did i pick the right line?

[ohihunter2014]

I've been reading and watching a lot of YouTube videos and picked up some 12lbs Berkley big game low viz green to throw on my new bait caster. after spooling up i watched several videos on jerk baits and certain rigs and they said they use nothing but fluorocarbon. I also noticed that the big game was very stiff and more memory than the 10lbs suffix elite i put on my spinning rod. did i make the wrong choice by getting big game for the new bait caster if i want to use it for crankbaits and worms?

[Raul]

Hmmm, I've fished for over two decades with Big Game, have caught thousands of fish with jerkbaits, actually my first 10 lber was caught with a jerkbait and .... godang, I never thought I was fishing with the "wrong" line.

 

If you feel 12 lbs is too stiff then use 10 lbs.

 

Of course, what the hell do I know ? I have only been in this sport for just over 40 years .....

[Turtle135]

In short that 12 pound test Big Game was a good choice for starters.

 

Since it sounds like you are new to casting reels I would stay away from Fluorocarbon for now. Monofilament is much more forgiving of overruns. If you get a kink in Fluoro picking out a backlash you may have significantly weakened the line. That stiffness you detect in the Big Game should not be an issue on a casting reel. Casting reels handle heavier and stiffer line much better than spinning reels do.

 

Since you also intend to use that baitcaster for a wide variety of techniques (jerkbaits, crankbaits and worms) I suspect you will also throw the occasional topwater bait with it as well. In that instance you would not want to use Flourocarbon (better to use mono or braid for topwater as those lines float).

 

Good luck to you!

[SFL BassHunter]

Big Game isn't the most manageable line out there, that is for sure. But it doesn't mean you picked the wrong line. It may just take longer getting used to. It is a strong line.  Before you rip it out of your reel get yourself some KVD Line Conditioner and condition the heck out of it the night before taking it fishing. Then condition it again an hour before fishing. See if that helps. I condition all my Mono, Fluoro, and Copoly lines, it really does make them more manageable.

 

I personally use Sunline. I have used big game (still do for saltwater on my spinning gear), suffix elite, suffix siege and a bunch of others.

I find Sunline and Senshi to have the least stretch out of the ones I have used. Sunline is more manageable as well.

 

Also a lot of people use Fluoro for their cranks and jerk baits, BUT you can throw it on mono. I do because I also do topwater on the same rod. Also I fish fairly shallow waters for the most part. So I prefer the buoyancy of mono.

[fishnkamp]

That Big Game is a good choice for all of the reasons those above me have already mentioned. It is also good to have a bit stiffer line on topwaters and jerkbaits as the line has less chance to foul on the hook when jerked.  if you throw the topwater the line will have less chance to sink your lure as well.  FInally if you do use this rod for an all purpose combo then you will be better off with this line.  Overall you have chosen well. I have fished with the Suffix line and it is a good line for a spinning reel precisely because of the "softer" characteristics it has.

 

In the beginning of you learning process, I would try to stay with lures close to the middle of the weight category of your rod. So if it says 1/4 to 3/4 then I would fish with lures that weigh 3/8 or 5/8 and even 3/4 to learn with. These could easily include lures like Rapala Husky Jerks in the 4 and 4 3/4 inch size, a 4 inch Rapala X Rap, or something like a Lucky Craft Pointer series in the 78 or 100, These baits weigh 3/8 and 5/8 respectively.

 

By no means am I saying go buy only these baits, I am just giving you a couple of examples, but there are plenty of good quality baits to choose from, many not as expensive as a Lucky Craft.  Although Lucky Craft builds some top flight baits.

 

Throwing these heavier minnow imitation baits will make it easier to learn how to cast with your new rig.

Also, the idea to treat your line is a good one. Often times I will spool a reel. then go outside and cast it. I will spray the line remaining on the reel as well as stop and treat the line as I am retrieving say 4 turns of the handle, spray, reel in, spray and then let it sit overnight.  Another good trick I use the night before I go fish (if I have not used a reel in a while ) I will stand my rod up on my back porch, could be a tree or leaning on the side of a car. Next I will release the line and walk it out in the yard. Now using my hand and a rag i will hold the line wrapped in the towel and just walk the line pulling the coils or memory out of the line under tension. This is a good time to retreat my line. I may do this maybe twice a year.  It only takes a few moments but it makes a big difference in how the line plays on the next fishing trip.

 

Enjoy your combos and go catch some fish.

[ohihunter2014]

1 hour ago, Raul said:

Hmmm, I've fished for over two decades with Big Game, have caught thousands of fish with jerkbaits, actually my first 10 lber was caught with a jerkbait and .... godang, I never thought I was fishing with the "wrong" line.

 

If you feel 12 lbs is too stiff then use 10 lbs.

 

Of course, what the hell do I know ? I have only been in this sport for just over 40 years .....

LOL. thanks for the reply. the 3 videos and articles i read said use only floro so it got me wondering. I'm used to spider wire and then went to suffix for my steelhead stuff and spinning rod and the mono was very smooth and came off like braid. the big game felt stiff and spun off the spool with memory so just want to make sure my new bait casting/crankbaits adventure wasn't going to be messed up by the wrong line.

[Mike L]

34 minutes ago, fishnkamp said:

 

Also, the idea to treat your line is a good one. Often times I will spool a reel. then go outside and cast it. I will spray the line remaining on the reel as well as stop and treat the line as I am retrieving say 4 turns of the handle, spray, reel in, spray and then let it sit overnight.  Another good trick I use the night before I go fish (if I have not used a reel in a while ) I will stand my rod up on my back porch, could be a tree or leaning on the side of a car. Next I will release the line and walk it out in the yard. Now using my hand and a rag i will hold the line wrapped in the towel and just walk the line pulling the coils or memory out of the line under tension. This is a good time to retreat my line. I may do this maybe twice a year.  It only takes a few moments but it makes a big difference in how the line plays on the next fishing trip.

 

Tip...

If you Use one of your wife's nylons to apply it to the line while reeling it on, you'll use a lot less as it won't get absorbed into it as it would useing a towel. 

 

 

Mike

[fishnkamp]

Just wonder why all of your wife's nylons are missing!

 

 Never mind too much input, but you may make your wife nervous about you! 

[Mike L]

Yeah I know...She already looks at me and rolls her eyes sometimes! ?

 

 

Mike

[runt4561]

nothing wrong with the 12 lb big game. every fisherman around used mono for jerkbaits and crankbaits before flouro came out. it will still catch fish. fluoro is just better suited for cranking and jerkbaiting. it is more sensitive and you get better action with it.

[Darren.]

4 hours ago, ohihunter2014 said:

LOL. thanks for the reply. the 3 videos and articles i read said use only floro so it got me wondering. I'm used to spider wire and then went to suffix for my steelhead stuff and spinning rod and the mono was very smooth and came off like braid. the big game felt stiff and spun off the spool with memory so just want to make sure my new bait casting/crankbaits adventure wasn't going to be messed up by the wrong line.

 

Fluoro is kind of the "in thing" these last 5 years or so.

But it isn't the "be-all-end-all" of lines. I do like using it

as a leader, but not for an entire spool. But that's me.

 

I think many of these videos on YouTube, at least ones

I've seen, are either hawking products, or regurgitating

stuff they heard a pro say because if the pro says it is 

the best, then of course it is the best.

[new2BC4bass]

Hold your rod tip in the water for the first few retrieves.  The line will straighten out a lot once wet.