Tog Rod

[FDFisherman]

The rod I have been using the last couple trips is a Rogue Inshore Med-Heavy (17-40lb). Guys all around me catching but I'm not getting a sniff. Maybe I'm not feeling the hits with this rod? I use braid with a 10' - 50 lb mono topshot with a basic Belmar rig. 3/0 hook. I was using whites as bait like the others catching. I'm not a sinker bouncer either

Should I go with a lighter rod?

[tuna13]

are you getting bit and not knowing?
does your crab come back looking like it did when you dropped it?
what size leader to hook?

[FDFisherman]

Sometimes yes. My snelled hook leader is about 10-12".

[mickrazz]

Has nothing to do with the rod. That's blackfishing. The guy next to you catches and you don't. Happens all to often to all of us.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Think you're barking up the wrong tree here Vinn... I've been out pleanty of days where the sharpies who caught yesterday are the ones who stunk it up today.

If you want to test my theory, next time you're out with friends, switch poles with someone who is catching and see how you do. A lot of it is mojo, the exact spot your fishing on the the boat and my bet is the pole won't matter. Then again, I've been out with some people who consistently catch the most fish so all things being equal, sometimes it's the Indian, not the arrow....

Having said this, I think a 7 foot pole is the minimum I'd be fishing with and a reel that is balanced with the pole... Long fore and aft grip too. This helps you with slighter action of the wrists give to the seas to keep your sinker still with less effort.. Another foot of pole means with less wrist movement back by the reel, your pole tip is going to have more up and down movement to compensate for the seas.

I do find that a lighter rod and I mean the weight of the rod, not what it's rated for helps too. You can hold it more comfortably with a loose wrist, feel subtle bites better and not get fatigued like you would trying to steady a heavier rod.

Good luck and if you happen to figure it out, let me know because I'm still trying to figure it out too.

Thats tog fishing... Very humbling.. A hero one day and a hobo the next ;)

[hammer4reel]

The rod I have been using the last couple trips is a Rogue Inshore Med-Heavy (17-40lb). Guys all around me catching but I'm not getting a sniff. Maybe I'm not feeling the hits with this rod? I use braid with a 10' - 50 lb mono topshot with a basic Belmar rig. 3/0 hook. I was using whites as bait like the others catching. I'm not a sinker bouncer either

Should I go with a lighter rod?


How heavy is the tip ??

I know that even if I like the action on a rod is the tip is too big I dont feel 1/10 the bites as I do on a little finer tipped rod

[bulletbob]

That happens when bottom fishing sometimes, not just tog either...
Been on several trips where guys on both sides of me were catching left and right, either tog or ling and seabass, and my clam or crab comes up looking the same way as it went down.. untouched, most of the day.. Tried different leader lengths, different hooks,, sometimes it just happens that way and no one can explain it. I would say leader length, composition,proximity and type of sinker, etc make a bigger difference than the rod if you aren't getting hit.. For decades all anyone used for blackfish were thick warclub style rods with the girth of a pool cue, clunky old 2 to 1 Penn boat reels, line that you could tow a light cruiser with, and hooks that had a tarred cuttyhunk leader.. Those rigs and rods caught tog.. Hi tech is "in" today, with guys using $600 rods and 6 to one ultra high end reels to catch bottom fish.. I have seen guys using those type rigs stink the place up, but a clubby painted solid glass rental rod user among them win the pool or just outcatch all his high tech neighbors.. I get down about it as well, but then one day its your turn to be "hot" and you forget about the humiliating trips... Until the next one... bob

[FDFisherman]

Seems since I started using this Rogue rod my bites have gone down bigtime, thats why Im thinking the rod might be too stiff or I just plain suck! Lol. I use an avet mxl with it.

I hear ya Mick, but it's been too many trips. Mick remember I snuck in by u yesterday? I didnt feel a nibble so I moved, not 15 seconds go by And u nail that slob. Lol

[go_fish]

My thoughts... I would make sure you do not have too much slack in your line. You also don't want to fish a tight line if it could cause your sinker to bounce. It is harder to feel the hits with a longer leader and or a heavier sinker. It is easier to fish vertically up and down rather then letting the line scope out from the boat.

Note that the boat will likely sway left and right on the double anchor. You will have to let line out or take line in to manage how much tension there is the line.

