Mono

[numbskull]

Uh.......is Ande Backcountry even available. I think they may have stopped making it this year.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Uh.......is Ande Backcountry even available. I think they may have stopped making it this year.

I have just seen a 4000 an change yd spool 20 an 25 lb at my local shop.

[NIB]

I know I have been told differently here but i could swear ande back country blue is just a color difference not a different line.I have used the pink for yrs.As it cast's on a conventional with out getting it wet.big game has a dry lubricant on it that will burn the sh!it out of ur thumb if u don't wet it.I used to spray some armourall on a newlly filled reel so i could keep my thumb skin.

[Maloney]

Nib, is that color change you think of on Ande the
Tournament (which I usually use tossing plugs) or Premium?

[Slipknot]

My dad uses youzuri hybrid.
he uses spiderwire for braid.

[Slingah]

I use the yozuri hybrid and power pro....trying big game on a smaller reel....used to use it in the fresh

[shadow]

I like big game I have always used it.Never really had any problems w/ it which is why I really haven't tried many other lines.I'am giving the backcountry a try this year as I picked up 3 1/2 pound spools this winter when I was down south.I hope to find it alittle more abrasion resisteance.Is it me or does the backcounty seem alittle stiffer the the big game?

[gone fishin]

Nib - I know where you are coming from and I use braid almost exclusively now. I was brought up on rag line on a sqidder when there was no mono. We used Assinippe line and loved it.
I like Yozuri for braid better than big game - had less problems using it over big game before going to power pro. I now spool up with PP and use a LONG shock leader to allow for decent hooksets with out tearing the jig or plug out of the fishes mouth. It also gives me the stretch on a long cast that is not there with power pro. As for plugging, I still like the power pro and long leader setup.
525 penn with 65lb PP and youzuri shock in the ditch jiggin. You cannot feel the bottom with mono as well as you can with braid! 7000CL Abu with 50lb PP and flouro leader for plugs in the ditch. 40lb. PP on pro rocket and a 20lb leader for plugs off the surf. All my stuff is conventional.

[rhodyflyguy]

i've used yozuri in 10 and 12 lb tests, and i loved it. i really liked it for leaders. i also used the 130 lb. for livelining leaders. it has less vivibility then mono, but doesn't peel away like straight flouro does in rocks. that said, i'm trying hybrid extra soft or whatever it is this year on convench in 30 lb.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by NIB

U know i never met him. I would like to.I have been in swe 4 or 5 times an amazingly he was not there.As I understand he spends a little time there.The guys who work there, who are top notch in my book speak the world of him.They say he is nothing but a straight shooter.I can't help but to think like he was endorsing something though.Yo Zuri hybrid line kinda caught me off guard to be honest..the article did sound like a who endorses what thing but i guess thats what happens when u ask pros what they use, they tell ya.Alberto just said anything with high capacity spool when asked about his reel.I would guess that means he is not endorsed at the moment.

NIB:

There are guys here who know Mike better then me (PeteG...) but all I can say from my conversations with him is that he is straight shooter full of knowledge and always has a smile on his face.

Joe

[tattoobob]

Every season I flip flop back and forth I always end up with Triline big game, I only use spinning and have never had a problem with it. right now I have fire line power pro and triline big game on my reels. I change the mono once a week during a season. I just filled my VS 200with 50 pound PP and it was 22 bucks, I can spool 5 reels once a week with mono for 5 months for that money.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by NIB

U know i never met him. I would like to.I have been in swe 4 or 5 times an amazingly he was not there.As I understand he spends a little time there.The guys who work there, who are top notch in my book speak the world of him.They say he is nothing but a straight shooter.I can't help but to think like he was endorsing something though.Yo Zuri hybrid line kinda caught me off guard to be honest..the article did sound like a who endorses what thing but i guess thats what happens when u ask pros what they use, they tell ya.Alberto just said anything with high capacity spool when asked about his reel.I would guess that means he is not endorsed at the moment.

He's definitely not getting any endorsement deal as I buy his bulk Yozuri spools of line for him. Other then a few test reels he has which are technically Van Staal property (but I doubt they'll ever get them back ) he's also ordered most of his reels through the shop.

Personally I found the stuff kind of cranky when I tried to use it. Yet for all the time I spend standing next to Mike I can't seem to remember a bird's nest falling off his VS, so who knows. I have used it as leader material and it is without question tough. I have seen a weird behavior (usually after encountering something that pulls REALLY hard for an extended period of time such as a tuna) where the outer layer of the Hybrid literally starts peeling. Probably that's just an indicator I need to change my leader.

As for mono, the only thing I notice being behind the wheel of the line winder is how many monos are out there and how many different favorites people have. Suffix, BG, Yozuri, Ande, Silver Thread, it's all over the map. This season's hotness is definitely the Ande BackCountry. But like anything pushed by the "pros" it of course will sell well.

