A love letter to mono

[wvhunt]

I used mono only for years.  Everything from 2lb for trout up to 30lb for catfish.  I didn't know I "needed" anything else till the internet came around

[WRB]

Most bass anglers are looking for a panacea fishing line that to date doesn’t exist. 
Braid was the choice for bass anglers in the 50’s, Monofilament Nylon line came out in the 60’s and became very popular with bass anglers. Copolymer blends came out in the mid 70’s still called Mono line but offered better abrasion resistance then most Nylon mono of that era.

Fluorocarbon and super braids came out on the 90’s and became popular with bass anglers to this day.

Nylon monofilament has the reputation that it stretches, Fluorocarbon line earned the reputation of poor knot strength and braid being poor abrasion resistance.

Nylon monofilament line does everything needed in a bass fishing line so take your pick,

Tom

[Columbia Craw]

This isn’t your grampa’s mono anymore.  Mono technology has come a long way.  Sunline Super Natural or Big Game are always in play, especially for moving baits. I hate auto spell!

[BrianMDTX]

All my baitcasters are spooled with mono or hybrid, except for my frog rig. All my spinning reels are braid-to-leader. I’ll never spool a spinning reel with straight mono again. 

[jbrew73]

My best comparison of nylon mono vs flouro is with the Carolina rig

Good nylon mono on a Carolina rig feels like you are dragging a dish towel on your hook. Good flouro lets you feel the bottom and what your lure is doing so much better.  
If you can’t feel the difference please continue to use nylon mono.

[Bird]

My love letter to mono,❓

Sorry honey but I'm filling for divorce.

My new girlfriend has been braid / braid to flouro and it's been harmony.

[WRB]

Let me know when any of you braid or FC line users catch one bass the  size of my 5 PB’s listed caught on Mono line using jigs.

Tom

[raydomz]

I like where your head is at @WRB.

[33oldtimer]

I grew up using mono and never had an issue with it. A few years ago I put braid to a leader on nearly all my combos. I liked it initially, but then started having problems. I heard a noticeable crack in one of my rods when I snagged a rock with a jig. That not having any stretch in the line bit me. Then I lost a fish because the braid had a tiny nick I hadn't noticed. Then lost another fish as my double uni knot on the leader let loose while reeling a fish in. Soon realized I was badly missing my old reliable mono. 

 

I use mono for everything now except top water frog & toad. I never worry about a big fish on light line coming off. I've caught big catfish while fishing with 6# mono for panfish. I see guys on youtube breaking off fish all the time with flouro.  My mono knots hold. Mono takes a beating without breaking. That "stretch" in mono is not a bad word in my book.  Heavier mono stretches less and I use that on my heavier rigs.  My two cents.

[rangerjockey]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

Let me know when any of you braid or FC line users catch one bass the  size of my 5 PB’s listed caught on Mono line using jigs.

Tom

Well. first everyone of them would have to fish somewhere where a Bass of that size is possible.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

Well. first everyone of them would have to fish somewhere where a Bass of that size is possible.

OK, my point is mono line doesn’t “stretch” under 30% of the line strength and hook sets done properly when casting over 30 + yards all those bass where hooked at. For all the negative thoughts toward mono line is unfounded.

Equal diameters mono is stronger knot strength the FC.

Most states have 12 lb LMB so use that instead of 17+ lbs.

Tom

PM my PB’s were caught using 10 & 12 lbs mono.

[Choporoz]

Majority of my fishing is bottom contact.  I convinced myself years ago that neither braid nor mono comes close to the semi-slack line sensitivity of fluoro.   I use mono for topwater only.  I would be OK cranking with it, but I mostly use fluoro for for that, too.

[Darth-Baiter]

On 3/15/2025 at 8:16 PM, WRB said:

Let me know when any of you braid or FC line users catch one bass the  size of my 5 PB’s listed caught on Mono line using jigs.

Tom

Ouch.  Never considered it a competition.    If I get one, I know I’m not gonna be a.....forgot how to use English about it.  Haha. 
 

 

there is no right/wrong answer here that I can see.  There’s a right one for each of us.  We get to decide for ourselves. 

