I'm ready for a New Lighter Tog Set up

Well George, let's go shopping!

How long of a rod are you thinking? If on a headboat, then something around 7'-7'6" is nice. One a smaller private boat all that length can be awkward to use. if I were going factory-built, I'd go with a Black Hole Challenger Bank 701M, for headboat use.

The various and sundry factory-built Jigging World (now Tackle World) house rods - are all very nice pieces. Most, if not all are in the 7' - 7'6" range. I visit there a few times every year, just to keep up with their extensive new inventory additions. Always something new to see/purchase/obsess over at Tackle World.

For use from a private boat, there's all sorts of choices - my own preference is a custom CTS BS703 cut to 6'6" from the butt. Very, very nice for your app. You could even go for a BS702 cut the same way, if you are sticking to 6oz or less. I had Capt. Neil build me both, along with a BS704 (for true H/D togging - think Montauk, or fishing in the North Folk tide), as well as a BJ702 - which is also quite nice, and much more moderate in action. I can say that my BS703 is really special for up to 8 or so ounces.

My current togging obsession is a Jigging World Ghost Hunter 300gram slow pitch rod. But at only 5'8" and spiral wrapped too, this is a very unorthodox rod for blackfishing, and might not be to everybody's taste. Kills it for me though! WHAT a cool little rod!

BTW, if you like the Black Hole Challenger Bank blanks, but want to trim one from the butt to a slightly shorter length for a custom build, they are also available nekid from KilSong.

What I personally don't care for are the Rod Geeks XL rod blanks - too fast for my taste. But no denying that those blanks are VERY popular. So as in so many things - cars, sports teams, the woomens, your own tastes determine what you like. 😎

Pete

BTW, are talking about "jigging" or standard rig fishing? Because that is another discussion!

CTS BJ701 you will never look back...

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I'm looking for recommendations on a tog setup. I don't want to say money's no object, but it has been a while and I deserve it :)

I have tried an Avet SX-5.3.1 on a custom rod and liked it. Any suggestions. I'm mostly fishing under 8 ounces, most time less than that.

Thanks

BTW, are talking about "jigging" or standard rig fishing? Because that is another discussion!

The standard is fine. I can't get that jig swing down yet! Thanks for the info.

Great. My original thoughts apply!

My current togging obsession is a Jigging World Ghost Hunter 300gram slow pitch rod. But at only 5'8" and spiral wrapped too, this is a very unorthodox rod for blackfishing, and might not be to everybody's taste.

Lep, I'm not a tog expert and I do it from a yak...but I find myself favoring longer and longer rods for tog jigging. I feel that the more line you can move on the hookset the better, bouncing that fish a few feet off the bottom before he even knew what hit him. Those first few turns of the reel handle can mean everything when you're dealing with a big fish!

I think it might be different since I'm setting the hook from a seated position, so every bit of extra leverage counts. Right now both my spinning and casting setups are 7'2, and I wouldn't mind a 7'6 length on the casting rod. These are freshwater blanks so not that heavy in weight, all things considered.

I really want to get into Tog this year but will be fishing off a party boat. Never fished for Tog so I don’t even know the methods (jigging vs standard) or the tackle to buy. Any recommendations for tackle for either party boats or open charters? Thanks in advance

I really want to get into Tog this year but will be fishing off a party boat. Never fished for Tog so I don’t even know the methods (jigging vs standard) or the tackle to buy. Any recommendations for tackle for either party boats or open charters? Thanks in advance

I’ll take a stab. I work on a PB on Saturday’s as a mate. Have been working on PBs the last 20 years (since I’m 13).

For standard rigs I’d recommend 1 hook. Many different types/styles are popular on here and you can easily find yourself going down that rabbit hole. I prefer a Gami octopus or old school Mustad or Finstrike Virginia style hook. Sinker weight varies with conditions.

For jigging, again take your pick. For some reason I have a sort of block when it comes to jigging and I suck at it. So I stick to the above mentioned rig.

I learned to fish for tog on broomstick boat rods with either a Daiwa 50H or a Penn Jigmaster loaded with 40lb mono. So maybe this is why I have the block on jig fishing lol.

