Your Choice Of Line And Why

[archman]

I have gotten into smallie fishing on Lake Erie this year pretty hard.  I am having trouble deciding what type of line to use.  I had success with 8 lb mono, but someone who has fished for them for years on the great lakes recommended fluorocarbon.  I used all different types (p-line, seaguar, p-line fluoroclear) and experienced significant break offs.  Much more than mono.  I have researched braid, and most recommend a fluorocarbon leader, which puts me back where I am now, with more breakoffs.  Is there something I am missing out there?  I have read where some say they use braid without a leader and do not notice a difference in the number of bites compared to using a fluoro leader.  I fished the fingerlakes with p-line fluoroclear and did not have any breakoffs in 3 days.  I had 3 breakoffs when I got back to Lake Erie in the first hour.

[Dwight Hottle]

I use 10lb braid & maxima ultragreen as a leader. Works well for me.  

[ClackerBuzz]

sounds like a knot issue.  

mono line is more forgiving with knot tying. fluoro burns easily ie gets brittle and breaks. sit down in front of the t.v. one night and tie ur knot a hundred times. make sure the knot lies down properly. wet it good. a palomar knot burns easily. make sure to pull the tag end thru.  you want to 'burn' the tag end, not the main line.  the san diego jam knot is one of the best b/c you can cinch it down (actually pushing it up the line) while not burning line.  and it lays down nice.

 

testing the break strength will improve ur skills and increase confidence.  don't wait till ur on the water w/ a fish on the end.  use ur hands and break ur line while watching t.v.  pull to the breaking point at 12".  try  it with another knot at 24".  experiment and break at different lengths.

 

only other possibility is backlashes are kinking/compromising ur line.  does this breakage happen after a baitcaster backlash?  or ru using spinning gear? if you use spinning gear then its def a knot tying problem.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I use 10lb braid & maxima ultragreen as a leader. Works well for me.

x2 

I have gotten into smallie fishing on Lake Erie this year pretty hard.  I am having trouble deciding what type of line to use.  I had success with 8 lb mono, but someone who has fished for them for years on the great lakes recommended fluorocarbon.  I used all different types (p-line, seaguar, p-line fluoroclear) and experienced significant break offs.  Much more than mono.  I have researched braid, and most recommend a fluorocarbon leader, which puts me back where I am now, with more breakoffs.  Is there something I am missing out there?  I have read where some say they use braid without a leader and do not notice a difference in the number of bites compared to using a fluoro leader.  I fished the fingerlakes with p-line fluoroclear and did not have any breakoffs in 3 days.  I had 3 breakoffs when I got back to Lake Erie in the first hour.

 

75% of the time I'm fishing for smallies I am jigging or fishing a buzzbait/topwater. Most rods are M/ML and strung up with 10-15lb. braid with a 6-8lb. fluoro leader. 

 

I tie my lures to the fluorocarbon using a San Diego jam knot, and don't have any issues. When tying fluorocarbon it's very important to lubricate the knot before cinching it down.

[archman]

Thanks for all of the advice.  It could be the knot.  But I fished at the Fingerlakes for 3 days (different kind of structure) and did not have one breakoff.  I am just thinking the zebra muscles and rocks on Erie are causing a lot more abrasians on my line, and the p-line fluoroclear can't handle it.  

 

Anyone try Yo Zuri hybrid (fluoro and nylon)?  It seems like the reviews are good.

 

I went with a guy who had no idea what he was doing.  He was using 12 lb test and clear water, and was catching as many as I was.  I wonder if fluorocarbon is even necessary.

[keith71]

I think it could be mussel beds damaging your flouro. Although I dont fish over mussel beds I fish alot of Rip-Rap and experienced a few breakoffs. Try a good light mono leader and maybe your luck will change. 

[EvanT123]

I'd second that it sounds like a knot issue and trying braid with either flouro or trying a copoly like yo-zuri.

[Driftb]

A good braid like fireline or Nanofil will give you significantly the best feel.  Using very small diameter like 6 or 8 will usually work fine in clear water conditions, altho the abrasion resistance isn't as good as copoly or mono. Flouro has good feel too, because of it's low stretch.  The thing to remember with Flouro is that once it has been stretched to it's breaking strenth, as in a breakoff, the structure of that piece of line has been significantly weakened. So cut off a bunch of line and retie. The yozuri Hybrid seems to have a better feel and excellent abrasion resistance when compared with most mono, and is very tough, without the knot issues of flouro.

[IneedAnewScreenName-3261]

Arch,

 

I do alot of smallmouth fishing around the great lakes, Erie, St. Claire, Lake Michigan. For me it's flouro strictly. I'm in love with Seaguar InizX. It holds up too the abuse and is pretty user friendly as far as flouro goes. Great lakes smallies are tough critters, you HAVE to back off on your drag and just take it easy. Most of the time there is absolutely nothing they can get wrapped around so take your time and let them fight. Use the smallest sharpest hook you can get away with too, for me that seems to help. Especially when I'm dropshottig.

 

I do like Berkley Nanosilk, but I truely belive it effects the amount of bites a day I get. However I will say, I have been in the boat with lots of people that do throw braid and they seem to do fine. For me it's a confidence thing. I can remember breaking off once in the last 2 years and it was my fault for "horsing" it. Light drag, light rods, take your time.

[NathanW]

Does anyone hear use Nanofil??? I tried all options mentioned above. Nothing comes close. I started using 12# and 10# nanofil mainline with a 8 or 6# Trilene 100% Fluoro leader two seasons ago and have never looked back....

