Mono Leaders

[polarsusd81]

So when you think leaders, does mono ever cross your mind? Reason for asking you wonder. Well last night I went to the Thorne Bros seminar by Pat Smith on metro muskies. To my surprise, I look in the back of the class room, and there sits a bag, with my ticket number on it from the 25th Anniversary sale. In the bag were two "spools" of 110 yards of 100lb Berkley Big Game Mono Leader material. Now I just have to start getting some components to put together some leaders. When they redrew the numbers because people didn't come claim their prizes, I got lucky. There was also a Musky Hunter hat and decal as well as a Thorne Bros decal in the bag.

I am curious though as to if anyone has used mono leaders and how they fair against the toothies? Are they going to be able to bite through with ease, or is it similar to Flouro that seems to be the rage these days? Most of my leaders have always been steel or titanium. Pat told me that if I didn't like the mono he would gladly adopt it from me, but I politely said that I didn't think it would be an issue.

For those who missed it, last nights seminar was awesome. Pat let a few cats outta the bag last night and had some really good insight on fishing the most popular lakes in the metro area.

[RK]

Hiya -

Hard mono leaders are tough. Before fluoro was available it was used a lot on Lake St Clair by the trollers there. Probably still is. On their case they used it because it provides a little bit of a cushion or shock leader when they're short line trolling at high speed with superline. They'd use a 6' hard mono leader (either Mason or Big Game).

I'd say it'd be good for the same reason I like fluoro trolling leaders - nothing to do with visibility, but easier on fish if they roll because it won't cut them up...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[MUSKYMAN1011]

I use Flouro carbon as-well as Titanium

myself.

Never used Mono sounds interesting I guess??

Who is Pat Smith and what CATS did he let out of the Bag?

Just curious.

thanks

Brian

[polarsusd81]

Lots of Cats were let out last night, but it wouldn't be nice of me to share all of his secrets on an open forum. I didn't take physical notes, but mental notes out the wazoo.

Pat is one of the old timers at Thorne Bros, a very accomplished angler, rod crafter, etc... If you have a chance to meet him and talk with him, it will be a great learning experience. He guided for a few years as well, but now fishes and works at Thorne. If you tell him what you want to do, he can pretty much put the perfect rod/reel/line combo in your hand. He was talking last night about spots on Tonka that he can call your cast.

[DHanson]

I was in there yesterday too. I met Pat for the first time. Super nice guy with great service. What else can you ask for?

[Rebel9921]

5 star for Pat here... Hes a top-notch and I always loved dealing with him when Im at Thorne Bros... always made my visits enjoyable... excellent advices if you ask him for it too...

[MUSKYMAN1011]

I have a Pink Lure (pink hair / pink blade) I have "never" cuaght a fish on it much less a Muskie!

I was sooooo dissappointed because I like "pretty lures" and "pretty woman" but this "pretty lure" has be as useless as T!ts on a goose!

You can never judge a Book by its cover!

OH well, back to Black and Orange!....lol..

Brian K

[Huey]

I've used mono, 100# big game, almost exclusively for 2 years now. No problems at all. No fish lost or close to being lost. Knock on wood. The only time that I use wire leaders is for trolling on (rocky) Vermilion.

A good knot to use is the perfection loop. Leave the tag ends about 1" long. This helps keep small weeds off your lure.

My $.02, Huey

[polarsusd81]

Thanks for the tip Huey. I am going to give it a shot. I will use a couple cheap lures first, just in case. Would suck to lose a $25 cowgirl first time using those leaders.