Tog Sh!t - A "SERIOUS" Discussion

[captmike28]

I'm pretty sure the Penn GTI series is still available in stores. In my case, I converted most of those outfits into Charter Customer rods for Bass and Bluefish. Much better suited to swinging the 10-16oz. chunks of lead we need fishing the swift currents and deep waters of the Gut and the Race. They are also a lot less expensive and, in most cases, much more durable than the "designer" stuff we reserve for our personal fishing enjoyment!
Just for laughs, I should check the weight on a couple of those old rods and reels. I hope my bathroom scale has enough capacity!

 

[Savvy18]

captmike28 said: Just for laughs, I should check the weight on a couple of those old rods and reels. I hope my bathroom scale has enough capacity!

That's funny!

 

[Savvy18]

So, in the natural progression of things, next season I'll be looking to go a step further and begin using even lighter line for jigging tog. Right now I'm using 30 & 35 lb. braided lines (various companies). That would include traditional rig fishing and jigs.

This spring & fall I would like to start using 20 & 25 lb. braids. One of the braids I've been using is Cortland Spectron (Blackspot). Incredibly strong and hardy line. But I can't seem to find it in 20 or 25 lb. test. My other favorite is Suffix 832.

Anyone using 20 or 25 lb. braid for tog? If so, what brand and tell us how it's working out for you.

 

[buddha162]

I discovered togging pretty late in life, and I only fish for them off my kayak, and only on the jig...started off with "stunt" rods: a 6'8L Zodias with a 1k Stradic I use for dropshotting in freshwater. Landed blackfish up to 6# with that silly wand, lost a few around that size, until one day a monster took me into the rocks...slowly...wasn't even sure if the fish knew it was hooked. After that I incrementally stepped up the tackle, and today my main togging rod is a Megabass Hyuga 72h...a JDM bass/snakehead frog/big moving bait rod that is by far the heaviest setup I've used for blackfish. Paired with an Abu Revo inshore, it's still reasonably light (rod weighs 5.2oz).

The far western sound is probably the most user-friendly togging grounds...a lot of fish in gravel patches and smooth rock structure. I think traditional togging, at least wreck togging, would require a completely different approach.

My PB tog came on a 6'10ML Zodias paired to a Curado/Scorpion 70...had to replace the drag discs after that fish lol:



Hyuga:



Stunt rod shenanigans:

 

[buddha162]

Anyone using 20 or 25 lb. braid for tog? If so, what brand and tell us how it's working out for you.

10 - 20lb J braid x8 is all I've ever used. I go with a 10+ ft leader of 15/20lb floro, but as mentioned...we're not fishing wrecks or sharp, vertical structure for the most part. I would think 20lb braid to 50+lb leader, provided the leader is long enough...ought to work just fine.

One thing to consider if you're tying an FG knot...I find that a thinner braid bites much better into thicker leader material. Personally, I don't trust the FG knot if using similar braid - leader diameters...I'll go to an alberto knot for that kind of connection.

 

[Savvy18]

buddha162: GREAT videos! Wish I had all of my releases on video. I might need to step up my GoPro game. Reason I don't wear one more often is I feel it jinxes me.

I only use the Alberto knot to connect mono to braid. NEVER had an issue. I think your fishing "environment" and mine are slightly different. We fish VERY sticky, sharp, nasty bottom 90% of the time. That's the only reason I'm still using the heavier braid that I do or I would have scaled that down a long time ago.

Maybe I should look into that J braid. Never tried it. Don't know anyone using it either.

 

[movetheboat]

you know what...I fish on party boats and six packs where there usually is a substantial pool involved, so that is probably why I'm not too sporty. But if I was on a private boat I am sure I would like fishing ultra light stuff. I will play around with it a bit in the western sound and you do get a helluva wallop on those jigs and light rods. But anyway here is a picture of a noreast (fustercluck) celtic quest "substantial" pool winning fish a couple of years ago. In the photo is my nephew using my newell 229 and a cgbt84 1m that I built and typical of what 3 of us were using

 

[cany]

you know what...I fish on party boats and six packs where there usually is a substantial pool involved, so that is probably why I'm not too sporty. But if I was on a private boat I am sure I would like fishing ultra light stuff. I will play around with it a bit in the western sound and you do get a helluva wallop on those jigs and light rods. But anyway here is a picture of a noreast (fustercluck) celtic quest "substantial" pool winning fish a couple of years ago. In the photo is my nephew using my newell 229 and a cgbt84 1m that I built and typical of what 3 of us were using View attachment 2279

I remember that

 

[movetheboat]

I remember that

yes...you came over from the port side and yelled at me for catching it!!!

