Is mono better than braid for throwing a Whopper Plopper 90 on MH baitcaster?

[Ohioguy25]

I am currently throwing a Whopper Plopper 90 on a 7’1” MHMF Mojo Bass paired with a Curado K 8.5:1 spooled with 12 lb mono.  
 

I have dialed it in pretty well but still somehow manage to backlash at least a few times every trip (I kayak fish small rivers.)

 

I was told braid would help with this but also that mono was ideal for floating baits as it floats and has stretch to avoid pulling trebles out. What do you recommend? Thanks! 

[casts_by_fly]

Braid also floats.

 

i don’t know the mojo you’re talking about but slightly slower action rods can be used to absorb shock instead of the line. You have to find the balance for your setup.  For me, I’m throwing 14 lb suffix elite mono (which is a little larger diameter for test rating) on a moderate fast that has good power down low but takes a little to get to it. No issue with treble hooks biting and sticking, but it isn’t enough to set a toad hook. I use the same rod for bigger crankbaits. I might try it with 30 lb braid and for ploppers it might be better but since I use that rod for other stuff I don’t think it will be better for everything. 

[Deleted account]

Mono, I'd step up a tad from 12 lb, and maybe slightly less rod, but it's in the ball park.

[J Francho]

Step it up to 17# mono, leave everything else the same.  

[ChrisD46]

I'd start with Berkley Big Game #15 lb. mono line from Walmart which would work well for your MH rod . Inexpensive , strong , good quality line that won't break the bank . Later you can experiment with Sufix Elite #14 lb. or Berkley Triline XL #17 lb. mono lines All are .381 line diameter which is about right for a Whopper Plopper application providing the right stretch for the rod you are using . If you were to use braid you would want a MH moderate action rod or else you risk pulling the lure out of the bass's mouth on the hook set .

[Fat Ika]

@Ohioguy25 Generally agree with all comments. Agree with everything @ChrisD46 said. Mono in that similar diameter. No braid due to a moving trebled topwater, plus Curado K in my experience isn't the greatest for distance casting/line management with braid specifically. I'm sure you're upgrading hooks after a fish or 2 with the stock hooks?

[PhishLI]

9 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What do you recommend?

Line type isn't the issue whatsoever. It's your thumb. In general, regardless of which reel you have, if you're  target casting with a flat trajectory, you need to ride the spool. This means releasing only enough thumb pressure for the lure to fly, but never enough for the spool to throw up loops. If you get loops or fluff, your thumb is too far away from the spool. Until you get the drift of this, adding a dash of spool tension will help your cause. Back it off when you feel like you're able to, or don't if you can't get by without it. The spool tension police won't come to git ya.

 

If you're having this issue even on higher arc distance casting, do the same thing. Ride the spool. IMO, the Curado K requires more user input than any of the MGL reels near it's price point. It's a pain to dial in to begin with, and simply requires more of your attention second by second. Think of it this way, fish with it this way, and it's a fine reel with lots to like.

[ironbjorn]

Floating line doesn't matter with a WP. The line is never even in the water during the retrieve.

[Ohioguy25]

3 hours ago, Deleted account said:

Mono, I'd step up a tad from 12 lb, and maybe slightly less rod, but it's in the ball park.

Why’s that, to fix my backlash issue or for strength? I’m only fishing river smallies. My rod is MHMF.

3 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

I'd start with Berkley Big Game #15 lb. mono line from Walmart which would work well for your MH rod . Inexpensive , strong , good quality line that won't break the bank . Later you can experiment with Sufix Elite #14 lb. or Berkley Triline XL #17 lb. mono lines All are .381 line diameter which is about right for a Whopper Plopper application providing the right stretch for the rod you are using . If you were to use braid you would want a MH moderate action rod or else you risk pulling the lure out of the bass's mouth on the hook set .

It is a medium heavy moderate fast, is that adequate for braid or still too much?

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

Line type isn't the issue whatsoever. It's your thumb. In general, regardless of which reel you have, if you're  target casting with a flat trajectory, you need to ride the spool. This means releasing only enough thumb pressure for the lure to fly, but never enough for the spool to throw up loops. If you get loops or fluff, your thumb is too far away from the spool. Until you get the drift of this, adding a dash of spool tension will help your cause. Back it off when you feel like you're able to, or don't if you can't get by without it. The spool tension police won't come to git ya.

 

If you're having this issue even on higher arc distance casting, do the same thing. Ride the spool. IMO, the Curado K requires more user input than any of the MGL reels near it's price point. It's a pain to dial in to begin with, and simply requires more of your attention second by second. Think of it this way, fish with it this way, and it's a fine reel with lots to like.

Thanks for the tips! What is a better reel at that price point that requires less user input to avoid backlashing?

[Phil77]

Your setup should be fine, SVS is finicky. Only time I recommend braid for topwater is for frogs. Try turning all four brakes on and back the dial down as low as you can without it fluffing. I prefer medium rod for topwater to help pin them but MH will work if that's all you have. Make sure to clean and oil the brake collar/ring that alone will give you better performance. 

[Fishingmickey]

I have found the same thing to be true on some of my other Shimano reels. My Scorpions really perform much better with all four brakes engaged. I think Phil77's suggestion is spot on. 

FM

[JMac603]

#12 mono is more than enough. 

