Monofilament line=Dinosaur tackle?
 

Its been seven years since I last used mono for surf fishing. I'm strictly a braid fisherman and I see no possible application for mono in the surf beyond leader material.
I'm interested in hearing other's thoughts on this....as always, use some supporting evidence/experience to back your opinion :read:

I hate braid when I'm using Chunk Bait......line sinks to fast, and I always feel that the fish feel it when they pick it up and run w/ the bait. Tried Braid and it seemed like everytime i got a pick up on my bait-runner they spit the bait to quick

Berkley Big Game 20lb test mono for chunking for me.....

I'm strictly a braid guy as well. However, I do think that mono has its applications. The SWE has a fascinating, unscientific video on how much better mono holds up when a fish takes you down in the rocks when compared to braid.

I use mono. Love it and have no problems with it. I would rather re-spool mono for $8 a pop 4-5 times a season per reel than pay $45 a spool every time for braid. It ain't broke so I ain't fixin' it.:cool:

I've been the "mono only" guy here & elsewhere before... so what the heck-- I'll be that guy again! :rtfm: (Hi, B.B. :buds:)


I use NOTHING for my surf- fishing ever, but mono.-- 20 or 25 lb. test absolute max., even for Eeling & chunking... (yes, I lose my share of corkers doing so! :exp: )


Lots of reasons for my choice: but I guess I want to hook up my "40- 50" on line 1/2 her weight... not on 50 or 80 lb. braid where I should never lose really! It CAN be done! ('cause it was done so many many times in Striper Surf history, even from craggy areas like South side of Block or M. Light or Nobska or Squibby... etc.


A HUGE factor w/ mono. over braid for me, IS whatever line I'm using I want to constantly cut back without fear, & fish only with "mint cond." line! The high price of braid & pain in the butt of respooling or even the difficulty of cutting back braid & re- knotting the leader (esp. in the dark while on a rock) keeps many a braid- guy fishing charred/ haggard line longer than they should... 'till "ping!" -- :eek: (at the very worst moment usually!)


So I guess I'm mainly here agreeing with Larry: the low- cost of mono. encourages always keeping your top- shot fresh, & that is a huge plus (esp. when throwing "custom" Wood that can cost $25- 80. or more! Yes I still throw BM large Dannys & Habs 3.5s rather than collect or sell them! :boots: )



BUT-- Larry: you must not fish M. too often? (Several times a Season only you need to replace the mono. top- shot?)

At the height of my Fall run there... I'm respooling a new 250- yard top- shot on my VS250 w/ 20 lb. mono. at least twice a week! -- sometimes even after only one session! (IF Blues are more pesky than normal... or good- size fish digging line into the bottom occurs, etc. ;) )

I typically use a 10' conventional off the beach when fishing bait (such as sand eels). I've tried both mono and braid and much prefer mono for that application. The stretch in the line is actually an advantage as the fish basically hooks itself dragging the lead after it has taken the bait. Also, I find it easier to cast, fewer backlashes, I don't need the extra line (yardage) for fighting a fish, and I've noticed no difference in casting distance. Plus, it's easier to break-off when a seal decides he needs the fish more than you do.

what sweetwater said . . . mono on the big conventional bait rods in the surf , braid on everything else.

On the boat.
I fish braid.
Charters fish mono. Too many problems with clients and braid.

I only use Fireline and pay a little more than a hundred for 1100 yard spools. Mono feels like a rubber band to me now. But I don't fish bait and usually load a lot on to start with then when it gets low on the spool I take it off onto another spool, add some more mono backing(it's good for that) and put the fireline back on.

RR, you mentioned you don't like to use braid with clients due to the problems (I agree). But, do you jig wire line with clients on board? If so, do you find they screw that up a lot to?

Wire can be problem also but we don't have 4-6 rods going at a time.

Lecounts....I dream of fishing "M"!:tooth:

Braid or fireline 95% of the time
I may use mono for eels with conventional at night.

Larry,
How often you re-spooling braid ?
Many go a few years without re-spooling !

I do not use braid Ron. I just can't justify the cost given I have no issues using mono?

Larry its only a ferry ride away let me know if you ever decide to take the ride.

