top shot line choices ?

[havnfun2]

picked up acouple of Penn 550ss for throwing to the tuna. have not yet decided if i will just spool up with 200yds of 20lb mono or a braid line. with either what flavor of fluro should i use of a top shot?

[Killertraylor]

I like 50 lb. Big Game.

[HOGGEMIN]

For Floro go with Seaguar or Blackwater.

[Booja 1]

Originally Posted by HOGGEMIN

For Floro go with Seaguar or Blackwater.

Blackwater huh Mike?

It's your call but fluoro is not really necessary for Albies.

[Rooster1264]

Sorry guy's for this but........At least in saltwater, flouro is for people that don't know how to fish.

I know I know...bash away...........Just don't get banned!!!!

Never used it and never will. Just another gimmick to make money off of lazy fisherman. It's a science thing. Just about every long range boat I've been on the captains had a field day laughing about using it.

Now the disclaimer.........It does help the underachievers to catch more fish........But i figure it this way. If you are going to do something meaningfull, approach it full speed. No lolly gagging......Learn to fish!!!!

OK ......Just got done painting the bullseye on my back.....Have at it if you must...:lurk::lurk::lurk::lurk::lurk:

[StickFish]

I looked at the blackwater spectra and I go to say they are pretty proud of that stuff. Slight hijack, but I hope they are little more reasonable with the other blackwater stuff.

[WP]

For summer steelies, I would use flouro...but that is about it. Thried it for salt water and found it more problem then helpful (harder to handle and tie and usually an extra knot) plus it is expensive. Not sure if I know how to fish but I did stop using fluro for most fish
Dave

[Pau Hana]

Originally Posted by Rooster1264

Sorry guy's for this but........At least in saltwater, flouro is for people that don't know how to fish.

I know I know...bash away...........Just don't get banned!!!!

Never used it and never will. Just another gimmick to make money off of lazy fisherman. It's a science thing. Just about every long range boat I've been on the captains had a field day laughing about using it.

Now the disclaimer.........It does help the underachievers to catch more fish........But i figure it this way. If you are going to do something meaningfull, approach it full speed. No lolly gagging......Learn to fish!!!!

OK ......Just got done painting the bullseye on my back.....Have at it if you must...:lurk::lurk::lurk::lurk::lurk:

Then you've never been on a hot BFT bite when they were skittish.....

You're right- it is a science thing- it's harder to see FC than mono, per sources much more educated than you or I. I like the stuff, as I've had great success with it.

[Rooster1264]

Originally Posted by Pau Hana

Then you've never been on a hot BFT bite when they were skittish.....

You're right- it is a science thing- it's harder to see FC than mono, per sources much more educated than you or I. I like the stuff, as I've had great success with it.

Yes I have. And no i did not use it. And, they were not big fish but I think when it was all said and done for the trip it totaled out something 27 for 41 4 of those were hand offs and the next closest guy to me had 15....

[Rooster1264]

Let me throw this out there before people get all upset. And NO this does not make me better than anyone else.

I grew up down there and started when I was 8. Move up from the 1/2 and 3/4 day stuff when i was 10. Started pinheading at 12 deckhand at 13 at Redondo. Then moved up to 22nd St and the Freedom then Port's O Call and the Ocean Quest all totaled, 6 years as a deckhand and then the long stuff.

So it is to say I have a lot of years experience.

This is where flouro comes in.....It helps the less experienced. And there is nothing wrong with people using every advantage as they can!!! If they need it.

[Mypursuit]

Ok, so I am (ahem) one of the less experienced when it comes to TUNA. I am about to lay out some more money to begin rigging some daisy chains and a coupla of rods to cast with. I recently had a spool of flouro in my hand and didn't buy it. I'd really be interested in knowing more about the basics of what you are talking about....thanks

[okie man]

i guess some people just don't realize that there is a whole group of anglers out there that learned to fish long before floro, ringed hooks ,spectra and super small reels that put out incredible amounts of drag and we managed to catch all the same species that the "NEW EXPERTS" say you have too have all this stuff to catch them. B.S. i say.95% of the tuna fishing you do in the pnw is trolling. live bait fishing is not something most of you even know about let alone do you need to worry about floro leaders and all the other crap to go along with it. you want to know what you need to catch albacore, a rod and reel that will handle 15-40# line, a few trolling lures in a few colors (black /purple, blue/white, green/yellow red/white)a hand full of #6-1/0 live bait hooks and some swim baits if you want. thats it. fishing line, ande,biggame, izor,pline. pick one ,they all work. i hate to tell you but if you just buy what you "need" and nothing more you can save enough money too fish more often without the old lady chewing on your butts about the money you spend.

