Line for All Purpose Rod?

[PAbasser927]

I definitely drank the braid coolaid.  I have braid on every single one of my rods for a slew of reasons.

 

I don’t find it to be tremendously more expensive due to how OCD I was when I ran mono/fluoro lines.  I would always respool at least once throughout the season and I would always make sure my line was well conditioned to avoid memory issues.  With braid I no longer condition and I don’t respool until I reach my backing on long casts.  Usually it takes me multiple seasons to get to this point.

 

With no line stretch, braid adds hundreds of dollars of sensitivity to mid priced rods.  It also offers more consistent hooksets.  Aside from taking up extra slack, hookests at 100ft are the same as they are right next to the boat.

 

The ability to run different leaders keeps me from having to buy multiple rods.  I want to use my 7’2MHM rod for deep cranking, I tie a 10-12lb fluoro leader to the 30lb braid mainline.  30lb braid diameter is typically equivalent to 8lb mono, so I can get deeper faster.  I want to use that same rod to throw a whopper plopper, I cut off the leader and tie direct, since braid floats.

 

As far as connections knots go, I have never broken one so I haven’t had a reason to worry about it (*knocks on wood*).  Even when I break off, it’s always at the terminal knot or a weak point somewhere on the leader.  Never the leader knot.

 

That being said, the choice is 100% personal preference.  Every line has its strengths and it’s up to you to prioritize what is important in a line, for you.

 

If braid was not available to me, I would use mono.  While I love fluoro for leaders, it is my least favorite mainline.  I could never get past the memory and manageability issues, even on high end fluoros such as Tatsu.  I also didn’t notice any less stretch than mono depending on the brand.  However once fluoro is stretched, it doesn’t retract fully like mono.  It remains semi stretched and loses some of its strength.  This would always leave me less confident in the strength of my mainline after a bad snag or break off.

[JT Bagwell]

50# Cortland Master braid is my favorite "all around" fishing line for baitcasters. 

 

If the water is at least a little stained, I just go with straight braid. But, if it is clear I will go with the

50# Cortland and a Berkley Trilene XT/XL leader. Sometimes I use the Trilene fluoro leader but most XT or XL.

 

On my spinning setups I go with 20 or 30# Cortland braid but again the water clarity will dictate whether or not

I use the Trilene leader.

[Hulkster]

I like mono too for all purpose rigs. My favorite so far is Sufix Siege.

 

I use 12 pound on my baitcasting rig and 8 or 10 pound on my spinning rig.

 

but it is slick stuff, so a palomar knot is best to use with it.