I love my braid but mono clearly gets the job done for many people who have caught a lot of quality fish. I too will be spooling up a few spools with mono this year. The people who still use it and the fish they have caught using it is too much to ignore for me.

[NIB]

So Pete which mono will u use.It's funny u say that about mono as we had a similar train of thought about Pure fishing braids.geeze there has to be 15 different braids to choose from.I remember when choices where extra loopy XL or extra twisty XT.
I guess different lines are a tackle shop owners nightmare.Them filler spools eat up alot of space an 7 lb spools can be expensive when u have to consider all the different colors an Pound test's.

[Mike P]

Couple of things. One, I can't ever imagine using mono to jig the Ditch with, ever again. Braid is superior in every way. I used to run 30# or sometimes even 40# mono for jigging. Try breaking that off when you hang a jig---and you do hang much more often with mono due to not feeling the jig in trouble soon enough to rescue it. 65# braid, 40# mono leader, and I rarely have to climb more than 10' up the bank to snap the leader. With heavy mono, it'd be up to the service road, walk a couple of hundred feet, and even then, you couldn't thumb down on the spool tight enough to get 30# to break. I know more than one person who broke their fingers by slipping them between the spool and the reel frame to break off. Using braid lets me use a lighter jig, and reduces hang-ups even more as a result. It also lets me get down and actually feel the bottom during those 25-30 kt SW crosswinds. Mono for jigging the Canal? Never again. I'd go back to nylon squidding line first

For plugs and eels, it really depends on where I'm fishing and the type of plug. It really helps to use a softer rod, like an Arra 1204 (the "new" 1203), or a GSB 120 1L, or even better, S-glass. It also helps if you don't try to horse a fish, or fight it by"hi-sticking". If I'm fishing places where I have to really lay on the lumber, I use mono. 20# Big Game has always been my "go-to" line for spinning reels. I've never had a problem with it. I bump it up to 25# for conventionals. And I always use mono for throwing surface poppers--in the Canal or anywhere else. You get too much loose line with braid and that spells trouble.

Pete, I also have never had a wind knot or birds' nest using any kind of line on either on my Van Staal reels. Whether it was mono, Fireline, or even Whiplash when they made it. Don't know whether its the reel, or just the fact that guys named Mike have the horseshoe when it comes to avoiding tangles

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by NIB

So Pete which mono will u use.It's funny u say that about mono as we had a similar train of thought about Pure fishing braids.geeze there has to be 15 different braids to choose from.I remember when choices where extra loopy XL or extra twisty XT.
I guess different lines are a tackle shop owners nightmare.Them filler spools eat up alot of space an 7 lb spools can be expensive when u have to consider all the different colors an Pound test's.

Haha, trust me, I can't win when it comes to mono. No matter what is on the wall someone will come in looking for something else. I'm just carrying the popular surf monos for the moment; BG, Yozuri, and Ande in several flavors, especially BackCountry. Then some of the popular offshore monos.

Most common question lately is always in regards to the BackCountry and is it all it is being pushed as being. I don't have an answer since I haven't used it. I'll probably start the season with that stuff so I'll have an opinion on it when I get that question.

[Goose]

I only use BG on convench top water, braid for everything else.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Couple of things. One, I can't ever imagine using mono to jig the Ditch with, ever again. Braid is superior in every way. I used to run 30# or sometimes even 40# mono for jigging. Try breaking that off when you hang a jig---and you do hang much more often with mono due to not feeling the jig in trouble soon enough to rescue it. 65# braid, 40# mono leader, and I rarely have to climb more than 10' up the bank to snap the leader. With heavy mono, it'd be up to the service road, walk a couple of hundred feet, and even then, you couldn't thumb down on the spool tight enough to get 30# to break. I know more than one person who broke their fingers by slipping them between the spool and the reel frame to break off. Using braid lets me use a lighter jig, and reduces hang-ups even more as a result. It also lets me get down and actually feel the bottom during those 25-30 kt SW crosswinds. Mono for jigging the Canal? Never again. I'd go back to nylon squidding line first

For plugs and eels, it really depends on where I'm fishing and the type of plug. It really helps to use a softer rod, like an Arra 1204 (the "new" 1203), or a GSB 120 1L, or even better, S-glass. It also helps if you don't try to horse a fish, or fight it by"hi-sticking". If I'm fishing places where I have to really lay on the lumber, I use mono. 20# Big Game has always been my "go-to" line for spinning reels. I've never had a problem with it. I bump it up to 25# for conventionals. And I always use mono for throwing surface poppers--in the Canal or anywhere else. You get too much loose line with braid and that spells trouble.

