Big Fish Less Likely To Be Caught On Heavy Line?

[Brian6428]

Hey guys, I have two setups I use when I fish. One is spinning with 12# yozuri and the other is baitcasting with 50# power pro braid. I always seem to catch more fish on my spinning setup. Do you guys think this is becase the braid is spooking the fish? Also on the same note, if big bass are supposed to be more likely to see errors in our presentations than small fish, then would more big fish be caught on lighter line (theoretically speaking)?

 

Thanks!

 

Brian

[Catt]

You'll feel more bites on ligher line

[Brian6428]

You'll feel more bites on ligher line

I've never heard that before, do you know why that is?

[BassinLou]

If errors are done with bigger lines, the same errors will be done on light line. Those bigger fish didn't get to be that big striking at everything they see. Keeping your presentation as natural as possible, and understanding the habits of big bass are part of the keys of landing that big one.

[WRB]

The smaller the line diameter the harder it's for the bass to see. 1lb line would be ideal if we could control the bass where we hooked it. The problem is we can't control bass that tend to be in cover or near structure elements with 1lb line.

I use the smallest diameter line that is strong enough to cast the lures I use, set the hook and control the bass so I can land it. This is why I prefer small diameter FC line like Sunline or Blackwater.

Yo-Zuri hybrid is one of the largest line diameter for it's lb test on the market; 12 lb is 0.013D, equals other brands 16 lb line! I would go down to Yo-Zuri 8 lb for a spinning reel = 0.011 or other brands 12 lb.

I use 10 lb FC often when jig fishing for giant bass, not because it's more sporting, it's so I get get strikes, can't catch them if they don't bite!

Tom

[Marty]

Hey guys, I have two setups I use when I fish. One is spinning with 12# yozuri and the other is baitcasting with 50# power pro braid. I always seem to catch more fish on my spinning setup. Do you guys think this is becase the braid is spooking the fish? Also on the same note, if big bass are supposed to be more likely to see errors in our presentations than small fish, then would more big fish be caught on lighter line (theoretically speaking)?

 

Thanks!

 

Brian

 

Comparing your spinning and baitcasting might not be apples to apples because of different lures and techniques used on one but not the other.

 

I never had the need for anything stronger than 10# mono or 15# braid, but I've been reading for 40+ years about the heavy line used by pros and other tournament fishermen, so heavy line doesn't seem to deter strikes. Maybe all other things being equal a lighter line might catch more than a heavier line using the same lure, but that's just speculation and would be very hard to prove.

[Fishes in trees]

I think that there are many more variables to this question than just lb test of line.  In alot of bass cover, you might get more strikes with lighter line ( I repeat - might - no guarantee on this), but many of those strikes you wouldn't land, line would get broke, hung up and so forth.

 

If you think that you can catch more bass in cover with lighter line, then buy all means go for it.  If you find out that you are breaking off quite a few fish (and thereby leaving hooks in their mouths,etc) then stop it.

 

Line is only one variable ( albeit an important one ) in the spinning versus bait casting discussion.  There are lots of others.

[Brian6428]

Comparing your spinning and baitcasting might not be apples to apples because of different lures and techniques used on one but not the other.

 

I never had the need for anything stronger than 10# mono or 15# braid, but I've been reading for 40+ years about the heavy line used by pros and other tournament fishermen, so heavy line doesn't seem to deter strikes. Maybe all other things being equal a lighter line might catch more than a heavier line using the same lure, but that's just speculation and would be very hard to prove.

Yeah, i realized it might not be the best comparison right after i posted it. Next time out I'll try throwing the same worm on the same t-rig on both setups and see what the results are. Thanks all for the answers!

 

Brain

[kickerfish1]

I don't fish over 8# on spinning and rarely over 12# on casting. Only exceptions are a few braided line situations where the cover is very heavy.

[dodgeguy]

I've seen plenty of big fish caught on braid with no leader and tons of smaller fish on 8lb flouro.

