Why lighter line ALWAYS wins ?

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Sure... If you say so

[fishindad]

Depends on the situation. Is it mainly open water or weed-choked water? Where I fish for smallies, zebra and quagga mussels will cut your line like nothing you've seen. And with fluorocarbon lines there's no need to go light line for invisibility. This coming from a finesse guy. These two smallies came on a tube with 14lb Sniper and MH rod last month. The only time I use light line (8lb and less) any more is dropshotting or Ned rig. Moving baits no way I'd use less than 12lb copoly or 20lb braid.

[Deleted account]

21 hours ago, ZbestBassman said:

if you want to catch the smart big bass... 

Thoughts.......

Thought: bass of any size are not "smart" or line shy. That being said, I use 12 and 15 lb mono a lot, cause it suits the way and places I fish. I have caught some of my largest bass in gin clear water with heavy braid and heavy (30-50 lb) mono leaders.

[bagofdonuts]

Truth is there is no best size line, just like there’s no best size screwdriver. 

[Dens228]

10 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Why?

Because everyone seems to be focusing on line size/diameter.   Pound vs pound line test braid is thinner. 

I'm sure I could use 10 lb test braid but it would be way to thin for my needs and likes. 

[Catt]

5 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Fact

 

Big O fishes #25 almost exclusively and seems to fool a few big fish.

 

 

25# test aint exactly light line ?

 

Match your line to the cover you're gonna be fishing!

 

[Big Mike in Fl]

I fish exclusively braid, so my opinions are completely based on that. 

 

 I use 30lb braid at a minimum on baitcasters. I’ve tried lighter however no matter how tightly I spool it, I seem to dig in and backlash. Of course they say it is 8lb equivalent. 

 

On spinning set ups ups I’ve found I like 15lb or 20lb, 15 on more finesse and 20 on med heavy stuff. In this case I feel like the lure and application dictate the line size. I fished 10lb braid for a while but did have a few break offs. That was also a different brand than I prefer. 

 

On my heavier cover stuff... frogs and flipping, I have 50lb braid, I feel like 65 or 80 are over kill. I’ve never had a situation where I broke off the 50 i. Heavy cover, and flipping here in Florida can mean some of the heaviest stuff. 

 

My swim jig/chatterbait/ lighter jig set up runs 40lb, I will often be swimming it where heavier like isn’t as necessary, however I do still flip/pitch that set up a lot so I beefed it up a bit.

 

On my ultralight set up, I throw 10lb braid, because why not, it super thin and still strong. I often use my ultralight while still bass fishing (think small top waters, original floating rapalas, and small weightless plastics) 

 

now I do use flouro leaders on most of my set ups, and the thickness of those ranges from 10lb to 25lb with 14-20 being mostly used. 

[Basseditor]

Fun topic.

 

I'm just the opposite. Never go lighter than I have to, and especially no less than 15lb flouro.

 

[NathanDLTH]

Admittedly, not a small line angler. My leader for smallmouth is 12lb sunline fc sniper to 20lb braid. The smallmouth are always around rocks and such plus tubes are my main style for them which means heavy hook sets. If this was open water for smallmouth, it would 10-15 braid to 8 or 10lb flouro. For largies, again open water 15-17, cover it's 15 plus. If it's frogging 50-60, if I have a small frog in open water then I can drop to 30 or 40lb braid. For me there is more confidence with bigger line. 

[ResoKP]

12lb mono!? OP would get REKT at my lake. Only way to get the biggins is punching 1oz tungsten in thick cover here. I was breaking off with 50lb straight braid. Moving up to 65lb braid solved that issue. Then I'll go down to 6lb fluoro for huge smallies in deep rivers. 15lb to 20lb fluoro for bottom contact plastics & jigs.

 

There's a place for all different lb-test lines. Saying "12lb and lighter only" is simply amateur at best.

[A-Jay]

On 5/11/2019 at 9:23 PM, ZbestBassman said:

So what I would like to bring up is why does everyone today want to go big on line? Guys I'm going to be 100% honest here and from my experience I know my biggest bass have always been on 12lb mono or less I know florocarbon is great as well but I won't throw anything over 12lb mono except for topwater that's the ONLY time I go bigger for largemouth. I know your going to say well what about flipping in grass or around structure? BUT here me out if you want to catch the smart big bass you gotta be subtle and smart I will use 12lb or less and catch more and bigger fish yes I even use it around cover I don't break off often even dragging over cover. Thoughts.......

Ok, so I read through this entire thread. 

Seems like most all the BR bassheads have their own thoughts & ideas regarding this subject; as do I.

My version of it isn't much different from much of what's already been offered.  I'm using the best tool for the job; whether that's light, heavy or something in between.  While I've landed some respectable fish on what would generally be considered 'lighter line' & gear, I can't agree that it's the best or only way to go.  As I'd expect to lose a good majority of plus size bass trying to extricate them from the jungle using undersized line & gear.

While lighter line usually fishes deeper, can offer better sensitivity, and cast further, the trade off of course is strength, stretch (depending on type),  and hook setting capability.

So saying 12 lb mono is the only line needed is akin to traveling at 40 mph in your truck regardless of the speed limit or road conditions.

Some places you'll be golden, on the expressway you'll be looking for more and watch out for those school zones !

A-Jay

[Tennessee Boy]

ALWAYS is a word that should be used carefully in fishing.  I don’t think you can make a rule about fishing line that applies to all anglers in all situations on all lakes.

[frogflogger]

The only "always" in fishing is that there is always something a little different and it is always fun.

