tuff line vs mono

RJ · 12-01-2002, 04:51 PM

ok,wak and I were discussing whether or not it would be worth running mono for our mainline instead of tuff/powerpro for tuna next year,any thoughts pro's & con's.RJ

puffins crew · 12-01-2002, 05:08 PM

I was just talking to Puffin this afternoon about this very subject. I was thinking about rigging one of my tuna reels with 50lb mono. Big Jon's reply was, "20% stretch in the main line means 20% more reeling. Not for me"

The puker boats use heavy mono, and not very much of it per reel, maybe 150 yards at best. But it is like 80lb test.

I just do not see any advantage to using mono.

Just my .02cts worth.

Peace, Tom

RJ · 12-01-2002, 05:29 PM

I agree Tom ,I cant see the advantage but I do know one commercial tuna fisherman that swears by the floura carbon type line swearing he will boat more fish because of line /leader spooking > I have a hard time buying into it after our first trip last year we boated 40 and lost 0 all told I like the advantage of more line capacity and no stretch but if there is something to it I am keeping a open mind,lets hear some more opinions.whats your mainline?
RJ.>3 rods 8olb tuff
1 rod 130lb tuff I dont believe in overkill and that Thang that took Bill will someday pay :grin:

[ 12-01-2002, 06:39 PM: Message edited by: RJ ]

Orca · 12-01-2002, 07:17 PM

According to charkbait.com in CA, halibut and long-distance fishing in CA/Baja is done using spectra (PowerPro, Tuff, etc.) with a mono topshot.

You spool up with spectra, finish with a bimini twist, then add about 100 - 150 ft. of mono using an albright. The mono is lighter weight than the spectra, like 70 lb mono on the end of 80 lb spectra.

Advantages:

1) When you get hung up, you will likely break the mono rather than the spectra.

2) When the mono gets nicked/cut, you can cut if back until the 100 ft is gone, then add a new topshot. The main spectra is claimed to last 5+ years with the topshot taking all the abuse.

3) When nicked (like dragging over rocks on the bottom or encountering sharp teeth) the mono retains more strength vs. the spectra.

4) You can use a low-vis/invisible fluorocarbon leader if you are so inclined.

5) You can tie and use more conventional knots for your terminal tackle since you are using mono.

Disadvantages:

1) The spectra-to-mono knot may hang in your eyes and may wear out before the rest of the mono.

2) When you go into Harry'sTackle in Newport to buy mono and tell them what you are doing, they look at you like you are a moron.

My experience:

Worked great for halibut. I always broke off in the mono (usually at the terminal knot) rather than somewhere in the middle of the spectra as has happened in the past. This alone saved me a bunch of money on buying new spectra.

You can decide if any of this is an advantage to tuna fishing. I would think that abrasion advantage and not having to buy more spectra for a bunch of years would be good things.

[ 12-02-2002, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: Orca ]

12-01-2002, 07:51 PM

I put 10' of mono at the end of the Power Pro on my steelhead reels. I thought about puting 50' on my tuna gear.

Deepslayer · 12-01-2002, 08:22 PM

Personally 10' of fluorocarbon at the end of the tuff line makes the leader to lure invisible! Works great when they are leader shy. The rest of the time 200# mono leader keeps the teeth marks to a minimum.

Threemuch · 12-02-2002, 01:10 PM

Mono has a big advantage, in that when you get one of those nasty twisty tangles, you might be able to salvage it. And if you can't, the cost of the lost line is way lower than spectra.

Never messed with mono topshot. Hard to trust a mono/spectra knot.
KB

wak'm&stak'm · 12-02-2002, 04:57 PM

RJ.....nice to see you back on the board...
I am still mad because you ate Thanksgiving dinner without me........

I am ordering a couple more reels....still on sure of the line to use...Hmmmm????

12-02-2002, 06:33 PM

Wak,
What kind of reels?

RJ · 12-02-2002, 06:49 PM

i think I'd load them up with 100lb power pro and be done with it wak, will save the mono for the light rods with the fishtraps.The bimini twist is a thought though but with any longer leader than what we ran last year 5 to 7ft its a handline show

12-03-2002, 12:12 PM

I haven't had a double uni knot break yet.

wak'm&stak'm · 12-03-2002, 02:10 PM

I have used the same Penn 6/0 for years and think I will get a couple more. Of coarse if I was a rich man, I would get some gold colored ones and hire thats Lure girl of your to crank them for me.

12-03-2002, 02:15 PM

Wak,

Check Ebay for Penn 6/0 reels. I got a 4/0 for less than $60.00 and it looks like it never had line on it. International reels are still spendy there but better than the stores.

6/0 Senator

Pro Gear Yellow Tail Special

NEW PENN INTERNATIONAL II 30TW REEL

[ 12-03-2002, 03:45 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

wak'm&stak'm · 12-03-2002, 04:40 PM

Hey Keta, thanks...I never looked a E-bay, even though I heard about it plenty.
I think I will start....

RJ · 12-03-2002, 07:14 PM

Wak, you are a Rich man ..maybe a bit hungry since all you ate for thanksgiving was a cabbage, but none the less still wealthy :tongue: hey [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] when are you going to have the salty dog clam bake at the house?.I know Frankie and Annette will be there and I heard the King would make a cameo :grin:

wak'm&stak'm · 12-03-2002, 08:20 PM

Hey RJ ...You do know tonight was a evenning clam tide.

Pilar · 12-03-2002, 11:18 PM

You just can't get the same amount of line on a reel with mono. 80# mono vs. 80# tuff, it is not even close. The 4/0 holds 500 yds of tuff with backing. How much 80# mono would that same reel hold?

What is the right knot for splicing mono to braid?

The leader visibility might matter in cold water but when it gets above 62, Katy bar the door. If you drag it, the tuna will try to kill it, even with a 200# mono leader. Even with the bright blue tuna cord on a handline. How can line visibility matter when they will hit that?

The big deal is the line stretch. This is a huge problem for other hard pulling fish like peelers.
The rubber band between you and the fish makes handling the fish difficult, you have almost no control. The spectra lines work well there, huge tackle, minimal belly in the line and almost zero stretch.

Think of the line as a fuse. With a light rod, I think you need a 'fuse'. With the whopper whipper it is unnecessary.

pkg40 · 12-07-2002, 01:44 PM

80 lb mono???? You guys must catch much bigger tuna than I do. All my rods are spooled with 17 or 20 lb mono and it is more than sufficient. I run a big lure or two on the same 30lb rod I have landed dozens of marlin on. Oh yes, one of my rods is spooled with heavy TL for Halibut fishing only because the lighter tough line is so much more difficult to handle. For casting to tuna, I keep my steelhead/salmon rod handy.

wak'm&stak'm · 12-07-2002, 06:10 PM

I guess we do catch bigger tuna.....