[Brian Needham]

ask Matt Allen who uses ALL Braid.........or ask ANY swimbaiter, they all use 25#+.

 

the line used in SouthernTroutEaters was 30# cxx, in clear water, and they caught plenty.

 

then we have the Arig, where a coat hanger catches PLENTY of fish, many times on 80# braid.

 

line size might matter, in true gin clear, post frontal, post spawn, outside the lunar table, slick water type of day where fish are just finicky.........but on average , eh just fish what you can afford and whenever you can. I am sure you will catch your share.  

[Basseditor]

All of my biggest bass (7 to 10 pounders) have been caught on 20 or 25 lb flouro. Even in clear water.

 

I agree to some extent light line may hook more fish, but not because of visiblity, but action. Light line (thinner diameter) has less resistance in the water. It has a faster fall rate, but we compensate by using lighter weights of lures. I can't imagine using 10-12 lb line and half ounce sinkers.

 

As far as feeling the strikes, the lines behave differently. I think 25 lb is more sensitive than 12 especially with heavier sinkers. I used to use 6 lb line and eigth ounce sinkers almost exclusively, now I rarely go below 15. Now, I land more fish.

[Catt]

When someone says "bass can see your line and it will spook them".

My first reply is "so when the bass sees your line what does he think it is?".

The bass does not say "oh my gosh it's fishing line!".

Most bodies of water aint like a swimming pool, there is all kinds of things floating around.

Now that's out of the way

Rig 2 rods with wacky worms, one with 12# and one with 25# mono or flouro then you tell me which you feel more bites on.

[Brian6428]

Thanks, you guys all brought up some good points.

ask Matt Allen who uses ALL Braid.........or ask ANY swimbaiter, they all use 25#+.

 

the line used in SouthernTroutEaters was 30# cxx, in clear water, and they caught plenty.

 

then we have the Arig, where a coat hanger catches PLENTY of fish, many times on 80# braid.

 

line size might matter, in true gin clear, post frontal, post spawn, outside the lunar table, slick water type of day where fish are just finicky.........but on average , eh just fish what you can afford and whenever you can. I am sure you will catch your share.  

Very good point, I definitely forgot about that. A banned coat hanger, at that! lol

 

Brian

[Hooligan]

85% of my jig fishing is done on 15# fluorocarbon.  I definitely catch more fish on that line than I do 20#.  It isn't because visibility either, it's all about feel.

[JTMONEY606]

i like braid in cover and if im throwing a frog its a must for me 50 pound. i like 12 to 14 pound floruo for swimbaits and throwing t rigged worms and flipping senkos or brush hawgs, tubes. spinning reels i like 8 pound. if its a bigger spool spinning reel i go 10 but never throw anything over 10 for spinning unless i throw braid with a leader.im just learning also so i could have a wrong method.

[SirSnookalot]

Common sense leads me to believe that a thinner line is more sensitive, but common sense isn't always reality, so I don't know.  I'm braid user myself and don't use anything heavier than 20# for fresh and saltwater, I mostly fish moving baits. 

 

Lines are pretty strong today, as WRB noted Yozuri  8# has the thickness of 12# and we have read the breaking strength is over 8.  That being the case wouldn't one actually be using 12# line, not 8# as the label indicates?

I use a lot of 20# braid, it breaks over 30#, that said I'm really using 30# line, kinda reduces the notion of bigger fish on lighter line.

[Diggy]

My biggest bass have come mostly on 50-65lb braid, but its what you fish the most that will give you the best odds and that happened to be my case at the time.

[Todd2]

I've been catching more than a buddy using 17lb copoly. He is using 12lb fluoro. Now I know there are many other factors, but we are both throwing jigs/plastics from the same boat.......As far as sensitivity, I always thought and felt that heavier lines of the same type and brand would be more sensitive.

[new2BC4bass]

I don't fish over 8# on spinning and rarely over 12# on casting. Only exceptions are a few braided line situations where the cover is very heavy.

 

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