Mono on a Baitcaster?

[Eric J]

My first season back has been great. Right now I have a Med/Lt spinner and a Med/Hvy Baitcaster. I'm looking for another baitcaster, thinking a Med fast action. Question is; How is it using Mono on the baitcaster. I use 30lb braid on my Med/Hvy.

[J Francho]

I prefer fluoro or copoly over braid on casting gear, by a long shot.

[Junger]

Mono works fine where you want a little stretch and cushion on a faster rod, and if buoyancy matters to you. It's so cheap that if you don't like it, just strip it.

[RHuff]

I use copoly in place of mono. It just seem like it holds knots better and I like the way it feels. I have actually gotten to where I mainly use P-Line Fouroclear 15lb for topwater and cranks/jerks/spinnerbaits and I always use 50lb Sufix braid on my flipping/jig rod/reel. 

[MIbassyaker]

I have braid spooled on frogging and heavy cover combos, but for everything else I use Trilene Big Game.

[the reel ess]

I use 15 lb. mono on my trebles BC combo. It floats well for topwaters and allows some stretch so you don't yank the bait away too soon and it's forgiving at the boat when they're thrashing around. I still have it on my spinnerbait/buzzbait combo as well, but I'll probably change that to braid at some point. I've switched to braid on my spin combos for the lack of line twist.

[Catt]

I throw Berkley Big Game 15# on everything except punching & heavy cover frogging.

 

Never had an issue feeling bites, losing fish do to stretch, problems with knots.

[Sam]

In the past, before we had different types of lines to consider, the rule was mono for treble hook baits and fluorocarbon for all other baits.

 

Today, the rule is not followed. Pros throw braid, copoly, line with funny names, expensive line, and of course, fluorocarbon. I am sure there are a few who also use mono for specific presentations.

 

Mono is a good backing to use on your reels when you are using braid to stop line spin. Some still use mono for treble hook baits. Personal preference.

 

When you read the articles in the fishing publications, always pay attention to the line the pros say they are using and remember they are getting paid to hawk their sponsors' products. There is no proof they actually use the lines they are selling but it is interesting to read what they supposedly used.

 

And when I attended my last Bassmaster Classic the guy from Mississippi State showed me Berkley's test on line stretch. Would you believe the fluorocarbon had more stretch than the mono. I was surprised. But I still use fluorocarbon and copoly the most and sometimes mono for crankbaits.

 

Use whatever you have confidence.

[Raul]

I've been fishing with Trilene Big Game ( in several tests ) for decades, have caught thousands of fish and several dozens over 10 pounds, I fish with it 90% of the time.

[GReb]

I use braid on my two jig/frog rods. Mono or copoly on the rest 90% of the time. I can’t remember the last time I had a mono failure. The anti mono crowd has never made sense to me

[ohboyitsrobby]

I know I have 15-20 lb braid and 8 lb mono on my spinning setups. I have braid on one baitcaster the rest have fluorocarbon ( seaguar invisx) co poly ( p line cxx) or berkley big game. Now the lbs depends on the rod

[NYWayfarer]

I agree with @Catt and @Raul about Berkley Big Game Trilene. Most of my baitcasters are spooled with 10-12# Big Game. The rest are spooled with 12# Kastking Flourokote or 30-40# Kastking Superpower Braid

[Big Rick]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

I throw Berkley Big Game 15# on everything except punching & heavy cover frogging.

 

Never had an issue feeling bites, losing fish do to stretch, problems with knots.

That's because you use the right ROD and REEL for the right application as well. Way too many times the line gets the blame when in all actuality it's the rod and reel that are the culprit. No type of line can over compensate for a rod that's too stiff or too limber, or too short or too long.. Neither can line fix a reel that's too slow for the desired application. That's why, as I've been able to, I have acquired several combo's that are technique specific. Change one component and the whole thing just wont work as well..

