Togging with a tight line or with a bow

[jd442]

I have seen guys fishing tight lines and and do well. My personal experience has been trying to fish with a bow in the line but I always seem to get out fished by someone next to me using a tight line. I know some of this has to do experience or if you are using mono/braid and a soft or stiffer tip rod. Is it worth going heavier a bit heavier on the sinker when the boat goes up and down? Just trying to get some tips to increase my catching ratio. Would like to hear some opinions.

[Chris1129]

I remember reading somewhere, "If you think you can hold with an 8oz, put on a 10oz".

[ALS Mako]

i always fish with a tight line. when boat rocks drop the rod tip or raise the tip, what ever the case may be. you want the line tight to feel all the taps and bites, but you do not want the sinker bouncing around. keep just enough tension to feel the sinker but not move it. this can be tricky on a windy day but try your best.

[jlrotary]

I do both. Bottom line is don't let your sinker bounce around.
Great advice about using 10 oz. when you think you can use 8 oz.

[Tunarun]

I have my Ups and Downs while togging. That being said, I always use 10 or 12 ounces no matter what depth I'm fishing( 50-180 ). I find myself when using a lighter sinker, I bounce it or I'm off the bottom. I use an 8 foot rod which helps with the rocking but like it was stated in a previous forum, that length is a pain when swinging fish onboard in a private boat but I'll deal with that problem. I always try to keep some slack in my braid and I use at least 30feet of 60-80 lb mono. So if I'm fishing in shallow water its almost like fishing straight mono. Feeling the bite of a Jumbo tog normally is a No Brainer but at times they are So Slick and you wonder to yourself " did I just get bit?" You lift up and you know right away that u have no crab especially if u r using whole ones. Ugh, now I say to my inner self "maybe if I kept a Tight line I would have confirmation of a bite and would have swung! "lol Dennis

[Boston Pete]

I always try and fish with slack in my line. When the bite is picky after the 1st tap I give a lot of slack and almost every time I get that good bite right after...you just have to watch your line.

I also like to go heavy so your sinker doesn't move around but again there are days when I'll go light cause they want the bait moving (this doesn't happen often though).
Just a strange fish and you just have to adapt/try new things if you’re not catching....that's what makes them so addicting.

[Gerry Zagorski]

I think flat sinkers are better then the bank sinkers too. They don't roll as much.

[Solemate]

Silly question? If you have a bow in the line how do you feel the first tap?

[fishfetchr]

I was taught "you'll see it before u feel it"

[Gerry Zagorski]

Yep - watch your line for ticks or movement. As mentioned above, it's difficult to do this when it's really windy.

[fishfetchr]

Yep - watch your line for ticks or movement. As mentioned above, it's difficult to do this when it's really windy.

Gerry.......it is exciting when a bite "snaps" ur line Damn near tight against a 20mph wind though!!

[Joey Dah Fish]

I'm with Boston Pete on this. It has increased my catch signicantly. My problem has always been setting the hook to quickly. So feeling the first bite is not all it's cracked up to be. It's feeling the right bite.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Gerry.......it is exciting when a bite "snaps" ur line Damn near tight against a 20mph wind though!!
Yes it is !!!

[shrimpman steve]

What has the world come to. Joey da fish now giving tog advice and I can't argue:cool:

[bigal427]

I like to keep it tight and ignore the little taps but not go heaver then 5 oz if there is not a strong current

[Joey Dah Fish]

I like to keep it tight and ignore the little taps but not go heaver then 5 oz if there is not a strong current

5 oz obviously you're not fishing any head boats :eek:

[Joey Dah Fish]

What has the world come to. Joey da fish now giving tog advice and I can't argue:cool:
Just passing on information given to me by guys that produce. Unlike you Shrimpy :eek: lol. I have been listening to guys I respect :D. I am still to quick on the bite but I'm trying :eek: maybe I can help you out Shrimpy :D but then again it's alot more fun when you get your lab limit :D did I mention lose the Shiite white stick, the surgical gloves and the hermits? I hear you used to be able to catch fish back in the sixties :eek:

[hammer4reel]

Shrimpman needs to let me fish that white stick he has been using so I can put some good Mojo in it. It had it when Richie sold to him LOL


I fish both ways tight as well as loose.
All depends on how they are biting on a given day.
I always fish 12 OZ or heavier to keep the weight still and let the rod tip give on its own when the boat is really rocking.

thats whats cool about blackfish, the bite is different all the time

[rumster]

Silly question? If you have a bow in the line how do you feel the first tap?