 

Use the knots Berkley advertises in their Nanfil packaging. Its called a double albright, master it before you leave the house. It honest to god ties 3 times faster than a double clinch and it is noticably stronger. I have a stubborn fishing partner that swears on light fluorcarbon mainline for drop shotting (because Aaron Martins does it). The guy lives and dies by his line managment, line twist, and break offs, respooling. I find it pretty ammusing becuase I dont have to stress out or worry about any of those things. I slap fresh mainline on all three of my drop shot setups at the begining of each season and am good to go all year. Just somthing to think about.

[MichBassMan]

In Lake Michigan I strongly prefer flouro  #8 to #12 (invizx). Flouro has much better "slack line" sensitivity than mono does. Braid has none. Knots and flouro is a learning curve but well worth the effort. I use Shaw Grizbys no-name knot. It's FAR superior to any other knot I've tried with fluorocarbon line. 

[IneedAnewScreenName-3261]

That's what I meant nanofil not silk. It's good stuff, but I mostly fish it for largemouth on inland lakes. Love it for skipping docks and jig worms stuff like that. I just never got into dropshotting with it. Like I said in water that clear I think it effects bites. Probably all in my head. I will be up in Traverse City this weekend maybe I will do some comparing.

[ClackerBuzz]

I think line matters less than 5% of the time.  #1 is location #2 is presentation (being that multiple lures will work at any given time but presentation must be correct) #3 type of lure. #4 color....# way way down: line.

 

fluorocarbon requires a learning curve when tying terminal knots. and it def requires learning when tying connection knots. it doesn't sound like ur ready to go thru this learning curve.  you can skip all this by going braid to co-poly ie Yo Zuri.  co-poly knots cinch down as easy as mono and remain strong. you could 'upgrade' to braid with co-poly with ease. 

or go with all Yo Zuri.  Great line and you won't be disappointed. lake Erie is def a big lake environment so the fish aren't as line shy as a small stable farm pond. lots of guys use straight (small diameter) braid and I wouldn't hesitate if i lived there.

 

Dwight is a lake Erie smallie slaying god. i would hesitate to buy maxima ultragreen

[archman]

I use seaguar for steelhead fishing as a leader and don't have issues with knots breaking. But I guess it's a different animal with all of the rocks and zebra muscles on Erie.

[Zach Dunham]

Personally, I just don't like using leaders if I don't have to. In my opinion it just adds more points of failure. I have had success even in pretty clear water with Vicious Ultimate Copolymer Mono at 6lb or 8lb. I'm sure the brand doesn't matter all that much, it is just my preference.

[rjf385]

Been using 6lb-8lb stren for most of my life. Never used braided or fluorocarbon line.

[archman]

I tried both Yo Zuri hyrid and Power Pro (with the Yo zuri as a leader).  I definitely preferred the yo zuri.  I did not have any breakoffs, and two of the smallies I landed were pushing 5 lbs.  I didn't care for the braid, but I'm sure I need to just get used to it.  Every little rock seemed like a bite.  The Yo Zuri was good as far as feel and abrasian resistance, but it does seem a little stiff compared to straight mono.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I tried both Yo Zuri hyrid and Power Pro (with the Yo zuri as a leader). I definitely preferred the yo zuri. I did not have any breakoffs, and two of the smallies I landed were pushing 5 lbs. I didn't care for the braid, but I'm sure I need to just get used to it. Every little rock seemed like a bite. The Yo Zuri was good as far as feel and abrasian resistance, but it does seem a little stiff compared to straight mono.

Not a big fan of the hybrid for most smallmouth techniques... too stretchy for my tastes. I usually use line conditioner, especially with mono/copoly/hybrid. Helps a lot with stiffness and memory.

If every rock seemed like a bite with braid I'd suspect the rod, not the line.

[IneedAnewScreenName-3261]

Come on arch! That's a good thing. Rock rock rock rock goby rock toad smallie! You know the drill. I hear you though. It can be boy that cried wolf type of thing. Like I said early, I don't prefer the braid either. Keep expeirementing, you will figure out what works for you

[archman]

I might try the line conditioner.  I hear a lot of talk about the KVD stuff.  Does the real magic you can get at Walmart work?  is it all the same stuff?

[NathanW]

I stock up on real magic. Keeps your line lubricated real well.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I might try the line conditioner.  I hear a lot of talk about the KVD stuff.  Does the real magic you can get at Walmart work?  is it all the same stuff?

I use Ardent Line Butter and I'm very happy with it. Can't speak for anything else.

[ClackerBuzz]

Been using 6lb-8lb stren for most of my life. Never used braided or fluorocarbon line.

you have no idea what ur missing out on.

i know a guy who is die hard "mono is just fine".  i quietly laugh at his constant lost fish.  they always mysteriously spit the hook before he can boat them. i tried to tell him he never had them hooked in the first place but you know how that goes.

i agree mono is fine if you like trying hook set a jig 60 ft away with a rubber band. on a more serious note mono is better for cranking 

[Snakehead Whisperer]

you have no idea what ur missing out on.

i know a guy who is die hard "mono is just fine".  i quietly laugh at his constant lost fish.  they always mysteriously spit the hook before he can boat them. i tried to tell him he never had them hooked in the first place but you know how that goes.

i agree mono is fine if you like trying hook set a jig 60 ft away with a rubber band. on a more serious note mono is better for cranking

This. x2.

 

Was about to write the same thing, then I saw your post. I'll even go one step further and say that if you're not using bright yellow (or some other high-vis braid) you're probably missing fish too.

 

[Basshammer]

I would say just go with braid as it is strong and sensitive and probably won't break off.  Seems your leader is what is breaking and this won't happen with braid.  How are you attaching your leader with  swivel or some kind of knot?