What line to use?

[NEBasser101]

I have been having trouble fishing flouro on my worm rod and reel. For that setup I usually fish senkos, ned rigs, and other light worm techniques. I might be fishing with too heavy line. What pound test line would you use for fishing senkos, ned rigs, and other light worm techniques? Thanks

[Sam]

Are you using a baitcaster or spinning rig?

I use between 10 to 17 pound test monofilament for baitcasters for treble hook baits and topwaters.

For my spinning setups, I use either braid or fluorocarbon between 8 to 12 pounds. Make sure the braid is the same "diameter" as your fluorocarbon line if you are using fluorocarbon line as your leader.

I also use fluorocarbon with braid backing on the spool to save line.

Fluorocarbon line is a "heavy" line and it can be difficult to control on a spinning rig if you go higher than 8 pound test. And 8 pound test can go bonkers with line twist, too. But using 8 pound test for Senkos, Ned rigs and other light worm techniques (drop shot, shaky head, Texas rigs, unweighted trick worms and Shad Raps) is the highest test I will use..

Now, for some secrets that everyone knows to help line control. These apply to spinning rigs for your finesse fishing and you can use some for you baitcasters.

1. When spooling a spinning reel make sure the line goes onto the spool in a counter clock-wise manner.

2. Do not over fill your spinning reel. Leave at least an eight of an inch from the top of the line to the top of the spool's rim. A little more space won't hurt but try not to exceed that eighth of an inch. The more line you have the easier it will get twisted and you will have to cut it out and retie your bait.

3. When spooling, spray five or six shots of the Kevin Van Dam Lure and Line Conditioner on the line you have just spooled onto the reel. You do this as you spool the line and then give it a big dose after the line is on the reel. You want to do this at least 24 hours before you use the reel and then during the day as you use the reel.

4. Read the line parameters on the spinning reel and do not exceed them.

5. Read the rod's parameters and make sure your line test and bait weights are within the rod's range for best performance.

6. Be ready for line twist. It comes with spinning rigs. It's the law. When you get line twist you DO  NOT OPEN THE SPINNING REEL'S BAIL. KEEP IT SHUT, LOOSEN THE DRAG, AND PULL THE LINE OFF THE SPOOL. If you open the bail the line will blast off the spinning reel. Then check the line for nicks, cuts, abrasions, etc. by running the line over your thumb nail. If you find any small change in the line you have to cut it out and retie as that part of the line is damaged and you have lost your test poundage.

7. Bring at least one additional spinning reel with you so you can change out spinning reels when you run out of line or you get a bad twisting situation.

What are the pros doing? The pros are using 8 pound test braid on their spinning reels to avoid line twist; get better feedback as to what is on the bottom via the braid/finger contact; using the same fluorocarbon line test diameter for their leader when finesse fishing; and cutting their line twist problems down to almost zero. They use braid for Senkos and flipping and pitching all types of plastics. with and without using a leader.

I know I gave you too much information to a simple question. Just remember to use the lightest test possible.

Good luck.

[gim]

It can be hard to put just the right amount of line on a spinning reel.  I've gone overboard before so I requested it be spooled with less line but then it was probably under-spooled and the line would sometimes get hung up on the edge of the top of the spool when I tried making long casts.  Unfortunately they are a necessary evil when finesse fishing because you can't use a bait caster in some light weight applications.

[geo g]

Because I fish the Everglades and okeechobee I use 15 pound test floro.  Not all floros act the same. I use 100 % Berkeley professional grade.  I love it and have little problems.  I keep it sprayed with line conditioner.  I use it with all my plastics .  Mono with top water, and braid for flipping.

[NEBasser101]

9 hours ago, Sam said:

Are you using a baitcaster or spinning rig?

I use between 10 to 17 pound test monofilament for baitcasters for treble hook baits and topwaters.

For my spinning setups, I use either braid or fluorocarbon between 8 to 12 pounds. Make sure the braid is the same "diameter" as your fluorocarbon line if you are using fluorocarbon line as your leader.

I also use fluorocarbon with braid backing on the spool to save line.

Fluorocarbon line is a "heavy" line and it can be difficult to control on a spinning rig if you go higher than 8 pound test. And 8 pound test can go bonkers with line twist, too. But using 8 pound test for Senkos, Ned rigs and other light worm techniques (drop shot, shaky head, Texas rigs, unweighted trick worms and Shad Raps) is the highest test I will use..

Now, for some secrets that everyone knows to help line control. These apply to spinning rigs for your finesse fishing and you can use some for you baitcasters.

1. When spooling a spinning reel make sure the line goes onto the spool in a counter clock-wise manner.

2. Do not over fill your spinning reel. Leave at least an eight of an inch from the top of the line to the top of the spool's rim. A little more space won't hurt but try not to exceed that eighth of an inch. The more line you have the easier it will get twisted and you will have to cut it out and retie your bait.

3. When spooling, spray five or six shots of the Kevin Van Dam Lure and Line Conditioner on the line you have just spooled onto the reel. You do this as you spool the line and then give it a big dose after the line is on the reel. You want to do this at least 24 hours before you use the reel and then during the day as you use the reel.

4. Read the line parameters on the spinning reel and do not exceed them.

5. Read the rod's parameters and make sure your line test and bait weights are within the rod's range for best performance.

6. Be ready for line twist. It comes with spinning rigs. It's the law. When you get line twist you DO  NOT OPEN THE SPINNING REEL'S BAIL. KEEP IT SHUT, LOOSEN THE DRAG, AND PULL THE LINE OFF THE SPOOL. If you open the bail the line will blast off the spinning reel. Then check the line for nicks, cuts, abrasions, etc. by running the line over your thumb nail. If you find any small change in the line you have to cut it out and retie as that part of the line is damaged and you have lost your test poundage.

7. Bring at least one additional spinning reel with you so you can change out spinning reels when you run out of line or you get a bad twisting situation.

What are the pros doing? The pros are using 8 pound test braid on their spinning reels to avoid line twist; get better feedback as to what is on the bottom via the braid/finger contact; using the same fluorocarbon line test diameter for their leader when finesse fishing; and cutting their line twist problems down to almost zero. They use braid for Senkos and flipping and pitching all types of plastics. with and without using a leader.

I know I gave you too much information to a simple question. Just remember to use the lightest test possible.

Good luck.

Thankyou!!! Great help!

[Mike L]

20 hours ago, geo g said:

Because I fish the Everglades and okeechobee I use 15 pound test floro.  Not all floros act the same. I use 100 % Berkeley professional grade.  I love it and have little problems.  I keep it sprayed with line conditioner.  I use it with all my plastics .  Mono with top water, and braid for flipping.

All the same for me but I use 16# sniper and braid for all top waters 

 

Mike