I can see the blackfish hits by watching the line. I am not sure that your fishing rod would be a problem.

Blackfishing is FUN! There is no substitute for experience on the water, get out there and have a great time!

[bulletbob]

bottom line is very simple.. If your crabs are gone consistently you are not feeling the hits.. Could be the rod I suppose, but more likely a leader length or line scope issue.

If your crabs are not getting hit, its a rigging issue, stinkin' bait, or simply bad bottom.. If you are over a big flat rock 10 feet by 10 feet, you'll feel it, but there's a good chance the fish aren't near it.. Also, I feel shiny silver hooks that flash may spook blackfish.. Just a theory.. i know porgies and sea bass don't seem to like them.. I do better with gold hooks for porgies and dark hooks for sea bass... i never use silver colored hooks anymore except for blues.... bob

[BOOMER43]

It's often a game of inches. Been on trips where guys are killing em on either side of me while I don't get as much as a sniff. Other times it's been the opposite . That's blackfishing!

[Joey Dah Fish]

It's the rod !!!!!!! Don't listen to these hacks!!!! Always go with your gut if you question your rods be done with it and move on.

[MVP]

There is no right or wrong answer here as it is a matter of preference and how you are interpreting what your gear is telling you. Graphite. Stiff rod, vast action, braid short top shot = no play or give which in your case based on how you fish will equal a frustrating day. You may be getting that initial bite that you should be feeling with your set up but fish is also feeling the resistance and in many cases will not come back to finish his meal which means you are not getting the right bite to swing at.

Try going to a softer tip rod with moderate bend and 20 ft top shot if you like fishing braid. Put a slight belly in your line and not fish with rod pointed straight at the water give yourself a littele slack and bow down to the fish on that intial bite so he will come back and hopefully finish what he started. Hopefully slight change in tackle and technique will help. Once you are locked into your new setup you will have a day like yesterday that you will be questioning yourself all over again. Good luck

[NJ Dave]

I think it's all in our heads. My go to tog rod (a 7 ft Rogue) my favorite rod forany years. This year, not so much. A rod I like the least for blackfish is the rod I have been using this year.
Not sure why as I'm sure it's not the rod but the games our minds play.

[FDFisherman]

Thanks for the feedback guys

[Blackfish Doug]

When I lived in NY I was a very big fan of rogue rods until I found out how easy they popped.Rogue rods are very fast in the Long Island sound I liked using them but not in the ocean. I have owned many custom rods I have my favorites seeker Hercules inshore light is my go to rod. If I'm fishing deeper l like a custom Limi 1143f & that rod has to be made by a person who knows what they are doing check out our sponsors. If the rod is made & is cut in the wrong spot there is too much bend to the rod down to reel seat. Mind you the blank is 9' too much off the back of the rod gives you too much bend. But if this rod is made properly it's one of the finest blackfish rods on the market. A big fan favorite of most of the blackfisherman I know. As far as catching goes there's a lot that goes into it consistently change things up & don't feel embarrassed to ask the mates for suggestions. When I fish on the OE the mates & the capt are offering you advice all the time on how to make your day more successful. Sometimes it's length of leader lb test of leader belly in the line not a tight line & sometimes reverse constant changes. Smashed up green crabs shell on shell off claws on claws off see what they are doing & what your not.

[italianfisherman]

When I lived in NY I was a very big fan of rogue rods until I found out how easy they popped.Rogue rods are very fast in the Long Island sound I liked using them but not in the ocean. I have owned many custom rods I have my favorites seeker Hercules inshore light is my go to rod. If I'm fishing deeper l like a custom Limi 1143f & that rod has to be made by a person who knows what they are doing check out our sponsors. If the rod is made & is cut in the wrong spot there is too much bend to the rod down to reel seat. Mind you the blank is 9' too much off the back of the rod gives you too much bend. But if this rod is made properly it's one of the finest blackfish rods on the market. A big fan favorite of most of the blackfisherman I know. As far as catching goes there's a lot that goes into it consistently change things up & don't feel embarrassed to ask the mates for suggestions. When I fish on the OE the mates & the capt are offering you advice all the time on how to make your day more successful. Sometimes it's length of leader lb test of leader belly in the line not a tight line & sometimes reverse constant changes. Smashed up green crabs shell on shell off claws on claws off see what they are doing & what your not.

very good advice.

