What line to use

[Sadie-Lynne]

I am trying to get everything ready for the coming
tuna season and was wondering what type of line and what poundage of line are you using on your sport rods for TUNA ????? Also how much line??

I like 65 lb Power Pro.

[WP]

I use 80# powerpro or tufflineXT..depends on whats on sale! I don't use a top shot but use a 1-2 fathom (6-12ft), 200# test mono leader. It is usually the leader that gives! I don't have any trouble with the stand-ups but the handlines loose gear on the strike. I need to find a better shock absorber. These fish hit like a frieght train! On my casting gear, I used 40-65 lbs line on lighter gear. I think I may be whimpy about the test line I use but the gear OS expensive :smile:
Dave

[Mark Mc]

Hi Look4...

On the trolling rods, we use anywhere from 40 to 60 lb mono. On Marty's 2 speeds, he has spectra backing with a topshot of mono. I like Izoreline a lot for trolling. It breaks at well over the rated test. For leaders, on the heavier gear, we'll use 100 to 200 lb test. When the fish are being finicky, I'll use 40-60 lb leaders on the 40 lb rod.

On my one mojo "bluefin" rig, I have 300 yds of 135 lb spectra backing, with 400 yds of 80 lb mono.

For the casting rods, I use 20, 25, and 30 lb mono. Izoreline has worked fairly well on these, but I'm going to try something even limper like P-line this next season. With the light line, it's a balance between limpness and abrasion resistance. You need some of both.

Good luck! MM

[KeyWest]

50# Power-Pro spectra. Put as much as will fit on the reel (typically 800 - 1000 yards on a Penn 30). I use about 6' of 90# to 130# fluorcarbon as leader.

[corrirod]

I'm going back to all mono this year. I absolutely hate the braided stuff when it's windy or rough out. Between it tangling into the other rods and wrapping around the rod tips I've had enough.

I'll keep a couple wrapped with Tuffline just for Halibut but the tuna gear gets mono.

[backlash442]

Trolling rods anywhere from 50-80lb Berkley Big Game. Just depends on which rig is being used. No rhyme or reason to the lb test either.
Bait and jig sticks will run from 20lbs to 40lbs. Usually start fishing with 20lb. then work up depending on size of fish. Been using Yozuri Hybrid florocarbon last few years. Friends raz me because it's purple. Seems ok.

[8knots]

I use several of my stand up rods with just straight 30 pound mono. I check it after each fish in case it gets frayed. This is what I had on when I started doing it a couple years ago and I have just stayed with it.

[Sadie-Lynne]

Thank you all for your input. It is greatly appreciated.

[fishwhenican]

My $.02
I know what you mean by being tired of the wind and how spectra drifts different than mono, very bad in windy conditions. What I did, and it has worked very good, is to put a 100 yard topshot of 40lb mono on top of 65 lb spectra. Works great for tuna, I never troll with more than 100 yards out, so it is like fishing with mono. The knot I use slides thru the guides very well in both directions and breaks close to 40 lbs. When Halibut season rolls around I just cut off the mono, which I would replace once a year anyway.

I didn't want to spend extra money for that many diff. reels. I wanted a chartplotter and outriggers instead. :grin:

[KeyWest]

I agree, the spectra is a pain, but I didn't want to have to re-spool after each species. The mono top shot is a practical way to go - thanks for the advice.

[Reel Creel]

I have 30lb to 40lb mono on a my stand up stuff,and all my clones and other things are tied with 80 to 100lb and haven't had a problem yet,my hand line leader is 80 to 100lb mono. thats my 2cents.
Perry

[ 01-03-2004, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: Reel Creel ]

[WP]

Interesting, I love spectra! I, so far, have had no problem with drift or tangles. I fish back as much as 250 ft. Maybe ignorance is bliss, I have only trolled for tuna with spectra, never used mono (not a big fan of mono in general). I would use a topshot o0f mono (50 yds or so)if I had confidence in the knots, and my ability to tie them. With spectra, there is not much difference between 65 and 80# test line so I used the stronger so I don't need to change for deep bottom fishing. My lighter stuff is on small spools so I use lighter stuff.
Differences are good! Dave

We didn't have too many problems with tangles but when it did get twisted up it was ugly. What I really didn't like was getting it in the prop. Kamloops also had one of the newbies on the boat cut his outrigger release almost clear through with spectra line trying to release it. I stoped him after two jerks on the rod but the line cut 1/2" of plastic. What really scares me about spectra is seeing someone grab it without gloves :depressed:

[KeyWest]

I have to agree - I watch VERY closely where my fingers are positioned when I'm clipping into the outriggers. If one hit while you have this wrapped wrong, I'm sure you would end up sacrificing a digit to the tuna god.

[WP]

First rule of spectra is handle with care...it is sharper than most of my knives! Seriously, part of my boarding lecture is that NO ONE handles the lines without gloves. It is a problem with spectra that can't be avoided completely. Small diameter with great strength and slick surfaces equals cutting edge. Thanks for the warning. It can never be repeated too often.
Dave

[Nofish]

We started out using Spectra, but had the same problem that others have mentioned in this thread with tangles especially when the ocean is rough. Based on our experience, mono is the only way to go.

[bait boy]

I'm with a few of the others here I'm gonna put mono on my tuna gear and reserve the tuffline for the 600ft halibut days...50 Lb seems about right.... the only gear Ive lost so far has been on handlines...

