Matching Line to Lures

[bripadam21]

I need some help from the more educated than myself. I really started fishing about 4 years ago while I was in undergrad, now I'm in grad school so I'm slowly upgrading equipment. I've always fished P-Line Xtra Strong MF, just because it was easy and I really didn't know any better.

Now I've picked up some good rods, and want to match my lines to my lures, and need the help from you guys. I'm currently fishing 65 lb. braid on my frog rod, so that one I'm pretty comfortable with.

1.) I also have a crankbait rod, currently with the MF line

2. & 3.) I'm also wondering about my two jig/worm rods, both currently have MF line, one is used primarily just for the plastics, the other is used for jigs, both casting and flipping, although it's not a flipping rod, I do as much flipping around docks and brush as anything else though.

4.)The fourth rod in question is a catch all, I fish anything from buzz baits and Pop R's on top to throwing shallow cranks and spinner baits with it.

So for all you guys that know, match me up the line(flourocarbon or monofilament) to the four rods in question, the soft plastic, the jig, the crankbait, and the catch all. Feel free to suggest line weights as well. Thanks for all the help in advance guys, it's greatly appreciated.

[Hammer 4]

Here's my stuff..

All plastics, i.e. DS, T rig, and C rig, is with Youzuri Ultrasoft 6 or 8 lb test.

Jigs, spinners, chatter, and cranks get the same line in 10 or 12 lb test.

Frogs, and heavy flipping get 55lb braid.

Light pitch & flip, I use 15 lb Yozuri Ultrasoft.

Swimbaits..small, up to 6" 15 to 20 lb Yozuri Ultrasoft.

Heavy swimbaits, 55lb braid, and or 20 to 30 Yozuri Hybrid.

If you fish Heavy structure, you might want to use heavier line in some apps. IMHO, some guys go way overboard with using heavy line, i.e. light cranks that go 5' deep on 20 lb test, ect. in open water.

[ROCbass]

I usually fish plastics and jigs on braid, 30lb for baitcasting and 10lb for spinning. If I'm worried about line visibility or fishing in rocks I'll add a mono leader, usually 6 or 8 lb.  for spinning and 12 lb for casting. For treble hook lures, I use 6 or 8lb test mono for spinning and either 12 or 15 lb mono for casting. I usually fish spinnerbaits and small to medium paddletail swimbaits on 15 lb mono.

[deep]

Here's mine:

ultralight: 4 lb Trilene XL or 2/10 braid

general purpose spinning (topwaters, small cranks, jerkbaits, small spinners or rattletraps): 6 or 8 lb Sufix Siege

bottom contact spinning (plastics, jigs): 6/30 lb braid (Daiwa Samurai) with 10 or 12 lb FC leader

general purpose casting (topwaters, jerkbaits, spinners or rattletraps): 10 or 12 lb Sufix Siege

deep diving crankbaits and slowrolling blades, casting: 14 lb Sufix siege/ 12 or 15 lb Seaguar Invizx

small and medium swimbaits, casting: 17 lb Sufix Siege

[SDoolittle]

All plastics, i.e. DS, T rig, and C rig, is with Youzuri Ultrasoft 6 or 8 lb test.

Really? Are you talking about your main line or your leader?

[roadwarrior]

A simple answer:

Spinning tackle: Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft #6

Baitcasting gear: Hybrid #12

After experimenting with braided line, I am currently

fishing Fireline Braid (not fused) on my jig rod. Braid

has significantly improved my jig fishing. I'm going

back and forth with a leader and leaning towards direct

tie only.

8-)

[piscicidal]

I have about 20 combos and I use 50lb Sufix on all braided rigs (frogs, swimbaits, jigs, flipping, etc...) and 10lb Yozuri Ultra Soft copoly on everything else (topwater, jerkbait, worm, finesse, etc...) 

[Hammer 4]

All plastics, i.e. DS, T rig, and C rig, is with Youzuri Ultrasoft 6 or 8 lb test.

Really? Are you talking about your main line or your leader?

Yup, really..I don't use leaders much. So far haven't had any break off issues with the lighter line on my C rigs. If I'm in a rocky, or heavy cover situation, I'll go up in line test.

[SDoolittle]

How do you fish a Carolina rig without a leader?

[Fat-G]

Jigs and weighted plastics: 50# braid, I've been experimenting with 832, Samurai, and have gone back to PowerPro

Weightless plastics, shakey heads, etc. (spinning): 6# CXX or Hybrid

Frogs and flippin': 65# 832

[Hammer 4]

How do you fish a Carolina rig without a leader?

It's Magic...lol Didn't think I'd need to explain it, but here ya go...For C rigs, I use the same line i.e. usually 8 lb yozuri ultrasoft for the leader, and main line. I do not as a rule use leaders for other apps. Hope that clears it up.. 8-)

[SDoolittle]

I was only asking about the Carolina rig. I call the short piece of line tied to the swivel at one end and the hook at the other a leader. It doesn't matter if they're the same line or not, it's still a leader.

[Hammer 4]

I was only asking about the Carolina rig. I call the short piece of line tied to the swivel at one end and the hook at the other a leader. It doesn't matter if they're the same line or not, it's still a leader.

I agree that it is a leader. OTH, I sometimes use a splitshot rig, which requires no leader..

[Stingray23]

This is what I used last season:

Spinning combos-8lb Fluoro-finesse

Casting combos

-10lb mono-top water

-10lb-12lb-fluoro-crankbaits

-15lb fluoro-spinnerbaits,small swimbaits

-20lb fluoro-jigs,plastics