Flukinoff

When blackfishing most of us will really tighten up our drag so the fish can't get back into the structure, and most guys are using braid these days with a stiff graphite blank. So my question is this... where is the play in this set-up when a real digger goes on a run ?

There is'nt any ! That's why I believe some anglers lose some nice togs. I don't believe you can use braid with graphite especially when the drag is real tight. I think a buffer is needed like graphite with mono or braid with fiberglass because of that tight drag factor. Now granted this idea will only come into effect with big fish... What do you guys think ?

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You can respect the sea or she can take the respect from you.

Capt Neil Faulkner

Hi,

Sorry I'm late answering.

Your first paragraph is why so many graphite rods are broken black fishing. For this reason I only build on Fiberglas or composite blanks. The composite is a mixture of fiberglass and graphite giving you the best of both worlds, some flex, sensitivity, lifting power and durability.

Everybody has their way for fishing tog. I use 40# mono on a Newell 220 or 332. I never fish with a tight drag, am always on the light side and use thumb pressure for extra drag. I presently use a 7' E Glass M blank for my rod. Sometimes I just tie a dropper loop in the line and install a Gama hook, ended with a sinker loop. To the sinker loop I attach a piece of 15# mono that has a loop at each end, to attach to the line and also the sinker. If the sinker gets stuck in the piece the 15# line breaks and if a tog is on up it comes. My hook is 10-15 inches off the bottom. This reduces snags. I feel one hook can put more fish in the boat as all to ofter the 2nd hook gets snagged and the tog is lost. Just my way. Yes, I do get out fished sometimes by guys using braid and other type rigs buy that does not bother me.

Some will say this is an outdated way to fish. I have tried braid and I do not like it. I feel too much and certain fish are lost while being reeled in such as porgys. I feel it is rediculous to have to add 10' of mono to braid to generate some stretch. Now if you are fishing 300' depths this is another story.

Bottom line, fish and rig they way you like to. Have fun.

Capt Neil

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74Formula233

Good reply Neil!

I haven't used an all-graphite rod for anything in years. One knick and you're all done.

We had some graphite setups in the 80's when we were commercial fishing scup/seabass, and we had to be super careful handling them.

Snapped several, went back to glass/composite.

Graphite core with fiberglass wrap is nice.

I do fish with braid for blackfish, with a fairly tight drag, so my tog rod takes abuse LOL. However, I also am a ONE-HOOK guy like Neil, and often do outfish the guys with 2 hooks.

Simple setup = less snags.......plus I am pretty good at detecting the bite on the one crab, so I can haul it in and be right back down there quickly.

Used to find with the 2-hook rigs it seemed like you were feeding the fish more than catching.....get 2 fish biting, you get confused on the bite and often strike at the wrong time and miss both.

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Flukinoff

Very good advice !

__________________
You can respect the sea or she can take the respect from you.