Line

[Iceman12]

What is everyone's preference on line for a baitcaster? Would you go with mono or braided. I know they are for different situations but I just bought my first baitcaster and was just wondering what kind of line everyone uses. I will probably fish with Texas rigs and jigs with it. Thanks

[Mark Christianson]

Superline of some flavor.
No question about it.
I use Fireline and Powerpro.

[Lost]

I've got my first ever baitcaster loaded with PowerPro 50 lb test... has 12 lb diameter. Nice, smooth, no problems. Just gotta get used to it not having any stretch.

If you wanna go with mono-type line, try the Yo-Zuri Hybrid. The rating they print is according to diameter, not breaking point. I've got some on my spinning rod labeled "12 pound" but I've gotten it snagged and couldn't get it to break, or get the knot to slip, no matter how much pressure I put on it! And that was even after dragging it across rocks and branches!

[Clay.P]

Iceman,

There is a time and place for both braid and mono. I have been a Berkley XT user for years and have not been disapointed. I have rods with 12 to 20 lb rigged up. For slop fishing I use power pro (the only rod I have that is rigged with braid). For your jigs and worms I would stick with the mono.

[Dan Wood]

I use P-line fluorocarbon on my baitcasters - 15 lb. For the heavy stuff I use 50 lb. power-pro and 40 lb. stren braid.

[SCUMFROG]

Spiderline on every thing I have.

[locolocal]

If you have any intensions to fish docks or other structure that could sever your line, I would strongly consider braid. It's much more durable.

Mono is a must for crankin' and topwater plugs, everything else is subject to the braid arguement.

[BigMike]

Since using the super lines, I've switch everything to braided: spinning & baitcast.

I know the differences between mono & braided lines: stretch, line diameter, digging in bails etc... but have yet to figure out why anyone would want to stick with mono. I have never had a break off because of a fish (ok, one palomer knot came loose on a hook set - once!) but several fish who have broken off with mono. I have found that I get a much more solid hookset with braided because of the no stretch and have saved myself a lot of $$ because I have pried many lures or bent hooks straight to free myself from a snag (even on 10lb braided!). Mono would just have snapped right off. Hooks are cheap vs. a $5 crank.

The only problem I've had on braided line is on spinning gear where it loops upon itself and get little knoted loops every once in awhile which is a pain to try and get out, but other than that... I love the stuff!

I guess I just don't know why people still use mono? Is it for visability? In my opinion, a 8lb diameter mono would be much more visable than 8lb braided with a 2lb diameter (even 10-14lb braided has a smaller 4-6lb diameter). Maybe you guys can give me some of your reasoning.

[Dan Wood]

The fluorocarbon comes off the reel much better and with less friction than braid from my experience. That is the main reason why I use fluorocarbon. It seems to work a lot better for lighter baits in my opinion. The braid, even when not digging into your spool, seems to have more friction coming off the spool. If I'm pitching a 3/8 oz. size jig or a larger size bait, I'll often switch back over to braid. You can't beat the sensitivity on braid.

Fluorocarbon offers much higher abrasion resistance than mono and is nearly invisible in water. The best of both worlds. It does have stretch similar to mono (a little less stretch), but I like to set the hook hard anyway ...

Take a look at the pro circuit and see how many guys are using braid on their baitcasters for normal duty stuff. There are some, but most are using fluorocarbon and mono still from what I've seen.

[HawgTide]

BigMike,
Mono still has it's place. I like to use it when fishing senko's because the line sinks instead of floating. Try it, it makes a big difference in the way the senko's flutter down. Also, when fishing crankbaits I find that a little stretch is not bad. And when I'm drifting jigs down the river, I sometimes want my line to break when I get hung. Better that than being "spooled" and then breaking.

I usually have 8-10 rods in my boat ready to go, and they are split between Mono/Iron Silk and Braided.

[bassman186]

50lb. Power pro, no contest

[Iceman12]

What is the difference of the 2 when you are setting the hook? I have used mono for years and I hear that braided doesn't stretch. Does that mean when your fishing with braided you don't set the hook as hard because it doesn't stretch?

[BigMike]

Iceman - you can really tell the difference in stretch between mono & braided. One way is to tie both around a tree and pull (or get snagged while fishing). Mono will stretch quite a bit and braided won't stretch at all. Dan is right, braided is ultra sensitive and great for feeling soft bites.

Dan, I've seen the articles, tv shows, etc... on what the pros use and I've always been surprised why they all seem to still use mono - even for heavy applications like jig'n pig. I which I could get one of them to explain that better to me. I feel like I'm missing out on something.

Hawgtide, I can see why using mono with senkos could help with the fall...

I guess the smallie magnet still has a lot to learn.

[carlcmc]

powerpro 15 or 30lb is awesome for me.

feel the slightest tap or touch. you can even feel when a fish swims up and brushes against your lure with their tail.

has the lowest friction and highest casting distance in my opinion. take two rods equal size and spool with mono and braided and tie a jig on. The braided will fly across the water.

LIMP LINE. there is something to be said for line that comes off just limp and not it in coils that form knots and messes. Braided can form the occasional knot. BUT you can GET IT OUT and still use the line. when you get a mess with mono and it gets pulled tight, its weaker after being unkinked. I can without hesitation use the metal hook on my line clippers to undo a knot on braided. it would just cause abrasion with mono.

The only potential better thing with mono might be visibility. But does visibility really make the much difference. I catch fish with braided. Would i really catch that much more with fluoro? I don't think so.

[locolocal]

Dan-
Have you had issues with Power Pro digging into the spool? I've noticed it with Fireline, (Which IMO is dental floss on steroids) but not with Power Pro.

[Dan Wood]

Yea fireline is the worst because if it's shape - it is very thin on edge and digs in worse than the rest. I do have the same issues to some extent though with all the smaller diameter braids. It doesn't always create a problem, but it digs in just enough to not come off as smoothly as I'd like with a baitcaster.

[Dan Wood]

Mono and fluoro are easier to manage on a baitcaster. I think that is the main reason you don't see more use of braid on the circuits. They also come off the spool with less friction and don't have the problem common with braid of digging into itself on your spool.

I've used braid for years pretty much exclusively on spinning gear, but still don't use it a lot on baitcasters for this reason.

Iceman, you can get away with much less of a hookset with braid because of the low stretch as Mike mentioned. This can be an advantage if your fishing lighter gear or spinning gear. If your fishing with baitcasting gear though, the hookset shouldn't be an issue with either.

Try to pitch a 1/4 oz. jig on a baitcaster with power-pro and then do the same with fluoro, you'll see that you can pitch much better with the fluoro. With 3/8 oz. and up it doensn't matter, but when you get on the light side the braid doesn't perform up to the standards of fluoro and mono.