Exactly. You have to dip your rod with the up and down motion of the boat, but should try to keep the line as tight as possible without moving the sinker. If there is a bow in the line you have no idea how far along in the bite you are and you very well could have missed the good bite. What do you do wait until the blackfish hooks himself and runs???:)

[cougar91]

What I have been told is that if you keep the line tight, on that first grab by the tog it will feel the tension of the tight line and then it will more likely to let it go and not come back for the 2nd shot and that's the main reason for fishing with a bow vs tight line, even if the sinker doesn't move in both case. I have not black fished long enough to say if this is true or not.

[rumster]

Oh My...:eek:

[MVP]

There is a reason why 20% of the fisherman are the ones catching 80% of the tog most of the time. Pay attention to what the guys who are catching are doing and you will find out that most of the things you have read are totally off the mark. Ask 10 different people and you will get 10 different answers. Conditions and the BITE will determine what will work on any given day or hour as the bite will change just when you think you have it figured out. Put your time in and spend more time watching, listening and less time talking. God gave us two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason.

[rumster]

There is a reason why 20% of the fisherman are the ones catching 80% of the tog most of the time. Pay attention to what the guys who are catching are doing and you will find out that most of the things you have read are totally off the mark. Ask 10 different people and you will get 10 different answers. Conditions and the BITE will determine what will work on any given day or hour as the bite will change just when you think you have it figured out. Put your time in and spend more time watching, listening and less time talking. God gave us two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason.

Well said.

[TomKaye]

""Conditions and the BITE will determine what will work on any given day or hour as the bite will change just when you think you have it figured out.""

EXCELLENT Point Alex. My first blackfish trip was 40 years ago.
Have done only a few yearly ever since. I still haven't figured it out, and am still looking for the one tog of a lifetime.
I think one of my problems is I never mug anybody. I'll have to change that tactic. :D:):)
Be well all,
TK.

[Gerry Zagorski]

""Conditions and the BITE will determine what will work on any given day or hour as the bite will change just when you think you have it figured out.""

EXCELLENT Point Alex. My first blackfish trip was 40 years ago.
Have done only a few yearly ever since. I still haven't figured it out, and am still looking for the one tog of a lifetime.
I think one of my problems is I never mug anybody. I'll have to change that tactic. :D:):)
Be well all,
TK.

NJFishing.com Mugging Etiquette 101
When someone catches a tog you skate over next to them and ask them an endearing question like "How were the holidays? " As they are answering simply drop your sinker down next to them :D

[Tunarun]

There is a reason why 20% of the fisherman are the ones catching 80% of the tog most of the time. Pay attention to what the guys who are catching are doing and you will find out that most of the things you have read are totally off the mark. Ask 10 different people and you will get 10 different answers. Conditions and the BITE will determine what will work on any given day or hour as the bite will change just when you think you have it figured out. Put your time in and spend more time watching, listening and less time talking. God gave us two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason.
I concur 100%. I will add just one more factor, Luck. ( Right rail spot meaning being on the right piece of bottom, then getting the right bite and not F****** it up, and if all that happens, then get your beast off the bottom without getting cutoff in its junkyard) Dennis

[Solemate]

I rarely catch big ones but I'm normally catching. Never really tried the sight fishing with a bow in my line since always wanted to feel what bite to swing at. I'll give it a shot the next time out. Hopefully they are still biting

[Joey Dah Fish]

One for the slight bow in the line today. I had 15 keepers some shorts and a 10lbr I also agree with the lucky part. You have to be lucky too!!!! I think that's the most important part LUCK has most everything to do with it

[FISHMANGREG]

I'am now an old timer blackfisherman and when I was young I was told by an old timer you should swing before you feel the bite!!! LOL

[Chris1129]

