What Line?

[Zach Johnston]

Being a college student I don't have much money to spend, but I love to fish for largemouth.  Ive been using 14 lb Fireline on a 7'3" St. Croix Legend Extreme (bought it used).  I generally fish mainly large ponds, sometimes lakes, and rarely around damns on the Tn river.  I stick to football head jigs, cranks, rattletraps, and love frogs.  I really like braid, but I'm fairly new to fishing, I know the basics, but I wish to be better.

[baluga]

There's no reason to replace your current braid, 14# Fireline is fine.  Try to use different # of leader FC or Mono to adjust to the application.  Use Alberto Knot for joining leader to braid. Use Palomar Knot when tying the lure.

 

But if you want a better braid without breaking the bank, go with PP S8S or Sufix 832. You can find them on sale from time to time.

[motodmast]

your setup is good, i would recommend any braid, (i like spiderwire, but everyone is different) i like 20lb or 30lb and run that to eather a 12lb or 14lb 4ft leader of fluorocarbon. usean alberto knot to tie the fluoro to the braid. that will be your best setup and give you maximum sensitivity and hook setting power from the braid, but the invisibility and also good strength from the fluorocarbon leader. i really like sufix fluoorcarbon. id give it a try. many line companies have like 3-4 different fluorocarbon lines, well suffix has one GOOD fluorocarbon, unlike the others that have crappy cheep ones and good super expensive ones.

[BrettD]

I dont use leader I think its just another knot to fail. Ive never understood the need for it I know people say the fish will see you line sure they might but their pea sized brain doenst know what it is. Treble hooks dont seem to scare them off or does the alabama rig with 5 stainless wires coming off it. If it makes you a feel more confidence using a leader then use one but I believe they are not needed.

[roadwarrior]

I don't know why you thought you already received the "right" answer.

First of all, I'm not a fan of Fireline (original fused) or Power Pro. I have

just started fishing the new Tuf-Line SuperCast which has already received 

great initial reviews from me and several other members. BassResource

members are eligible for a spool at only $4.99. I suggest giving this a try.

 

http://tuf-line.com/free-line.php

 

[Hooligan]

And I, on the other hand, would recommend a copolymer rather than braid or any super line. In most cases, I'd even go so far as to recommend fluorocarbon for what you're doing. Better abrasion resistance and better feel than braid on the whole.

What I would not recommend is Suffix fluorocarbon. It's low abrasion resistance, high stretch, and relatively poor knot strength has you paying a lot for a line that for a couple bucks more you can get the reliability and predictability of Seaguar Red Label. Add just a beer more and you get Invizx. Don't skimp on line. That's the only connection between you and your lure.

[Darren.]

Hi Zach, I see this was your first posting, so welcome to the site.

 

You being on limited budget means you have to be careful what you ask because the Bait Monkey is ever lurking to pry your wallet open just a little bit more. Believe me, I know.

 

That said, for now you can stick with your Fireline. I'm not a fan of it, I'm a fan of original Power Pro. I actually have 10lb Fireline spooled on one of my Stradics at the moment. But as roadwarrior suggested, for a cool $5 you can try out 12lb Tuff-Line. I bought it, but I have not spooled it up yet. The line gets good reviews so far.

 

As well, I assume you have a spinning setup? If so, then I feel braid is absolutely the best for line management. Tie on a leader -- be it mono, copoly, or fluorocarbon. Personally, I use copoly the most. It is inexpensive, and some are coated (P-Line floroclear, fav) or blended (Yo-Zuri Hybrid) with fluoro. They are extremely strong.

 

Become proficient at the Albright - or modified Albright knots for joining braid to leader. Of course, this is my opinion. I like the slender profile of the Albright knots the best, and it is incredibly strong.

[motodmast]

this is the fluoro i was talking about.. read the reviews.

http://www.***.com/Sufix_Invisiline_Castable_Fluorocarbon/descpage-SCF.html

[OkeechobeeAngler]

The fireline is okay. I'd recommend upgrading to PP when ya can. As for flouro, use Seaguar.

[Zach Johnston]

I actually use an Abu Garcia baitcaster.  I usually just put the whole reel of braid on.  I'm done using the Fireline, mainly because I'm not happy with its performance.  This was my first post and I appreciate all the answers.  I think I'll try the Tuf-Line, but is it necessary to have a leader?

[roadwarrior]

A leader is never required, but a lot of guys think it improves the presentation for

certain techniques and in clear water. Specifically, I see no reason for leaders on

lines fished with spinnerbaits, deep running crankbaits or topwater. Jigs and soft

plastics? Maybe.

 

 

 

 

[Hooligan]

this is the fluoro i was talking about.. read the reviews.

I'm quite aware of the line you're indicating and I maintain my original thoughts.  I don't need the reviews to tell me that the line does not perform to my expectations, or to the expectations of anyone I know that has fished it.  What I see when I read those reviews are people that don't know the difference in good fluorocarbon material and poorly extruded material.  Suffix has tried to make one line for the masses and it doesn't excel in any one area.  It has poor abrasion resistance, and it has very high stretch-  I particularly enjoy those that say they've been fishing that line for three or four years.  It was introduced mid-year of '12.  There are VALID reasons that there are different consistencies of fluorocarbon on the market.  In calling a product "trash" one automatically denigrates the entire purpose and validity for doing so.

As I initially stated; a very good fluorocarbon for mainstream use is Red Label- even Yo Zuri is better than Suffix.  Better diameters, abrasion resistance, knot strength, stretch, and casting behaviour.  That said, there are MANY manufacturers that make a better fluoro than the Suffix, for around the same money.  If I wanted a line that stretches 25-35% per foot, I'd fish mono!

[motodmast]

A leader is never required, but a lot of guys think it improves the presentation for

certain techniques and in clear water. Specifically, I see no reason for leaders on

lines fished with spinnerbaits, deep running crankbaits or topwater. Jigs and soft

plastics? Maybe.

 

yup, your exactly right, there really isn't a reason to run a leader for cranks, topwater, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs only think i run leaders on is soft plastics and jigs. 

if the water where you live is murky, you don't need to run a leader, i run one cause i live in Washington and the water up here is pretty clear (7+ feet)

edit: idk what i did but somehow my reply is inside what i quoted from you. Huummmmm...