TOPIC:

So am I the only hold out the lake still using mono on riggers?  Been trolling with mono for 30 years and maybe I'm just lazy but finally thinking of switching over to braid/flouro leaders like on my wire set-ups because Mike's (Brother Nature) post on it while back makes a lot of sense (as usual) which takes me back to my being lazy and if I spool it myself I will for sure lose the biggest King of my life because I did it. 

You're not alone Geoff. I still use mono on my riggers.

20 lb mono is what I run.

20lb big game works just fine for me. You’ll hate life with braid if fleas are thick. 

20lb big game on the riggers. 30-40lb fluro for fly leaders.

Run 20 lb Big Game mono on Riggers on the south end and I do the same on my boat on Lake Superior going for big lakers.   Very few problems on either.

Blood Run Tournament Mono here.  Some use braid, but honestly its not my cup of tea.  From my personal perspective:

1)  No leader to tie thus eliminating a potential failure point and hassle
2)  Overall stretch is an advantage when playing fish (mostly applicable to kings)
3)  Fleas are less of a problem on mono vs. braid (summer)
4)  Easier to accidently release on braid when deploying vs. mono due to lack of stretch
5)  Harder to run free sliders on braid since there is low stretch/less bow in line.  Not that it doesn't work but its harder.

Overall,  mono will have a lot more resistance in the water, and you will get a very large bow in your line compared to braid.  However, the ball is still running at the same depth (the mono is just stretching so it gives the perception of a huge blowback).  From a physics/Engineering standpoint, slightly larger mono is not going to magically make your 12lb rigger ball run higher (maybe a few inches at best because of a little more drag in the water).  

Just my $.02.  To each our own.  We all do different things and we do them because they work for us as individuals.


 

I run mono most of the time down to 50 feet.  I run braid past that.  I can't remember ever breaking the leader to fluoro knot and that's with 20# both sides of the knot. I use uni-to uni as the knot.  

I don't like blowback and I'd have to experiment a bit to see if Dirty's claim of a few inches difference is spot on.  Back in the "pre-braid" era, I can remember lots of time having to let my riggers out 140 feet to bounce bottom in 110 feet of water.  Braid, usually not more than 10 feet difference in rigger counter and depthfinder reading. 

.  The biggest thing is when lakers are being targeted, the braid makes them fun to catch - all the fish funner down 70 or more since there's no stretch to absorb the wiggles and squiggles the fish are making.  I really don't think I lose many fish to the zero stretch.  I don't ever pull up a set of lips and if you come up with straightened hooks regularly, use better hooks. 

Main thing is to give it all a try and see what works and which you enjoy.  I remember the first belly to bottom laker I hooked on braid long ago. Would have sworn it was a king.  I remember the first belly to bottom laker I caught years ago. I could have sworn it was a pair of panty hose.   

Couldnt be said better.  Different strokes for different folks.  Like everything in this lake, different things work for different people.  I double down on the fun on catching fish on low stretch braid that BN mentioned.  Hard to beat that.,,,,,but also easier to lose fish unless you are easy on them or unless you have the perfect hookup in the side of the jaw so there is a tradeoff.  If I am fun fishing I want the best fight in the world, If I am tournament fishing I want whatever gets that fish in the boat.  It just goes to show the diversity of presentations and lines and what they have to offer.  No matter what you are doing there is no one right or wrong way generally speaking.  Take the time, experiment, and figure out what works for you.

Also as BN states - Uni-Uni is the way to go.......for every line to line termination goes IMO.  Every knot I tie on the boat is some variation of the Uni..........and they do not fail.  

Dang good discussion.  Would love to hear what other people think and what works for them!