[bulletbob]

hate to keep saying this but HOW in the world were tog caught by the millions years ago when everyone used solid glass boat rods as thick as pool cues, and penn "boat reels"?. Even on bad days, just like we have today, we knew about "scratchy bites" with that old tackle, and compensated as best we could.

Ever watch the captain or mates grab an old war club painted rental rod with a battered old Penn on it and promptly start putting all the guys with $600 custom builds with Avet reels to shame?.. Boy I sure have...

I still say its tough for a good fisherman to blame the rod unless they notice the bait is consistently getting cleaned off and he is feeling nothing at the rod tip.

[Gerry Zagorski]

hate to keep saying this but HOW in the world were tog caught by the millions years ago when everyone used solid glass boat rods as thick as pool cues, and penn "boat reels"?. Even on bad days, just like we have today, we knew about "scratchy bites" with that old tackle, and compensated as best we could.

Ever watch the captain or mates grab an old war club painted rental rod with a battered old Penn on it and promptly start putting all the guys with $600 custom builds with Avet reels to shame?.. Boy I sure have...

I still say its tough for a good fisherman to blame the rod unless they notice the bait is consistently getting cleaned off and he is feeling nothing at the rod tip.

A lot of old school toggers caught by site, not by feel. They'd fish with a bow in the line and watch the line and the rod tip. This is the way I was first taught fishing on the Angler when Captain Jeff Guttman was running it. You really have to concentrate and pay careful attention fishing this way to have the correct amount of bow in your line.

Now that we have rods and reels that are as strong but are lighter and smaller more people are fishing by feeling bites rather then seeing them.

[Blackfish Doug]

hate to keep saying this but HOW in the world were tog caught by the millions years ago when everyone used solid glass boat rods as thick as pool cues, and penn "boat reels"?. Even on bad days, just like we have today, we knew about "scratchy bites" with that old tackle, and compensated as best we could.

Ever watch the captain or mates grab an old war club painted rental rod with a battered old Penn on it and promptly start putting all the guys with $600 custom builds with Avet reels to shame?.. Boy I sure have...

I still say its tough for a good fisherman to blame the rod unless they notice the bait is consistently getting cleaned off and he is feeling nothing at the rod tip.

I fished with them all heavy glass rods but quickly got off the store bought factory made rods. Also remember those mates & captains fish every day. Also a lot of those beat up rods are Limi 1143f rods that rod has been around a very long time. Whenever I fish & they take a shot on my rods & they love it. Hey I would love to drive a bmw but I drive a Kia. Remember the rods don't have to cost $600 just have a plain rod made nothing fancy. I have seen some customs that cost less then some factory loomis & St Croix etc. & the rods are made right here in the USA by your sponsors. Plus the rods are made correctly to your personal specs. Everything today costs more in any equipment look how much a baseball bat cost today or any sporting equipment. You go out today & spend top dollar to go fishing & pick up a cheap rod & reel some people will do well with it but most don't. I have seen more fish lost due to cheap equipment. I can understand exactly what the original post was about. He could not hook up it happens to best of everybody.

[Gerry Zagorski]

I fished with them all heavy glass rods but quickly got off the store bought factory made rods. Also remember those mates & captains fish every day. Also a lot of those beat up rods are Limi 1143f rods that rod has been around a very long time. Whenever I fish & they take a shot on my rods & they love it. Hey I would love to drive a bmw but I drive a Kia. Remember the rods don't have to cost $600 just have a plain rod made nothing fancy. I have seen some customs that cost less then some factory loomis & St Croix etc. & the rods are made right here in the USA by your sponsors. Plus the rods are made correctly to your personal specs. Everything today costs more in any equipment look how much a baseball bat cost today or any sporting equipment. You go out today & spend top dollar to go fishing & pick up a cheap rod & reel some people will do well with it but most don't. I have seen more fish lost due to cheap equipment. I can understand exactly what the original post was about. He could not hook up it happens to best of everybody.

Ain't that the truth Doug.... One day you're a hero and the next a hobo.

I think the most important thing is having mental confidence in the equipment that suits your style of fishing and make sure when you have the right bite, you, your rod, reel and terminal are tackle is up to the task. When all the stars allign you need to be ready. When they don't, well that's blackfishing :D