Mono size for heavy cover

[jwo1124]

I really want to resist using braid since its not only very expesive, but I heard it can be troublesome to work with. Can anyone reccommend a decent size mono for tossing baits in and around heavy cover. I was thinking 20# Berkley Big game or XT in green.

[wisturkeyhunter]

What are you throwing and what rod and reel you using to throw it? I'd recommend pline cxx 15# though. Its tough as they get.

[Raul]

I fish heavy cover with Trilene Big Game 10 lbs test about 80% of the time, I go up to 12 pound test when I fish the rocks and 15 lbs when I flip. No need to fish with wire.

[Sam]

On a 7-foot heavy rod with a 5:1:1 reel for winching power, may I suggest 20-pound flourocarbon line?

Get abrasive resistive line since you will be in cover.

Or....put the flouro on your 5:1:1 reel as a backing, then add about 75 yards of braid and add a two or three foot flouro leader and use this setup.  Make sure the diameters of both lines are equal.

The above setup will allow you to use only a small portion of your braid line but still get the benefits of the braid in cover.

Now, what type of knot should you use to tie the flouro to the braid?

Do some research to find the answer on this forum.  It has been discussed a number of times and it boils down to personal preference.  

[J Francho]

12-15# P-line CXX.

[Uncle Leo]

15 # CXX is great line and wil what I prefer. I also use 15# Big Game which is much cheaper.

[The_Natural]

What are you throwing and what rod and reel you using to throw it? I'd recommend pline cxx 15# though. Its tough as they get.

Cosign...

[roadwarrior]

If you're fond of Slinkies, you're going to love P-Line in cold weather.

Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #12 is the ticket (.013" diameter, 19.5 lb test).

8-)

[Daniel My Brother]

Pline CXX is super strong, but it does have a lot of memory if that's a concern for you.

Berkley Big Game is a great quality line at an unbeatable price. It's the only mono I currently use. I prefer 12# for most applications.

Just a note about braid; it is probably the cheapest line going when you consider how long it lasts. I can get a full season out of a spool of braid, but I'm changing mono out every 4 or 5 trips.

[Grey Wolf]

I really want to resist using braid since its not only very expesive, but I heard it can be troublesome to work with. Can anyone reccommend a decent size mono for tossing baits in and around heavy cover. I was thinking 20# Berkley Big game or XT in green.

What do you mean  "troublesome to work with"? It's not expensive. I usually get two or three years out of the braid I put on my reels.

[Trick Worm]

remember the bigger the line the harder it becomes to cast. When you really need strength but still want to maintain performance it is hard to beat braided. For heavy cover I would use 15 lb fluro no mono

[Tin]

I really want to resist using braid since its not only very expesive, but I heard it can be troublesome to work with. Can anyone reccommend a decent size mono for tossing baits in and around heavy cover. I was thinking 20# Berkley Big game or XT in green.

What do you mean "troublesome to work with"? It's not expensive. I usually get two or three years out of the braid I put on my reels.

When it comes to heavy cover, mono is almost obsolete.

[kikstand454]

yeah i can go all year fishing saltwater with the same spool of braid. at least 6mos. power pro. its the best.

i personally use yo zuri hybrid on everything i own now with  the exception of the accurrist pts i got a few weeks back that was strung with pline cxx. i do not like it and will be replacing it with yozuri as soon as i feel im not wasting good line. it handles odd and has the memory of a female elephant.  its strong though. gotta give it that.  

[Catt]

Berkley Big Game 15#  

[wisturkeyhunter]

If you're fond of Slinkies, you're going to love P-Line in cold weather.

8-)

I was fishing 25# cxx last night when it was under 40 degrees with a light rain coming down. No problems what so ever. I've used 15 and 17 pound several times when it was at least that cold with no problems. Hear all these problems about cxx and I've never had a problem. Must be the Wisconsin Air.

[The_Natural]

If you're fond of Slinkies, you're going to love P-Line in cold weather.

25lb CXX?!  I love CXX, but you are a braver man than I.  15lb is as high as I've ever needed to go.  It's weird how there seems to be quite a difference in memory between the 15 and 17lb tests.  25lb has to be rough!