[sarmstrong]

Originally Posted by havnfun2

picked up acouple of Penn 550ss for throwing to the tuna. have not yet decided if i will just spool up with 200yds of 20lb mono or a braid line. with either what flavor of fluro should i use of a top shot?

last year ran allrods with sufix 50 lb never broke off once.did break a rod though.Ithink I will run 60 lb this year and hope for a bigeye or two

[Rooster1264]

Originally Posted by okie man

i guess some people just don't realize that there is a whole group of anglers out there that learned to fish long before floro, ringed hooks ,spectra and super small reels that put out incredible amounts of drag and we managed to catch all the same species that the "NEW EXPERTS" say you have too have all this stuff to catch them. B.S. i say.95% of the tuna fishing you do in the pnw is trolling. live bait fishing is not something most of you even know about let alone do you need to worry about floro leaders and all the other crap to go along with it. you want to know what you need to catch albacore, a rod and reel that will handle 15-40# line, a few trolling lures in a few colors (black /purple, blue/white, green/yellow red/white)a hand full of #6-1/0 live bait hooks and some swim baits if you want. thats it. fishing line, ande,biggame, izor,pline. pick one ,they all work. i hate to tell you but if you just buy what you "need" and nothing more you can save enough money too fish more often without the old lady chewing on your butts about the money you spend.

Very well said!!! Even from a guy from Arkansas.

[Rooster1264]

Originally Posted by okie man

i guess some people just don't realize that there is a whole group of anglers out there that learned to fish long before floro, ringed hooks ,spectra and super small reels that put out incredible amounts of drag and we managed to catch all the same species that the "NEW EXPERTS" say you have too have all this stuff to catch them. B.S. i say.95% of the tuna fishing you do in the pnw is trolling. live bait fishing is not something most of you even know about let alone do you need to worry about floro leaders and all the other crap to go along with it. you want to know what you need to catch albacore, a rod and reel that will handle 15-40# line, a few trolling lures in a few colors (black /purple, blue/white, green/yellow red/white)a hand full of #6-1/0 live bait hooks and some swim baits if you want. thats it. fishing line, ande,biggame, izor,pline. pick one ,they all work. i hate to tell you but if you just buy what you "need" and nothing more you can save enough money too fish more often without the old lady chewing on your butts about the money you spend.

OLD SKOOL ROCKS!!!!!

[Pau Hana]

Used to pinhead out of Arts and Newport landings (WAY back in the day), then graduated to summer deckhand. Got just a few years under my belt, too....

Agree that the old school works just fine, and the new tech is exactly that- new tech. Still don't agree that fluoro is a crutch for the inexperienced - it's a great tool in the toolbox.

[Paddler]

So, you're saying that 6/0 Senators filled with 50# Big Game are okay? They seem to work pretty well. I'd just use straight 20# mono on those 550SS's.

[Rooster1264]

Originally Posted by Pau Hana

Used to pinhead out of Arts and Newport landings (WAY back in the day), then graduated to summer deckhand. Got just a few years under my belt, too....

Agree that the old school works just fine, and the new tech is exactly that- new tech. Still don't agree that fluoro is a crutch for the inexperienced - it's a great tool in the toolbox.

How old are U???

[Pau Hana]

Ancient going on fossilized....45 years this year and you?

[Cornfed]

Originally Posted by okie man

i guess some people just don't realize that there is a whole group of anglers out there that learned to fish long before floro, ringed hooks ,spectra and super small reels that put out incredible amounts of drag and we managed to catch all the same species that the "NEW EXPERTS" say you have too have all this stuff to catch them. B.S. i say.95% of the tuna fishing you do in the pnw is trolling. live bait fishing is not something most of you even know about let alone do you need to worry about floro leaders and all the other crap to go along with it. you want to know what you need to catch albacore, a rod and reel that will handle 15-40# line, a few trolling lures in a few colors (black /purple, blue/white, green/yellow red/white)a hand full of #6-1/0 live bait hooks and some swim baits if you want. thats it. fishing line, ande,biggame, izor,pline. pick one ,they all work. i hate to tell you but if you just buy what you "need" and nothing more you can save enough money too fish more often without the old lady chewing on your butts about the money you spend.

