What kind of line do you recommend

[JS8588]

Last Thursday I caught 6 bass on topwater (specifically this in "shad" pattern https://www.eurotackle.net/collections/z-series/products/z-popper-1-75) on 8lb Stren Magnathin while guys fishing 30 feet to my right were catching absolutely nothing.

 

Stren Magnathin is my daily driver. Wouldn't change a thing about it for topwater.

[moguy1973]

4 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

I would appreciate suggestions for a brand of mono or poly that is limp and easy to handle. Also I don't understand the difference between mono and copolymer or which I should buy in 8 pound test. Any difference in price would not be a factor. Thanks for your help.

My favorite co-polymer line is P-Line CX Premium.    It handles well, is priced great, and is super strong for the test strength.

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, Linewinder said:

 

I don't recall that he suggested a rod action to match a no-stretch braid.  Am I wrong in thinking perhaps a slower action?

 

   For shock absorption and more time delay, yes. For less time delay, no.       jj

[dodgeguy]

12 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

Even most good fluoro today is two polymers with different properties extruded together.  

Usually harder surface and tougher core.  

Newer, better nylon monos are also made this way.  

Keep in mind that all monos are stiff - limp is a relative term - all have some annoying memory - it likes to coil -  you have to decide what you can live with.  

General rule, stiffer mono has lower memory, so limp mono isn't all it's cracked up to be.  

I'll put in a plug for Sunline mono and fluoro.  

 

Copolymer mixes fluorocarbon and nylon.  The best copolymer I ever used for small diameter, excellent toughness, low memory, good limpness, and hard surface was Kamikaze from Australia - I fished it in salt XUL, where it was intended.  It hasn't been easy to buy in about 10 years. 

YoZuri hybrid is pretty good, limp, fairly low memory, and great for the price.  It is larger diameter for the test, but at 8-lb, you probably won't care, though I would be tempted to drop it down to 6.  It has Very Good knot strength.   

 

IMO, the only way to fish braid is on shallow spools made just for braid.  But the newest braids are pretty remarkable.  All of the strength is in a center strand, and the outer strands are for abrasion resistance - the strands are fused together, so the best new lines are perfectly round and perfectly hard.  Eight-lb braid now is barely over 0.1 mm diameter.  The beauty if braid is it doesn't drag through the water, is 100% limp, has Zero memory, and casts out of sight.  My brands are Duel and YGK from Japan.   Braid has almost no elastic stretch - it just breaks, so you have to deal with mono and fluoro leaders to add some shock resistance.  

 

COPOLYMER does not mix flouro and mono

 The only one that does is Yozuri hybrid which I wouldn't even call a copolymer. Like it says it's a hybrid line.

[Bluebasser86]

Braid is perfect for topwaters, I wouldn't change a thing.

 

It floats, the lack of stretch allows me to reel into bites instead of having to set into them, so if they miss I don't pull the bait a long ways from them, and I get better casting distance but can still set the hooks at that distance. 

 

Only topwaters I don't use straight braid for are baits with a front prop and buzzbaits. 

[Captain Phil]

Braid has it's place.  I use it if I'm fishing a frog in very heavy cover.  I also use it if I'm fishing a tournament and ripping a Rattle Trap around hydrilla.  I've lost too many big fish to take a chance on loosing a money fish.  The problem with braid is many anglers use too heavy a line.  Fifty pound braid looks like cable to a bass.  My 8 pound mono is nearly invisible. Even 20 pound braid looks like a dock line.    I have never used 8 pound braid, but I suspect it would be equal to mono.  If you are going to use braid, don't up size the line.

 

There are other issues with braid as well.  The first time I used it, I lost a 25 pound Snook when the knot slipped.  I get more backlashes with braid and they are harder to pick out.  I will admit my reels are ancient, so I don't know how braid performs on a modern reel.  Hopefully better. 

 

Using fluorocarbon line will defiantly increase your strike rate.  Some of it is hard to cast.  My favorite is Berkley Vanish. It's a nice casting line that doesn't cost a fortune. The lighter your line the more bites you will get.  Light tackle fisherman have a huge advantage over someone fishing with cable.  You will have to learn how to fight fish on light tackle, but that's easier than getting them to bite in the first place.

[redmeansdistortion]

12 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

The problem with braid is many anglers use too heavy a line.  Fifty pound braid looks like cable to a bass.  My 8 pound mono is nearly invisible. Even 20 pound braid looks like a dock line.    I have never used 8 pound braid, but I suspect it would be equal to mono.  If you are going to use braid, don't up size the line.

I don't pay much attention to the breaking strength, but instead I look at the diameter.  Generally speaking, 20lb braid is equal in diameter to 6lb mono, 30lb to 8lb, 40lb to 10lb, 50lb to 12lb, and so on.  While I do use thinner braids like 6, 8, and 10lb, I don't use them on reels with deep spools.  The line can dig into itself plus removing a backlash with such thin braid on a deep spool can be quite the exercise in futility.  

