This winter I has a BSB1213M built up with a shiny new Abu 7000 waiting for some line. I'd guess I'll use the rig for 60% bait from the beach, 10% plugs and 30% jigging the canal.

What would be a good all around line? I'd like to stick to mono or a thin-mono...no braid on this one...thanks :p

30 Lb Big Game

The old standard 'eh?

Mike, when I bought this reel you mentioned it shouldn't be filled in the winter. Why is this? Thermal expansion binding the line?

thanks - spence

If you are looking for a thinner mono I have had good luck with Spiderwire Super Mono. It is thinner than your average mono.

Yo-Zuri hybrid 30#.

Toby my man, you and I have vastly different tastes in line.. :D
Hybrid :yak5: If it gets below 40 I found it gets brittle... mystery break off's hell ya.... and for winter blackfishing... no way....
For surf mono I use AN-40 (30lb) and leaders is 50lb Ande clear, (bought some seagar 50, but it's all the same imho)
boat mono is Ande or Big Game...
my 0.02...
'hound

Ande = :yak4: !!!!!

i never had any problems with the hybrid in cold weather. mono, braid, hooks, reels, rods, etc.... everyone has their own opinion. it just so happens that mine is right! :bshake:

Ande clear 50 mono for leaders has been my stand-by for a while.... to each his own... but I'll tell ya what... I havent had a mystery break with PP, but if it happens, bet your ass I'm switching, but all through last year, no problems....

Mike, when I bought this reel you mentioned it shouldn't be filled in the winter. Why is this? Thermal expansion binding the line?
As soon as it comes off the big spools it holds the memory to your smaller spool.IMO less memory & coils further casting.

For jigging, I wouldn't use less than 30#. Some of those thin monos don't have the abrasion resistance of Big Game or Ande.

I think BG gives you the best balance---softer than Ande for casting and more abrasion resistant than Silver Thread.

If you can find it---Stren Hi-Impact is good, too.

Originally posted by mikecc
30 Lb Big Game
or ande, either or...........

for mono its ande all the way . I know it has a memory but I like the forgivness with the rocks and nicks . I also use ande for leaders .

I use 60 pound pink Ande with 100 lb test clear Ande mono leaders,150 pound test barrel swivel and 8/0 mustad hooks with a 5 ounce weight on a fishfinder when I'm deadsticking pogie chunks in my favorite hole. I loose some rigs, but I catch fish . The heavy line allows me to pull hung up sinkers off, just loosing the sinker, but getting back the fishfinder,hook and leader most of the time, or the hook bends allowing the entire rig to come loose off the hang, just put on another hook . The bass do not shy away from the heavy mono leader and big blues don't bite through the heavy leader. If you do get hung, bring am old towel or facecloth with you, wet it, ring it out and wrap it around the reel at the underpart of the reel and pull with the rod tip pointing towards the hang (dont pull back on the rod, you'll break the rod)you have to be strong to break 60 pound test. Make sure you have the reel attached to the rod with the long screws and nuts that go through the holes in the reel seat

I use a beachmaster and jigmaster for reels and a 10 foot heavy conventional rods. Set the drag at about 10-15 pounds, tight enough for the big mama to hook herself, but not so tight that the fish will pull the hook or snap the line, make sure the drag still drags, don't "pin" the drag by socking it down too tight(I have had some fish snap/abrade the 60 pound test and get off) also use a rodholder,an old piece of pvc pipe works great . Find a crevace in the rocks to put the rod holder into into (make sure the crevace is sturdy or you might loose your entire rig when that 40 pounder strikes the bait and hooks herself), Put the chunk on with the hook barb sticking out. Sometimes the fish will strike so hard the barb will turn back into the bait (but not too often). I have hooked fish in the eyesocket and outside of the mouth, in the crevaces under the jaw, Make sure you sharpen the hooks with a good sharpening stone .Change yout bait every 10-15 minutes. When retreiving the rig to change bait, once you get the rig off the bottom, reel like crazy, do not let the rig drag or settle back to the bottom, take the rod out of the holder, pull ans reel in the rig fast ("plane" the rig., you'll end up not loosing the rig 95% of the time, If you let it settle or drag it along the bottom, you will loose the rig 100% of the time


It works for me
This method of catching fish in the canal was developed by myself over a period of years. Loosing rigs and fish in the canal is inevitable, the "drop #^&#^&#^&#^& is a place where big fish get hung up.
The heavy line allows me to pull the fish over the rock, shelf (sometimes).


Big fish in fast moving current are more difficult to catch than a fish caught from a beach. I've seen so many people use a beach rig in the canal, and loose fish. A beach rig is great for the beach, but the canal is a totally different place. It is like no other place in the world, and big fish do live there.