[AzBassin]

This is the perfect thread to post this old guys thoughts……..Got this a long time ago

from a guy

 

Line Cost

 

I don't like the handling, breakage vulnerability, and high cost of fluorocarbon. Pros recommend respooling for each trip. Here's my quick cost workup to do such: 

15 outfits for moving baits; 50 yds per outfit; 3 trips per week; 40 weeks per year = 90,000 yards needed 

Sunline FC Sniper 15 lb price for 1000yd spool is $149 at TW; 90,000 yards costs $13,410 per year 
Seagur InvisX 14 lb price for 1200 yd spool is $122 at TW; 90,000 yards costs $9,150 per year 
Sufix Adv 14 lb VIP price for 1200 yd spool is $70; 90,000 yards costs $5,250 per year 

I am retired, can't deduct this cost as a business expense, and am not sponsored by a line company. Also consider the environmental impact of disposing of 90,000 yards of line. Given the extremely high cost, time spent changing line, and the huge negative environmental impact of line disposal, (not to mention the hassle of using the stuff), why would any amateur fisherman want to use fluorocarbon?

 

i was floored what he would have spent in line if floro

 

 

Edited March 18 by AzBassin

[WRB]

I use both mono and FC line, use the line that works for you I do!

Tom

[rangerjockey]

18 hours ago, AzBassin said:

This is the perfect thread to post this old guys thoughts……..Got this a long time ago

from a guy

 

Line Cost

 

I don't like the handling, breakage vulnerability, and high cost of fluorocarbon. Pros recommend respooling for each trip. Here's my quick cost workup to do such: 

15 outfits for moving baits; 50 yds per outfit; 3 trips per week; 40 weeks per year = 90,000 yards needed 

Sunline FC Sniper 15 lb price for 1000yd spool is $149 at TW; 90,000 yards costs $13,410 per year 
Seagur InvisX 14 lb price for 1200 yd spool is $122 at TW; 90,000 yards costs $9,150 per year 
Sufix Adv 14 lb VIP price for 1200 yd spool is $70; 90,000 yards costs $5,250 per year 

I am retired, can't deduct this cost as a business expense, and am not sponsored by a line company. Also consider the environmental impact of disposing of 90,000 yards of line. Given the extremely high cost, time spent changing line, and the huge negative environmental impact of line disposal, (not to mention the hassle of using the stuff), why would any amateur fisherman want to use fluorocarbon?

 

i was floored what he would have spent in line if floro

 

 

I've been doing this for 50 years for fun and money. There's no way I'm going to use 90,000 yds of line in my life time much less within a year,

I change it maybe once a year and Tatsu every two years or so because of the cost and it lasts well.If it gets roughed up just turn it around.

Who ever gave you those figures needs to get off the pipe.

 

[flatcreek]

I wonder how I made all that good club tournament money pulling that dishrag on a Carolina rig all those years.?

if I’d only known about flourocarbon.

lol, just having a little fun.Everyone fish what feels right and catches fish for your lakes and situation.Monofilament is underrated 

[AzBassin]

18 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I've been doing this for 50 years for fun and money. There's no way I'm going to use 90,000 yds of line in my life time much less within a year,

I change it maybe once a year and Tatsu every two years or so because of the cost and it lasts well.If it gets roughed up just turn it around.

Who ever gave you those figures needs to get off the pipe.

 

Do the math figures correct although prices can change.  The guy fishes alot. 
His argument comes from pros change line after each day of tournament. 
 

No one says you must. 
 

To me i saved this because brings reality

to our hobby cost  if you get too obsessed. 
 

Not intended to start floro wars or anything of sort. 
 

edited to fix typo

18 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I've been doing this for 50 years for fun and money. There's no way I'm going to use 90,000 yds of line in my life time much less within a year,

I change it maybe once a year and Tatsu every two years or so because of the cost and it lasts well.If it gets roughed up just turn it around.

Who ever gave you those figures needs to get off the pipe.

 

It dont last in Arizona I can tell you that. 
 

