Going Overboard With Line #test

[smalliefinnatic]

So I like to flip and pitch my baits on mono line, simply because it is extremely low maintenance and I do not fish often enough (unfortunately) to drop 20 bucks on like 150 yards of braid! Anyways, a lot of people who I talk to about this ( I use trilene big game) tell me I should be going up to 20lb test around SPARSE cover.  Last summer I landed my pb largemouth (5pnd 2oz 19.5inches, fatass bass) on 10lb big game around some serious tree branches and weed cover. My question is, if I could land this bass out of sparse cover on 10lb line with medium spinning gear, why are people shocked when I tell them I flip with 14lb mono on my baitcasters?

[The Young Gun]

Part of it is, when people fish for money or just don't wanna lose a fish, they like the assurance of heavy line and know it won't fail.

[smalliefinnatic]

Part of it is, when people fish for money or just don't wanna lose a fish, they like the assurance of heavy line and know it won't f

Makes sense, thanks man

[slonezp]

Just because you use a tool to perform a job doesn't mean it's the best tool to perform the job.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I think a lot of it is that some just want to say they use 50, 65,80# test.

I cant get myself to go higher than 20# braid dont even use IT that much. I throw spro frogs with 10# braid got my pb with it out of thick slop and over a 20'+ fallen branch. Ive brought in huge weedmats,fish too, with just 15# braid.

[bigbill]

I upgraded all my setups to stronger copolymer line and the number of fish I caught went down to nada zip nothing.... I had to switch back to the lower test I was using. You can get away with the topwater setup, the Carolina rig setup but the crankbait setup and the spinner bait setup the fish are line diameter weary in the small places were I fish. I don't like the rubber band stretch of the mono.

 

I have braid on two rod setups but I don't use it.

[roadwarrior]

I have braid on two rod setups but I don't use it.

 

What does that mean?

[JayKumar]

If it works for you, don't worry about it.  The pros use heavy line because each fish is important to their livelihood -- it's not just fun fishing for them. They also fish in places where they can catch huge bass, which you may not.  Finally, a lot of the choice for line size is because of the hookset.  Thast's often when the most force is applied to the line.

[MarkH024]

So I like to flip and pitch my baits on mono line, simply because it is extremely low maintenance and I do not fish often enough (unfortunately) to drop 20 bucks on like 150 yards of braid! Anyways, a lot of people who I talk to about this ( I use trilene big game) tell me I should be going up to 20lb test around SPARSE cover.  Last summer I landed my pb largemouth (5pnd 2oz 19.5inches, fatass bass) on 10lb big game around some serious tree branches and weed cover. My question is, if I could land this bass out of sparse cover on 10lb line with medium spinning gear, why are people shocked when I tell them I flip with 14lb mono on my baitcasters?

You can get a 100 yds of Power Pro for ~$13.00 to do the job. 

But as stated, if it's working for you then keep doing it. 

[Diggy]

150 yards of power pro is 12 bucks at walmart up to 50lb, 65 is slightly more

 

sometimes they have omniflex braid and some sort of spider wire for lesser

 

 

Also Dicks sporting good seems to have 20% off right now on PP

 

bought 300 yards for 19.99 yesterday, 150 will be lesser

[SirSnookalot]

I think JayKumar's explanation is a good one, people like to emulate what the professionals are doing.  I'm more interested in line diameter and how it manages on the gear that I'm using.  

[Mccallister25]

I agree with the statement about if its working for ya, dont worry about it. I have 14# mono on my jig rod, and I actually prefer mono over fluoro. Im not a pro. I fish for the pleasure I get out of it. Iv caught good fish on 10# mono with a mouthfull of hydrilla. If Im using a certain technique and my line fails, ill switch. If it aint broke, dont fix it.