[tkwalker]

MN... Not sure how you are going to fish for the Rocks ... This is what I used for 20 Plus years.... This is with boards and trolling ... and I never lost a fish do to equipment failure ... Braid will eat your eyes of your rod (it is an abbrasive cable ... It is a gimmick, I still have 60year old braid that my Dad used on Shakespear Supreme reels it hasen't changed a lot ...then they used steel rods and steel eyes ... unless it is set up for braid it will eat your eyes up ... !!) unless the rod is specifically designed for it ... the higher end rods maybe.. and they are usually the ones that is hawking the Braid ... I started out with a cheap Eagle Claw 8 foot 6 inch yellow trolling rod from Cabela's and caught dozens of 40 to 50 pound linesides .. These are baitcaster rods so you have a range of reels that can be applied ... later on I had custom rods built that utilized the Rogers Wrap ... what this was is a set up of the eyes of the rod for a bait caster ... then rolled to the bottom of the rod like a spin caster ... Zero torque on the rod .. you could play a 40 pounder with one hand ... Think about it ... when the eyes are on the top of a rod and the fish in play moves to either axis the rod wants to roll left or right ... It puts a great load o the action and handling of the rod ... But when the eyes are on the bottom of the rod the backbone of the rod is relieved from the torque.. But bait casters (winch) has to be used Spinning reels will not get the job done on a 40 plus fish in a trolling situation ...

Sorry.. back to line ... in a trolling mode .. I used 40# Berkley Big Game ...Hook to swivel for my leaders ... The main line was Big Game #50 test ... Now remember I am after the Trophy Rogues 40 plus to 60 plus pounds with 16 inch bait fish ... If you want to catch your first rock schoolie .. Use a soft tip and stiff backbone for a rod (yellow eagle Claw ) and at least #30 pound P-line or big game line ... don't play them bring them to the boat or shore ... Now the Fly guys do well with what they use ... #10 rods plus stuff and streamers ... I am not even going to go there I'll leave that to bd ... I am not a Fly guy ...

There is only one knot for Mono ... It is a double knot ... very simply made and it has never failed me in 40 plus years of prof. Fishing ... It is a Palomar Knot .. check the video ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiDDdW22X9k

Bottom line if you are just getting started ... A cheap catfish pole at Walmart will work ...but use good line and a moderate $$ baitcater reel for a winch ...

BUT HAVE FUN AND LEARN ... You will catch one and then the fever will start ... but keep a notebook of temp .the type of day ... (stormy, mild blue bird skies etc) ... It is all and adventure I hope this helps <'TK><