[fishwhenican]

Here is the link for tieing a top shot to the end of spectra using a Albright knot

http://www.powerpro.com/advantage/albright.asp

[KeyWest]

Great link - thanks!

[kamloops]

Dean,

It looks like I am in the Flurocarbon leader
business. I ordered 100lb, 130lb and 150lb.

Should be done retying all my feathers by Tuna season in August.

My hand line feathers were rigged with 200lb mono, than later last season I changed some to 150lb.I don't remember it making much if any diff.
in the catch rate.

My Tuna reels were 65lb tuff line and 50lb mono.
This season I am going to run all with 65lb tuff line and 25' F/C tips, per page #112 of that magazine. My live bait reels are going to be 25lb mono.

[Ghetto Booty]

This is how I do it.
I have all my TLD 30's filled with 65# Power Pro. Then I run a topshot of whatever distance I want that lure to lay back in the water at. So I run a 70 foot top shot on my stern rods. Then a 87 foot top shot on my gunnel rods. Why 87? I run 87 because I want my gunnel clones to site 10 feet behind my stern clones. It is 7 feet between my stern and gunnel rods. See the key is to maximize your fishing time during the bite. You are in the bite if you get bit lol. So if you have topshots at certain lengths then you can quickly send that lure back out and dump your gear in as simultaneously as possible. That is key. Sometimes we only get 20 yards and bam. Well we want all 10 clones to go bam. So as fast and harmonious as possible is key. Also with a top shot you stop feeding the line out as your spectra mono junction just passes your rod tip by an inch. As far as not running spectra. I could not afford anymore damn mono. I was replacing my mono once a week cause we were fishing so hard. Then my rubber bands were slipping that marked my pattern length. Spectra is the only way to go IMVHO.

Dan

[Scaup]

I use the same set-up as Ghetto Booty, using the topshot of mono to establish the distance from the boat for my lures, except I run 80# Power Pro.

[No Cents]

Dean did you mention Penn reels I thought Okuma's were your favorite?


Ready to build some Outriggers for the Tug of mine, are you ready for some beer drinking time?

[KeyWest]

OK Troy - you know my thoughts on Okumas' - I think everyone on this board knows by now. I did buy two Avets recently (as did Tom). They haven't arrived yet, but they may be light for Tuna - we will see. Nice full face drag, so they have some stopping power. Nothing like a Penn clicker, however. Two more Penn's in the near future will be on order - I will be ready for next summer for sure. Beer - where?

[ 01-05-2004, 07:15 PM: Message edited by: KeyWest ]

[No Cents]

Ya I know your thoughts Dean, was just joshing you, I have looked pretty hard at those Shimano's you told me about, think I will order 2 soon for Lynn and myself, now she just said we should just go to the Wet Dog and talk. Give me a call when the weather straightens out, maybe when Tom comes back into town.

[kamloops]

I'll be around this weekend if you guys want to compare reels. :smile:

[KeyWest]

When and where? I will call your cell. I will be working on Saturday, but we could meet for a beer on Satuday night. Thanks for the email regarding "stand down". Saturday would have been tough for me to make.

[Onokai]

Key west. those Avets are going to be great for albies. The drags are big, my freind took his apart out of the box when it showed up.The two I have I'm spooling up with 30# trolling and 25# for bait casting.I have to say my favorite reels so far (and I do own many penns including a Big international) are Shimanos. The trinadads are super and I fish albies with a couple of calcutta 700's on light rods and line. Never had a problem .I know you really like those Okuma's, but you should give one of the shimanos a toss. Mark

ONOKAI

[TWB]

Ok, Mr. Booty and Mr. Scaup, one more little question?

So, you have your spectra and then a top shot of mono to determine the length you will fish. And I asume that your clones are tied directly to the mono. So, what lb. test mono do you guys run? And when the mono gets chewed up a bit, after a few fish, do you cut back and retie, which would change your fishing length, or do you replace the top shot?

I'm like WP, I didn't trust the spectra, mono conection, but I will try that albright knot. Thanks for the link.

I have my clones tied on seperate 150# rod length leaders and snap them on to the spectra. I don't like that at all, I think my catches went way down when I started to rig like this.

I like spectra, but I don't like all the problems with knots, leaders, tangles, etc. I to, was going to go back to straight mono this season, but I like your setup...!

Thanks for the info,

Jerry

[Scaup]

Jerry,

I don't tie my lures directly to the top shot of mono, so there is no readjusting of the top shot unless I lose the whole topshot. The lures are tied on separate leaders (usually 130-150lb mono or 80-100 lb cable depending on the lure/species) and then attached to the topshot using a Sampro swivel.

So my set up goes 80lb Power Pro, 50lb Mono top shot, Sampro 200lb or greater swivel, leader (mono or cable) to lure. The leader to the lure varies and depends on the lure and fish species in the area (for example for wahoo, I use cable).

[TWB]

Thanks Mr. Scaup for the reply and the info, thats about what I do now, except for the top shot.

Jerry

[Mark Vickers]

Yo-zuri 30 lb hybrid for the mainline. Average breaking strength according to Yo-zuri is 40.8 lbs.

I have a little over 600 yards on a Penn 113 HLW. I'm not worried about getting spooled.