Bass Fishing with what fishing line?

[Osran]

Hello everyone, I have been Bass fishing for a total of 2 years now.  Loving every minute of it, and often go as much as I can.  

Open reel, where you  must keep your thumb on it at all times, or else you get snagged up.  I do believe that is why I'm snagging now.

I got a 20 lb line test on mine, these were advice that was given to me.  But for some reason I feel that they're wrong, should I use a much more lighter weight test line?  Like 8 or 10?  

Advice would be appericated.  

[BadKarma42]

By "open" do you mean a spinning reel or an open faced baitcaster?

[Osran]

Sorry, I wasn't more specifc.  It is a open face baitcaster.

[roadwarrior]

Bu "snagging" do you mean backlash? You need to work with your brakes and cast control, the line isn't the problem. Tighten the brake down most of the way, then lossen it as you become more proficient. It takes practice, but it will come to you.

BTW, Welcome aboard!

8-)

[TruflShufl]

Depends on what you're fishing and what the conditions are. At any given time I might have a different line on each of my four rods.

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/selecting_line.html

There's also several other articles in the "equipment" section of the site.

If I expect to come across clear water I'll use fluorocarbon for just about all my setups. Probably the 12-15 lbs. range. Braid for topwaters

If I'm fishing mostly dingy/stained/muddy water I'll use 15-20 lbs. mono for most of my setups and 20 lbs. braid for flippin/pitchin. Braid is unforgiving when it comes to backlashes though so mono is usually a little bit better for just everyday fishin.  8-)

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Osran]

Haha, Forgive me as I learn the proper terms for fishing.  But yes " Backlash."  Alright, So I need to adjust the brake control, I'll certainly be doing that and giving it a try.

And I live here in Illinois and had some really good catch if I hadn't backlashed.  Spinnerbait with trail hook on.  However, It was a catch and release pond so sadly I couldn't keep it my fish.  No worries, I j ust love to catch them.  

And I"ll consider using those lines as you mentioned Roadwarrior.

And thanks for the welcome.

[fishizzle]

Is your lure too light?

Don't cast into the wind either.

Don't try to cast to hard until your thumb is trained

[Osran]

I don't believe that my lure is too light, I can cast a good ways with it, depending on where I'm casting it.  

However, I never throw against the wind, always with it.  If the wind is blowing towards me, I try and move to the direction that it's blowing.  Here lately, I haven't been fishing near the shore, bank, rocky banks or anything, since I'm only catching little ones.  So I 've been catching at the least 3 pounders or more by the docks.  

I changed my fishing line over to 10lbs yesterday..Did I make the right decision?

[iceintheveins]

I use six or eight pound test in open water for many applications, except for buzzbaits and heavier lures. Usually the weight of the lures I'm using and the thickness of the cover I'm fishing dictates the size of the line I use.

For really heavy cover I use braid of 20 - 30 pound test, and a lot of guys go heavier than that. I use at least 12 pound line for buzzbaits, always mono for topwaters.

[Osran]

What type of lures would require that big of a line?  I mean, I have gone 20 before, but above that I have never had to use or heard that someone else use it above 20...Interesting though.