Switched from mono [Ande Back Country] to braid [Suffix] last year.It has revolutionized the whole fishing experience for me.I only had one fish who put the braid through the rocks to the test for me,and I can understand the concerns.I hope to have more of this type of problem this season.
The thing I loved most about fishing braid was, I allways had terrible luck fishing in crosswinds and cold weather with mono.I had NO trouble with braid! Light plugs have presented challenges,I will now use a different rod for light stuff.

Oh Lou......don't tease me like that.:err:

The only time I use mono now is the rare occasion when I decide to fish the beach in August when the mung is in. 15lb Big Game because mung is easier to clean off of mono than braid, otherwise I couldn't dream of not fishing braid or "tech lines".

If you're paying $45 for a spool of braid, either your tackle shop guy is screwing you or you're buying the wrong brands :hs:

Agreed...

I pay $27.95 for 300 yards of 50#PP and I'll get at least 2 seasons from it. Much cheaper than paying $8 four times per year. $30 over 2 seasons or $80-90 over 2 seasons... braid please and thank you.

J D , the 30 # power pro on my plugging stick going on 6 yrs, still o.k. nice and supple too

I know it. Gotta love when the moss green is bleached white from all the sun.

I have been using fireline since 95.
The last few bulk spools I got for 80 dollars each so thats 12.5 cents a yard.I usually put 200-250 yds of line on and flip it.Usually once in the spring.So I fill a spool 2 times a year.Thats not as bad as it seems.The difference between that and mono that I used to change out about every 5 trips is nill...I am the extreme also as some will go a few years on a spool of braid.I happen to like fireline best when it is new..I use 20 and the 30 lb tests depending on the weight of the lures I'm throwing and the amount of obstacles in the way.The past year I tried something kooky..I have been using 20 lb mainline and splicing on a topshot of about 2 rod lenghts of 30 lb fireline..it worked well for me.I use it for every application except jigging..
I still use mono for livelining.30 Lb big game snelled direct..It's just easier to retie without having to add a mono leader every so often.I ususally yank off a good rods length at least and retie after evey fish..Even with the 30 lb mono I have to be carefull where it's scratchy..It's not a long length of 50 or 60 lb leader material..
When I set the hook it's like I'm fishing with a rubber band in comparison.I love fishing with braid..I know there was this resurgence to it with some claims of this or that better than braid but I could not make the move backwards.I even went as far as winding up a spare spool with it.I could not bring myself to use it.I even made the mistake of trying a few other braids.I am done experimenting.I'm a fireline guy all the way.

I am sure I am off on the price...as I say I do not use braid but know its considerably more money than mono.

I love 30lb Fireline on the sand, and 50# or 65# powerpro at the canal. The only reason that I changed over to powerpro is that it is a smaller diameter than the Fireline, and casts alot further.

I bet the 30lb Fireline is as strong or stronger than the 65lb powerpro though.

I use braid for bottom fishing ll


I switch between mono & braid .. depending on where ,when & how ,

I don,t use braid in the boat at night anymore // from experience ...IT can be very dangerious ;;

I don,t care for braid ..if i,m fishing weightless plastic that I want on top / It will cast the light stuff further ,but you have to pickup the retreve to keep it on top & you lose the asction you want ;;


Mono . less the 10lb .. when fishing under 20 degrees ... I,ll deal with ice on the eyes .. its alot better than the waterlogged braid being frozen before you get it back on the spool :hidin:

Just call me Dino I guess - the number of times a year I fish over sand or out of a boat I could count on my...uhh...thumb. Tried it this summer, completely threw me off working a plug -

Berkley Big Game is still my choice - of course I still listen to casette tapes too, from time to time so YMMV -

Feel free to not use me as an example...:hihi:

The initial cost is definitely more. But like you said, you replace your line 4-5 times a year. I'll get 2 years out my braid. Even if I replaced the braid once a year, you're paying about $40/year for your mono and I pay $28. $18 savings or $58 savings since I get two years out of it.

Multiply that $58 times the number of reels you have, and braid is the better choice economically.

I use mono and have been since the beginning. I tried braid ( Power Pro- 30 - 40- and 50 lb. test) for 2 seasons and hated it. I went back to mono and have been problem free. Last season a close friend of my got me to use 50 lb. Suffix braid and I used it for 1/2 of the season on and off. I must say that I liked it. I'll continue to experiment with it this year but I'm not sold yet considering the awful problems (lost fish from knot and abrasion problems)I had with Power Pro.

