I hate mono with a passion

[Certified Public Angler]

So I've been borrowing my friends casting set up for last couple weeks to get used to Baitcasting.  It's a very old shimano bantam mag on a shimano compre 6ft that is I think M/F.  He has 12# Spiderwire Mono spooled on the reel.

Well yesterday I was out on the lake and missed at least 5 fish because of a poor hook set.  The first time I blamed myself for not being alert or jerking hard enough. Second time I blamed myself again and switched the rig of my lizard to have the hook poking right out of his back. Many times the hook wasn't even throught the plastic lizard or senko even after a huge jerk that almost throws me overboard.  Eventually I put the blame on the mono.  I feel like all of these fish would have been in the boat if I was using my spinning set up with 30lbs Suffix braid.  But my experience with braid on the BC reel was vicious backlashes.

So, is spiderwire mono just complete crap? Or does the stretch tick you off too?

Is my rod not stiff enough for plastic fishing?  Do I need a MH or H?  Would a 7ft rod help is that arena or just casting distance?

Should I try fluorocarbon?

and don't tell me I'm doing it wrong!  >    

[roadwarrior]

Just try some different line, it's not an expensive experiment.

I fish #12 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft on my baitcasters.

8-)

[Catt]

Sounds like operator error  

[Certified Public Angler]

Sounds like operator error

^ this was me yesterday.

[Rich K]

I fish Suffix performance braid and love it! If the water is super clear I tie on a 3 - 4 ft fluorocarbon leader. I use BPS fluoro for that.

When I first started using this setup, I had a hard time not breaking the leader knot. Figured out I was tying the braid know too tight (I use a uni-to-uni knot). The braid would cut into the fluoro and I would lose fish.

The beauty of this line is that unless the water is super clear, or you have line shy fish, you can tie your lure straight to the braid.

Currently using, 20 lb which is 6 or 8 lb mono diameter. The 10 lb is 2 - 4!

P.S. Stay away from power-pro if you have a baitcaster - a couple of good overruns weakened the line as it cut into itself causing much grief about losing big fish!

[Sam]

As Ike says....

Mono for treble hook baits and topwaters.

Flourocarbon and copoly for anything.

Braid for frogs, deep water and heavy cover.

So why are you using mono for Senkos and plastics?

Where is oyr 6' 6" medium heavy graphit rod with a fast action tip?

What size reel were you using and did you fill the spool within an eighth of an inch from the top?

Did you balance your rod, line and bait as per the rod's specifications?  Believe it or not, the specs on the rod are there for a reason.

So try again using Ike's line rules; your own rod and reel; and you will have more successful results.  

Maybe.  

[.RM.]

RoseAngler,

and don't tell me I'm doing it wrong!

Your doing it wrong....

Don't be so quick to blame the line, your M/F medium power fast tip action rod isn't heavy enough to drive the hook home thru heavy plastics like a lizard.

Most good plastics rods are in the MH/F or H/F as Sam stated...

Just adding my piddly 2¢  

[Lambo6]

I fished Texas rigged lizards all day with 10 pound spiderwire on my casting set up , with a 6'6 M/F all star graphite rod, worked fine with me , prob not the correct set up but i made due,

[islandbass]

I think the rod might be your culprit. Medium action power to drive a single hook home might be difficult with some medium powered rods and not others.

In your case, I would think it is the rod.  Before all these super lines came out, mono was just about all that was available and people have used it with great success. This is why I am inclined to think the rod was the cause.

Spiderwire mono is tough as nails and a solid line. Currently have it on one reel in 8# test.

[Wayne P.]

Since no one has asked, what brand and hook size are your using?

Lots of fishermen use even lighter line for soft plastics with light action rods and catch bass.  

[IMPY03]

I use 14# trilene XL mono on my bc setup used for plastics and I haven't any problems what so ever on setting the hook. Although I am using a 6'6" MH rod so that may be your problem.

[packman]

Well i think spider wire is crap but it could be the rod 2

[MichBassMan]

Ya know what I think? There's been thousands of bass caught on worse line and more wimpy rods than what you were using. To me it sounds like some panfish or real small bass were nipping away and giving you hook setting practice. If there was any real size to them, at least one would have hooked himself. I'd try smaller baits.

 

[Big Tom]

Ya know what I think? There's been thousands of bass caught on worse line and more wimpy rods than what you were using. To me it sounds like some panfish or real small bass were nipping away and giving you hook setting practice. If there was any real size to them, at least one would have hooked himself. I'd try smaller baits.

You are probably right.  Before I got better gear, I used to use an ugly stick spinning rod with a spinning reel that had tons of back play with 10 year old mono and crappy eagle claw hooks to worm fish with and I still managed to catch bass.  Maybe you were fishing in an area with ultra aggressive bluegill or smaller bass.  

[Catt]

The human tendency to respond to failure and frustration by over-complication rather than simplification of technique and theory.

So yea go ahead & blame the line  

[Muddy]

Actually I think it was the guy in the grassy knoll

[Certified Public Angler]

As Ike says....

So why are you using mono for Senkos and plastics?

Where is oyr 6' 6" medium heavy graphit rod with a fast action tip?

What size reel were you using and did you fill the spool within an eighth of an inch from the top?

Did you balance your rod, line and bait as per the rod's specifications?  Believe it or not, the specs on the rod are there for a reason.

So try again using Ike's line rules; your own rod and reel; and you will have more successful results.  

Maybe.  

Yeah yeah, i know...though I don't always practice.  I was using this set up b/c it is not my rod & reel but a friend let me borrow it for a couple weeks so I could become more comfortable with casting.  I am purchasing soon.  And after yesterday I will be looking at MH/F rods.

Since no one has asked, what brand and hook size are your using?

Lots of fishermen use even lighter line for soft plastics with light action rods and catch bass.  

I was using Gamgatzu(sp) 4/0, brand new hooks so unless the bass were very small then it shouldn't have been a problem.  But there have been a lot more dinkers around since Fay brought the lake way up.

Actually I think it was the guy in the grassy knoll

I knew it wasn't me  ;D

The human tendency to respond to failure and frustration by over-complication rather than simplification of technique and theory.

So yea go ahead & blame the line  Wink

I bet the bait monkey is secretly behind this, he wants me to buy new and better gear  

[Wayne P.]

RoseAngler, for a test, the next time you fish that way, mash the barb down and see if you get better hook ups. If that works OK, and you prefer to have a barbed hook, downsize your hook to a 2/0 or 3/0. You may be "trying to drive a spike with a tack hammer" so to speak.