Your Choice Of Line And Why

[ww2farmer]

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.

I fish the same places, although not as much as I would like to on Erie. My line choice is the same on the finger lakes as the big lake. For drop shotting it's 10lb braid with an 8lb fluorocarbon leader. For tubes it's the same. Even though both the finger lakes and Erie have zebra mussles, for some reason on the finger lakes I fish (Conesus, Honeyoe) things don't get chewed up as bad as they do on Erie. I have had a tube hit the bottom on Erie and been broke off instantly.....it's the nature of the beast. All the good Erie smallmouth fisherman I know use 8lb fluoro. that's why I use it.

[TankBobcatWatts]

I live on Lake St Clair and fish smallies multiple times per week all year... I use only fluorocarbon. Sunline FC Sniper or Pline Halo to be exact. I also use a palomar knot on everything and I very rarely break off. I range from 8 pound to 15-16 pound test. maybe an issue with hooksets? Are you letting them have it too long? are you torquing on the bronze backs while using a drop shot when it is unnecessary? What technique are you using out there?

[gravestone]

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. 

I think keith it correct. If you're fishing one lake and not getting breakoffs and you fish another and are it' gotta be the structure, assuming you're tieing your knots the same way one both lakes.

I 've fished lakes in ny that had zebra mussel beds, no line stands up to it.

[AssassinAngling]

I have fished Lake Erie my whole life. I personally use a leader of  fluorocarbon coated P-Line either 8-10lb on 30lb braid. I have used regular fluorocarbon but It seemed to break more fish off. But this is mostly a personal preference thing just experiment and find out what you like!

[bostonsox2904]

I'll second that it could be a knot issue. Yozuri flourocarbon is awesome. Been catching a lot more fish since I switched to a flouro leader!

[Felix77]

All my baitcasters are fluoro (Seaguar Invizx) with the exception of one topwater rod which gets P-Line.  My spinning gear is all the same ... 10 lb Braid (PowerPro) with an 8lb FC leader.  Tied with a double uni.

 

FWIW ... This sounds like a knot issue.  There should be no reason you have that much inconsistency with those many lines.  If the knots you are using might be the problem try mastering another one to see if it helps.  I tie on a trilene knot 90% of the time.  The other 5% is a snell knot and/or a palomar when needed.

 

Hope this helps.  

[Hi Salenity]

I either use nanofil with a Abrazx leader or 100% abrazx. I like the nanofil the best but I HATE to tie on a new leader on the water!

Yes I fish around razorclambs when I fish for smallies.

[fstr385]

If I had only one go to line for everything overall as a whole including price it would be 12lb vanish flouro.

Moderate viz, decent strength, great feedback, and decent price. I use braid and mono deoending on app.... but if I had one pick bang for buck....

[mod479]

I love YZ hybrid 4# and 6#, it covers a number of techniques for me and it's tough as nails. I like Tatsu for dropshotting, handles very well on spinning gear after a bit of a break in period and line conditioner.