Detecting Bites With Mono

[smalliefinnatic]

For a lot of reasons, I would rather use mono line as opposed to other types. I'm aware sensitivity is greatly reduced but what if I have high vis line and watch my line for movement. Would I miss alot of bites? By the way I fish very cloudy water so high vis line is not an issue

[Stren_g]

There's nothing wrong with mono, each line type has its pros and cons for various situations. Plus it has the advantage of being easier to untangle if you get a birds nest. A lot of people have and still do catch many fish on mono. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you're referring to fishing soft plastics, t-rig and c-rig. To answer your question about detecting bites; I think you'll be fine. Watch your line, and pay attention to how a fish feels vs brush/rocks/grass.

[deep]

If you're just watching your line (I'm assuming you're talking about semi-slack line techniques?), you're probably going to miss quite a few bites anyway..

 

Tell me this, does your rod have a foregrip? That is a rhetorical question. I hope you, and anyone else who'd bother to think, can figure the rest out.

[Kevin22]

Fish were caught long before the invention of fluoro. 

[smalliefinnatic]

If you're just watching your line (I'm assuming you're talking about semi-slack line techniques?), you're probably going to miss quite a few bites anyway..

 

Tell me this, does your rod have a foregrip? That is a rhetorical question. I hope you, and anyone else who'd bother to think, can figure the rest out.

So Im supposed to keep my line tight to feel bites?? I thought you were supposed to fish t-rigs on a slack line??

[Stren_g]

Normally I think most folks let it fall on slack line, but keep some tension on while its being retrieved. However I have fished weightless plastics with slack line in tough conditions. Soon as I'd see line twitch... Cross er eyes!

[HeavyDluxe]

Everyone misses bites.  I remain unconvinced that I detect fewer because I'm on mono.  And my catch rates compared to friends when we're fishing the same waters seem to indicate the same.

[Knightiac]

I mainly fish mono and I let the plastic fall on a slack line... If you see it move or feel like it stopped too soon, set the hook. It's free. Worst case you set the hook on nothing. Then when it hits the bottom I like to keep the line fairly tight, just provides better feel. I used to fish jigs on mono until I purchased a separate jig rod (now use floro on that rod). You can still feel most bottom contact bites with mono, if you keep the line fairly tight. You always want to let your lure fall on a slack line so it falls straight down, any tension at all and it will swing back towards you slightly.

[kickerfish1]

Before floro and braid came along all we basically had was mono for everything. Still caught plenty of fish. Like any other line in the market it has its time and place.

[Mccallister25]

All i fish with is mono. I simply prefer it over fluoro. When im using plastics, i can still feel bites. Now when I fish a jig, Im sure I miss a lot of fish.. I dont really know how to pick those out. Iv had fish swim off with my jig, and never knew it until watching my line.

[deep]

So Im supposed to keep my line tight to feel bites?? I thought you were supposed to fish t-rigs on a slack line??

 

I don't like the term "slack". To me, that means yards of line laying on top of the water. I prefer the term "semi-slack". When the bait is dropping, you can follow the bait down with the rod, keeping contact with the bait all along while allowing it to fall vertically. Be aware that lots of bites may (will) come on the fall.

[Hattrick7]

I use 12# mono on my setup and I feel everything. I think the quality and construction of your rod is more a factor. I use a one piece graphite rod with an exposed reel seat and even the slightest tick I can feel it. 

 

 

[Hyrule Bass]

if youre fishing weightless plastics, your going to have a little slack most always in the line. if youre line is moving sideways, you have a bite. if your line starts getting tugged on, you have a bite. if your line slackens in towards you without you pulling it, you have a bite. those are the obvious ones. but sometimes a fish will just pick your bait up and sit there, these bites are harder to detect but can be detected by feel more so than sight, unless you can see the fish eating your bait in the water. feeling a bite like that is where concentration comes in, does anything feel different? then you might have a bite...but regardless, if you even think you have a bite, set the hook, it wont hurt anything if theres nothing there, but could hook you a fish if one is there...