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Dolemite

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I just recently put Berkely Trilene 17lb on my 9' pole that I was going to use for bait fishing. It seems this line is not that good, I noticed that  upon retrieval it is all scratched and nicked up after one day of use. What is the best bang for the buck, on a budget, for decent fishing line?



 



Also I have a 8' Ugly Stick I am using for lure casting, that came pre-spooled. I am not very happy with that line either seems to be twisting and looping post cast, must be old cheap line.



 



What lb test should I be using on each pole? The 8' Ugly Stick will be for lure action and the 9' Shakespear Contender I plan on using for bait fishing.



 



I watched some instructional videos for rigging up your own Striper rigs, and plan on trying the High/Low rig out. It seems they use a 50lb test line as a lighter(sp) of sorts to create the rig, surely you wouldn't spool the actual rod with 50lb test would you?



 



Any information appreciated! I got my Mackerel marinating in the sun!


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I just recently put Berkely Trilene 17lb on my 9' pole that I was going to use for bait fishing. It seems this line is not that good, I noticed that  upon retrieval it is all scratched and nicked up after one day of use. What is the best bang for the buck, on a budget, for decent fishing line?

 

Also I have a 8' Ugly Stick I am using for lure casting, that came pre-spooled. I am not very happy with that line either seems to be twisting and looping post cast, must be old cheap line.

 

What lb test should I be using on each pole? The 8' Ugly Stick will be for lure action and the 9' Shakespear Contender I plan on using for bait fishing.

 

I watched some instructional videos for rigging up your own Striper rigs, and plan on trying the High/Low rig out. It seems they use a 50lb test line as a lighter(sp) of sorts to create the rig, surely you wouldn't spool the actual rod with 50lb test would you?

 

Any information appreciated! I got my Mackerel marinating in the sun!

 

First thing, check your guides on the rod. Use a piece of cotton, any nicks or scratches in the guide will grab pieces of the cotton. It's possible the guides could be the culprit. Once you know the guides are good, time for new line. I strongly suggest 20 or 30 pound braided line, it is cheaper than monofiliment. Now before you think I'm nuts and should be commited, let me explain.

 

In the days I used monofiliment line, I use to change the line 5 or 6 times a year, sometimes more. I used Berkleys XL, fairly cheap in price, cost about $5.00 for 300 yards. I would get about two reel changes per spool, costing me about $15 for the year. In 5 years time I spent about $75 for line. Now I use PowerPro braided line, costing about $25 for 300 yards and the braid lasts 5 years or more. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see which is cheaper in the long run.

fishinambition  Posted June 30 ·After a decade and a half of trolling and disrupting the website, frank's finally fed up with Tim's bull****

 

 

 

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I have had no problems with trilene, I use it all the time....I think as bassackwards said, check the guides, but then also check where you are fishing...is it possible your line was laying ontop of gravel in the wave action or that one or a few retreives actually was pulling through or over a nice jagged edge rock or something?


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Dolomite-



I've got to agree with going with the heavy braid lines.  In the past, the 20 - 30 mono was the basic line which got changed out over and over throughout the year.  Then Spider-Wire came out and things got stronger, but a lot more expensive.  No longer were these lines IGFA sanctioned or certified (read my posting regarding my IGFA Winter Flounder loss) and unless you were using IGFA certified lines, you could basically fish with barbed wire if you wanted to ensure you would land the fish.  



 



I now buy Ande 50, 40, 30, 20, 15 for my handmade leaders, and buy the 50 lb in large reel to make up my deep water rigs (Alien Christmas trees using the three way swivels I told you about).  I have even spooled on 50 lb on my larger boat reels when I knew I was going out to the races and I could encounter some of the real large stripers and I risked hitting a rock or two in the vicinity.  I could always afford to cut 20 ft off and know that I had a clean reel full of 50 lb still remaining which had never seen water before.



 



My thoughts today are going to braid as they are easier to cast, retrieve well, hold up under a lot of stress, and will hold their shape without coiling over time. You can pull them out next year, examine the integrity and use them again with assurance that they are just as strong as they were this year.  You can't say that about mono which will nick, get abrasions, and coil when you cast unless you stretch it out by hand under pressure foot by foot to get rid of the memory.  This is time consuming and the line stretches something wicked.  Stick with a great name in a braided line, go to Amazon and enter braided fishing line, and you'll find a vendor who will be selling line at a great deal in 500 to 1000 yard lengths, at any weight limit you want.  They just leave out the middleman vendor, plus they put on your doorstep.   I shop for almost all of my lines and gear through Amazon to get the gear straight from the vendors without having the surcharge of having to pay some other company to put it on their shelves.  