Maybe i need to try line conditioning 

[HSP]

Have used mono for 60 years. The last few I have more problems than ever. 
It loops in my reel constantly It is like throwing a “slinky toy” sitting on the water curled up 

I load my reels properly and wonder if the manufacturers are doing something differently in manufacture?!

Any thoughts??

[WRB]

Coils indicate line memory caused by being stored on the reel in cold on a small diameter spool or old line.

Can you add the line mfr, test and reel.

Tom

[Lead Head]

I have never caught a double digit bass. I do catch multiple fish (gar, catfish, even occasionally a carp) in the 20-30lb+ range every year. 30lb 832 to a 14lb sniper leader. I can't remember my last line failure that wasn't me intentionally breaking the leader because I couldn't retrieve a snag. I did lose a nice bass last year (5lb neighborhood) because I forgot to adjust my drag after switching from a swim jig to a crankbait. After adjustments I managed to land 3 of the same quality in 4 casts. 

 

I always have to remind myself how different everything can be for people like us discussing fishing methods and preferences on the internet. Clear water for me is so stained and dirty some people would likely call it mud. Fishing rocks for me is basketball+ sized chunk with deep "potholes" and extremely sharp edges. I almost always have some level of current. All this and many other things led me to braid to leader for the most effective and economical option for me. I throw a 3/8oz jig with a 25lb fc leader because it holds up to the nasty chunk rock i like to fish. Any heavier on the jig and I stay stuck in the rocks, any lighter on the leader and I would be breaking or shredding it every 3 casts. Just as Tom would like to see me catch a giant bass on braid to leader, I would like to see him fish his jig in my rocks with 10 and 12lb mono. My guess is he would get tired of losing jigs and having to re-tie his line, adjust to the cover (likely in a better way than I have) and proceed to thoroughly out-fish me. 

 

All that rambling to say... mono is a great line and I could definitely catch plenty of fish if it was all I had. I just like my way better and it works for me.  

 

Oh yeah, I'll see if I can find a picture tonight of some of the carnivorous carp we have. I usually catch 1 or 2 a year in the mouth with plastics and cranks. Im not sure if they are actually feeding or if they are accidentally suckung up the baits but it can be pretty exciting on my end.

[J Francho]

On 3/13/2025 at 8:10 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

it would have to be a letter to mono.

 

to braid, you email that message

Meanwhile, I like to slide into fluoro's DMs. 

[Pat Brown]

Braid for frogs and buzzbaits and spinning rods.

 

Big Game for everything else.  😎👍🏼

 

Fluorocarbon has been nothing but lost fish and wasted money for me personally and I catch plenty of big bass.

 

If I was guiding - I'd use big game all day every day - to heck with what's trendy - I'd want my customers catching fish not breaking off and backlashing spools of 40$ line.

 

I fish big game for red drum in shells and rock and heavy vegetation and we are catching 30-50 lb fish.

 

You can feel a bite 200 feet from you in HEAVY wind with a huge bow in your line on a c rig.

 

It's plenty sensitive.

 

Also if you fish as often as I do and retie as often as I do - no spool of any line lasts more than a few trips!

 

Huge waste of money to go with something extremely pricey when you fish all the time and retie and then need to respool all the time.  And I will never go braid to fluorocarbon leader.  That's just a horrible idea fishing shallow lakes with heavy rock and wood cover!

 

Big game is an easy choice.

[Mobasser]

I've used mono going on 40 years now. I've tried several different brands. I have a heavy casting outfit with braid for frog fishing, but it's Big Game on my other casting reels. Ive tried Yo Zuri Hybrid on my spin reels, and ended up ditching that for P Line CX.                              Line choice is always a hot topic here. Guys should use what works best for them. We tend to forget that before braid became the " best" line for frog fishing, there were scores of bass caught on frogs with heavy mono. Mono still works for bass fishing, as it always has.                                                         I just spooled two light spinning reels with original Stren four pound, for crappie this spring. Been using it forever.

[Mobasser]

I've heard a lot of guys complain about mono on spinning reels, but I think it starts with how the line is initially spooled on the reel. And, if you haven't fished for a few days or a week or so, and you think your line may not handle well, take the spool off your reel and soak it in warm.water for an hour or so. This works, and makes the line handle better.