One for the slight bow in the line today. I had 15 keepers some shorts and a 10lbr I also agree with the lucky part. You have to be lucky too!!!! I think that's the most important part LUCK has most everything to do with it


Whatever way u were holding ur line today was the right way. Way to go, and nice to finally get out fishin with ya

[Joey Dah Fish]

Whatever way u were holding ur line today was the right way. Way to go, and nice to finally get out fishin with ya

Pleasure Fishin with ya

[Sven of the hook]

I'm still trying to figure this game out some days I do good and other day I suck my last time out rob next to me caught a 13 pounder I was watching him and Joey da fish but I only got one keeper and two shorts. Hopefully I'll do better next time.

[Joey Dah Fish]

I'm still trying to figure this game out some days I do good and other day I suck my last time out rob next to me caught a 13 pounder I was watching him and Joey da fish but I only got one keeper and two shorts. Hopefully I'll do better next time.

Sven is a damn good fisherman and he will figure it out quickly so watch guys he's a sharpie in the making. I have been fishing together with him for many years. As a team we usually do very well. I find em he gettem :) I get some too :eek:

[PocketFisherman]

The less you care about the bite the better it will be.

[Joey Dah Fish]

The less you care about the bite the better it will be.

I like the way you think. That's perfect

[kurtisb]

I like a tight line. I want to known when a tog is even sniffing my bait. I can wait for the right bite, not a problem. A little bounce after a tap can drive them nuts sometimes, but if you have a slack line you'll never know there was a tap.

[NoWorries]

I have seen guys fishing tight lines and and do well. My personal experience has been trying to fish with a bow in the line but I always seem to get out fished by someone next to me using a tight line. I know some of this has to do experience or if you are using mono/braid and a soft or stiffer tip rod. Is it worth going heavier a bit heavier on the sinker when the boat goes up and down? Just trying to get some tips to increase my catching ratio. Would like to hear some opinions.
I 've gone to longer rods for winter tog fishing. Most are minimum 7'6" to 8'6". This helps to keep the bait/sinker still. Raising and lowering the rod is easier to keep the bait from moving especially on the bigger boats. When its rough I always go heavier with 10 oz min. My rods have a soft tip and I fish a fairly tight line.I use the rod to feel the bites but many guys hold the line and claim this helps. When there's not much life on the spot I change baits frequently to keep some good scent in the water too.

[Capt. Lou]

That's my style as well ! Good or bad I'm stickin to it ! To be fair I've tried the slack line method since I use hi - vis braid so easier to spot a bounce on line !
It has worked OK for me but the soft tip rod choice I personally favor more.
This I feel does not chase the bite ,although all my big fish came on a hit ,only one I can remember scratched his way on board .

[Joey Dah Fish]

That's my style as well ! Good or bad I'm stickin to it ! To be fair I've tried the slack line method since I use hi - vis braid so easier to spot a bounce on line !
It has worked OK for me but the soft tip rod choice I personally favor more.
This I feel does not chase the bite ,although all my big fish came on a hit ,only one I can remember scratched his way on board .

I'm polish so I cant fish a tight line :eek: so I have to over come my disability by fishing with a bow in my line. But as I always say. Fish what ever way you're comfortable with. Confidence definitely catches more fish. Un less you're Shrimpy of course :eek:

[HDMarc]

Confidence definitely catches more fish. Un less you're Shrimpy of course :eek:

Poor Shrimpy can't catch a break!:eek:

[FishnChips]

I'm no expert but my brother liv2fish , taught me to fish with a little slack like 6 to 12 inches and bow when boat rocks .but that varies time to time... so try whatever works for you . I'm always learning everything time I'm out . PS I'm can't wait until next time I catch one. thump thump. thump. Gotcha......

[DaveTats]

I always try and fish with slack in my line. When the bite is picky after the 1st tap I give a lot of slack and almost every time I get that good bite right after...you just have to watch your line.

I also like to go heavy so your sinker doesn't move around but again there are days when I'll go light cause they want the bait moving (this doesn't happen often though).
Just a strange fish and you just have to adapt/try new things if you’re not catching....that's what makes them so addicting.

Boston Pete in the house!