Line!

[Robert Riley]

I want to know what line you use, when, how, etc. Tell me some characteristics of these lines.

If you tell me you like this mono over another, say why. And be as SPECIFIC as possible please!

This thread is for any line, Fluoro, Mono, Braid, Superlines, whatever.

-Robert

[The Rooster]

Berkley Trilene XL monofilament in 8 and 12 pound tests. Use it because of how easy it casts, 8 pound for spinning reels, 12 pound for baitcasters. I use this for things like crankbaits and sight fishing lures where sensitivity is not as important and line stretch won't interfere as much. I like the clear blue fluorescent for it's ease of seeing the line in the sun, but also the clear line only for use in super clear waters (I have one lake with gin clear water in it).

Berkley Vanish fluorocarbon in 12 and 14 pound tests. Use this for sensitivity for bottom fishing lures and jerkbaits where a sinking line is more desirable to help get the bait down a little more. It's good for the gin clear lake also to keep line visibility to a minimum if needed.

[SirSnookalot]

I do not like any line that stretches, period. Whether I'm fishing freshwater or inshore saltwater it's only braid and spinning gear for me, I fish moving baits 99% of the time, my braid of choice is the one that's on sale........

I have never caught more or bigger fish because I spent twice as much on line, as long as the knots hold and line doesn't break, I don't need it do anything else.

[bigbassctchr101]

I use braid for frogs, (hollowbody and moving type) and sometimes on a c-rig. I like the sensitivity on the c-rig, I do not personally like the non stretch factor of it when fishing the c-rig however...I fish in places I get hung up a lot and the bow and arrow technique just doesn't work the same as mono. I also have to use a bigger diameter leader because I break off on a hookset with light line. I do like the non stretch part when fishing a frog, for hook ups, long distance hooksets, and just being able to toss in cover and know your going to get it back.

I use flourocarbon on texas rigs and jigs. The sensitivity is pretty good. I seem to have problems at times with knots biting into itself and breaking and I don't find the same abrasion resistance as with mono... To me it seems like when the top coating is broke, the line is surely going to break. This is why I will not throw flouro on a crankbait. I find flouro to be much stiffer (non limp) unless you buy limp line which I find to have even less abrasion resistance... Most will not have this opinion about flouro...I may be in the minority,or just had many bad experiences, but its how I view it.

I use mono for most of my fishing. One...the cost. But even if cost didn't matter I would personally prefer mono for any moving baits that sensitivity is not absolutely the most important factor. Topwater (other than frogs) because it won't sink a bait as bad. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits I actually prefer a little stretch in my line. I can find a wider variety of lines easier... I may have the exact same rod, reel, and bait on my deck but one may have 17lb mono and one may have 10lb mono (especially true in fall and spring when fishing a trap) Also, again with the price...but I can get a limper type line with some abrasion resistant in the same pound test and know how they are going to perform without paying a fortune for it.

[flippin and pitchin]

My go to line is YoZuri Hybrid. It has low memory, great knot strength, is durable and comes off a spinning and baitcast reel well. I have zero break offs to date. I like braid for punching, frogs and some topwater applications. I also like small diameter braid for some drop-shot applications and use a 100 % flouro leader. For budget line that works well in most all applications, Berkely Big Game would be my choice. I use it for

saltwater bottom fishing because you change it after every trip.

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

I always use KVD Line Conditioner on all my lines. Usually, I re-spool 50-75 yards every 2 weeks or so (especially mono). I back my reels with all the other brands that I don't like or use anymore.

Mono: Each year, I seem to have a favorite mono. I liked Berkley XL, then Sufix Elite, then Vicious. Now I prefer BPS Excel. As mono gets exposed to the elements, over time (depending how much you fish) the line will swell up, become unmanageable, and the color fades. BPS Excel lasts longer and is the best bang for my buck. I use 17# mono for buzzbaits, spinner/chatterbaits, and squarebill cranks. I used MH/Fast rods, so I like a little stretch. I prefer mono with squarebills to absorb the shock from rocks and wood.

Flouro: I've tried a few, but not many - mainly due to costs. I haven't had good luck with Berkley's Vanish or 100% Flouro. BPS XPS was decent. Right now, I'm using Vicious Elite and I haven't had any problems. I use M/Parabolic rods with 12# flouro for MD and DD crankbaits.

CoPoly: Yo-Zuri 8# on all my spinning rigs for shaky heads, senkos, jerkbaits, and small crankbaits.

Braid: 50# BPS Excel Braid for flipping on H/XFast rod. This is a great braid at a great price. I've tried PowerPro, Fireline, and Sufix Performance braids. BPS lasts longer, doesn't fade as quick and is very manageable.

[Fontana Finesse Man]

spinning reels: 6 lb test for smallest baits like 1 inch twister. 8 lb test for flukes and floating worms and an occasional texas rig or shakey head. 10 lb test fishing around tree cover with those same baits. BPS Excel is what I use. I respool often and for the price of a 900 yard spool it is fine by me.

casting reels: 1/2 oz or bigger spinnerbaits all get thrown on 14 or 16 lb sunline mono, 3/8 oz and 1/4 oz get thrown on 12 lb test sunline mono. Buzzbaits I use 17 lb test BPS Excel and spooks, sammy's and other topwaters, 10 lb test excel.

Only two thing I use braid for are flipping and frogs because I fish it in the back of the worst stuff on my lakes. BPS Braid 30 lb test.

I have a couple spools of flouro and if I think I am going to fish a dropshot, I will spool up one with whatever I have. Usually 6 lb test Berkley Vanish or Vicious. I hate flourocarbon, but sometimes to me it is a necessary evil.

Quick note, my lakes have no grass and cover consists of mainly laydowns or brush piled up in the back of a cove. If I fish a grass lake, I adjust accordingly.

[msolorio]

baitcasters: i use 20# vicious elite fluoro for flippin n pitchin sparse to very heavy cover. this stuff is amazing in every way possible and i havent had one issue with it yet. very strong, very abrasion resistant, low stretch, very low memory, and limp. for topwaters, frogs (sometimes), spooks, pop r's, traps, ect i use 12# vicious ultimate mono(copoly) cus i dont want a line that sinks n i want a line with some stretch. d**n near zero memory n very easy to manage, tough as nails also. im a bank fisherman so i usually only have 2 rods with me thus the reason i throw a bunch of different baits on one rig.

i dont use braid too much but when i do its usually 50-65 pound vicious braid for frogs, flippin n pitchin, n whatever else i feel like throwin on it. i absolutely love everything about it. goin to be makin the switch to 100% braid very soon.

spinning reels: usually 6-10 pound fluoro, mono, or braid depending on the situation or what baits i decide to throw. i like the lighter lines cus usually im using all finesse tactics on spinning rigs. all i use is vicious cus its never failed me.