What fishing line to use ?

[Curt Bannworth]

This season I will be using my first baitcaster for a second season.  I would like to graduate from using 12lb mono to all fluorocarbon.  The rod is a 7ft medium heavy dobyns sierra.  I use this rod to throw jigs/crank baits/weighted Texas rigs/spinnerbaits/chatterbaits kinda my do everything rod.  What brand/lb floro would you all recommend for this rod setup ?  I know I’m asking a lot out of this rod but I can’t justify owning 10 different rods.  I also own a heavy frogging setup that covers my top water needs.

[MN Fisher]

For the moving baits and jigs...go with 15#

 

Seaguar Tatsu - first choice

Seaguar InvizX - second choice.

[Russ E]

Quality fluorocarbon line is not cheap. I use sunline sniper.  14 pound sniper is the same diameter or thinner than most monofiliament lines.

Invisx is also a good all around fluoro line. Tatsu is one of the best. but very expensive.

if you don't want to spend the extra money for good fluorocarbon line I would stick to mono.

cheap fluorocarbon line will give you headaches, with manageability and random breakoffs.

whatever you decide on do not use berkley vanish. It is the worse fluorocarbon line on the market.

 

[Curt Bannworth]

So you would go with 14# as a good all around diameter ?

[jbsoonerfan]

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

For the moving baits and jigs...go with 15#

 

Seaguar Tatsu - first choice

Seaguar InvizX - second choice.

 

I like this suggestion a lot, I use both. I have had good luck with 14lb Sniper as well.

[Russ E]

23 minutes ago, Curt Bannworth said:

So you would go with 14# as a good all around diameter ?

pound test is not a good benchmark for line performance. line diameter gives a better reference. 

Trilene big game 10 pound test is .012 inches in diameter. sunline sniper 14 pound test is .0122 inches diameter.  

Short answer is yes if you are used to fishing 12 pound mono generally you can move up to 14 pound fluorocarbon and still have about the same diameter line.

 

[huZZah]

47 minutes ago, Russ E said:

pound test is not a good benchmark for line performance. line diameter gives a better reference. 

Yeah, your question is a little “skewed.” If you’re  fishing heavy cover you’ll want stronger line, but not necessarily thicker. Floro has good sensitivity, but it’s expensive so a smaller diameter will save you money if you use cheap mono backing on your reel.
 

My Trig setup has 12lb floro, baitcast, and it handles it pretty well. It’s a gigantic size difference from the 14lb big game mono. Major difference in casting distance, aim, feel, etc. 

[Deleted account]

10 hours ago, huZZah said:

 It’s a gigantic size difference from the 14lb big game mono. 

Yeah gigantic like infinite cause you are dividing by zero. BG comes in 12 or 15.

[Team9nine]

12 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

For the moving baits and jigs...go with 15#

 

Seaguar Tatsu - first choice

Seaguar InvizX - second choice.

 

This ^^ though you could probably get by fine with 12# also in your case.

 

The only other thing I’d recommend is once spooled, get in a lot of practice casting out in the yard to get comfortable with the line differences (vs mono). Depending upon your current level of casting ability, it may take some getting used to.

[fishingram24]

Seaguar Invizx 15 # is a great choice, Seaguar Red Label if you are on a tighter budget. Also used Berkley Vanish for several years and just thought all flouro acted as it did until I finally switched to Invisx. Won't even use what Vanish I have left as backing on a reel.

[Sir Shamsalot]

Don't forget the line conditioner. I am 100% sold on Tatsu, InvizX, and Shooter, but a little line conditioner helps alot with dealing with the unrulyness of FC. I also recommend learning to tie the Double San Diego Jam Knot (sometimes called the Pinzer Knot), the Double Uni Knot (not the same as back to back uni knots), and leave your tag ends long.

[ib_of_the_damned]

On 3/2/2021 at 7:01 PM, Russ E said:

Quality fluorocarbon line is not cheap. I use sunline sniper.  14 pound sniper is the same diameter or thinner than most monofiliament lines.

Invisx is also a good all around fluoro line. Tatsu is one of the best. but very expensive.

if you don't want to spend the extra money for good fluorocarbon line I would stick to mono.

cheap fluorocarbon line will give you headaches, with manageability and random breakoffs.

whatever you decide on do not use berkley vanish. It is the worse fluorocarbon line on the market.

 

X2 on the Sunline Sniper. It’s the only fluorocarbon I use. 7lb for drop shot/finesse, 10lb for jerkbaits/rip baits, 12-14lb for T-rigs/jigs.

[Junk Fisherman]

For everything you mentioned except cranks, I go 15 lb.  Cranks are 12 lb or even 10.  

 

Big Game is cheap and reliable.  I'd get a spool of that since this is your first baitcaster.  Tatsu is expensive and it would be painful to have to cut out a bad backlash.  

 

LOL- you'll be justifying 10 rods in a couple years.  

[superkamikazee]

I tried flouro on my bait caster and had issues with line management, sunline assassin. I now run 50lb braid with sunline leader. Easier to get a bird nest out, and no line memory issues. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, idk. 

[Gazz]

I strongly support the Invizx vote. Definitely some of the best all around fluoro you can get and it would be great for your needs as you are using it for so many different applications. I would personally go 15lb to cover everything well.