Last season I only changed the mono on my most used reel 2 times.....for start of season and when fall approached. I tried a friends rod a few times with braid and thought it was ok. Definitely casts great! However I have watched my fishing buddies struggle with braid.........and I keep on fishing. I also feel a better connection to the plugs I fish (which I fish plugs exclusively) particularly when fishing topwater plugs I feel a better response to the action I impart.

This is Your Year Larry..I feel it..Your the man.
Yes mono is way more friendly with needles.I still carry that spool of mono...I think I have over come them problems...For all other types of fishing.Braid is King..
You will reach fish you only dreamed of with braid.
Try some on a extra spool..Give it a few trips.You think you connect well with mono now the braid will blow your mind.It's so sensitive you can feel a fish fart with it.There will be a bit of a learning curve.New knots,No stretch, means you have to take it a little easier on em.You'll figure it out.Trust the NIB.I would never steer ya wrong.It ain't like your taking a puff of anything.;)
It's just fishing.
Change can be good. You can do it big guy I have faith in ya..:kewl:

I tried one of Gary Soldati's conventional rigs on Cutty a couple seasons ago as we were having fun with plugs and I was amazed at the casting distance I was achieving with the braid and a 2.5 oz. pencil!:drool: I still think about those casts! NIB I think I will spool one of my 6500 Abu's with braid and give it an honest shake this season!:cheers: Having a new conventional rod built too so......give it a shot I guess.....at least part time!

Yeah I notice you have to go easy on the hook set or you pull the lips right off the fish...as you say...let the fish set it as it does not stretch! I do like how forgiving mono is for sure!

Interesting to see how different everyone is on this

All you need is a quick snap for a hookset.It's nice with the graphite rods.Thats not where your going to have a problem.
It's fighting the fish.I fish a light drag.It will zing just a little when I set the hook.IMO you need the light drag to keep the hooks in the fish when they make their sudden movements,head shakes or runs.Especially when they get close to land and make that last ditch effort for freedom.I might even back the drag off a touch at that point.Especially when I see it is a good fish..I see so many good fish lost at that point.You can't horse em.Just take your time.Of course there will be times when you have to put the brakes on em.You can always thumb or cup the spool..I fish spinning.It is way easier to stop a fish while cupping the spool that it is to thumb it.Thumbing a spool just leads to less thumb skin in them situations.

Steve,

I'm surprised to hear you had problems with the PP. One of the benefits I've found with braid is when a fish goes deep into your spool in a rocky area(canal,for example), the line remains intact and strong. With mono many times I had to respool immediately due to a nick deep into the line. I always thought braid worked much better "damaged" than mono.

On this one,I am also.You ask a bunch of fisherman their opinion on something and I guess they will give ya a variety of answers..
I try not to impose my veiw as a no comprimise alternative.I think this is important..I can only try to make clear my opinion on a subject.I see lots of folks list no options when it comes to what THEY use or do.I think there are so many variables in fishing that when someone makes such a post I just proves to me how little they know.Of course I have learned this through my own postings.When someone pulls up a old thread..I look at some of my postings and it can be embarrasing..

braid most of the time unless if i'm fishing very rocky area then ande backcountry.braid in cold weather as stated ices up pretty good,mono probably better choice.

You know thats funy I have recently learned that braid has a breaking point also.Not so much a snap off on the cast thing.Just overall strenght in general..Braid can be comprimised while appearing to be just fine.
I do quite a bit of jigging.I use the same set up at home for jigging as I do everything else.One thing I have found,when you get hung down your basically taking the line almost to the breaking point.After a while of this, the amount of pressure you can apply to bust off a leader of lesser material will deminish..
When New 20 lb fireline will bust off 40 lb leader.After a few trips it will no longer break the 40 lb leader material. It will break in a spot I have no control over.So I pretty much use 30 for most of my applications.Till later in the spring when I move to surf only..I can only assume what is happening is some sort of breakdown of the fibers.It's not obvious like a abrasion..Thats another one of the reasons I change it more than most.
While I can't think of any fish it has cost me.I see it happen to others..I don't like to leave things to chance..