I'm just getting rigged up for my first sturgeon run - I'm set with 65 lb. braid and 50 lb mono leader. Here's the question - which knot is best for 50 lb. mono? I've heard endless horror stories about knots pulling with the improved clinch and palomar - and from browsing other forums it sounds like a simple clinch knot with 4 turns seems to hold. Any thoughts from the local sturgeon fishermen?
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I've never had a palomar pull out, it's the only knot we used in Riggins with 60 pound test. I still use it today with 12 pound floro with great success.
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I agree! Palomar knot is by far the best! I have caught 100's of sturgeon with 50 lb, tied with it and never a problem! I have seen other knots burn themselves! Make sure to spot on the knot or cinch it tight under water is what I do!
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Clinch knot, use something you know and trust. Stay away from braid.
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Double the braid, and tie the mono to it with a uni-to-uni knot. Used that for tarpon for many years, fish over 100 pounds, and no problems. Used 50 and 60 pound braid with 50 to 80 lb. mono leaders regularly. Its a clean knot. Still use it in smaller sizes for 30lb braid to 12 lb mono. too. Its never broke.
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If you are fishing from shore in the snake river, please use mono. You are gonna get snagged and you don't wanna tie fish to the bottom with ghost gear that won't break. Don't be a fish killer. 50 lb big game is cheap and is easier to pick out of a back lash.
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Palomar it is! I've always loved this knot when fishing for steelhead or salmon but was unsure of its performance in the big game mono. I've never thought of tightening under water - great suggestion! I'll throw some photos up when I finally land my first fish, it's been a long time coming! I'm going to be out there on a 9.5' pontoon, so things could get interesting!
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I have landed salmon, steelhead and sturgoen on mono for many years using the improved clinch knot. (braid I alwaus use the palomar)
I know people who are very passionate about using only mono for sturgeon. Sturgeon can roll during the fight and can cut themselves up pretty good with braid.
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I'm passionate and romantic. Lol.
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Get rid of the braided line. These fish don't need any more ghost gear where they live. Have fished over 20 yrs in idaho and washington for them and have never used anything bigger the 40 lb big game. Palamor knot is the best. I use it for my steelhead as well. have yet to lose fish due to a KNOT failing. Remember do not take the fish out of the water. Be very careful with them I am sure your grandson might want to catch one some day. JMO
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[quote sturgeon8r]Get rid of the braided line. These fish don't need any more ghost gear where they live. [/quote]
+1!!! Braid is a pain in the arse anyways!
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...it appears I stirred the hornets nest. I'll try not to mention the B word again!
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COWARD!!!
I use a Palomar knot to swivels and such but I Snell the hook.
Does anyone else Snell hooks with 50# mono?
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TheGrovBone, if you decide to stick with the 65 braid, please put a 50 foot top shot of 50 pound mono over it, no gator is gonna roll up 50 feet of mono. also for the leader if you use 100 pound test dacron braid, and use a snell knot or egg loop to attach your hook to the leader you will not only be fish friendly, but I think you also have a stronger knot, and the egg loop give you options for attaching your bait.
If you are going to stick with braid, please up it to 200 pound test, so you have the diameter to not cut up the fish. An added advantage is you never lose all your gear when you snag, you usually just pull the hook straight or reel in the log/rock/car you snagged up on.
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You are correct The B word is bad......... Very bad on these fish. Stay away from stainless steel hooks as well. If the fish swallows stainless it will not break down.
Palamor to swivels. Snell to hook. please don't use 200 lb test anything..... that is CRAZY!!!!!!!! IMO
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I am not a big fan of braid but understand the use of it if you are using a spinning reel so you can have the yardege you need. I used it when it first came out loved the ability to feel everything but it is very unforgiving on a casting reel . I have caught large numbers of sturgeon with braid and mono have never seen a fish cut with braid I can see where it could . I use 40 lb mono main line and for leaders I use72 lb braided nylon sturgeon leader it is larger diameter than dacron but soft so you can half hitch your bait it is made by western filament. Set your drag as heavy as you dare so you can land the fish as quickly as you can its easier on the fish AND PICK UP THE TRASH whether it is yours or not.
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Only beginners fish with braid, you'll see. Just saying. Be happy to take you on a Jetboat ride.
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[quote dtayboyz]Only beginners fish with braid, you'll see. Just saying. quote]
I'm wondering if you might explain why mono is better than braid in all circumstances for sturgeon fishing? To me, I don't see the big deal in using certain braids in this situation. For example, the dacron I use is softer and less abrassive on the fish than mono. I don't think mono is really abbresive but it is more so than the dacron I use. I have cut my fingers on mono many times but have yet to cut my fingers on the dacron I use (I've burned my fingers but not cut them). I understand that spectra really can cause harm to fish, but you can just add on a long leader if you need to to protect them. I do see advantages of using certain braids over mono but not really the vice versa.
Really heavy mono (80-100 lb) line is really hard to work with and cast. 80 pound braid is fairly easy to work with and can land the fish faster, which seems really important during the summer months. So for me, it seems like you are doing the fish a favor by using certain braids as there is less stress on the fish.
Braid lasts longer and so you don't have to keep respooling. No matter if you are using braid or mono, you have to have a dropper to your weight so if the weight gets snagged, you hopefully will lose the weight and not the hook portion. But even if you do loose the hook and leader, mono still takes very long to break down so it is still dangerous to the fish just like braid.
I still wouldn't mind going on a jet boat ride though, but I do have braid on my reels [cool]
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