Bait caster line

[twigg267]

Im a newby on here please bare with me. I have fished mono for 47 years.  Having a little trouble with the switch to FC. Can i spool braid and use FC leader or is it best to spool all FC ? What about spooling with mono and using FC leader? I'm a true believer in FC !! Thanks for any help.

[Drew03cmc]

I hate using FC by itself. For me, it's braid and a leader or straight braid.

[Mike L]

You can put backing, spool braid and use a leader if you want.

I don't use leaders for a variety of reasons and spool all flouro with a cheap mono for backing. 

 

For me it's the only way to go but I'll be in the minority here..

 

 

 

 

 

Mike 

[papajoe222]

Welcome to BR

The only reels I spool with straight fluoro are my cranking reels. You can ‘tame’ some fluoro lines by stretching them. Unlike monos, it doesn’t rubber band back to its original length. Catching a hawg with your drag tightened down is one way to do it. 

I’m not a believer in using a leader with braid, though many are., C-rigs being the exception. 

I’d suggest trying it as a leader to start out. You can always switch to straight fluoro if you’re not happy with the results. You’ll want to back off your reel’s drag, or soften up your hook set on single hook applications as one of the knocks of fluoro is knot strength. 

[Team9nine]

3 hours ago, Mike L said:

You can put backing, spool braid and use a leader if you want.

I don't use leaders for a variety of reasons and spool all flouro with a cheap mono for backing. 

 

For me it's the only way to go but I'll be in the minority here..

 

Mike 

This ^^

 

Use whatever you want for backing, then straight fluoro the rest of the way (no leaders). On shallow spools you can go all fluoro if you want...using backing on larger spools is simply for cost efficiency.

[Troy85]

I only have one setup that is straight FC, and thats the rod I use for crank baits.  Any other time I use FC, its as a leader attached to braid main line.

[the reel ess]

If you aren't fishing very clear water, you can use a mono leader or straight braid. I put on a backing of cheap 15# mono, then I finish off with Power Pro braid. I use 50# braid on the frog combo and 30# with a 15# mono leader, tied with a surgeon's knot on the worm/jig combo. of course I could use straight mono and avoid an extra knot, but I love the no-stretch factor of the braid and the small diameter-to-lb. test ratio. I retie the leader every couple trips because it's Big Game, a good line when new, but it tends to get frayed easily. Hey you can buy 900 yds of it cheaper than one refill of most premium mono/copolymers. I've been using this spool for about 4 years.

 

I still use Big Game 15# mono on my trebles and spinner/buzzbait rods. 

 

I went to braid on both my spinning combos because it all but eliminates line twist. I just use a mono leader when I feel it's necessary.

[Log Catcher]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I use mono with a floro leader on my spinning reels.

[Djohn]

Another option is copolymer. It's cheap, strong, and abrasion resistant. 

[Hurricane]

Trilene big game on all my baitcasters.   Love it..

[papajoe222]

I actually prefer to fish alone. It’s not that im unsocial, ill actually talk your ear off if you’re in the boat with me, i just fish differently than most of my bank beater friends. 

When i take someone along I’ll try to put them on fish. It doesn’ always work. 

 

[scaleface]

10 hours ago, Hurricane said:

Trilene big game on all my baitcasters.   Love it..

Big Game on all mine but one . My worm rod gets spooled with 17 lb Trilene xl clear blue fluorescent .

[Black Hawk Basser]

I have read that for fluorocarbon line to be truly "invisible" under water, it would have to be square, not round.  Obviously it's still harder to see than a big braid, but I think it's visibility properties are exaggerated for marketing purposes.

 

I would be more concerned about the difference in stretch, feel, and buoyancy between mono, FC, and braid, rather than what the fish can see.

[thinkingredneck]

If you like mono, stick with it, or try yo zuri hybrid.

[Bankbeater]

I tried fluoro and didn't care for it.  The only rig I have straight braid on is my punch rig.  I figure that the bass won't be able to see it in all of that vegetation.  All of the other baitcasters have 15# green Big Game spooled on them.

[FishTank]

I have been using Seaguar Invizx 12lb FC for most of my reels.  I spool about 1/3 or less of the reel with the cheapest mono I can find and tie a uni knot to my FC and I am set for the year. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

This is one of those topics that is all about personal preference.  My opinion is the fewer knots you have, the less room there is for failure.  I quit using fluoro leaders with braid and have not seen any difference in the number of bites I'm getting.  The exception for me is finesse fishing on a spinning rod, where I always use main line braid to FC leader.  

 

My vote on a BC is of you want to throw braid, throw straight braid. If you want to throw FC, throw straight FC.  Cheap backing on both to save $$$.  FC breaks the bank quicker than any other line, but certainly has its advantages.  

[kenmitch]

I just use green 30lb straight braid on my baitcasters as it's a compromise on strength and line diameter. I figure no need for a leader with the small diameter of the braid when I'm 99% of the time throwing a reaction bite type lure anyways.

[OnthePotomac]

Never understood the problem some say they have with flouro.  I have 15lb InvizX on all of my baitcasters with cheap mono backing,  except the mono for top waters and one with braid for frogs and I am certainly no great expert on casting techniques, but I have never had a problem with knot failures (I use a uni) and breakoffs.  With regard to expense, the only way to go with flouro is buy bulk spools and save a ton of money.  Walmart did have a 1000yd spool of Invizx on their site for $73, but don't know if it is still there.  Do the math, that is a giant savings.

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎7‎/‎14‎/‎2018 at 11:00 AM, thinkingredneck said:

If you like mono, stick with it, or try yo zuri hybrid.

I agree. Kastking Florokote is another hybrid line to consider.

 

I am not a big fan of leaders so most of my baitcasters have 12# Big Game or 12# KK Florokote on them.

[Boomstick]

I will use braid to leader on spinning rods because the braid is less susceptible to line twist. On casting gear, I use it on my soft plastics and jig rod because I also use the same rod to throw hollow body frogs. On the rod I use for most moving baits, I use 15lb flurocarbon and have no issues. If I ever add a dedicated frog rod, I will use braid on that and put fluro on the rod I use for soft plastics and jigs, it's both cheaper and just easier.

 

If it helps at all, I am using Berkley Trilene flurocarbon on the cranking rod which is a great line if you don't need high abrasion resistance because the knots hold up extremely well. For knots, I use a 5-7 turn uni and have snagged on just about everything but always get my lure back. I also have some Trilene FC XL 6lb I've used as a leader on spinning gear with great success as well, along with Seagar Blue Label.