Penn 50vsw rigging question

[Telum Piscator]

Question:
What would be the best way to rig the Penn 50s?
Straight mono? Braid & Leader? Braid, mono, & leader?

thanks,

[Tuna Devil]

Loaded question. What do you want to do with it?

[girber420]

it depends on what u r fishing for and where u r fishing !!!!!!!!!

[Telum Piscator]

OK. I live in S. FL & Keys and travel to the islands on occassion.
I will mostly be after dolphin, Tuna, Wahoo. In the islands, I know the Tuna is bigger from experience as I have been spooled twice within 3 minutes...

I also would like to do an occassional swording trip (have an 80 for that) or maybe some deep drops.

thanks for the input.

[Harry Klauber]

A 50VSW will hold 500 yards or more of 80# braid and then mono over it. If you want to go straight braid it will take a full 1500 yard spool and still leave you enough room for a short 80 or 100# mono topshot. You have to decided with all the fisheries you mentioned how you want to rig it. I fish mine everywhere from San Diego for big Yellowfins (over 200#), to the islands for high speed trolling for wahoo, and for night sword fishing. They are all rigged with 500 yards of 100# braid and for the big YFT in SD I use about 150 yards of 100# mono for a topshot. When I fish swords, or wahoo, I drop the topshot down to 80# which is plenty heavy. If you are going to try to also use it for deep dropping you are going to have to go with a full load of braid which is okay too. I only have the 100# braid on mine for the long range tuna trips and would say that 80# braid would be adequate for you. In any case straight mono is NOT the way to go as the braid adds much more line capacity no matter how much of it you decide to use.

As Tuna Devil said - It's a loaded question not knowing exactly what you want to do with it and as girber said - what and where.

[Telum Piscator]

Thanks for the input

Leaning to the 1500yds of 80# braid with 100#Floro leader.

[Tuna Devil]

Harry would not steer you wrong.

I do not think the flouro for a header is worth the expense.

[B767]

Originally Posted by Tuna Devil

Harry would not steer you wrong.

I do not think the flouro for a header is worth the expense.

Hally definetely knows his chit mennn!!!!

[Harry Klauber]

Thanks for the compliments guys! If you are going to use a fluro topshot, which is only necessary if you are live bait fishing, or dead bait fishing for some keen eyed fish. It's a waste to just troll with it. Also be aware that fluro is much harder than mono so if you do decide to go with a fluro topshot make sure you have the topshots made with a dacron loop for a loop to loop connection as the traditional bimini in the braid to make an albright special works well with the softer mono but can slip with fluro even if you make a 20 turn knot. I saw it happen in San Diego on big tuna and the look of heart break on the angler's face was so sad.