All Purpose Line

[ib_of_the_damned]

So I recently got the Powell Max 3D 723 as an all purpose rod, I took it out the other day using 12lb Sniper and I can safely say that this is probably one of the most sensitive rods that I own! I was just hitting up the local city park lake with a Seibert Dredge Brush jig and a Rage Tail Craw trailer (one rod, one jig) to get a feel for the rod. Needless to say, I was feeling the bottom composition of the lake, weeds, sticks, rocks, etc. and was amazed at the sensitivity! I ended up getting bit while working the jig around a small rock pile and felt the bass thump the jig (it actually felt like it was chewing it...) I went to set the hook and started to reel him in and his head popped out of the water and my jig came unbuttoned (probably my fault for not setting the hook hard enough)... But it felt like a good fish and it was pulling drag. I was upset that I lost the fish, but was also in awe of how sensitive the rod was. 

 

Sorry, I had to tell a little story to set up my question...

 

What would be a good all purpose line that I could use with this rod?

 

I will be throwing jigs, flukes, T-rigs, weightless soft plastics, traps, and the occasional top water. I normally use Sunline Sniper 12-14lb but for top water I know fluoro is not recommended. I appreciate all the suggestions you guys may have. 

[bigturtle]

Braid + leader

[hunterPRO1]

the only advantage of flouro is visibility that i know of,

 

mono will work for anything, ive used it for everything from dropshot to punching/frogging, are there better lines for some techniques ? sure, but for all around, mono cant be beat.

 

personally i like stren.

 

 

[ib_of_the_damned]

 

Braid + leader

I have other setups with braid and leader, I want to avoid that with this rod. But I do get it, it would be the most versatile. I could run a fluoro, copoly, mono leader and it would suit whatever I throw. Like I said, I would rather avoid that with this setup. Maybe just straight copoly? I do like Yo Zuri Hybrid, but I use it with reaction baits. I'm not sure if the sensitivity is there as opposed to fluoro.

[sully420]

Stick with the sniper in 12# only drawback is topwater

[RoLo]

 

I have other setups with braid and leader.

 

 

Have you tried braided line with no leader?

 

Roger

[iceintheveins]

Original Stren mono and some KVD Line and Lure. Works awesome, plenty strong and not much memory.

[bigturtle]

Straight mono if you dont want braid

[ib_of_the_damned]

 

 

 

Have you tried braided line with no leader?

 

Roger

I have, but I only fish city park lakes which get quite a bit of pressure and I feel that straight braid would be a deterrent to the bass. 

[bigfruits]

Yo Zuri is a great line for the price. Probably not the best line for jigs sensitivity wise.

 

Defier is great for topwater but not sure how it does in the sensitivity dept.

 

Armilo might be worth a try. Just spooled up a reel but havent used it.

 

Id buy an extra spool for topwater but it would be a pain to switch on the water.

 

 

[RoLo]

 

I have, but I only fish city park lakes which get quite a bit of pressure and I feel that straight braid would be a deterrent to the bass. 

 

It's possible you feel that way, only because you hear it all the time.

Straight braid is all I use, so I'm not aware of what I might be missing  

 

Roger

[jr231]

X2 on that roger. 

[Cgrinder]

Probably do alright with something like CXX. Or bring another rod/reel, reel, or spare spool with mono for topwater. Or just fish poppers with fluoro, which is interesting. You get some mighty good bloops out of a lure that way.

[Yudo1]

I'd go with braid and leader.  It just fits all of the techniques you mentioned and the leader will help if you're worried about spooking the fish.

[d-camarena]

When in doubt...

12 or 15lb big game

[onetime]

Big Game

[CroakHunter]

X2 on the cxx. I am a braid type of guy but I also like cxx for an all purpose line. Shop by diameter not by lb test. Or have just a backup reel spoiled with mono or braid for topwater. A reel is much easier to carry than a whole other combo

[NHBull]

 

 

It's possible you feel that way, only because you hear it all the time.

Straight braid is all I use, so I'm not aware of what I might be missing  

 

Roger

Not to hijack your thread and it could impact your decision......Roger, do you blacken the last few feet of the braid with a marker, or just run it as is.  Additionally, what brought you to the all braid world?  I ask, because I find myself wanting to go there........Thanks, Al

[Dens228]

I use braid for topwater and just switched from mono to a lighter braid for everything else.  I don't use a leader. 

I can tell you that with the braid I'm able to feel everything so much better.  After reading about ripping the hooks from fish with braid/trebles I can say I haven't experienced that at all. I do sweep the set with braid rather than just rip the set.

[new2BC4bass]

I only use braid for slop.  Otherwise I am a mono/co-polymer guy.  12# is my MH rod line of choice.  I like AN40, Siege, Big Game and am trying some XXX.  There are plenty of other good mono/co-polymer/hybrid lines....CXX, Platinum, Yo-Zuri, McCoy, etc.  Pick your poison.

[Raul]

 

When in doubt...

12 or 15lb big game

 

[Mike L]

 

Stick with the sniper in 12# only drawback is topwater

 

Ditto

 

 

 

Mike 

[NHBull]

 

 

It's possible you feel that way, only because you hear it all the time.

Straight braid is all I use, so I'm not aware of what I might be missing  

 

Roger

Not to hijack your thread and it could impact your decision......Roger, do you blacken the last few feet of the braid with a marker, or just run it as is.  Additionally, what brought you to the all braid world?  I ask, because I find myself wanting to go there........Thanks, Al

[Kidflex]

stick with what you got. You said occasional topwater. I wouldn't go through the trouble of switching to an inferior line to work a presentation that you hardly use. Worse case just work your rod tip up when working topwaters. It'll help with the line sinking and effecting your bait. 

[RoLo]

4 hours ago, NHBull said:

Not to hijack your thread and it could impact your decision......Roger, do you blacken the last few feet of the braid with a marker, or just run it as is.  Additionally, what brought you to the all braid world?  I ask, because I find myself wanting to go there........Thanks, Al

 

Though I've made jokes about that in the past, No, I've never tried coloring braided line:

 

1) Even if I did believe it mattered, there's a good chance that streaking the line can make it more visible.

For instance, I used Berkley Tracer Braid for years (no leader), which switches back-and-forth

every 30" between bright green & dark green to make the braid MORE visible to the angler.

 

2) More importantly, I've never been convinced that the sight of fishing line is a deal-breaker.

To use the A-rig analogy, bass accept my fiber weedguards, rattleboxes, gaudy treble hooks,

and buzzbaits, so why not my line (Bill Dance: "A buzzbait imitates a toy airboat").

 

On the other hand, I do believe that 'line diameter' rather than line visibility can make a difference

in crystal-clear water and with pressured or negative fish. Moving to lower pound-test line reduces

the line diameter which reduces water pressure, where the end product is a more natural delivery.

Braid offers a smaller line diameter, but ironically, fluorocarbon is a line with greater diameter

and greater water resistance.

 

Roger