How's that Arkansas run of BFT's treatin you? Is it time to come back to the PNW yet?

[Rooster1264]

Originally Posted by Pau Hana

Ancient going on fossilized....45 years this year and you?

My god in heaven!!! I can't believe your still alive!!!!!

Just kidding.

You being a DH down there at the same time, I have to wonder if we might know each other.

Unfortunatly I never spent any time at those landings, but it is safe to say almost all the great fisherman of that era came from the South Bay area. And no i don't mean the San diego south bay. The Santa Monica bay area.

Oh BTW I'm 43. Looks like we will both be sharing some dirt soon...lol

[Cornfed]

Originally Posted by Rooster1264

Let me throw this out there before people get all upset. And NO this does not make me better than anyone else.

I grew up down there and started when I was 8. Move up from the 1/2 and 3/4 day stuff when i was 10. Started pinheading at 12 deckhand at 13 at Redondo. Then moved up to 22nd St and the Freedom then Port's O Call and the Ocean Quest all totaled, 6 years as a deckhand and then the long stuff.

So it is to say I have a lot of years experience.

This is where flouro comes in.....It helps the less experienced. And there is nothing wrong with people using every advantage as they can!!! If they need it.

So you're saying fluoro works then, huh roosta? So I think the real question is what is the difference between an experienced fisherman pitching a live bait and an inexperienced fisherman pitching a live bait? If you're experienced...the fish just doesn't see that mono?

[Rooster1264]

Originally Posted by Cornfed

How's that Arkansas run of BFT's treatin you? Is it time to come back to the PNW yet?

Cornfed, what in the Hell are you doing???? Don't invite him back here. He's been exposed to that Hillbilly disease!!!! He can never come back.

Plus his wife won't let him. She's the one that wears the pants in that house!!!!

BTW They are not BFT. They are Blue Fin Carp!!!!

[Pau Hana]

Originally Posted by Rooster1264

My god in heaven!!! I can't believe your still alive!!!!!

Just kidding.

You being a DH down there at the same time, I have to wonder if we might know each other.

Unfortunatly I never spent any time at those landings, but it is safe to say almost all the great fisherman of that era came from the South Bay area. And no i don't mean the San diego south bay. The Santa Monica bay area.

Oh BTW I'm 43. Looks like we will both be sharing some dirt soon...lol

Small world, eh?

[flapbreaker]

Originally Posted by Mypursuit

Ok, so I am (ahem) one of the less experienced when it comes to TUNA. I am about to lay out some more money to begin rigging some daisy chains and a coupla of rods to cast with. I recently had a spool of flouro in my hand and didn't buy it. I'd really be interested in knowing more about the basics of what you are talking about....thanks

They are talking about setting up for casting to TUNA. If your new to TUNA I wouldn't put a lot of money into the casting side of the fishery and instead focus on the trolling side since that's where most of your TUNA will come from initially. Nothing wrong with having a couple casting rods to throw at them after a hook up from the troll, it's just in my short experience figuring out the casting game seems more challenging. I do want to feel one hit a lighter weight rod though.

Here's some threads on TUNA techniques.

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=125197

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthrea...hlight=rigging

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthrea...hlight=rigging

http://www.ifish.net/board/showthrea...hlight=rigging

[havnfun2]

thnaks for the info guys

[5 Salt]

-20-25lb test if you are going to be tossing swim or live baits.
-50lb for trolling - Berkley big game has worked well and is very nicely priced.

Good quality mono will get it done proper and is easy on the wallet when you need to refresh - one of the reasons for a of topshot, among others. Fluoro for Tuna is overkill....bubble trails and fast reel in get them all day long when casting. Boat Stelth, not line stealth will net you more casting tuna...(read here: fish away from crowds, cut engine and drift in last 100yrds, turn off sounder, avoid banging stuff off the deck, aquire reels than can and learn to cast a mile, maybe let you swim bait drop an extra 15-30secs on your second cast, maybe pitch a crippled herring jig every so often...)

Trolling Flouro? Big waste of money! Save your money for reels with better quality drags if you want to go hi-tech on Tuna. Fluoro for Kokes, Salmon, Steelhead....absolutely, but never tuna.

I like Ande 20lb or 25lb Mono. It comes in big-to-huge spools and at a fair price. Casts nicely, good knot strength and lasts a good while.

[fishbait]

There was only one time last year, later in the year where I felt a Flourocarbin leader was an advantage.

