10 or 12 pound fluoro? Does it make a difference.

[Ksam1234]

So I’m starting to go threw my tackle for the spring season up north.  Now I noticed I don’t have any 10 pound fluoro but I have a couple 12 of the sunline super fc sniper which is my favorite. I’m wondering if you guys think going down to 10 would make a difference for jerkbaits? I’ll be fishing Lake Erie for smallmouth all prespawn and would you think the 2 pound difference would make the smallies not bite ? Like being line shy.. I honestly can’t remember what I have used the past 2 years.. 

[A-Jay]

I use both 10 & 12 lb fluorocarbon for jerkbaits up this way.

When throwing casting gear early & late season, when the cooler (30's to 50-ish) & cleaner water usually has the 'fight' from the brute smallies, somewhat subdued, I use 10lb exclusively.  Also, use it as the leader for spinning gear with a 10 lb braid mainline.  I believe I get more bites with the 10 lb during this period. 

 Once the waters get mid-50's and above, I pump it up to 12 lb on both.  I'm almost always working the bait harder and faster, and the strikes & subsequent battles are almost always harder & quite savage.

So the slight increase in line size, while it doesn't seem to affect the bite ratio, comes in handy.

InvisX or Tatsu for me.  

A-Jay

[EGbassing]

I use 12, but it's such a small difference that you can just go with whichever one you want. In your situation, I would probably go with 10 lb. though.

[Ksam1234]

9 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I use both 10 & 12 lb fluorocarbon for jerkbaits up this way.

When throwing casting gear early & late season, when the cooler (30's to 50-ish) & cleaner water usually has the 'fight' from the brute smallies, somewhat subdued, I use 10lb exclusively.  Also use it as the leader for spinning gear with a 10 ln braid mainline.  I believe I get more bites with the 10 lb during this period. 

 Once the waters get mid-50's and above, I pump it up to 12 lb on both.  I'm almost always working the bait harder and faster, and the strikes & subsequent battles are almost always harder & quite savage.

So the slight increase in line size, while it doesn't seem to affect the bite ratio, comes in handy.

InvisX or Tatsu for me.  

A-Jay

Thanks you both @EGbassing I was thinking 10 also just till it gets later. I don’t think I ever broke off with 10 as the drag is set a little loose bc of the tiny trebles on jerks. Looks like I’ll have to invest into at least one 10 pound line. 

[Russ E]

sunline sniper is small diameter for its rating. plus the difference is pretty minimal

10lb sunline is .010 inch. 12 lb is .011

 

compare that to berkley 100% flourocarbon professional grade.

10lb is .012 inches  12lb is .013 inches.

[J._Bricker]

@Ksam1234, IMHO I don’t think it’ll matter much at the time of year you mentioned targeting. I use both the Sunline and InvizX in 10lb and 12lb test as my leader secured to a braid main line by an Alberto Knot. The 10lb test might allow me to impart a little better action to the lure.  I’m not sure if there is a much of a difference later on when the water is clear and the fish are a little line shy. If I do get a bigger bite, rod action and use of the reels drag then come into play. It’s a just a little bit more sporty (fun) at that point.

 

 

[Ksam1234]

1 hour ago, Russ E said:

sunline sniper is small diameter for its rating. plus the difference is pretty minimal

10lb sunline is .010 inch. 12 lb is .011

 

compare that to berkley 100% flourocarbon professional grade.

10lb is .012 inches  12lb is .013 inches.

I didn’t realize there was such a tiny difference. You can’t even tell with that small change. 

[Team9nine]

Similar to A-Jay, I start out smaller in most cases at the start of the year. I like 8# for the Megabass 110s I tend to throw. I will later upsize to 10# or even 12# if I upsize to one of the larger MB baits, or go to a heavier, more robust bait like a Pointer. Ten pound would seem like a good all-around compromise for jerbaits for most situations. There is definitely a noticeable difference though in fishing with 8# versus 12#

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Similar to A-Jay, I start out smaller in most cases at the start of the year. I like 8# for the Megabass 110s I tend to throw. I will later upsize to 10# or even 12# if I upsize to one of the larger MB baits, or go to a heavier, more robust bait like a Pointer. Ten pound would seem like a good all-around compromise for jerbaits for most situations. There is definitely a noticeable difference though in fishing with 8# versus 12#

Falling under the category of my own paranoia, I'm can't seem to get myself to go to 8 lb.

I'm almost certain I'd get more bites, especially in the shallower depths.

But I'm just such a chicken . . . . . 

A-Jay

[ratherbfishin1]

9 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Falling under the category of my own paranoia, I'm can't seem to get myself to go to 8 lb.

I'm almost certain I'd get more bites, especially in the shallower depths.

But I'm just such a chicken . . . . . 

A-Jay

Not gonna see me doing it with $25 megabass jerkbaits 

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, ratherbfishin1 said:

Not gonna see me doing it with $25 megabass jerkbaits 

I don't mind losing a bait here & there.

But there are some freak monster tanks inhabiting these waters and I Do Not want to break one off.

#feellikealoser

A-Jay

[Ksam1234]

Just now, A-Jay said:

I don't mind losing a bait here & there.

But there are some freak monster tanks inhabiting these waters and I Do Not want to break one off.