 

[fishindad]

This is a great thread because I love reading about others experiences and opinions. I grew up fishing light (6lb) line for smallies, mostly in Wisconsin's clear natural lakes. I never even owned a baitcaster for many years until I moved to Northern California and even then fished mostly ultra clear reservoirs like Folsom, Berryessa and Don Pedro. 

Just take a look at the Ned rig hook, dropshot hooks, Neko hooks, etc and it's easy to see they are made for 6 and 8 lb lines. You'll bend 'em out if you go any heavier. But often that's what's needed to get bites - finesse. Call me crazy but what I love is feeling the strike and setting the hook. Sure, fighting the fish is great but the longer it takes, the greater the chance they get off, especially lunkers. How many have lost big ones at the boat (or before)? Sickest feeling ever. So my opinion is go as heavy as you can get away with and with the advent of fluoro, no need to go to spider thin lines. Better chance of setting hooks, less chance of breakoffs, and able to use bigger baits. Yeah, small baits catch big fish but IMHO, bigger baits catch bigger fish.

 

PS: I would love to fish Bluebasser's waters! Don't think I could pull off that all-camo outfit though?

[hoosierbass07]

When I got into bass fishing and didn't know anything, all I used was six pound and eight pound and ten pound mono, made tons of casts Texas ringing everything with super sharp brand new gamakatsu extra wide hooks, and caught a lot of bass bank fishing and kayak fishing including a few giant bass.  Then got a little bored with all the small fish I was catching, started using heavier line and baitcasters and - less fish caught and NO big bass caught.  Short story - here in Indiana and I bet 99% of the country, light line wins.  Ten pound should be my limit, and I should use eight pound and six pound 99% of the time.  

[Catt]

@A-Jay How well ya think 12# mono would fair south of the border?

[A-Jay]

8 hours ago, Catt said:

@A-Jay How well ya think 12# mono would fair south of the border?

LOL ~ That's Click Bait @Catt

You already know the answer to that loaded question. 

It would be Risky at best my friend, Risky at best.

#donkiesondentalfloss

 

A-Jay

[fishindad]

52 minutes ago, hoosierbass07 said:

When I got into bass fishing and didn't know anything, all I used was six pound and eight pound and ten pound mono, made tons of casts Texas ringing everything with super sharp brand new gamakatsu extra wide hooks, and caught a lot of bass bank fishing and kayak fishing including a few giant bass.  Then got a little bored with all the small fish I was catching, started using heavier line and baitcasters and - less fish caught and NO big bass caught.  Short story - here in Indiana and I bet 99% of the country, light line wins.  Ten pound should be my limit, and I should use eight pound and six pound 99% of the time.  

Careful with the generalizations. I have never fished in Indiana but judging by the number of trailers with IN plates parked in the Erie and St Clair launch ramps, I'm guessing there aren't many lakes there with giant smallies lurking. 

 

And I'll take that bet and say that in 99% of the bass waters in the US, heavy (10lb and up) lines win. Just poll the FLW, MLF and BASS guys and see what they use. 

[Armtx77]

I do a lot of banging around with 8lbs NanoFil and it works well for me, including a couple of great fights with 3 1/2-4lbs, spotted river bass.

 

I fish with 15lbs Sufix832 on another spinning reel that I throw Senkos with.

 

40lbs Sufix 832 on a BC setup, when it is time to go into their backyard.

 

A lot of fish, have been caught on 15lbs Big Game...A LOT.

[Bluebasser86]

11 hours ago, fishindad said:

PS: I would love to fish Bluebasser's waters! Don't think I could pull off that all-camo outfit though?

If you ever end up in Kansas for some stupid reason, I'm always willing to show members exactly how bad the fishing really is here

 

[Hulkster]

As far as 12 pound mono goes, I have landed a few 18 pound redfish while fishing and florida and many 20+ pound salmon fishing the great lakes on 12 pound mono. These fish pull harder than any bass. 

 

Granted, these fish were hooked in open water and can run etc.

 

but my point is that 12 pound mono is very hard to break while actually fishing. 

 

if you have 12 pound mono that snaps easily its because either the line is bad or your knots suck.

 

most of the time its the knots. a lot of times people don't tie very good ones. 

[hoosierbass07]

I have a spinning reel with five pound line I want to use for bass fishing, and a baitcaster with sixteen pound line I've used somewhat this spring, among lots of other reels.  Anyway, if I put a Roboworm and split-shot on the five pound line and use a big jig on the baitcaster with sixteen pound line, which one will catch the most large bass and largest bass?  My bet is on the five pound line.  Oh, and I'll take any big bass on six pound Sufix Elite Mono.  I think Charlie Brewer realized this a long time ago.  But I should say, I mostly fish very clear water strip pits that are steep and deep.    

[ww2farmer]

Using light line to flip and pitch in heavy cover, is like trying to pound a nail in with the handle of a screw driver. Can you do it? Sure. But it's not the best tool for the job.

[Joshua Vandamm]

It doesn’t. Lol

if light was ALWAYS better there’d be no debate. 

 

Now, line size choice for moving baits is all about the depth. You can run a trap in 20lb mono to keep it up high in thick grass or shallow flats. The way your looking at line... don’t. LOL 

[Mobasser]

On 5/12/2019 at 9:47 PM, Catt said:

 

25# test aint exactly light line ?

 

Match your line to the cover you're gonna be fishing!

 

Agree with Catt here. I use line from 8 to 15lbs. If I'm fishing more open, clear water, lighter line does just fine. But, it won't work everywhere. Even a 3lb bass can be hard to land, especially in thick wood cover. If I hook em, I want to land em too