[moguy1973]

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

Braid has it's place.  I use it if I'm fishing a frog in very heavy cover.  I also use it if I'm fishing a tournament and ripping a Rattle Trap around hydrilla.  I've lost too many big fish to take a chance on loosing a money fish.  The problem with braid is many anglers use too heavy a line.  Fifty pound braid looks like cable to a bass.  My 8 pound mono is nearly invisible. Even 20 pound braid looks like a dock line.    I have never used 8 pound braid, but I suspect it would be equal to mono.  If you are going to use braid, don't up size the line.

 

There are other issues with braid as well.  The first time I used it, I lost a 25 pound Snook when the knot slipped.  I get more backlashes with braid and they are harder to pick out.  I will admit my reels are ancient, so I don't know how braid performs on a modern reel.  Hopefully better. 

 

Using fluorocarbon line will defiantly increase your strike rate.  Some of it is hard to cast.  My favorite is Berkley Vanish. It's a nice casting line that doesn't cost a fortune. The lighter your line the more bites you will get.  Light tackle fisherman have a huge advantage over someone fishing with cable.  You will have to learn how to fight fish on light tackle, but that's easier than getting them to bite in the first place.

You are one of the few I’ve heard say they like Vanish.  Most people I know that have used it (have being the big word there because they don’t any more) say it lives up to its name because that’s what happens to all your lures when using it, they all VANISH!

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, moguy1973 said:

You are one of the few I’ve heard say they like Vanish.  Most people I know that have used it (have being the big word there because they don’t any more) say it lives up to its name because that’s what happens to all your lures when using it, they all VANISH!

Trying Vanish a few years ago turned me off to FC in any way-shape-form. It was only being gifted some AbrasX and Tatsu that got me trying it again...that and a purchase of InvizX.

 

I'm really hoping the new BasiX coming from Seaguar next year is decent - will definitely help my strained budget.

[Captain Phil]

8 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

You are one of the few I’ve heard say they like Vanish.  Most people I know that have used it (have being the big word there because they don’t any more) say it lives up to its name because that’s what happens to all your lures when using it, they all VANISH!

 

I do not use much fluorocarbon fishing line.  Our waters are not normally clear enough to require it.  So far, I haven't had any problems with Vanish.  Perhaps it's the knots I use?   I have tried some fluoro lines that were too stiff.  They were like fishing with wire. Vanish casts well.  So far, so good.

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

So far, I haven't had any problems with Vanish.  

 

[B-Gee]

Thanks very much for your helpful advice. I see that experienced fishermen use different types of line and have equal success in catching bass. Some feel they have better luck with mono while others prefer braid or copolymer for topwater lures. I have been using 15 lb. braid with a 30 lb. mono leader. I fished this morning with that line and caught one but missed three others either because I set the hook too soon or because I had replaced the treble hooks that came with the lure with single inline hooks. After reading all your helpful comments I believe I’ll continue to fish poppers and other topwater lures with braid plus mono leader. As for the fish I missed this morning I guess I’ll have to learn to wait a couple of seconds before setting the hook and if that doesn’t work, I’ll consider putting the treble hooks back on. I wonder how you feel about this plan?

[Captain Phil]

6 minutes ago, Robert C. Gates said:

I have been using 15 lb. braid with a 30 lb. mono leader. 

 

Why 30 pound leader?  Do you have toothy fish to worry about?  We use 30 pound leader in salt water fishing.  Snook and tarpon have sharp gill cover edges and will cut you off in a heartbeat.  If you are fishing for bass, you don't need a 30 pound leader.  

[MN Fisher]

17 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

 

Why 30 pound leader?  Do you have toothy fish to worry about?  We use 30 pound leader in salt water fishing.  Snook and tarpon have sharp gill cover edges and will cut you off in a heartbeat.  If you are fishing for bass, you don't need a 30 pound leader.  

Ya - only reason I'd use a 30# leader is if I was targeting the northern or bowfin we have up here...bass, heaviest leader I use is 15#.

[B-Gee]

Thanks. I'm going to switch to a 15 lb. leader.

[bulldog1935]

2 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thanks very much for your helpful advice. I see that experienced fishermen use different types of line and have equal success in catching bass. Some feel they have better luck with mono while others prefer braid or copolymer for topwater lures. I have been using 15 lb. braid with a 30 lb. mono leader. I fished this morning with that line and caught one but missed three others either because I set the hook too soon or because I had replaced the treble hooks that came with the lure with single inline hooks. After reading all your helpful comments I believe I’ll continue to fish poppers and other topwater lures with braid plus mono leader. As for the fish I missed this morning I guess I’ll have to learn to wait a couple of seconds before setting the hook and if that doesn’t work, I’ll consider putting the treble hooks back on. I wonder how you feel about this plan?

 

Especially fishing braid that light, you would likely be disappointed switching to mono or fluoro.  

I keep fluoro-loaded reels/spools to loan to people I don't want messing with my light braid reels.  

 

Nothing about a good Allbright knot will fail or foul.  

[rangerjockey]

I agree with Blue. The best action your going to get with a walking bait or popper is with braid.

I never use a spinning rod for them but 15lb. on a spinning reel should be about perfect.

I also wouldn't use a leader, sometimes braid will foul on the front hook but I think that's better than

creating another point of failure with a leader knot.

[FishTank]

Not a huge fan of braid but it's great for topwater.  What the OP is using sounds fine.  I might suggest going 20lb instead though.