Need help simplifying line choices

[BrianMRetter]

Hello everyone! I am trying to simplify my bass fishing. I am trying to cover most of my baitcasting presentations with just 3 rods. I know some rods aren't the absolute best option for some presentations, but I think they'll be workable. My next issue to tackle is trying to figure out what line to put on which rod? I'd like to stick to 1 specific type & weight of line per rod. I realize for some presentations I won't have the best possible option, but again I'm willing to compromise a little bit in order to simplify things. I'd really appreciate any suggestions you have for what line to use!

Setup #1
Rod: 7' M/M (St. Croix Premiere)
Reel: 6.3:1 (Shimano Curado 200i)
Line: ?
  -Lipless Crankbait
  -Squarebill Crankbait
  -Deep Diving Crankbait

Setup #2
Rod: 6' 8" MH/F (St. Croix Premiere)
Reel: 6.3:1 (Shimano Curado 200i)
Line: ?
  -Texas Rig
  -Pitching Jig
  -Casting Jig
  -Spinnerbait
  -Chatterbait
  -Buzzbait
  -Hollow Body Frog

Setup #3
Rod: 7' 11" H/MF (Okuma Guide Select)
Reel: 6.2:1 (Shimano Curado 300E)
Line: ?
  -Full Body Swimbaits

 

[12poundbass]

Just my opinion, braided line. Easy to use,low maintanence, a bit pricy up front but it'll last longer. Especially if you use a filler for part of your reel.

[FishOnLMB]

For the first setup, I would go 12-15lb fluro. I would also put spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and chatteraits on your first setup as long ans there 1/2oz and under. For your second setup, I would use 50-65lb braid. For your third setup, I would use 20-25lb mono. The reason why you use mono on big heavy swim baits instead of braid is that if you a backlash in the middle of your cast, the braid has a good chance of snapping since there is no line stretch. With mono, if you backlash, the line has enough stretch and wont break. 

[fishnkamp]

First let me welcome you to bass Resources. 

Let's talk about your first combo. I agree you can successfully fish lots more baits on that rig. Definitely spinnerbaits, all of your wakebaits, shallow and mid depth crankbaits will work here fine. Topwater plugs like Pop R's and Chug Bug type baits should work here as well. Include jerkbaits with this combo too. I would look to add some hollow bodied or soft swimbaits like Reaction Innovations Skinny Dippers. Fish these unweighted on a spinning rod, but lightly weighted using a belly weighted swimbait hook like the ones Gamakatsu makes (1/8 and 1/4).  For deeper water get some swimbait jig heads like Picasso makes. I fish my Skinny Dippers on 3/8 and 1/2 ounce models.   Since I added to your list of lures I prefer a copolymer line like P Line Floroclear in say 12 or 14 pound test.

 

I would use your second rig for your heavier texas rigs (use a Medium power spinning rod for tx rigs less than 5/16, jigs over 5/16, Chatterbaits, buzzbaits, lightweight carolina rigs (under 3/4 ounce). For this rig I would use a line like P Line CXX in moss green 10 pound test ( it regularly breaks at 22 pounds). My choice would change if you had another rod better suited for the chatterbaits and buzzbaits. I would use 30 pound braid and a fluoro leader. That combo will not work for topwaters, the braid sinks.  If you use the P line make sure to coat it with line conditioner as you spool it and a couple of times a season stretch it to get the memory out of it.

 

The third rod would get 17 to 20 pound mono also.  

I am not sure how well either of your rods will handle the frogs 

If we look at true deep diving crankbaits like DD22s and others that reach 20-25 foot deep you may want to experiment throwing these on your swimbait rod. I think that may workout better. You could also experiment with an A rig on that rod.

Good Luck, let us know what you do and how it works for you.  

[WRB]

Sunline Armillo Defier Nylon line, 15 lb for the 200 size reels and 25 lb for the 300 size reel.

