Blackfish leader shy?

[Joey Dah Fish]

Originally Posted by HDMarc

I'm reading a lot of good responses here and it seems that everyone has one or more setups for catching tog that they're comfortable with regarding main line types, top shot lengths, leader material, what pound test they're comfortable with, etc. The main topic of Bulletbob's post was whether or not tog are line shy and if there's an advantage to using flourocarbon leader material at the hook versus mono. I have switched to using flourocarbon for my rigs as recommended to me by guys who swear by it and produce fish, but I have seen some big tog taken on straight mono by fishermen as well. Is it worth it to spend the extra dough on the flouro, or is using mono at the hook just as effective?

I'm not sure but I will tell you Friday when I hopefully see you on the Mimi or Sat at the PUOSU I have been fishing 40lb mono getting a good bite for the most part but losing hooks and sinkers. I just tied a bunch of new rigs yesterday with 40lb flouro so I can see what I prefer I think the flouro will be better for a number of reasons. One less hook loss. Two more abrasion resistant. Three considering its a little stiffer less tangles to main line and will keep bait further from the sinker. Then again these suckers are in my head I need to figure them out. Any help would be appreciated. I've only fished for them for a few years. I'm getting better but I still haven't dialed it in. I would like to have some explain to me the right bite. I pretty much seeing at everything I'm a swinger baby!!!

[jmurr711]

Originally Posted by Joey Dah Fish

I'm not sure but I will tell you Friday when I hopefully see you on the Mimi or Sat at the PUOSU I have been fishing 40lb mono getting a good bite for the most part but losing hooks and sinkers. I just tied a bunch of new rigs yesterday with 40lb flouro so I can see what I prefer I think the flouro will be better for a number of reasons. One less hook loss. Two more abrasion resistant. Three considering its a little stiffer less tangles to main line and will keep bait further from the sinker. Then again these suckers are in my head I need to figure them out. Any help would be appreciated. I've only fished for them for a few years. I'm getting better but I still haven't dialed it in. I would like to have some explain to me the right bite. I pretty much seeing at everything I'm a swinger baby!!!

why i like Mono with the braid you feel ERRYTHING but the mono you know when to swing

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by jmurr711

why i like Mono with the braid you feel ERRYTHING but the mono you know when to swing

Interesting observation there Murr.... With my style of fishing (cant resist swinging at most everything) I might have to string a pole up with mono and give it a shot. Either that or like Alex said, make my top shot longer.

I guess I could try and be more patient if I'm using braid but somehow I don't think that's going to work out too well.... I just can't help myself

Great thread going here.... Very informative, except of whatever comes off Joey The Fishes keyboard

[jmurr711]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Interesting observation there Murr.... With my style of fishing (cant resist swinging at most everything) I might have to string a pole up with mono and give it a shot. Either that or like Alex said, make my top shot longer.

I guess I could try and be more patient if I'm using braid, but somehow I don't think that's going to work out too well.... I just can't help myself

like Sunday we had alot of bergalls around & a huge swell so braid was so sensitive the sinker bouncing & bergalls with swell felt like tog. 50lb mono i knew when it was a tog versus a bergall & the giant swell. I still have an outfit with braid & on a day with a scratchy bite in deeper water it is def the way to go but while we are in water under 70ft im sticking with the mono

[shrimpman steve]

I used to be able to catch tog, now I'm just a hack.

[Blackfish Bobby]

I have been chasing, studying and catching these rubber lipped critters since 1976 ..... There is no doubt in my mind that these fish are line shy. Flouro helps. Especially on those tough days. Take a close look at the keen eyeball of a blackfish. Go online and watch the BIG ONES eyeball the scene and bait before they approach. You will see them turn their head and give it the O'l one eye staredown. I also prefer to fish mono and with braid will use extremely long topshot whenever conditions permit. Another tip....take the shine off your pretty sinkers !!! Every little bit helps. The other thing I do not like for togging is the crappy lead we are running into. Sinkers are much harder and have a "ting" to them much different than the old soft "quiet" lead.

[MrAC1980]

I know this isn't right on topic, but next question is... if using straight mono, do you use a different stiffer rod setup?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Blackfish Bobby

I have been chasing, studying and catching these rubber lipped critters since 1976 ..... There is no doubt in my mind that these fish are line shy. Flouro helps. Especially on those tough days. Take a close look at the keen eyeball of a blackfish. Go online and watch the BIG ONES eyeball the scene and bait before they approach. You will see them turn their head and give it the O'l one eye staredown. I also prefer to fish mono and with braid will use extremely long topshot whenever conditions permit. Another tip....take the shine off your pretty sinkers !!! Every little bit helps. The other thing I do not like for togging is the crappy lead we are running into. Sinkers are much harder and have a "ting" to them much different than the old soft "quiet" lead.

Pardon the interruption in the thread here but the million dolllar question is are you (Bobby) and the things fishing round 2 PUOSU? All 3 of you qualified and I need to know by Wednesday please....

Sorry and back to our regularly scheduled programming.

[Capt. Lou]

Originally Posted by jmurr711

I had always heard that when flouro gets chafed it gives off a shine underwater? is that true or an old wives tale?

Old wives tale for sure ! Some monos do conduct light I'd worry more about that then anything with fluoro !

[Joey Dah Fish]

I must say this is the most informative thread I have had the pleasure of being part of. Thanks guy I still need someone to explain to me the right bite. What it consists of cause I a swinger baby