Monofilament line question?

[gdub17]

My favorite and workhorse bait casting reel is a shimano ct50b. It’s small reel but plenty of power for largemouth bass. I typically use stren clear/blue ten pound monofilament line on it. The casting performance is really good. The line visibility above the surface is really good and I like that because I typically fish soft plastics in shallow water on banks. What other line options would you all recommend for this rig?  I like to use as light as 1/16th ounce weight to allow the lure to fall to the bottom slowly yet still provide excellent casting precision. Thanks all

[MediumMouthBass]

It sounds like you like what you are using already, if its working for you keep using it.

But i also understand wanting to try something new, over the past few years i had a phase where i only bought and used fluorocarbon, and at a point i didnt even think what i was paying for was worth it anymore, i fished trout and bass about 50/50 with some panfish mixed in so i was breaking off line constantly and respooling monthly.

I took the cheap route and bought monofilament for all my reels and i just didnt like it, for the panfish light rods its great but for the bass rods i only use it on one spinning rod for wacky rigs. Its just too stretchy and doesnt cast great for mea and got the line twisted constantly (spinning reels).

Someone on here last year was talking about Yo Zuri Hybrid line and it sounded interesting, i did some research on it and i thought it would be great for my kind of fishing. It took everything i liked about fluoro and mono and combined it while getting rid of the things i disliked about both line types. I use Yo Zuri Hybrid on almost every single baitcasting reel i have (except the few that have braided line) and ive even put it on my spinning reels too.

Its great for everything, it has just enough stretch for crankbaits while still having good sensitivity for texas rigs and football jigs, enough strength for throwing swimbaits hours a day, and today while fishing a t-rig on the bottom i was watching my line float on the surface waiting for a bass bite. And if you really want to watch your line it not only comes in clear but a bright green. I fish alot of places with pickerel and also zebra mussels (both shred line alot) and the lines abrasion resistance is amazing. But dont go by what lb line, but by its diameter (12lb from them is 15lb from other brands). Its also on sale at Dicks Sporting Goods now buy 1 get 1 free. Sorry for the long read.

Edit. It also casts amazing.

[GreenPig]

If it's working don't change.

[gdub17]

Thanks 

[GPtimes2]

Every time I have tried something other than stren mono, I was disappointed. But I like the stren magnathin the best. For a change for you, I would recommend magnathin in a lighter strength for those lighter lures.

[Catt]

Berkley Big Game 15# 😉

 

 

[Woody B]

Like GreenPig said, if it's working keep using it.  I normally use Big Game, 12 to 15 pound.   It's tough.  It's also not expensive so I change it often.   Every year, usually during the Spawn I miss a few Bass probably due to short strikes.  Most years I'll try something different but I keep going back to Big Game.  This year I'm sticking with Big Game.  

[RRocket]

All I fish is mono. The thing I've found is Stren, Trilene, etc seem stronger but that's because they run a significantly thicker line for the test. Stren is .011". Trilenene .010".

 

My current favorite is Sunline Supernatural at .009". If you have a hard time seeing, the "Metered" version is excellent: 12" of Hi-Vis yellow followed by 48" of clear. 

 

Lately I've been playing around with KastKing Tripolymer Advanced Monofilament. Diameter is .008".

 

(All diameters are for the 8lb you use)

 

I've also been toying with trying Argent Gliss, which sports properties of mono and braid (allegedly). .010"

[Pat Brown]

I used to play with line but now I just use big game and catch fish a lot.  That stuff only breaks when I want it to and even then it usually bends the hooks out on a bait.  I think people should use what they like for their water, be it braid to fluorocarbon, straight braid, straight fluorocarbon, monofilament etc

 

They're all just tools that can help you achieve more success and learning how they apply to you is something only you can do.

[Functional]

I've narrowed down my options. Only 2 rods have braid and the rest are mono or hybrid with Hybrid on jerkbait and bottom contact. Mono covers everything else.

 

Mono: Big Game

Floro: ? I dont like any but I have a spool of Tatsu I'm giving a last try with.

Hybrid: Yo-Zuri

Braid: Power Pro Slick V2 (Yo Zuri braid if I need a color). 

[N Florida Mike]

I use big game #15 on my heavier combos, and trilene xl for smaller combos with 8, 10 or 12 pound test.

