Mono question (knots.. breaks.. fireline)

[Slyster]

I am getting frustrated with mono. Trying it out exclusivley this season.. on my plastics rods.. I have 8Lb Trilene XL and I am dissapointed in how many times the line has broke at the knot. I'm scared to set the hook! I am using the 'palomar' knot. Is there a better knot or trick?

Also.. in clear water.. would 8lb (thin!) fireline actually catch fewer fish than 8lb mono? (since the fish could see it better)

I miss Fireline... but am determined to master mono.

[BAIT956]

Slyster, I have used Fireline and for the last couple of years, Power Pro, which I prefer, on all my wacky, Texas and carolina rigging. Love it vs. mono.

I use the palomar knot whenever possible, or a uni-knot if the hook eye is too small to get the doubled line through it.

Hard to tell if I get fewer bites on braid. How do you know if you would have gotten bit on anything?

For me, the action hasn't diminished, but maybe I'm just fishing smarter.

If fewer bites are found to be a concern in clear water, I use a fluorocarbon leader of several feet.

Why bother to master mono?

[delmuts]

first , make certain you are wetting the line when you tighten up the knot. the palomar is a grea knot for most applications. second; if using that light a line for texas rigs etc. use a lite wire hook. this will penitrate easier .take note on how hard you set the hook. 8# won't take a lot. another possiblity is you may have gotten some bad mono. if using some kind of painted jig, make certain the eye is clear of any paint that could cause a nick in the line too. my $.02

[Ray Esboldt]

Sly,

Deitz can verify this, but I really wind up and hammer the hookset with any line, 8lb mono included. You shouldn't be breaking the stuff. In fact, I can't tell you the last time I broke the line at the knot. I'm guessing you are doing something wrong in tying it.

First, if you're using a Palomar knot, make sure you're not putting any twists into the knot while tying it. That is easier demonstrated than explained, but you really need to tie that know by the book. Second, I would opt for a Trilene knot with light mono. A Trilene know has some shock absorbtion built into it, and it is extremely reliable for mono. Don't use it for braid, use the palomar there. Finally, as it was mentioned before, moisten the line before pulling everything tight. Heat kills the strength of mono.

[EatSleepFish]

one thing i have found with fireline is that it frays after a few hardcore fishing trips, and it tends to twist. still like it though as far as when getting a fish in the pads or heavy weeds that fireline will slice right through that vegetation.

[jdoyle5599]

My favorite line by far is Berkley Vanish. The fluorocarbon line is virtually invisible underwater. No stretch makes it great for slow fishing and the feel is better 10 times than any mono I have ever used. I am sold....

[thewalleyeguy]

Quote:

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My favorite line by far is Berkley Vanish. The fluorocarbon line is virtually invisible underwater. No stretch makes it great for slow fishing and the feel is better 10 times than any mono I have ever used. I am sold....

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Perfect

[Spork]

I tie everything with a clinch knot. It never fails me.

[Fishin4Life]

I also use the clinch knot. You could try this knot, it was on the back of my Trilene box...It just appears to be a slightly modified clinch

[Aaron Carrell]

Well, I've got a few comments regarding this. I will agree with the fact that it is most likely the way you're tieing the not or bad line causing all your breaks. For an entire summer 2 years ago I used the same Trilene (6 or 8lb) and thats after not having fished for like 6 years and broke that line a few times, but not enough to say its bad. However, as of last spring, i started using P-line per my father-in-laws suggestion, and I'll never go back to anything else for mono. This stuff is strong, hurts alot to break with a bare hand when snagged, even the 8lb which is on all of my spinning rods. I'll definitely suggest a trilene knot though if using it. I've probably replaced the line on my reels once more a summer after spooling them up originally in the spring with the P-line, and cant say that I've ever had a problem with abrasion or line breakage. I use exclusively the P-line Floroclear and will recommend that to anyone who has a need to use mono. (even have it on my lighter baitcast )

my 2 cents

[OnTheWater]

Aaron hit it right on the head!

P-line fluroclear has become my line of choice for spinning rods as well. I'd give that a shot on your next refill.

Trilene is a great light line for certain applications...great for walleye, but not my number one choice for bass.

[Boedigheimer]

Slyster, It sounds like you got a bad spool. I have bought line and had it be bunk, right out of the package.

I have been a long time user of Trilene XT and have found it to work very well. P-line has worked great also.

I tried the new Gamma florocarbon the last few days and it is quickly becoming my favorite line. Spendy at 110 yds. for $20, but well worth it. The stuff is TOUGH!

[Slyster]

Thanks for the replies! I decided to keep my mono on the larger line rods.. but for my two plastics med rods I bought a large spool of 6lb floro.. I'll give that a try!

[ocf]

Quote:

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one thing i have found with fireline is that it frays after a few hardcore fishing trips, and it tends to twist. still like it though as far as when getting a fish in the pads or heavy weeds that fireline will slice right through that vegetation.

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just use the yellow kind of fireline and you can tell when you need to strip of some line off and your ready to go

[Slyster]

I thought floro had no stretch? I just put on the 6lb Vanish floro.. and with pulling on a few feet.. it REALLY stretches.. at least as much as mono!! NOT at all like braid which you can totally tell that it doesn't stretch at all. What the heck?

I would say with 3 feet of line, I can stretch it over almost two inches! That stinks... at least as bad as mono? Yikes... hopefully it will be better than mono because of it being less visible.. and maybe fewer knot breaks.. Maybe the stretch goes down when wet?... otherwise I just wasted $10 on 'fancy mono'!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sly- Floro does stretech, not quite as much as mono, but it does stretch. Stretch is good!, embrace the stretch, dont let it hurt your confidence! And if you think your buying "fancy mono".. my floro that I buy costs about $25 a spool.. and I think its worth every penny!

Do I have floro on all my rods.. no way... I use it primaily for jig worm rod and drop shot rod...

[ocf]

Was watchin television this mornin and saw a pro throwin crankbaits with florocarbon, probably for the spook factor and have you guys heard of fireline xds? i really want to try it

[Deitz Dittrich]

I throw floro on my crank rods too... It helps get your crank down a little bit as Floro sinks.

[ocf]

i figured that would be why

[Slyster]

Deitz.. what kind of line and lb test do you use for finess fishing like wacky rigged senkos? And for tubes?

[Deitz Dittrich]

This year I have gone a tad lighter than years past.. On my senko and tube rods I am using 10 lb gamma(not florocarbon) and on my jigworm and dropshot I am using 6lb Gamma Florocarbon.

[Slyster]

Sounds good! I'll just do some more experimenting. I try the 6lb floro for a week. And then maybe try very light fireline for a week. See if there's any spook factor going on with fireline?

Or do the firline/floro leader. I wonder how long of a leader is enough?

[Deitz Dittrich]

I am not a fan of flro to braid leaders.. the braid has a tendancy to cut any mono or floro.. plus all the shock is in your short floro leader, and thats not good either.

[Slyster]

Do you think fireline only (no leader) would spook the fish? Of course than there's no shock absorber.. but sure would be lots of sensitivity!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I would suppose on a very clear lake that gets a lot of fishing pressure the fish could become a bit line shy...In a presentation like a senko, you feel you need that much sensitivity?