, ect.... but for a weekend warrior like myself its just to much time and hasle and not at all needed for our class of tuna.

My clones for the rods are all rigged with 80# mono and the gear for the handlines is rigged on 150# mono. Most everything is tied with a Perfection Loop.

Again I like all the fancy crimps and chafe springs ect...... but its not at all needed for our tuna and too much time and expense.

I like the K.I.S.S. method for tuna.

I bring out on the boat a spool of 50# mono for topshot replacement, 80# mono for leader, 150# mono for leader, several extra doubles, and some swivels and such. With this I can re-rig the entire boat in short order if needed.