Help me choose a line for my 6'6 xf M Zillion Rods

[gotarheelz14]

It's 6'6 M, XF. I will mostly be throwing smaller to medium soft plastics, T-rigged with this rod. I will also use it though for jerkbaits and topwaters.

I was thinking on going with braid as the all around choice. I think it will provide awesome sensitivity for the plastics.

I do feel like I can manage to avoid pulling out trebles on the smaller fish when I set the hook on jerkbaits and topwaters. I really don't set the hook hard anyways.

Do you think this would be ok or would the braid and top waters/jerkbaits on an xf rod just be a huge no no?

[BASSclary]

If it was just plastics and such, braid all the way.

But you mentioned topwater/jerkbaits, so I would put some good fluoro on. I hate braid with anything treble hooked.

[Hamby]

What kinda top waters? I don't like wimpy rods for topwater, and a medium action with an extra fast tip is pretty wimpy.

[BASSclary]

Alot of people prefer a short, M/XF rod for topwater and jerks, I know I do.

And it definately not wimpy, The M/XF is a go-to power/action for me.

[Hamby]

For top water, i like a longer, stiffer rod. This helps me work the lure and get a solid hook set at the end of a cast.

Edit: xf doesn't make it wimpy, but the tip of the rod is pretty soft compared to the rest of the rod. It has backbone, but the tip is soft, so i would have to exaggerate my movement to get the topwater do what i want.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I have a 7'M zillion rod and use 12lb fluorocarbon on it.  I use it for smaller jigs, jerkbaits, and tubes.  I don't like braid and would recommend 10-12lb CXX for copoly. 

My zillion rod destroys most of my MH rods in the power department.  It's a beefy little stick, very small blank but it has the power get them in.  There's nothing "wimpy" about the zillion line of rods at all.

[J Francho]

I wouldn't use braid with jerkbaits or topwaters without some sort leader to prevent tangles.

My preference overall would be for 10-12# CXX.

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

It sounds like you're pretty set on braid. You may add a mono or fluoro leader for topwaters just to absorb some of the shock. I prefer the "mono-stretch" on most topwaters which gives me an extra second for the fish to take it down, except for frogs in the slop of course. The biggest factor is you and how you handle your rod.

I watched Alton Jones last week and he predominately uses braid with fluoro leaders for most of his techniques. I think it was: 30#braid/20#fluoro and 50#braid/25#fluoro.

[BASSclary]

For top water, i like a longer, stiffer rod. This helps me work the lure and get a solid hook set at the end of a cast.

Edit: xf doesn't make it wimpy, but the tip of the rod is pretty soft compared to the rest of the rod. It has backbone, but the tip is soft, so i would have to exaggerate my movement to get the topwater do what i want.

You must be throwing some huge baits, because when working topwater (any water for that matter) my rod tip is always straight, I never have to exaggerate.

[Hamby]

...Uh, no not usually. I don't fish things like poppers though. Topwater for me is almost always either a buzzbait or something like a frog. I fish a horribly weedy lake, so anything with trebles doesn't work too well.

[gotarheelz14]

Thanks for the responses thus far guys. I am not dead set on braid necessarily. I just want something that is going to give me more sensitivity than mono and at the same time won't hinder the topwater bait's performance.

As far as CXX though since it is fluorocarbon coated, won't that affect topwaters pretty bad? Does it sink or float?

I'm having such a tough time deciding lol!!!! 

[Slipknot6]

12lb CXX

[BASSclary]

Thanks for the responses thus far guys. I am not dead set on braid necessarily. I just want something that is going to give me more sensitivity than mono and at the same time won't hinder the topwater bait's performance.

As far as CXX though since it is fluorocarbon coated, won't that affect topwaters pretty bad? Does it sink or float?

I'm having such a tough time deciding lol!!!!

I dont think CXX is fluoro-coated, I think its just a co-polymer. All co-poly means is that its made of more than one polymer, not neccesarily Fluoro.

However P-line fluoroclear and Yo-Zuri Hybrid I believe it says fluoro coated on the package/spool.

[roadwarrior]

Yo-Zuri Hybrid is bonded, not coated:

http://www.yo-zuri.com/01_products/14_yo_zuri_fishing_lines/04_yo_zuri_hybrid/yo_zuri_hybrid.html

Try #6 on spinning tackle, #12 on baitcasting. I think you will

like the line. I also suggest applying KVD Line & Lure Conditioner

when spooling.

   

[repper]

I own the Zillion 7'M. I do think it's much better suited as a plastics rod than either topwater, or jerkbait. However, you could use it for all threee if you wish. If you are going to do all three uses I think the best way to go is braid with a mono leader. And if you get good at tieing the braid to mono or fluro knot of your choice(Alberto for me) you can switch it out to meet your needs. Using the fluro leaders for jigs, plastics, etc. Mono for the topwater fishing. and if you are in some murky water you can just fish the braid, though I rarely do that. But some guys swear by it.  I've found that by using braid I have great flexibility with all of my outfits because I can switch my leaders depending on where or when I'm fishing or what I'm fishing for, without me having to respool the reels. And as for the braid having no stretch, therefore not being a great choice for trebles, I've found that by using leaders, and learning to set my drag correctly, and learning what type of hook set to put on the fish, this is not an issue either. Great rod , I'm sure happy with mine. It's for sure more powerful than a typical medium, but still very light and fun to fish,  Good luck