What line for jigs and Texas rigs?

[Kyle S]

Trying to decide on what type of line I should use for bottom bouncing, harder hook setting techniques. I've tried straight mono, Fluoro and braid. Braid to various flavors of leader material have also been tried. I've liked the sensitivity and hook setting power that braid to leader offers but don't love the extra knot. 

I've yet to try a copolymer.

What's your line setup for jigs and the like?

 

[Pat Brown]

Unpopular opinion (maybe?)

 

20 lb Berkley Big Game.

 

It is plenty sensitive and I have stopped losing fish/breaking off on hooksets.

 

YMMV.

[rangerjockey]

10 or 12 lb. flouro.

[Kyle S]

Nice. I liked straight Fluoro quite a bit. Specifically 16lb Sunline Sniper. Really enjoyed the slack line sensitivity that setup offered.

[FryDog62]

Texas Rig - 12 lb Sniper

Jigs - 17 lb Tatsu

[T-Billy]

Straight 30# or 50# Sufix 832.

[Mike L]

14#-16# Sniper-light to moderate cover 

20# Shooter-moderate to heavy cover

 

 

 

 

Mike

[scaleface]

 17 lb Trilene XL or Stren in clear blue fluorescent. I like that  visible line  

[Bankbeater]

15 lb Big Game.

[Jig Man]

12-15# fluorocarbon for me 

[J Francho]

Why not straight braid?  50# works for me. 

[LrgmouthShad]

I like either 15lb big game or 18lb Sunline Sniper. That is for most applications when I am in moderate cover

 

 

[Mike L]

46 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Why not straight braid?  50# works for me. 

Fir me straight braid is a specialty line (punching and on top) not as an all purpose do everything line. 
 

That’s what fluorocarbon is for. 
 

 

 

 

Mike
 

[JackstrawIII]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Why not straight braid?

Because despite people saying that fish don’t care about seeing it… that’s just so hard for me to believe. 
 

If someone could make me believe that, I would fish braid for everything and be a happy man. I love braid. 

[greentrout]

I don't fish Jigs. I use Big Game Green 12lb. mono for my T-Rigged worm fishing with my BC. I like, sometimes, small diameter braid on my spinning reels.

[Diggy]

I use them all. The rod being used plays a role in my line choice since I swap around rods & reels and have no dedicated combos. 

[king fisher]

     They all have advantages and disadvantages, and will all catch bass for you.  If you pick one and stick with it, you will become accustomed to that line, and it will become your favorite.

    Braid is strong, has zero stretch, great hook sets, and very sensitive. Down side is it is only sensitive if the line is tight.  Any slack in the line and you loose all feel to your bait.

    Floro has stretch, but is still sensitive because it heavy and sinks.  Floro is the best line for slack line sensitivity because of the weight even with a small amount of slack, with a, bow in the line you can still have contact with the bait.  The down side is it must be replaced if you get a kink from a backlash or other professional angler type tangle.  Knot strength is poor, and the line is very expensive.  If I was a pro and someone was giving me line, Floro would be my choice for almost all bottom contact applications.

     Mono's advantage is it is inexpensive, very forgiving, has some slack line sensitivity,( not as much as floro) and while not perfect will work reasonably well in any situation.  I use mono for many applications, including T Rigs, and jigs, or when I swear off using Floro, for the hundredth time, because I was to cheap to replace the line after a professional overrun, causing me to loose a big bass or my favorite balsa crank bait.

     I suggest you try them all.  If you started fishing with braid, when you first try other lines, they will seam like fishing with rubber band.  Give them some time and you may end up liking them. 

     Make sure whichever one you choose, you develop a strong personal opinion for that line type.  The winters can get long, and a good argument over what is the best line is always entertaining.  Be careful what you say because if you end up being like me and constantly switching opinions, you will be quoted and rightly accused of being a hypocrite.

[Scott804]

18lb Sunline Fluoro. Bigger line is more sensitive. On a jig specific set up I will use 20-25lb occasionally, you can make a jig fall real darn slow with the right trailer, line, & jig. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I get away with #12 InvizX from time to time, but for my dedicated jig and t rig rod I use #15. I really like braid and the advantages it offers, but I don't like how noisy it is in cover.  The ability to work through grass is great, but when it digs into wood, it causes problems.  

[PourMyOwn]

You have been given a lot of good options. 

 

You also mentioned not trying copoly yet- if you do I recommend Gamma. I use 12 and 14 online without a ton of weeds. If I'm fishing heavy weeds/lilypads I'm straight braid. 

[WRB]

Between the mid 1960’s to 1980’s my line of choice was Trilene XT followed by Big Game 12# Mono for all my bass fishing with casting tackle. Started using 5# Maxima UG in the 80’s to this day for finesse spinning. 

Early 90’s Fluorocarbon became popular for off shore salt water for tuna that can be line shy. The late Aaron Martens introduced me to Sunline Shooter 300 meter spools from a supplier in Florida. Started using 12# and 14# Shooter for jigs and worms, the line was expensive @ $35 a spool in the 90’s.

FC feedback what the lure was doing is better then mono or copoly lines. The issue was knot strength and we all tried several different knots to resolve this issue. 30 years later the knot strength issue hasn’t been resolved, but we know SD Jam knot and Palomar knots ties correctly without cross over or twisting line gets close to 90% knot strength.

For whatever reason we can’t buy a strike during day light on straight braid in our local lakes. NorCal Clear Lake and the Delta straight braid works good.

SoCal if you use braid you need a leader during the day.

Today still use straight 12# FC usually Tatsu for jigs and worms bait casting or Sunline Armilo Nylon 11# for finesse bait casting. Spinning still use straight 5# Ultra Green or 7# Sniper leader with Fins Spin5 10# braid when back seating.

Tom

 

 

[LCG]

Been trying various lines for the last few years. On year 2 of yo zuri hybrid 10lb and it has been very good to me. Diameter is closer to 14lb as is breaking strength, holds knots well, loew stretch but still some stretch which I prefer, sensitive enough, affordable.

[garroyo130]

6 hours ago, Scott804 said:

18lb Sunline Fluoro. Bigger line is more sensitive. On a jig specific set up I will use 20-25lb occasionally, you can make a jig fall real darn slow with the right trailer, line, & jig. 

 

I always thought the thicker the line, the more bow in the line, the less sensitive ... 

[A-Jay]

For jigs I go with Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon Line.

15 lb for domestic bass - mostly the brown variety.

And 20 lb for the Mutant Green ones south of the border.

https://youtu.be/1to6ti-tlZY?feature=shared&t=697

A-Jay

[Catt]

9 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

Because despite people saying that fish don’t care about seeing it… that’s just so hard for me to believe

 

I do believe bass can see braid, i just don't believe they know what it is. I seriously doubt they see it & scream oh no it's braid, there has to be humans near!

 

Berkley Big Game 15#