What to load a TLD 20 with ???

[SamRiley]

Picking up my first real trolling reel soon and am wondering what you would suggest. I've got a ton of 50lb Dacron but am sure that there are some better options out there.

TIA,
Sam

[soundownsam]

I would recomend using 30lb mono on that reel unless you will be working very close to rocks where you will need to stop a fish in its tracks. The 30lb mono will give you capacity to let a fish run if needed (such as sbft) but still plenty of stopping power if needed.

Hope this helps

Sam

[Slappy]

I second the mono idea. For bigger fish, the stretch in the line acts as a buffer when the fish hits/runs. You do miss out on the direct connection that you get with the braids (not to mention the ability to feel the "little bites"). Better to learn on mono than on braid, especially if this is your first big conventional reel. They are great for throwing bait on fish, with a little practice you would be amazed at how far you could fling a sardine with it--especially to breaking tuna!

[SamRiley]

Well I like the sound of that. I've got a ton of 30# Big game too.

Thanks guys :)

[Mark Cahill]

When you have a lot of line out, stretch becomes a liability, not an asset. I'm not up on what the guys are using now, but I have always used dacron, with a fluoro leader tied direct.

[capemike88]

Mark, just wondering how long and how heavy the fluro leaders you use are? I was thinking about using 5ft of 80lb Seaguar tied to my 30lb ppro on my 975ld, any ideas?

Mike

[Ray]

"What to load a TLD 20 with ???"

Fishin` String !!!!

come on Sam, I thought you knew more than that :)

[soundownsam]

Mike what will you be chasing with the 975? I think that 80lb flouro sounds a nit on the heavyside. That is what I use for large tarpon. If you are chasing stripers I would go 40 or 50 and even step down to 30 if the fish are being spooky.

Sam

[rhodyflyguy]

If you're live lining for stripers, do not be afraid to go all the way up to 100 lb. mono. A 100 lb. Jinlai leader will catch as many, if not more sish than 30 lb. floucarbon.

[Jim Miller]

Sam
I just put 400 yds of 65# spectra w/ 100 yds of 60 lb mono topshot on 2 reel/rod combo's. I will rig 8 foot of 80lb flouro off a swivel from there to lure. ;)
This was for sbft. A bit heavy for Bass, but I was looking to fill out my trolling spread and had the TLD's on 30-60 lb rods already. That should get you in the game!
Good Luck!

[capemike88]

This would be for SBFT, I have the lever drag model 975 loaded with 500 yard of 30lb PPro, with my drag set to 7 lbs. Right now I use 3ft of #30 Seaguar tied direct to 8" of 80lb Jinki.

Mike

[soundownsam]

For SBFT the 80 should be good. I know its a little late, however, I am thing that the 30 or even 50 would have been a better choice. That 975 is not going to get any where close to 6o or 65 lbs of drag. Go with 50 PP and a top shot of 30 Momoi Diamond (about 50lbs breaking strength) this will give you capacity to stop fish that tyou can't get enough heat to stop quickly.

Sam

[capemike88]

Thanks for the info guys, any reccomendations on leader length for casting/live baiting SBFT?

[soundownsam]

Your leader should be long enough so that it gets past thier tail. If the leader is shorter than the fish they will fray it up with their tail and cut you off. 6 or 7 feet tied uni to uni into a bimini on your top shot should give you sufficient length plus castability.

Sam

[capemike88]

Thanks sam

[bones]

"They are great for throwing bait on fish, "

But you will need to practice it before you get on the water, maybe a few sessions in the backyard, it's all in the thumb action. Just a little goof will give you the Mother-of-all-backlashes on a TLD20. I've been there............big ling all over the place around a coupla parked shrimp boats that had just culled.........I got excited and got careless..........what a mess.
Outa commission, my buddies meat-hauled big fish, and I came up with nothing.

Good Luck!