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| Would like to try some mono on my sucker rod this year - any recommendations as to weight and brand?
Tried this post in tackle and got three replies as to why I should run a superline...I do that also, but have a trolling rod or two with mono on them and would like to keep them set up to use for both a little trolling and some sucker fishing. I have 25 lb. big game on them and am wondering if guys have o.k. luck running this system. I have the st croix glass rods, which are great for trolling and sucker fishing but wanted to make sure I have a big enough test (25lb) as to not get heartbroken  |
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Posts: 227
Location: Southeast Wisconsin | Hate to break it to you Dave (no pun intended) but I have had 80lb power pro snap on the hookset while sucker fishing. If you intend on using any rig bigger than a small Lindy Rig, you probably wont get enough power behind your hookset to sink the hooks and if you do, will only snap the line, leaving your rig in the muskies mouth. I have since switched to 100 lb Power Pro for all my sucker reels. If your looking for a quality quick strike, try Finadk tails sucker rig. I had a 100% hook up rate this spring and have only missed a few fish since I started using them last fall. They are available at www.smokeysmuskieshop.com
Good luck!
Ben
www.benkueng.com |
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| Don't know why you would even consider using mono?
Get 100 lb power pro and you won't need to worry. I use 80 lb November and never had the line snap on a hookset, but I guess it does happen. I'll be swithing to 100 lb. |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | I use 30# big game mono on my sucker rod. Plenty heavy and a 1/4 pound spool was on sale. |
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| My biggest thing here is laziness I suppose - would love to have some set-ups do dual duty. I hate trolling with superlines when using boards. Guess I should get another reel or two and
run the mono for the one purpose of trolling. |
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| you don't want mono as it has to much stretch in it.
Use 100 pound test braided line, and you'll get a lot better hook sets and you won't lose so many fish.
Don't use mono. |
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| I would not trust or use 25 lb test for a sucker rod period. If you have to use mono i'd try something alot heavier...25lb does not cut it for setting the hook on quickstrikes..why don't you just put superline on your trolling rods ? the trolling secrets book has the charts for 80 lb powerpro I believe...that would work for your sucker rod lb test then too.
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Posts: 189
Location: Barrington, Il | I use 50# Stren Saltwater mono for fall trolling and suckers. I also use 100# Power Pro. I prefer the mono for trolling but braid has its uses, too. I have a ST. Croix fiberglass rod I have used for both trolling and suckers. The trouble with this rod for quick strikes is that the action is to slow, not stiff enough, for a good hookset IMHO. Get a couple more reels with braid for your sucker fishing. In the long run you will be happier.
Jeff |
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| I once witnessed a fisherman snap mono on a hookset while using suckers. It made me sick. I use 100 pound Power Pro. I also carry extra rods in the truck in case a boat partner does not have the right equipment (line). I don't want to see that happen again.
I don't know if I can make the Fall sucker fest in Presque Isle, but I hope this subject comes up again before that outing to encourage those with mono to re-think the situation. |
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Posts: 350
Location: WESTERN WI | It is important to remember that it does not matter how strong your superline is if it is frozen to the spool, leaving your reel helpless to let any line out if a fish hits the sucker. Mono does not absorb water, most people I know that prefer mono use it because of the colder weather conditions they use it in. I love Power Pro to death but take it off come November on my sucker rods. Same reason most use fiberglass rods as oppose to graphite for sucker fishing. Extreme cold and graphite (breakage on hooksets) do not mix well.
Edited by Got Esox? 7/31/2006 11:18 AM
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| Got Esox?, good point about the line freezing to the spool. Most only time I use suckers is when its way too cold to cast.
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I've never had the PP freeze to my spool yet, and last fall was a chilly one for the last few days. The last day on the water, there was ice on everything, and I had to jump on the trailer to get the boat unstuck, but when the fish grabbed the meat, she screamed. You might want to check it occasionally to avoid a problem, but Power Pro doesn't absorb too much water. It's more water on the spool freezing it up IMHO. |
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| HERES WHAT HAS WORKED BEST FOR ME AFTER PLAYING AROUND WITH ALOT OF DIIF IDEAS AND SET UPS OVER 20 YRS.
CAUGHT AND LOST FISH JUST ABOUT EVERY WAY POSSIBLE,PROBABLY A FEW MORE TO FIND OUT TO.
100# POWER PRO OR BERKLY STEALTH WITH 6-8' OF 100# SEAGUR UNI KNOTTED AND A 6-10" 90# WIRE LEADER TO THE SNAP.
