07-09-2010, 10:31 PM
The sturgeon really don't care what size line you are using so one answer for using 80 is for added assurance so that the line does not break, although I was using 30 to 60 on that trip which is what my rods are rated for. I also have 200 pound dacron that I could string up but don't because it is not as easy to work with and I don't think I will get much out of it on the spool, although I did use it for leader on some of my catches.
Another thing is that the rod rating is not entirely equal to how much pressure you can put on a fish. the bigger the backbone the easier to maneuver the fish, but the drag is what keeps the fish from running with the line, not the rod. The main thing I like for sturgeon fishing is a rod with a moderate action in the tip and heavy backbone. My rods set up for larger line ratings are like 2 x 4s and that just does not bode well for seeing a lighter sturgeon bite. They are also only around five feet which is hard to use on a boat like we were on because you have to get around the prop in some cases.
Kent's and Randy's rods are like 12 feet or something and I did think that they would break on a couple of the fish since they had their drags all the way tightened down during part of the fight. But they never did. My rods are much shorter, typically in the 6-7ft range because these were used for tuna fishing and having a 10 foot plus rod on a big tuna boat just won't work out. I think Kent and Randy can only put so much pressure on the fish because of the size of their drag system on their reels. I have huge tuna reels that you can put a lot more drag on these fish, but I still did not use all of the drag pressure. One of my rods has a lifetime guarantee so if I break it on a fish, then I will get it replaced, although I don't think that will happen unless the fish gets into the rocks.
I did bring to the boat one of my 70 plus inchers with 30 pound line and spinning gear. It only took me probably less than five minutes to do it but a quick snap of the tail broke me off because we all thought it was a 40 inch fish.
I actually like the idea of 80 pound line and a rod with a rating of 50 will typically do just fine with this size line with the types of reels most anglers use for sturgeon. Kent and Randy might be a little more nervous tightening down their drags if they were only using 50 pound line. You don't have to necessarily bring the fish in right away and a big rod helps with that. But you do have to stop it from getting into the rocks and big line and drag system are both helpful in this.
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Another thing is that the rod rating is not entirely equal to how much pressure you can put on a fish. the bigger the backbone the easier to maneuver the fish, but the drag is what keeps the fish from running with the line, not the rod. The main thing I like for sturgeon fishing is a rod with a moderate action in the tip and heavy backbone. My rods set up for larger line ratings are like 2 x 4s and that just does not bode well for seeing a lighter sturgeon bite. They are also only around five feet which is hard to use on a boat like we were on because you have to get around the prop in some cases.
Kent's and Randy's rods are like 12 feet or something and I did think that they would break on a couple of the fish since they had their drags all the way tightened down during part of the fight. But they never did. My rods are much shorter, typically in the 6-7ft range because these were used for tuna fishing and having a 10 foot plus rod on a big tuna boat just won't work out. I think Kent and Randy can only put so much pressure on the fish because of the size of their drag system on their reels. I have huge tuna reels that you can put a lot more drag on these fish, but I still did not use all of the drag pressure. One of my rods has a lifetime guarantee so if I break it on a fish, then I will get it replaced, although I don't think that will happen unless the fish gets into the rocks.
I did bring to the boat one of my 70 plus inchers with 30 pound line and spinning gear. It only took me probably less than five minutes to do it but a quick snap of the tail broke me off because we all thought it was a 40 inch fish.
I actually like the idea of 80 pound line and a rod with a rating of 50 will typically do just fine with this size line with the types of reels most anglers use for sturgeon. Kent and Randy might be a little more nervous tightening down their drags if they were only using 50 pound line. You don't have to necessarily bring the fish in right away and a big rod helps with that. But you do have to stop it from getting into the rocks and big line and drag system are both helpful in this.
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