 

[Capt13]

...... Let's try - if you are under 50 years old, take the best blackfish trip you've ever been on - and triple it in greatness. That's how routinely good it was back then.

Great read ...... loved the quote above !!! In the 70's you couldn't sell a blackfish. If you were lucky enough to find someone who wanted them, $.10 a pound was a score. I remember the lobster guys cursing them out. They would throw back 800 -1000 lbs a trip at certain times of the year.

 

[captmike28]

Buddha: some really beautiful Tog on the light tackle, love those videos.

MTB: I fully understand why you need to step up the tackle size based upon the fishing you do. It is also respectful of the other passengers, having much more control over your fish and not tangling up several others because you cant' stop an outsized fish.

Eddie: As I mentioned in my first post on this thread, I use the Suffix 832, 20# braid on my Stradic 3000. Naturally, there is a 6' length of 40# leader between the mainline and the jig. Seems to work fine for me even in the very rocky areas I work.

 

[NYSharpie]

Great discussion! Eddie what is the Phoenix blank model I used this entire season? You would know better than me since you are the one who originally built it. That, paired with my Garcia Winch, killer!!

 

[Savvy18]

I agree, fishing on a PB almost demands that you fish tackle sufficient enough to control your fish and not disrupt everyone aboard with tangles you create. That being said, I almost NEVER fish PB's and there are many reasons for that (not going to get into that here). I found it very interesting that MTB mentions the Celtic Quest in the same sentence he uses the word "fustercluck!" Awfully coincidental.

There is a tremendous advantage to fishing on a private boat with your friends. One being that you CAN scale the gear down and be "SPORTING" if you feel so inclined. Also, releasing BIG TOG is much easier on a small boat

 

[Savvy18]

Frank (NYSharpie), I know you won't believe this but I cannot recall what that blank number is. Usually, I save the butt end of EVERY rod I build after it's cut off so that I'll know what blanks they are but I just took a peek in the "butt drawer" and don't see it.

I'm leaning towards the Black Diamond Series rod...One of the PSW models. I'm going to my rod builder Saturday morning. Maybe I can peruse through his books and see if I can locate the page where he wrote the details for that rod build.

Anyway, now that you bought that 2nd Phenix rod from me, you are in good shape for kicking some tog butt this season. You're really starting to get a feel for that stick AND the jig bite as a whole! It's a whole new ballgame with those jigs. Completely different fight and it's compounded by using the light tackle with light jigs! Looking forward to getting more involved with it.

 

[movetheboat]

I found it very interesting that MTB mentions the Celtic Quest in the same sentence he uses the word "fustercluck!" Awfully coincidental.

we call that annual trip that due to the way it is organized...though we are getting better...it was in no way a slight to the CQ who's crew does a great job hosting the annual "whack pack" trip

 

[Pete21]

I fish a Phenix M1 that I got from Capt Richie. His blackfish Phenix M1 is a freshwater blank . It's the 8' 15-35 moderate fast . Mine is 7' I cut an inch off the tip and the rest off the butt to make it 7' . It is feather light with great power and a great bend for tog. It fishes 6-10 oz very nicely and can fish 12 or even 14 in a pinch. I have even landed mid 30lb bass on it live lining bunker. I do regret cutting the inch off the tip because I rarely fish over 10oz. But it is a great rod. Any questions about it let me know

 

[Savvy18]

movetheboat said: we call that annual trip that due to the way it is organized...though we are getting better...it was in no way a slight to the CQ who's crew does a great job hosting the annual "whack pack" trip

Like I said, AWFULLY COINCIDENTAL!

 

[Savvy18]

Pete21: One thing I DON'T have in my rod arsenal is a rod that can handle 10-14 ounces of lead. I guess it's mainly because I don't fish in areas or conditions that require such a stout rod. From what the north shore boys tell me 10 ounces of lead on a tog trip is not that bad

It's safe to say if the need arose for me to use 14 ounces of lead on a tog trip, I'd automatically be relegated to fish netting duties!

 

[Rodprof]

Savvy,

I do my togging primarily on the East End from Montauk, Fisher’s and Block Island. Depending on the moon we fish from 10-16 ounces because of the strong tides.

Blanks that I have had great success with are the following: Lami CGBT841MH and 961MH,
Calstar GFX800M, CTS BS604, Blackhole Challenger 76M and MH and the Jigging World Black Demon 75M and MH.

They all also are great striper 3-way jigging Ross and deepwater cod rods.

 

[BennyV]

Thinking about this past tog season I have to say we had some of the crappiest weather that I can remember in recent memory this last tog season. I think we went 3 weekends in a row with blowouts/rain. Pretty miserable. Hopefully next year is better.