Why a Topshot of Mono ?

I see MOST anglers using larger saltwater reels use a braid and a mono topshot of 100-200 yds. , why use that much mono ? I can see a leader for spooky fish or abrasion / shock , but is'nt the idea behind braid non-stretch and a better feel ? I seldom if ever have out a 100 yds of line and would never get into the good stuff .

Just rebuilt a couple of reels I got on EBay , both Penns , a 4/0 and a 6/0 , what weight line would you all suggest for these reels ? Never , well once used braid so I have no idea .

Thanks , Dan

Dan, guys fishing live bait for Pelagics use braid for three main reasons,  smaller (less drag) that way the bait can swim farther and be more active, you can use a smaller reel and still have lots of line for a long running fish, and increased sensitivity. . There has been an evolution in topshots, when I started with braid 100 yards of mono was common. Now a lot of guys only use a rod length of flourocarbon. It's also possible to have a totally knotless line to leader and hook connection. So you have increased line capacity and the ability to feel a bite with way over 100 yards of line out.

The 4/0 I have are loaded with 65-80 spectra, but thats for fishing for yellowtail or tuna on a boat. Thats a big reel for a kayak unless you are fishing real deep or for huge fish. The 6/0 would be good for trolling for albacore or a deep rock cod reel, but we are not allowed to fish that deep anymore in the north.

I'm definitely not an expert, since I just recently started using braids, but I use a short length of mono like Shimmy described. I have no idea why one would use a hundred yard topshot. I just use one or two rod lengths. If I'm fishing for rockfish I usually use 35 or 40lb braid. I like to tie on a length of 15 or 17lb mono so it's easier to break off at depth, and because I just find that with cold, wet hands it's usually a little easier to tie knots with the mono.

It's also possible to have a totally knotless line to leader and hook connection.

Do you have any more info on this?

i'm with the incrowd on this one. I use 40lb. braid with a rods' length of 30lb FluroCarb' as a leader, when ocean jigging.

i also use braid on ALL my other reels too. I use 10lb.braid on all my freshwater gear(like fishing with fine thread) topshotting with a mono or just using a fluroCarb. leader to fit the bill(according to fish size and where they are holding at)

Sturgeon: I use a poles length topshot of 60lb. mono and then to the 60lb mono leader. Abrasion resistantance is the key here.

I've heard people say the benefit of an extra-long topshot is that you can easily trim excess line (due to abrasion or a recently-caught biggun, etc) without having to tie on a whole new topshot. Just remove 20ft and tie on another lure.
Granted, I have never used a topshot/mono leader longer than 8ft while rockfishing. Heck, I normally use a Spro barrel swivel to connect about 6ft of mono at the end of my braid haha! The lings don't mind.

Thanks to all who replied , I can see a rod length leader , makes sense ! 100 or 100 yds . seems like a waste of money to me , might never get to the braid with that much mono on my reels .

sometimes, not getting to the braid is the point as then you never have to replace the braid.

you just replace the mono, which is cheap and you replace the whole topshot. the braid should last almost forever this way.

braid that leaves the reel and goes out there does get nicked and worn and abraded and you do have to worry about cutting it off. especially if the braid is 30lb and under, very thin and prone to damage.

to minimize that issue, last season for rockfish I used a topshot of heavy mono, at least 40lbs, sometimes 50lbs, a bit longer than a rod length, so that some could wind onto the reel. It was for abrasion resistance over several trips. I did not bother to break down my rod/reels sometimes or retie the topshot to snap swivel for the next trip.

at the end of the topshot is a snap swivel (and slido for a trolling weight) and when it is wound up to the rod tip, no spectra is exposed, it's all on the reel.

I did replace the 2 to 4 foot leader of 25lb to 40lb mono/flouro pretty often, but not the topshot.

That was some low maintenance fishing. Eventually, on a bad snag, the well abraded topshot did break, but it took a few trips. and then I just tied my jig direct to the thick topshot for the rest of that session.

I'm not sure it's really worth it to tie those topshots on there (you need to be able tie a nice albright that you can wind through your guides and onto your reel (level wind would be an issue), but it worked pretty well. if I was on a fishing trip of several days I might consider that again for sure.

This year I might just go back to tying braid to snap swivel tho. not sure...

J

Some people prefer a little stretch on there line when using stiff rods. It gives them that little give when a big fish takes a strong run that would have torn the tissues in the mouth and lost the fish if they had braid on. In that case the topshot is more of the main line and the braid is more like backing.

The reason for the long top-shot is for long range fisherman going after Tuna.
The braid is used as backing for when a cow (200lbs or larger) is hooked. It will give sufficient line for the cow to make a good run and tire out. The mono top-shot is so when you catch a smaller fish you don't encouter a knot and are able to cast a bait as you normally would (Braid is harder to cast than Mono). The normal scenario would be a 50 class reel filled with 500 yds. of 80 lb. Spectra (Braid) topped with 100 - 200 yds of 50 - 60 lb. Mono.
With that said keep in mind that there are no wrong ways to rig for any fish and this is just the most common way we see our customers asked to be set up.

If you are talking Long Range gear 600 yards of braid does not fill a 50 reel and that is why there is so much top shot.  The next generation of reels from Avet, Peen Torque, etc. is changing the field so some are doing pure braid with a short fluorocarbon top shot.  Just remember that fish don't know what brand equipment you use and I still see guys using Walmart gear catching more fish.  Sometimes it's all luck and that's what makes it fun.