THE SUPERLINE GIVES YOU POSITIVE HOOKSETS. THE FLORO GIVES YOU THE STEALTH MODE AS WELL AS JUST A BIT OF STRETCH WHEN GORILLA FIGHTING THE FISH AT THE BOAT AS WELL AS BETTER ABRASION RESISTANCE ON ROCKS AND LOGS THAN THE SUPERLINE. THE 6-10" WIRE AT THE END IS FOR EXTREME ABRASION BECAUSE THATS THE POINT WERE YOU PLACE YOUR SINKER AND WHERE IT WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE ROCKS AS WELL AS PROTECTION IN CASE THE FISH GRABS THE BAIT BY THE HEAD OR IT HAS QUICKLY STARTED TO TURN THE BAIT. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | Well there ya go...when Herbie speaks...we should all listen!
another thing I think is worth saying is do not use rubber core sinkers on your superline above the fluoro...I've had line break and I know others have too from using those sinkers..not sure why..the line must rub on the lead and nick it up...just another tid bit... |
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| Well it looks like I will be using superlines for the suckers. I still like mono for trolling though, as it seems to stay put in the clips on the planer boards better. I will be up at the Presque Isle outing and really look forward to learning a thing or two about sucker fishing. Live bait is surely my weakest spot when it comes to muskies. After todays heat here in Green Bay I can't wait to worry about my line freezing to the spool!! |
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Posts: 189
Location: Barrington, Il | If the mono broke on a hookset it probably had a nick in it. The line and knots need to be checked often when dragging suckers.
Jeff |
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Posts: 3915
| Here's a cool trick I learned from this yooper dude....it works GREAT. I use this while casting another rod at the same time.
A med length xtra heavy action rod is held in a rod holder at a 90* angle from the side of the boat. 6500C4 with 80# powerpro tied to a large swivel. The quick strike rig is attached to the other side of the swivel. A rubberband goes thru one hole in the swivel, and a bell sinker is attached to the other end of the rubberband. This makes the 80# powerpro drop straight down from the boat, and when the boat is drifting, or if you are using your trolling motor while casting, then the quickstrike rig is at a 90* angle relative to the powerpro. The quick strike rig has 60#sevenstrand, or 80# sevenstrand, and is about 2.5' long. Now picture the quickstrike rig...about 12"from the swivel there's a small (1") bright (oranger or yellow) colorado blade, then a bead then a crimp. So, the blade is held in place. 10" further down is a 3X single hook, the wire just passes thru the hook eye and the wire is held against the hook shank by heavy duty shrinkwrap. This lead hook is somewhat adjustable, with force you can slide it up and down the wire. The wire continues down thru a 3X treble then a bead and then a crimp. The bead/bead holds that treble in place. The wire continues down another 6-8" to the terminal treble and that one is just crimped.
The beauty of the deal is that the sucker swims lazy, about 5' straight down from the side of the boat. You can adust the weight of the bell sinker, depending on how fast you are moving, to maintain the 90* angle between the powerpro and the quickstrike rig. The small colorado blad slowly lop lops around and a good set up will have the sucker slowly swimming along, back and forth from the left to the right. If you happen to go over some tall weeds just lift up on the rod and up comes the sucker toward the surface so no weed tangles. With the 6500C4 you can turn on the "baitclicker" and hit the freespool, so while the rod is in the holder a fish can grab your bait and start swimming away while you set down your casting rod and grab the quickstrike rod.
Pretty cool, eh? |
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| musky hnr,
rubber cores are the only way to go,easy to change weightsvs temperment/strength of sucker and how deep you want run,and also many times when you do snag if you only use 1 or 2 wraps you can pop off the sinker saving the bait and rig..
look back at my description,thats one of the reasons for the short wire at the end,it isn't the sinker thats creating the weak spots it's the contact with rocks at that point. put the sinker on the 8-12" wire.closer to the bait is better,the further up the line the sinker is the more it hangs down as the sucker is swimming and the more snags you will get,also the closer the less weight is needed to control the bait. |
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Posts: 341
| Thanks Herbie! I never thought of adding wire at the top of rig. Should definitly save some rigs, fish. On a side note, I use the Herbie rig but exchange it with 100# floro and add a safety pin to fasten rig to suckers lip. Complete safety pin rig that's 12 for 12. Dumb question but do you manf the Herbie rig and if you do will you be making a floro model for gin clears.
Good stuff thank you sir! |
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| GEEZ, I DUNNO IF I WOULD RISK FLORO FROM THE NOSE TO THE HOOK,WE'VE DONE IT,GOT AWAY WITH IT,BUT....... I THINK THE LONG LEADER IS MORE IMPORTANT AS THE THE HHOK LEADER KINDA JUST BLENDS IN THE SIDE OF THE BAIT,USE 60 INSTEAD AND JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT AFTER A FEW SNAGS/FISH.
LIKE I SAID LOST FISH EVERYWAY POSSIBLE THROUGH THE YEARS AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE SLEEP THAN I HAVE TO OR IS SELF INFLICTED. |
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what weight mono for sucker rod