I'm looking for recommendations on a tog setup. I don't want to say money's no object, but it has been a while and I deserve it 🙂

I have tried an Avet SX-5.3.1 on a custom rod and liked it. Any suggestions. I'm mostly fishing under 8 ounces, most time less than that.

Thanks

Avet’s are nice. I’m just not a fan of leverdrags. I’ve seen too many issues this year alone with customers using leverdrag style reels.

My go to tog reel is a Newell 225 P that I purchased brand new. It’s an updated version of the old style Newell. It has metal instead of plastic on all of the pieces that used to break off the newer plastic-style Newell’s.

So now I'm questioning the reel 🤔 Any opinions on the Accurate BV-300 Boss Valiant Conventional Reel for this application? It sure is lightweight and it rates well with anglers.

I no longer fish avets ...to many problems...The little jigging master is really nice ...I now fish low profile reels on thin light rods ...Abu & Daiwa make some nice LP reels I just upgrade the handle to the Abu power handle...

A abu garcia on a CTS is really hard to beat...

I no longer fish avets ...to many problems...The little jigging master is really nice ...I now fish low profile reels on thin light rods ...Abu & Daiwa make some nice LP reels I just upgrade the handle to the Abu power handle...

A abu garcia on a CTS is really hard to beat...

It sounds like a nice setup. I can see where this is headed. Like I mentioned a few times - I deserve it!

Thanks for the suggestion

Todays rods are thinner & stronger than the older style Calstar , Lami & seekers type rods...United Composite has a ultra lite micro jiggers that can handle big fish & lead...Phenix M1's & the slow pitch are super nice ...CTS is the top of the food chain...

I no longer build many Calstars for bottom fishing,,,zero Seekers & Lamiglas..just so out dated ..do you wear wooden clogs or ultra lite sneakers or shoes? Todays LP reels have solid frames & more drag than you will ever need bottom fishing...so you have the right idea ..going lite no longer means being under gunned ..

I also agree with Lep on rodgeeks just the wrong rods for the way we fish..

So now I'm questioning the reel 🤔 Any opinions on the Accurate BV-300 Boss Valiant Conventional Reel for this application? It sure is lightweight and it rates well with anglers.

That's overkill George,there are lots of hybrid reels out there that are so much better and not as costly.

I fish with two guys that own those little Accurate Valiant 300 lever-drag jammies. I have to admit, not only are they super-tiny, but very strong as well. A beautiful piece of American engineering. Expensive as all get-out though.

My little built-up Abu "Mini-togger" reels are some nice pieces. Over the past 10-15 years I've custom crafted and tuned maybe 25-30 of them. Every one a little different - and as we progressed down that road over the years, every one a little bit lighter/stronger than the ones preceding it. But these are not for everybody - custom anything costs money, and there are far less expensive options out there.

However, if you wanna be uniquely different, no one else will have one - because you designed it! That appeals to me, and a handful of other guys out there as well. Is it really any different than fishing with a custom-built rod? Having a TRUE custom rod/reel combo, something only you own, is well, special.

Believe me, I'm NOT soliciting any new reel builds, just making a point. In truth, I've always done these for the cost of the parts - never made a dime on any of them. It takes a good amount of time to research and gather the latest hot-rodding parts from vendors all over the World, and the assembly seldom is true bolt-on. Nothing "custom" ever seems to be. So I've worn out a few Dremel tools doing this, not to mention my patience and eyesight aren't what they once were. . .

Anyway, in the relative "cost-effective" category, I like the Daiwa Lexa 300-series very much - after working on a bunch of them, they do seem to hold up nicely. But I hear that Daiwa discontinued this reel in the 5:1 gear ratio. Now only 6:1, or something like that available. Might not be an issue for most, but I fish with my custom little 3.8:1 reels, and believe me, there's a HUGE difference in tog-pulling power.

I’ve been using a tsunami slow pitch with a maxel hybrid 2 seasons now. Works well for north shore and montauk toggin.

I’ve been using a tsunami slow pitch with a maxel hybrid 2 seasons now. Works well for north shore and montauk toggin.

are you jigging or fishing conventionally with rod: also what length are you using and what test line on the maxel?

are you jigging or fishing conventionally with rod: also what length are you using and what test line on the maxel?

Conventionally, TSSPJ-C661MH. 30lb braid

For jigging, I use a Trevala S spinning rod with a Penn Conflict 2500.