 

I use mono for it's forgiving nature and it's ability to float for all my treble applications. In fact, I only use fluorocarbon for worming applications or when I'm trying to get a spinnerbait deeper than mono will allow it to go. Braid is relegated to my frogs and some jigs... 

[scaleface]

Mono will work just fine on your baitcaster and many good bass anglers  prefer it . 

[Mobasser]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

I throw Berkley Big Game 15# on everything except punching & heavy cover frogging.

 

Never had an issue feeling bites, losing fish do to stretch, problems with knots.

I use Big Game mono on casting rods too. Durable, handles well, and no problems hooking or landing fish.

[A-Jay]

I don't always use mono but when I do it's almost always Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo Nylon Line.  It's not the least expensive product out there and that's exactly how it fishes. 

And did you know that 4 out of 5 snappaheads that use it, recommend it. 

It's true I tell ya

A-Jay

[Log Catcher]

I have mono on some my baitcasters and have no problems with it. I use Sufix Siege in 12 pound test. I use it for crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters. This has been a very good line for me. If I throw soft plastics or jigs then I use florocarbon line.

[TBAG]

I've been using Big Game for years too, mostly 12-15lb on my baitcasters. 

[greentrout]

Big Game, Cajun Red, Academy H20 and Sufix Siege 12# on baitcasters -- 6, 8 & 10 on spinning...14# Fireline on spinning...

 

good fishing...

[Beetlebz]

@A-Jay I just looked into the Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo Nylon Line... man that stuff is thin by comparison. How is the stretch compared to the thicker monos? I downsized the YZH on my moving bait rig this season from 15lb YZH to 10 because of the high breaking strength but the stretch is pretty significantly increased. I dont want to replace my big game with a rubber band! ?

 

On topic, I've used 15lb big game for 85% of my fishing for 2 seasons now on a baitcaster. Zero regrets. I will say I used KVD L&L for the first few trips to help it get settled in but once I got a couple trips in on it I needed no more. 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Beetlebz said:

@A-Jay I just looked into the Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo Nylon Line... man that stuff is thin by comparison. How is the stretch compared to the thicker monos? I downsized the YZH on my moving bait rig this season from 15lb YZH to 10 because of the high breaking strength but the stretch is pretty significantly increased. I dont want to replace my big game with a rubber band! ?

 

On topic, I've used 15lb big game for 85% of my fishing for 2 seasons now on a baitcaster. Zero regrets. I will say I used KVD L&L for the first few trips to help it get settled in but once I got a couple trips in on it I needed no more. 

Clearly it's a nylon line so there is some line stretch.  However, other than the fact that it floats - the  Defier Armilo has performance qualities that are very close to a quality fluorocarbon line (think Tatsu). 

It is thin by comparison.  I use the 22lb locally for smallies and the 25lb quite at bit fishing for green bass at Lake Baccarac in Mexico. 

It's no place for shabby string as the cover there is very hard on line and the fish are Mutants . . . 

A-Jay

 

 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Beetlebz said:

I will say I used KVD L&L for the first few trips to help it get settled in but once I got a couple trips in on it I needed no more. 

 

One of the biggest complaints about Big Game is it "coils".

 

What I've personally experienced is the more often I go fishing the less it coils.

[Troy85]

9 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

What I've personally experienced is the more often I go fishing the less it coils.

Hey honey! I have to go fishing again today, if not my mono will coil!!!!! ?

 

 

[evilcatfish]

I use braid on my frog and punch/flip/ap heavy combos, then fluoro on my jig n worm rod. The others are all spooled with mono, whether it be a finesse or heavy swimbait combo. P-line Pf has been my long time favorite but I've recently been turned on the sunline super natural as well. I love the way mono fishes and the fact that I can respool a lot without breaking the bank. 

[tholmes]

21 hours ago, Raul said:

I've been fishing with Trilene Big Game ( in several tests ) for decades, have caught thousands of fish and several dozens over 10 pounds, I fish with it 90% of the time.

Same here. Big Game or BPS Excel mono is about all I use. I catch enough fish with it to keep me going back.

 

Tom