what pound test for bass?

[bsbllboss33]

what pound test does everyone use for bass fishing.  i been using 8lb p-line.  i love p-line so ill stick with that but i have seen on t.v. and tournaments that guys are useing 12lb+ is this true? and what is the draw back of using heavy line? what is the positive for useing light line?

[Gatorbassman]

Depending on the technique and the rod I will use anything from 4lb to 50lb.

[Wayne P.]

I've lost bass with 65# before and wished I had used at least 80#. Big bass in timber and or heavy vegetation in no place for wimpy line.

Did you see the ESPN show about the Elite tournament on Falcon Lake?

[roadwarrior]

I fish relatively open water:

Spinning tackle: Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.009" diameter, 11.9 lb test)

Baitcasting gear: #12 Ultra Soft (.013" diameter, 19.5 lb test)

I have never been broken off by a fish using either of these lines.

8-)

[Wildbillb]

I use 8 pound for spinning and up to 15 for baitcasting.  It all depends on the lure, presentation and location.

[Daniel My Brother]

Right now, here's what I like:

6lb Pline CXX for spinning

12lb Berkley Big Game for most baitcasting (good and cheap)

40lb Power Pro for heavy cover

[Pike_Master]

8lb Trilene XL for my spinning rig and 12lb (testing Spiderwire Mono) on my baitcast rig.30+lb braid for froggin/jiggin

[fishfordollars]

10-20lb Berkley big game

30-60 Braid

10 12 fouro

[Just_Old_Fisherman]

I am at the other extreme from most of these.  My lake is wall to wall salt cedar and mequite---thick tough stuff.  I use 15# Vicious Fluoro, 14# Gamma Copoly, 20# Vicious Fluoro and 50# & 65# Power Pro.  Depends on the bait/technique I am fishing.  Even with the heavy stuff I have lines broken and hooks straightened.

[basser89]

8lb test up to 20 for me. I use mono, fluro and braid. Different baits/techniques require different line types and pound tests.

[Red]

trilene XT 10-12lb, depends on what the sstore has in stock!!

Cliff

[weknowhowtolive]

Since I only have one reel and rod and use it for everything, I've stuck with Spiderwire XXX supermono 14lb. Its thin enough, and strong enough. Now, that being said, I have some Siege on order, but its also 14lb. Ive never broken 14lb and on snags ive always had to cut it.

Before I bass fished I noticed a lot of people never bother to set their drag up correctly based on the lb test they are using, on any kind of fish. You can catch a 20lb fish on 8lb test if your drag is set right and you play it long enough and it doesnt smash through rocks and snags.

[CookieMonst3r]

I use 20-30 lb. mono and 10-20 lb. braid (Power Pro).

But 10 lbs. is usually all it takes when using Power Pro.

[bass wrangler569]

It depends on the technique, cover and water clarity but anywhere from 8lb-50lb. Most of my baitcasters usually have 12-17lb line. I have 50lb braid on my flipping/pitching rod and 8-10lb fluorocarbon on most of my spinning rods.

[Bankbeater]

I use 15 on all of my baitcasters and 10 on my spinning reels.  I should probably start using braid in the lily pads.

[Pier Boy]

I usually stick with 8-12 lb test stren original myself. I keep my drag set fairly light and rarely loose a lure, even on tough snags.

[S I G M A]

I use 12lb test on baitcasters

[Dawson]

14 lb for baitcasters, sufix elite or sufix siege

8 lb trilene XL for my zebco's.

[Jeff H]

6 or 8lb XT on my spinning rigs

10,14 or 17lb XT on casting rigs

sometimes I pitch with 12/50 Power Pro but usually can get away with the 17lb XT.

[Evan Pease]

I use 6-8lb trilene smoothe casting on my spinning and I have 2 BC with 14, 2 with 15, one with 12 and one with 50.

[TournyFish001]

4 to 12, I fish very clear Northwest waters.  I'd be like a fish out of water if you handed me a 8' flippin stick with 80# braid on it- but thats what it takes if you are in a heavy cover area.