Tom

[A-Jay]

Set up #1  ~ 15lb Fluorocarbon (Seagar InvisX)

Set up #2 ~  40lb Braid  (Suffix 832)

Set up #3 ~ 25lb Mono  (Maxima Ultragreen)

 

A-Jay

[MassYak85]

If it were me I'd go 15lb fluoro (Sunline Sniper, in which case 16lb) for the first setup, 40lb braid (Suffix 832) for the second, and 20lb mono/copoly for the swimbait rod. I have the same rod and use 20lb P-Line CXX (granted that line breaks much higher than 20lbs). 

[roadwarrior]

#1  Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo #11

      http://www.sunlineamerica.com/shooter-defier-armilo/

 

#2  Seaguar Tatsu #12 or #40 Seaguar Smackdown with a Tatsu or AbrazX leader

      http://seaguar.com/shop-direct/shop_seaguar/tatsu.html

      http://seaguar.com/shop-direct/shop_seaguar/abrazx.html

      http://seaguar.com/freshwater/braid.html 

 

#3  #40 Smackdown with #20 Seaguar InvizX leader

       http://seaguar.com/freshwater/fluorocarbon.html 

      

 

       

[kbeeb374]

12 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Set up #1  ~ 15lb Fluorocarbon (Seagar InvisX)

Set up #2 ~  40lb Braid  (Suffix 832)

Set up #3 ~ 25lb Mono  (Maxima Ultragreen)

 

A-Jay

 

I would change set up 1 to 10 or 12 pound yo-zuri Hybrid myself but otherwise that is exactly what I would do.

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, kbeeb374 said:

 

I would change set up 1 to 10 or 12 pound yo-zuri Hybrid myself but otherwise that is exactly what I would do.

 

 While I'd agree that the Yo-zuri Hybrid is a decent option, 10 lb test IMO may end up being problematic.

Where the OP is using set up #1 for Squarebills, which are generally fished in & around cover,  10lb anything may lack the abrasion resistance & especially overall strength to thwart the dash for freedom of an over sized & determined Slaunch Toad.

This can & often does lead to sadness  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..

A-Jay

[kbeeb374]

7 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

 While I'd agree that the Yo-zuri Hybrid is a decent option, 10 lb test IMO may end up being problematic.

Where the OP is using set up #1 for Squarebills, which are generally fished in & around cover,  10lb anything may lack the abrasion resistance & especially overall strength to thwart the dash for freedom of an over sized & determined Slaunch Toad.

This can & often does lead to sadness  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..

A-Jay

 

Well I am sure you know more than me haha. I just tend to use lighter line.  (I also haven't done a whole lot of squarebill fishing... I know, I know I'm working on it)

[A-Jay]

Just now, kbeeb374 said:

 

Well I am sure you know more than me haha. I just tend to use lighter line.  (I also haven't done a whole lot of squarebill fishing... I know, I know I'm working on it)

Probably not a matter of knowing more or less ~ just an opinion.

We all fish different types of habitats in different ways with our own levels of success. 

By recommending a little heavier line I meant to offer a larger margin of error, meaning perhaps less lost fish.

A-Jay

[BigGame0892]

23 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Probably not a matter of knowing more or less ~ just an opinion.

We all fish different types of habitats in different ways with our own levels of success. 

By recommending a little heavier line I meant to offer a larger margin of error, meaning perhaps less lost fish.

A-Jay

12 lb test Yozuri Hybrid is what I use for the techniques for setup 1 right now.  Works great, and I think about the margin for error factor as well.  For the record, I'm usually fishing out of the back of the boat with only one setup for cranks - so, I need versatility almost as much at times.

[BrianMRetter]

Thank you SO much for all of your responses! This is exactly what I was hoping for, I really appreciate it

[CTBassin860]

On 01/18/2017 at 11:25 PM, WRB said:

Sunline Armillo Defier Nylon line, 15 lb for the 200 size reels and 25 lb for the 300 size reel.

Tom

Picked this up for my topwater rod! Can't wait to try it

[MassYak85]

On 1/19/2017 at 5:57 AM, roadwarrior said:

#3  #40 Smackdown with #20 Seaguar InvizX leader

       http://seaguar.com/freshwater/fluorocarbon.html 

      

40lb braid for swimbaits?  You're a braver man that I