[ike8120]

I have started using KK Tripolymer.

[BlakeMolone]

 I use stren mono, trilene xl, berkley big game, and original power pro braid for frogs. Mono is cheap, hard to break, holds knots well, and just doesn’t break on fish when your drag is properly set, it’s impossible to beat imo.

[volzfan59]

I went back to all mono, all the time. I just use different test line for different applications. That's what we did back before the braid became a thing again, and before floro,  which I personally detest. All I use is BPS Excel mono. It used to be made by Pure Fishing, assuming that it still is.

[Catt]

While I understand the thought process behind using a thinner diameter, in my little pea brain that means less material to withstand abrasion. 

 

15# Big Game is .015" 

[Mobasser]

Big Game is my line for casting reels also. Lighter lines are Trilene XL or Stren. Whichever is available.

[Choporoz]

4 hours ago, RRocket said:

 

I've also been toying with trying Argent Gliss, which sports properties of mono and braid (allegedly). .010"

If you do a search here you should find a few threads with Gliss reviews.  Most didn't like it much.  I still use it on some spinning reels. 

It is super thin and very smooth (new), so it will cast better than anything close to its rated strength.  It is not abrasion resistant at all, and can start fraying after contact with abrasive surfaces.  So, if I am using it around wood or sharper rock, I use a leader.   Leaders present another challenge only because Gliss is so slick - a finishing overhand knot can prevent a leader knot from pulling out.  So...fairly cheap, best castability, very strong, high visibility, good sensitivity...but low abrasion resistance and frays easily

[Skunkmaster-k]

Suffix and Vicious also make some really good mono. 

[Choporoz]

4 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Suffix and Vicious also make some really good mono. 

I only have mono on one reel - I use Suffix Elite for light topwater/small cranks and like it a lot

[casts_by_fly]

I use mostly mono (specialist braid applications). I like limp line and slick line. Supernatural moss green is just that for me. The 16# is my main moving baits line. I fish 12 for crank baits and jerk baits then 14# for top waters. It’s not the most abrasion resistant but I haven’t found that a limiting factor mostly. In heavier mono I fish 17# suffix elite for big moving baits and bottom lures. Then I have 20# big game on my big rod. BG is the hardest and slickest of the three. Elite the softest. 

[MediumMouthBass]

Man, all you guys here talking about Big Game. Next time i go to buy it for my big swimbait and salmon reels (15-30lb) the tackle shops probably gonna charge twice the price due to its popularity here today. Keep it a secret, keep it cheap.

[bulldog1935]

Up front, don't fix what ain't broken - you like the visible blue line, it works for you, stick with it.  

As long as we're having true confessions.  

I am almost 100% threadline braid.  I came from Stren on spinning tackle, then Big Game bulk spools. 

 

Since I'm mostly in the salt, switched to Seaguar bulk spools when they improved knot strength.  

I buy bulk YZH because it's inexpensive, and mostly use as disposable for initial setting of  internal mag brakes on round reels.  

Where I go to mono, it's Maxima Ultragreen 10-lb down to 5-lb.  

[TOXIC]

2 hours ago, volzfan59 said:

I went back to all mono, all the time. I just use different test line for different applications. That's what we did back before the braid became a thing again, and before floro,  which I personally detest. All I use is BPS Excel mono. It used to be made by Pure Fishing, assuming that it still is.

Well, well, somebody who fishes the same style as me.  I’m not against using braid and I do for some applications but for soft plastics, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and all of my finesse applications, I use straight mono.  I have good gear to make the fight in my favor and I have adjusted my casting, gear and hookset to match the qualities of mono.  I have not found a reason to change.  I too use EXCEL because it’s cheap and has, for the most part, performed well.  I have had an occasional bad spool and you need to change it out a bit more regularly but at its price point (I got 300yard spools on sale for $4.50 a spool), it’s not bad.  

[RRocket]

3 hours ago, Choporoz said:

If you do a search here you should find a few threads with Gliss reviews. 

 

It is super thin 

Is it though? 

 

Both mono I currently use are thinner, and the Spro Finesse Braid is, shockingly, half as thick at .005".

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

8# Siege in Neon Tangerine.  Haven't tried Berkley's Solar Collector color yet, but it sure looks bright.  Do have a spool to try, tho.