8-)

I was fishing 25# cxx last night when it was under 40 degrees with a light rain coming down. No problems what so ever. I've used 15 and 17 pound several times when it was at least that cold with no problems. Hear all these problems about cxx and I've never had a problem. Must be the Wisconsin Air.

[wisturkeyhunter]

I was throwing a swimbait that weighs over 2 ounce but with lighter stuff it would probably cause problems. First swimbait setup and wanted something I could count on if I hook a big pike or muskie and cxx is pretty d**n strong. Been pretty succesful at catching bass for the short time I've had it. Plus cxx is cheaper than alot of quality lines out there. I do agree there is a difference in 15 and 17. With 15 I can spool up and go fishing with zero problems, with 17 usually take a hard snag or few fish to get it broke in or it seems that way then it works great but 15 is strong enough for a standard bass rod.

[FD.]

I really want to resist using braid since its not only very expesive, but I heard it can be troublesome to work with. Can anyone reccommend a decent size mono for tossing baits in and around heavy cover. I was thinking 20# Berkley Big game or XT in green.

Braid is not expensive to use.  Maybe more expensive to purchase but much cheaper over the long run.  Buy some power pro 65lb, learn to tie a palomar knot, buy some superline hooks and prepare to get anything you hook out of anywhere it lives.  You will break your rod and your arm before breaking the power pro.

[Bassboss]

I think is very simple to work with!

But I like to use at least 14lb, and at most 20lb when fishing heavy cover.

I find 16 to be a happy median.

[Raul]

I think is very simple to work with!

But I like to use at least 14lb, and at most 20lb.

I find 16 to be a happy median.

Bassmasters Magazine

March 2008, article 10 Bad Mistakes Bassers make by Ken Duke, page 46, mistake No4:

THEY DON 'T USE THE RIGHT LINE

Reese beleives that few weekend anglers carry the full assortment of line types and sizes -from 6 to 30 pound test- with them whenever they go fishing. Nor they make the best use of lines.

He says "Line diameters and types make a huge difference in lure performance. The difference between 8 lb and 12 lbs can be enormous. Even on power fishing lakes like Toho in Florida or Sam rayburn in Texas, you need lots of lines to choose from so you can make adjustments and catch fish consistently. You need the right lines to get your baits into productive depths or pull fish out of cover or minimize line visibility. It all adds up."

[roadwarrior]

I think is very simple to work with!

But I like to use at least 14lb, and at most 20lb.

I find 16 to be a happy median.

Really?

Who makes 16 lb test line?

[Bassboss]

I think is very simple to work with!

But I like to use at least 14lb, and at most 20lb when fishing heavy cover.

I find 16 to be a happy median.

Bassmasters Magazine

March 2008, article 10 Bad Mistakes Bassers make by Ken Duke, page 46, mistake No4:

THEY DON 'T USE THE RIGHT LINE

Reese beleives that few weekend anglers carry the full assortment of line types and sizes -from 6 to 30 pound test- with them whenever they go fishing. Nor they make the best use of lines.

He says "Line diameters and types make a huge difference in lure performance. The difference between 8 lb and 12 lbs can be enormous. Even on power fishing lakes like Toho in Florida or Sam rayburn in Texas, you need lots of lines to choose from so you can make adjustments and catch fish consistently. You need the right lines to get your baits into productive depths or pull fish out of cover or minimize line visibility. It all adds up."

No augment their! You should always have different line lb tests.

But did he not ask about heavy cover?

 

[Bassboss]

I think is very simple to work with!

But I like to use at least 14lb, and at most 20lb.

I find 16 to be a happy median.

Really?

Who makes 16 lb test line?

http://www.***.com/styleproducts.html?styleref=2920

All of these!  

[Raul]

But did he not ask about heavy cover?

You mean heavy like this ?

You don 't need 20 lbs test to fish it, you need the right line to: get your baits into productive depths or pull fish out of cover or minimize line visibility., I fish that place with 10 lbs test.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

Based on the cost of those lines, I find it highly unlikely

you have fished any of them.

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