[Capt.XXX]

I have this question to throw out to the group. What is the best leader to use on your blackfish hooks? I've seen quite a few sharpies now snelling their tog hooks with black leaders as opposed to the regular clear or opaque. Also, do you guys use glow beads at all? I have some thoughts on this, but I'd like to hear from the group. Thanks for the input.

Capt. Fred Eder

 

[lighttackleman]

Capt.XXX,
I prefer to use either owner hooks or gamakatsu hooks snelled to either 40, 50, or 60lb flourcarbon depending on the situations at that given time. Tight Lines Chris

 

[Capt.XXX]

HUMMMMMM! Flourocarbon...

I don't like to use flourocarbon, I still haven't seen or experienced a situation where it has outshown itself as an over-producing device. I do not use it. Others have used it on my boat and I've been onboard other boats where folks have used it, and I have noticed that flourocarbon tends to break at the knot, quite often and isn't as abrasion resistant. I think it's crazy expensive. I have no problem catching tuna and mahi during the day without it. And someone still needs to outfish me using it (this last one is the real litmus test). I'm not saying it doesn't work, I'm just saying that it doesn't work for me and/or I haven't been shown how it use it properly!

On another note, for tog I would find it not as stiff as I would like it to be. Also, does anyone use glow beads or red beads above their tog hooks?

 

[max171]

leader

hmmmmm flouro and gammy or owner hooks to go tog fishing....must be nice to be rich....im sure that rigs attached to that fancy rip cord stuff..and a custom rod with some sort of " gold " reel..lol
good old mustad on 50 lb leader material..the key is to match the snelled line to the main line..so that loop to loop is clean..everything else is just fancy b.s !!!!
K.A

 

[Fishing Friend]

Standard line for leader is o.k. (50lb.) as long as it is stiff enough to hang out from the main line. Florocarbon for blacks is not necessary because it is so dark down there. It's not necssary for any inshore species in my opinion. As for offshore in cyrstal clear water it may help while at anchor on some days. I've seen beads (NOT glow beads) produce but not enough to run out and get some now.

 

[rodprof]

I use 50# stiff leader material for snelling tog hooks. Been using it for many years and have not seen any difference using it versus florocarbon. I do not like floro leader for this application because of it's poor abrasion resistance.

I have used 60# leader in particularly sharp situations on wrecks and rocks. However, 50# works most often.

As far as hooks, Owner SST 4/0 or Gami Octopus 4/0 are my favorites. For back up I also use a Musted 4/0 91553 in nickel.

 

[lighttackleman]

Max171,
You bet that fancy rig is attachted to braided line and a fancy rod with a shiny gold reel lol. I'm not really rich I just work everyday on a partyboat in the summer time and save up every penny to buy fancy equimpent. Now from my experinces with flouro i find it to hold up just fine and is very abrasion resitiant. Now as far as it being superior to other kinds of leader material i would say flouro has a little bit of an advantage. I personally think when going after big whitechins you should use every advantage you have. I Think that blackfish do infact have very good eyesight and that is my reasoning for using the flouro and when fishing braid. braid sticks out like a sore thumb some times and the flouro just helps to close the deal and not make the fish suspicous. Just my 2 cents. Tight Lines chris

 

[TJL65]

10oz sinker

I'd think that big sinker moving a few inches away from mr togs face may be more obvious than a little leader material being visible..

 

[sam843]

I use 150 test Jenkai,Moimoi or
Black widow

 

[623628]

Max lol lol lol U are so rite. The old school way is still the best way hook line and stinker!!!

 

[max171]

leader

dude nothing is as strong as the good old nylon leader,or as cheap, clearly price is no object..so i would say to you sure.. use the owners or gammys.. i use # 3 mustad virg. with the smaller crabs and size 2 when the baits are big..that is the key to the bigger tog, the bait , not the leader..never had a hook open on us...i do understand the fancy tackle issue..image is everything on some of those boats..lol and i like sams 150 lb test..he is crimping his tog leaders ..nice!!!!!

 

[Fishing Friend]

Max171, your right image does come into play!!! Especially in offshore fishing. Why are all of those pretty and expensive rods/reels and tackle strategically placed ready for action...at the dock. They won't be used for another 70 miles and leaving them out only exposes them to unnecessary harmful salt spray.

 

[MIKE TUNA]

Now Play nice everone !

 

[bhm25]

dont be mad ..... max171 fishes with a 2 dollor wooden side winder that he found in an old upstate antique shop.

 

[max171]

tackle

yup bhm25 is not a liar..thats what i use..doesnt seem to bother the tog as much as it does other anglers watching another tog being welcomed aboard the K.A..bhm would know first hand, as he has felt compelled to " range up" the kid at anchor a few times...the bait is key bottom line!!

 

[bhm25]

katoolsaswha

 

[togmaster]

Hook Leader way>>>>

Well till I started using the braids I would never use a leader . I tied my hook directly to the line. I would use regular pink ande 40lbs or 50 lbs never less! Now that I have switched to the PP 50lbs I need a shock leader between the lines. This has caused me to stick with Ande pink I use a 6 to 8 ft piece of pink ande 50 lbs and double uni it right to the main line and double improved clinch to the hook. Works great for me! But stiff clear 40 or 50 is the right choice for leader if you want to use it Remember if your around a wreck you got structure. And 1 little Frey will possible cause you to lose the slob

 

[TJL65]

Togmaster Rig

I also like the idea of tying right to the main line. A bucket of sinkers and a pocket full of hooks and you're ready to go.

When I'm using braid, I have presnelled hooks into 6' of 80lb leader with a 100lb swivel.

When I retie after a breakoff I just tie into the swivel and make a dropper loop 9 - 15" from the hook so that I can have a variable length leader.

 

[Capt.XXX]

Beads?

Nobody?

Anybody?

I find on overcast days, using a teeny tiny glow bead helps, but then again that may just be me.

 

[Billy40]

On one rod I use 65#Whiplash tied to a 52 or 60# 10-15 foot piece of Orvis Fluoro leader. I only use Fluoro because I get it for free. To this leader I attach a Snafu with 50 or 80# stiff leader & 5/0 Gammy Octo's.

My other rod I use 50# Power Pro, 52# Fluoro, and a single hook with 44# Fluoro. I will not be using any more Fluoro next year, as the Orvis stuff I have is way too "good", very limp and ends up tangling when I drop down if it's too long. 2/0-4/0 Gammy Octo's depending on how the fish are biting (I tinker around if the bite is slow with smaller hooks, not sure if it matters)

For next year, 50# stiff leader material, the cheaper the better (might even use Big Game line instead of leader), and I'm also getting rid of the Power Pro and trying some other braid, maybe Spiderwire Stealth.