 



You can put an enormous amount of braid on a reel, it lies flat and seldom crosses over to produce a static knot on your reel which mono does - always at the worst possible time - like when you know you've got something and its running away from you.  Suddenly your line stops, you look down at a crossed over mono-knot, it snaps, and your fish is gone.  Doh!  I hardly ever see braid do that sort of stuff as it lies down smoothly during your return reel and then casts smoothly again when you want it to.  Just some thoughts from a Mystical Friend.



 



Garry



The Captain


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what's on the bottom will almost entirely dictate the line i choose to use.......nice soft sandy bottom and 15# mono for fishing bait works just fine. sharp, rocky bottoms, or around oyster covered bridge pilings and 30#, maybe even a 20 foot long or so length of 50# in the worst spots. In either case, my leader's goign to be 50.

 

in LIS we seldom need to cast bait very far, so durability is the key.

I've done stuff I ain't proud of, and the stuff I am proud of is disgusting.

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Thanks for the feedback guys! I am starting to get used to the spot and am thinking its what is on the bottom in the particular area where I am casting out. I have lost at least one rig, a lure, and seen someone else lose theirs. I switched over from pyramid sinkers to the traditional type and will check out amazon for some of that braid. I believe where I am at has a steady rocky drop off to a channel and there's not much sandy bottom around. I watched some tutorials on the high/low rig and may try it next time I go out! Seems every time I sneak down there for an hour or so during the week the Stonington Row Crew decides its time to practice and rips through the place a dozen times or so! 



 



Another reason to spend my day on Amazon.com! Thanks Garry, more ammunition for going with Prime!


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I prefer mono for chunking which I rarely do anymore from shore. I like the stretch when casting. I found braid and lead/chunk would sometime slice my finger and I never found the casting distance to be much better with braid and as stated before distance not usually a huge factor. Plugging or eeling on the other hand is all braid for me. Either 20lb fireline or 40lb regular suffix braid. I have never found a need to go over 40lb and I fish boulder fields all the time. I will use a 50lb mono leader of about 3-5 feet though; I use Ande mono.

It all started last year during a terrible thunderstorm, when I locked myself out of the house. Shelving myself with a large piece of sheet metal, I ran for cover under the tallest tree I could find!
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Just remember there's a learning curve to braid, it's different than mono. You can't just tie it to your spool, it must have a small amount of mono backing first or have some electrical tape on it after tieing it on. If you don't it will just spin around the spool. And as strong as braid is, rocks cut it like butter. If you fish it in rocky areas tie on a leader using a double uni. And remember, braid doesn't stretch, you don't have to and shouldn't set the hook multiple times like mono or you just may yank the hook out of the white perches mouth. Had to throw that in there. :D

fishinambition  Posted June 30 ·After a decade and a half of trolling and disrupting the website, frank's finally fed up with Tim's bull****

 

 

 

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I wear a glove on both hands whenever I fish with braid. I use the cheap knit ones that are rubber coated with blue or black on the palm side, but not the nitrile gloves. The nitriles are slippery. The ones I use allow me to cast, even with water logged hands, and not cut myself. I can also grab the line, with a decent grip, to haul a fish closer. (I like shorter leaders) If I catch a striper, a rubber coated thumb goes in its mouth and the other hand gets a good grip on the lure for removal. If I catch a bluefish, it's easy to get a good grip just behind the head.



 



They cost $10 for 3pr at the box stores, afford some warmth, and I can easily tie a palomar with them on.



 



Is anyone else considering filing a formal complaint about Bassackward's new avatar?

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When targeting larger fish I will set up more than once to make sure the hooks are driven home. I want to make sure the hooks are firmly placed and the fish has less chance to get free. Fishing around structure I have found that fireline holds up best to abrasion from rocks and other structure. I normally try to position myself in a place where I have a decent landing position for a large fish; hopefully free of too many rocks. Also check your leader often for abrasion.

It all started last year during a terrible thunderstorm, when I locked myself out of the house. Shelving myself with a large piece of sheet metal, I ran for cover under the tallest tree I could find!
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Is anyone else considering filing a formal complaint about Bassackward's new avatar?

 

 

I might complain, it's starting to annoy me. :mad:

fishinambition  Posted June 30 ·After a decade and a half of trolling and disrupting the website, frank's finally fed up with Tim's bull****

 

 

 

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I like it about half the time, the other half has to go though

 

 

I use to have this as my avatar picture, Timmahh took it down. :( I guess he doesn't like two large bass pictures.:dismay:

 

 

1000

fishinambition  Posted June 30 ·After a decade and a half of trolling and disrupting the website, frank's finally fed up with Tim's bull****

 

 

 

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