Over a 2 hour stop, 5 rods casting basically the same fishtraps. The 2 rods with floro seemed to get bit a little more often. 1 of these rods was in the hands of a very good fisherman and one was a rookie.

I switched to a 3 ft floro leader after an hour or so and I do think it might have helped. Running 20 lb & 25 lb big game clear and 20 lb Seaguar.

Definately don't need it for the troll. Not absolutely sure you need it for casting either.

Peace

[okie man]

Originally Posted by Pau Hana

Small world, eh?

dude, small world, me and a bunch of our friends used to con my mon into takeing us down to arts landing everyday in the summer in the late 70's early 80's. we'd fish both halfday's and the twilight till we were froggie enough to do over nighters . remember when the seaspray was the 1/2 day ride for a summer.

[okie man]

one thing to remember when fishing lures after a trolling stop is to fish them the same way as the trolling lures. meaning don't throw out a swim bait let it sink a little and reel slow. throw it out and rip it back. those that have live bait experience know the faster a bait swims away the better .

[Rooster1264]

Originally Posted by okie man

one thing to remember when fishing lures after a trolling stop is to fish them the same way as the trolling lures. meaning don't throw out a swim bait let it sink a little and reel slow. throw it out and rip it back. those that have live bait experience know the faster a bait swims away the better .

Damn your old!!!!

[Hanapa'a Time]

Originally Posted by Rooster1264

Cornfed, what in the Hell are you doing???? Don't invite him back here. He's been exposed to that Hillbilly disease!!!! He can never come back.

Plus his wife won't let him. She's the one that wears the pants in that house!!!!

BTW They are not BFT. They are Blue Fin Carp!!!!

Besides you said he talked funny

Flouro, haven't needed it for albies, trolling, throwing traps, iron or live bait. I will have some for our 5 dayer on the AA, just in case I need the to get bit.

[Rooster1264]

Originally Posted by Hanapa'a Time

Besides you said he talked funny

Flouro, haven't needed it for albies, trolling, throwing traps, iron or live bait. I will have some for our 5 dayer on the AA, just in case I need the to get bit.

Don't worry young grasshopper, we shall teach you.

And if you don't get it right, we shall throw you off the boat

[Hanapa'a Time]

Originally Posted by Rooster1264

Don't worry young grasshopper, we shall teach you.

And if you don't get it right, we shall throw you off the boat

Dang, that means I might have to pay attention........"Yes, Mr Paterson"

[Booja 1]

Originally Posted by okie man

dude, small world, me and a bunch of our friends used to con my mon into takeing us down to arts landing everyday in the summer in the late 70's early 80's. we'd fish both halfday's and the twilight till we were froggie enough to do over nighters . remember when the seaspray was the 1/2 day ride for a summer.

Were you guys pinheading or deadheading then or both? What did you do w/ all the barries n sand bass,,,sold em to pay Mom for the taxi service?

Kurt,,,,,,you guys going on the same 5-day? Don't let da Haole's show you up now.

[Tinman]

Pau Hana

OMG I can't believe you went out of Art's Landing. That was my favorite landing when I was a kid. Remember the old Bonanza? That thing had the highest sides and was miserable to fish from. I can't remember the name of their 3/4 day boat...was it the Frontier? The Channel Isle was a good boat. Do you remember an old guy called "The Colonel"? He was a retired guy in a wheelchair, but he was a magician on big sand and calico bass. He usually took the jackpot on a brownbait. The crew would get him baits which he kept in a coffee can next to his wheelchair.

It was very sad when Art's finally went under. I remember their boats all but sinking at their moorings, covered in gull guano.

I liked Art's better than Davey's locker. Davey's seemed to have a bit of an attitude.

Regarding the flourocarbon debate, I must admit I have never tried it. But for flylining live bait, I think that the diameter of the line is much more important than the visibility. The point of course is to minimize line drag for the bait. I think straight 12 or 15 pound mono will outfish any 25# line with a fluoro leader.

[okie man]

i believe one sunk to the rail at the dock. i was on the channel isl's when they hooked a marlin on the way back from san clemente and every one got a chance to fight it.

[retaliate]

I don't use Top shot, cause it's not a good Idea to have a Knot catch on the levelwind while fighting a Fish, don't use Floro either, haven't needed it...yet, been using straight Spectra Braid, cause I use the Same Reels for Tuna as for Deep Water Halibut, & Mono is too Stretchy for Deep Water use, probably ok for Top Water Tuna tho.