#feellikealoser

A-Jay

This is why I was hesitant to go to 10 pound. If I ever happened to encounter a 7-8 pound smallie omg ! I can’t imagine the fight that puts up

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, Ksam1234 said:

This is why I was hesitant to go to 10 pound. If I ever happened to encounter a 7-8 pound smallie omg ! I can’t imagine the fight that puts up

2

That's the thing - I WANT to hook my next PB (fingers crossed) during the early spring when the waters cold or even cooler. Say 48 degrees and less. 

The Big Fatties are still pretty cold and much more apt to wallow around for a bit and then come like a little puppy dog right into the net.

After the waters start to get over 55 or so - 

Well then, not so much . . . . 

#lightlinerodeo

A-Jay

 

[Team9nine]

Don't have to worry about those tank smallies over here that much. I can say no issue with the 8# line for green bass up to around 6.25 pounds, and have even caught a random hybrid striper to 10-12 pounds a time or two. Never broken a fish off yet with it. I do bump to 10# for the larger size MBs as well as larger/heavier Pointers (110, 128). 

[Ksam1234]

46 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

That's the thing - I WANT to hook my next PB (fingers crossed) during the early spring when the waters cold or even cooler. Say 48 degrees and less. 

The Big Fatties are still pretty cold and much more apt to wallow around for a bit and then come like a little puppy dog right into the net.

After the waters start to get over 55 or so - 

Well then, not so much . . . . 

#lightlinerodeo

A-Jay

 

Yeah my PB is only 5 pd 4 oz now and that was when water temps were around 60, omg the acrobatics and flips those fish can do! I love it and hate it at the same time.  Someday I hope to break into that 7 pound smallmouth range and get it mounted. 

24 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Don't have to worry about those tank smallies over here that much. I can say no issue with the 8# line for green bass up to around 6.25 pounds, and have even caught a random hybrid striper to 10-12 pounds a time or two. Never broken a fish off yet with it. I do bump to 10# for the larger size MBs as well as larger/heavier Pointers (110, 128). 

And I’m sorry you don’t have any tank smallies   those are the best

[dodgeguy]

On 3/2/2019 at 11:24 AM, Ksam1234 said:

So I’m starting to go threw my tackle for the spring season up north.  Now I noticed I don’t have any 10 pound fluoro but I have a couple 12 of the sunline super fc sniper which is my favorite. I’m wondering if you guys think going down to 10 would make a difference for jerkbaits? I’ll be fishing Lake Erie for smallmouth all prespawn and would you think the 2 pound difference would make the smallies not bite ? Like being line shy.. I honestly can’t remember what I have used the past 2 years.. 

So if flouro is invisible I would say no. But lighter flouro does cast better so I would use 10 lb over 12 for jerkbaits.

[WRB]

We're are discussing Sunline Super Sniper specifically and it is a small diameter FC line.

The difference shows up in memory and knot strength between 10 and 12 lb test.

12 lb Sniper performs poorly on spinning reels size 3000 or smaller and 10 lb tend to less memory and works OK on 3000 or smaller spinning reels. Baitcasting I don't believe memory difference is  an issue.

Knot strength between 10 lb and 12 lb Sniper FC is 20% and that is significant.

Tom

[Ksam1234]

9 minutes ago, WRB said:

We're are discussing Sunline Super Sniper specifically and it is a small diameter FC line.

The difference shows up in memory and knot strength between 10 and 12 lb test.

12 lb Sniper performs poorly on spinning reels size 3000 or smaller and 10 lb tend to less memory and works OK on 3000 or smaller spinning reels. Baitcasting I don't believe memory difference is  an issue.

Knot strength between 10 lb and 12 lb Sniper FC is 20% and that is significant.

Tom

Yeah I only use the sniper as I found it best for me. So you think there isn’t much of a difference in size between 10 and 12? So it’s safe to say I can use 12 and shouldn’t take away from bites ? And I use it on casting gear 

[Dwight Hottle]

I use 12 & 15 lb mono leaders on Erie. I never felt that a lighter lb leader would get me more bites but I always appreciated the heavier line for abbrasion resistance in the rocks. 

[WRB]

22 minutes ago, Ksam1234 said:

Yeah I only use the sniper as I found it best for me. So you think there isn’t much of a difference in size between 10 and 12? So it’s safe to say I can use 12 and shouldn’t take away from bites ? And I use it on casting gear 

Both Sunline and Seagaur are honest small diameter premium Fluorocarbon line and .001" is a significant difference in memory and performance. .001 is 10% of .010 for example and have less drag going they water and faster sink rate compared .011 dia line. If you can cast 12 lb effectively the knot strength performance is worth the increase in dia. The increased line diameter makes little difference to bass as longest it doesn't impact the lures action.

Tom

[Ksam1234]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Both Sunline and Seagaur are honest small diameter premium Fluorocarbon line and .001" is a significant difference in memory and performance. .001 is 10% of .010 for example and have less drag going they water and faster sink rate compared .011 dia line. If you can cast 12 lb effectively the knot strength performance is worth the increase in dia. The increased line diameter makes little difference to bass as longest it doesn't impact the lures action.

Tom

Sounds like I should stick with 12 pound then.  I can cast it just fine and don’t think it effects my jerkbaits much. Use the megabass vision 110 and rapal x rap mainly

[Boomstick]

I use 12lbs for the added security of knowing I have the extra strength to pull out a fish in grass and since I don't own a boat, I can sacrifice the additional depth.