Pete, I also have never had a wind knot or birds' nest using any kind of line on either on my Van Staal reels. Whether it was mono, Fireline, or even Whiplash when they made it. Don't know whether its the reel, or just the fact that guys named Mike have the horseshoe when it comes to avoiding tangles

I can't imagine havin to use mono in the canal.what did u use for jigs 6 oz.??I rarely get the windknots with the braid.just with needles.
So in this thread Nylon squidding an linen line have been mentioned. How bout King Neptune line anyone remember that. It was a nylon fishing line the precursor to monofiliment.Used to get it at a place called Two Guys.

[Mike P]

Depending on the location and the tide--5 to 6 most places. Or 3-1/2 or 4 and throw way the eff upcurrent. You'd finally feel it touch in front of you and you'd lose the bottom at 10 or 2 o'clock.

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Uh.......is Ande Backcountry even available. I think they may have stopped making it this year.

Bass Pro has some but not big spools

[Backbeach Jake]

I fished an awful long time using 20# Ande. Mostly 'cos it was cheap and worked. When Braids showed up I put 30# Fireline on the squidder (Bait setup) and fell in love. The spinners that didn't twist it got the same treatment. There were adjustment to make; No more Hercules hooksets, didn't need them to overcome stretch and drag settings became way more important. Without the stretch of mono, the fish have something to work against that is almost solid unlike the rubber band mono. But! I have found that the stretch is sometimes very desireable when plugging. I get a much better "Walk the Dog" with mono than with braid. The mono's stretch does much of the work when you get in the rhythm. It also gives a hop/leap action to lead jigs on the bottom and Bombers' swimming. They both have their places and that's probably why I have so much gear.

[basswipe]

I've always hated everything about braid.I hate the way it feels,how it comes off and goes on the spool.I've used them all and I just don't like it.I don't fish conventional gear or fish the canal or jig for cod where from my understanding its outstanding.

Where I live(Aquidneck Island) I've never needed the extra casting distance that I might get from braid.From the eel grass on the north end to the rocks on the south mono has always been my choice.

I always used Biggame then went to Hybrid for years.After reading #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&'s and Piemma's posts about BackCountry I decided to give it a try last year and was so pleased with it I went with it full-time this year.Its the only line I'll now use its that good IMO.

[spence]

There was a rumor last year that Back Country was going to be killed, but that was bunk...

It's certainly not the same as Big Game, even I can tell you that. It's great on small conventionals and even spinners...although I don't like it for lighter spinning stuff, say less than 2 ounces. It is very durable.

Iron Mike is a character...met him about 4 times at SWE.

-spence

[piemma]

I spoke to Ande last Fall and, no, they are not discontinuing Back Country.
I have used everything in the last 30 years and the Ande Back Country is by far the best mono I have used. I have it in a VS250 and Shimano Calcutta 400. Great resistance to abrasion, stays limp in cold weather and very little memory.
I have been using a new braid this year. It's Cortland Master Braid and it super on conventionals. Very smooth and it seem like I am getting 20+ yards more distance. It's a bit pricy. I paid $44.00 for 300 yard spool. It's modeled after the old Spectron that Cortland came out with in the early 90s but much improved.

[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by JoeP

NIB:

There are guys here who know Mike better then me (PeteG...) but all I can say from my conversations with him is that he always has a smile on his face.

Joe

That's cuz he is drunk.

[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

That's cuz he is drunk.

I was thinking the same thing...

Anyway, I really like Yo Hybrid. Started using it a few years ago in 30# on my conventionals. Super durable and cast pretty well. Lots of guys think it is too stiff, but I'll deal with that to not loose a good fish in the rocks. The only reason I started to look for a replacement for it is that it is hard to score locally. I spooled up some 20# back country to try on my smaller conventionals this year. It seems good so far, but I have only used it to test cast some plugs and a new rod I wrapped.

I use braid on my spinners and mono on all but my jigging conventionals. Just how I like to fish. They each have there place in certain situations.

[LeCounts1099]

I fish the Rocks! I live at & for Montauk & like places! I hate any & all braid-- never touch the stuff! And I don't lack for casting distance, believe me! (Though I feel I need distance only 10% of nights/ situations anyway!). Big Game 20 lb., and 25 lb. on my VS300 for the craggiest spots: never lets me down! (But I'm obsessive about cutting- back & re- spooling-- way more than most! You should be too!

Of course though if I fished the Canal often... or deep- jigged Inlets often, then I'd use braid for that! But I don't-- I'm primarily a plugger... then an Eeler! Mono for me in the surf! Just carry that bulk spool of 20 in the vehicle & use it often! (Hopefully VERY often!

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

That's cuz he is drunk.

\

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

That's cuz he is drunk.

Well at least the last 3 times I saw him, nothing wrong with that