 

There's a lot of overkill line diameters/weights on this forum (not an insult) and that's what works for them. #12 mono is plenty strong enough and (depending on brand) more than abrasion resistant enough. 

[Johnpenguin]

I would go braid(30 or 40#) to a 10ft mono leader(14#).

[Deleted account]

18 minutes ago, JMac603 said:

#12 mono is more than enough. 

 

There's a lot of overkill line diameters/weights on this forum (not an insult) and that's what works for them. #12 mono is plenty strong enough and (depending on brand) more than abrasion resistant enough. 

It's not about strength or abrasion resistance, 12 lb BG is strong enough to fish with the drag locked down. Ploppers and other top water lures just work better with larger diameter line.

[JMac603]

12 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

It's not about strength or abrasion resistance, 12 lb BG is strong enough to fish with the drag locked down. Ploppers and other top water lures just work better with larger diameter line.

Never experienced any issues fishing em with it.

[dodgeguy]

I would fish straight 50 lb. Braid Sufix 832 on any Lew's reel with the externally adjustable centrifugal brake. They can be set to be backlash free but still cast very far. The BB1 Pro LFS will cast it the furthest.  You should learn to use your thumb as much as possible but these reels will ease your pain. You should also cast with handle pointing up or down depending on left or right reel and which hand you cast with. This decreases backlash. Also don't cast for distance . Distance comes with time .Use your wrist and not your arm.

 

[swhit140]

I used 7'3" Med Hvy Rod spooled with 15lb Copolymer on 110 Whopper Plopper catching 7-9lb Wiper's a few weeks ago, I just backed the drag off a bit and had no problems losing any fish.

[PhishLI]

3 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What is a better reel at that price point that requires less user input to avoid backlashing?

I won't go there in order to avoid helping your thread spiral into the abyss, because that's what'll happen. The difference in line diameter of .001-.002" isn't going to mean chit if you don't figure out how to manage a Curado K's heavy-ish fully loaded spool with your thumb. If you can't figure that out, there are no magical answers if you're set on Shimano reels with SVS Infinity braking. Things get better with MGLs, but not necessarily easier. Master a Curado K, and you'll do well with their better offerings. If you can't, look elsewhere, because they're just not for you.

 

You can oil the brakes, turn on all the brake blocks, dance the hokey pokey, say a prayer, but if you're not thumb heavy with it fishing it specifically as you've described, the K will give you what you've got now.

[Bird]

 

Obviously we all have varying opinions when " what line what rod ? " Threads pop up.

 

I'm using straight 20# braid on a Lew's custom top water special 6'8 medium mod fast.

Shimano SLX with 2 brakes engaged......no backlash.

 

Have never used a MH with trebles and braid.

You want a bent rod when fighting a fish on top. 

 

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, Phil77 said:

Your setup should be fine, SVS is finicky. Only time I recommend braid for topwater is for frogs. Try turning all four brakes on and back the dial down as low as you can without it fluffing. I prefer medium rod for topwater to help pin them but MH will work if that's all you have. Make sure to clean and oil the brake collar/ring that alone will give you better performance. 

Is that with all 4 flipped up or down? Would another brand be much better?

[Mike L]

I am not technically educated enough to give advise on the difference’s of the intervals of a bait casting reel from one manufacturer or model to another. 
I leave that to the more informed and technically proficient members which there are many on here. 
 

See @PhishLI response’s. 
 

All I can add is that the K model Curado is an excellent casting reel that once you dial it in would be hard to beat from anyone in its price range. 
I like having a reel that is designed to allow the user to fine tune it to his particular angler style. 
 

 

 

 

Mike
 

[Phil77]

46 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Is that with all 4 flipped up or down? Would another brand be much better?

All four down is all brakes on. A magnetic reel or a centrifugal non SVS system is less finicky but like others have said you need to get your thumb and stroke down or no reel will perform to its fullest.

[Phil77]

Here is a three pounder I caught the other morning. She smoked that plug at well over a hundred feet away and I thought for sure she would spit it before I got her to the boat. I don't normally like to hook a fish that far out and don't target ones that far but I saw her and some others busting shad and got excited. If you're fishing from a boat or yak distance isn't important, that's what the trolling motor or paddles are for. Focus on accuracy and consistency and you'll be more successful. 

And feel free to make fun of my sissy fish gripper. I'm not performing treble hook removal surgery from my hands ever again.

[FrnkNsteen]

I use that same exact Mojo Spinnerbait MHMF rod as my Whopper Plopper rod. I'm currently running 17lb Suffix Tritanium Plus and have a Gen3 Revo S on it, which a slower 6.4 ratio compared to what you're using. It casts like a dream and doesn't overload/underload the rod.

 

I may have missed it, but when are the issues happening? At the beginning of the cast or in the middle to end? May just need to play with brakes or cast control. I don't have a Curado K to compare to.

[Ohioguy25]

3 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

I use that same exact Mojo Spinnerbait MHMF rod as my Whopper Plopper rod. I'm currently running 17lb Suffix Tritanium Plus and have a Gen3 Revo S on it, which a slower 6.4 ratio compared to what you're using. It casts like a dream and doesn't overload/underload the rod.

 

I may have missed it, but when are the issues happening? At the beginning of the cast or in the middle to end? May just need to play with brakes or cast control. I don't have a Curado K to compare to.

It is happening middle-end of cast, it hits a point in the arch where it just stops and nests up.