Fishing Major and Minor Rivers & Creeks --- Line Woes

[CorydonAngler]

Since I am not yet a boater I have to fish from the shore more often than not. Reaching deep pools is harder for me. 

 

I live near the Ohio River and other minor rivers and creeks. I do almost no lake or pond fishing mostly because of access and distance issues. I like to wade the shallower waters. I get snagged and break off a lot! Mostly I am using 6-20lb monofilament (Trilene brand). As a very, very new angler this is frustrating. A snag is the most common thing I bag when fishing and I've caught some whoppers! The only good thing about it is that it forces me to practice my knot tying. 

 

I am finding that river fishing is a much harder task than I had anticipated but I am determined. I've not caught many species yet but it's fun to pull in a smallie on one cast and a gar on another. 

 

The Ohio is very murky but the creeks I fish tend to be a pale brown and I feel offer decent underwater visibility. 

 

I've never fished with braid or flouro before. Do you think I should switch over? Perhaps braided line for the Ohio and flouro for the minor rivers and creeks? 

[Yudo1]

I would use braid with a long fluoro leader so you only have to worry about adding more leader as it starts getting shorter from re-tying and snags.

[PatrickKnight]

I fish the Ohio as well and I am 100% braid and use a leader when needed. I can not stand to fish anything other than braid for a main line. 99% of the time on the Ohio you can go straight braid with no issues at all. I pull up some serious log jams on 10 lb 832, and often with straighten my hooks before I break my line.

 

One thing to keep in mind when using braid is not all knots will work. A simple palomar knot will be good to go as it wont slip like some of the other simpler knots do.

[CroakHunter]

Braid with a long leader of trilene big game or p-line cxx. No need for fluorocarbon. 

[OnthePotomac]

You fish the same murky water I do on the tidal Potomac and although I do not fish with braid from my boat (except for frogs) in your case I agree you should switch to at least 50lb braid on you baitcaster and forget the leader.  Most of the braid fans on our river do not use a leader on their baitcast set ups..