Bass, Line Shy?

[fishcast]

Was reading about the affect flourocarbon has in the ice fishing section and found it interesting to read different opinions.

Just wondering what people's opinions are regarding bass specifically, especially with the different line options out there like superlines, mono, flouro, and so on. Do you think bass are line shy? If so in what circumstances? Also if you are a multi species angler do you think bass might be more or less line shy than another fish you fish for? Or maybe largemouth versus smallmouth?

Personally I dont know, haven't compared things enough. I use lighter line when circumstances allow it, and at the least I am getting more fun fight out of the fish. However, I have caught plenty of real nice bass on heavy superlines. For example today I got my biggest bass of the last year through the ice in a real clear lake. I was hoping for big largemouth, but since I was getting mostly northerns I added a thin steel leader on, but I ended up catching my biggest fish I have ever caught through the ice, a 20.5" largemouth.

[EBass]

I love my Sufix braid, but in clear water I will put on a floro leader. I think its a confidence thing. Murky water, slop, and heavy jigging it's straight braid.

Nice bass! 20.5" in the summer or winter is huge! I've caught 2 bass this winter - no where near that size, but it's fun to lip them outa the hole.

[RK]

Hiya -

I think it might depend on what kind of presentation you're using and where you're using it. For reaction strike things like flipping in heavy cover, or faster horizontal presentations like spinnerbaits, I doubt it matters much. I catch lots of bass even in pretty clear (sometimes gin clear) water flipping with #65 braid. In thick cover with tons of background 'visual noise' I bet even pretty heavy braid blends in fairly well. For presentations that are more finesse oriented, or are out in space more away from cover, mono or fluoro probably helps some. I use mono or fluoro for jigworms, drop-shotting, tubes, etc. In cases where I want the no-stretch of braid but visibility's an issue ([PoorWordUsage] shads or jerkbaits are good examples) I'll add a fluoro leader.

Really though, how the line behaves/performs is probably more important than visibility unless you're in real clear water with heavy fishing pressure.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Wayne Ek]

Morning RK, hows the new position going.

I don't think bass are to shy about much of anything. Think about it, we are talking about a fish that will hit a sprinner-bait or pick a 1 ounce jig up off the bottom.

Most of you know that I'm a strong advocate for braid and fluoro carbon lines or leaders. When I look at which line to spool I tend to look at what the rig will be used for rather than how a bass will see ( or feel ) the line. I think differant lines have a greater affect on our presentations or how a certain lure works, than they do on what a bass see's or doesn't see. I truly believe fish feel our lines ( lateral line ) just as much as they see it.

[Fluker]

Not all fish will hit a SB or big jig all the time though. So I believe your reference is valid though, just not for all scenarios. When fish are actively feeding, line probably doesn't affect thigns as much as when they are inactive.

Another factor that I think is huge is pressure. A lot of guys that fish Table Rock are using 6 / 8 lb line. Maybe 8/12 in the dirtier water in the rivers. Those fish are bad pressured, so lighter line helps. I'd like to say Minnetonka is an exampel where lighter lines work better, but I can't because lighter line fits my style of fishing so I have nothing to compare against at a personal level.

To answer the original question, I think it does matter, but not in all situations. Lucky for us we have a lot of options. Braid, Mono or FC on whichever applications we choose.

I will also add this. I've come full circle on tackle. Went from a few confidence baits, to trying MANY new things, and now back to a few confidence baits. I can see that a LOT of stuff out there is marketed to catch anglers and not necessarily fish. I'm always VERY hesitant on the new crazes. FC was one of them. How can it make that much difference. Well after gettign whoope out of the back of my boat a few times (and out of the front), I decide I'd atleast better give it a shot. Was it just the FC? No one will ever know. However I am VERY glad I made the change. I through a lot of 12-20 lb FC now and love it. It's supposed to be less visible, and although I still don't feel I have real scientific proof, I'm confident that it's try. But the sensitivy is huge. Less stretch towards the braid end, but still low vis. I still use Braid and Mono on applications though. And lastly, I've just never been confident in adding leaders. I've seen what braid can do to drags on reels, rods, and guides (not to mention fishes mothes sometimes), so what can it do to even the best knot, or a leader?

[Ray Esboldt]

I ride the fence on the line deal. Ask me one day, and I don't think it matters. Ask me another, I would find a reason why it does.

I just go with this rule, I am OK with larger test/larger diameter lines on big baits or noisy baits, and I like low diameter/limp lines for small baits. Duh! Everyone likes it that way.

Flurocarbon, I kind of hinge back and forth on. I use it all the time as leader material walleye fishing in the winter and summer. But after spooling up with a couple times for bass purposes, I didn't like it (or maybe it was in my head and I didn't trust it).

Generally, I think location and what's on the end of the line matters more than what the line is made up of. I agree with Wayne, I have had plenty of fish drop a bait because I tightened up without putting the screws to them immediately. But, I have no clue how many have turned tail because they saw the line. I don't know if bass are that smart????

[st.crioxfishin]

I'm also hesitant to decide on whether or not bass are line shy.

One part of me says that bass are keying in on the lure, not the line. The bass are keying in on the lure, something that looks like food to them, not the line. Are we giving said bass to much credit...how do they even know what line is? It isn't even part of their natural surrondings, unlike the lures that we are throwing in order to emulate the food they eat.

Then the other part of me says there is know way I would ever throw 40lb braided line on a jig worm in crystal clear water away from heavy cover. Now I have gone against what I just said about bass only keying in on the lure and not the line. I wouldn't throw that kind of line in that type of situation because I think my catch rate would go down because of the fish being line shy.

Maybe the real reason for this is because we've all come to the acceptance that throwing 40lb braided line on a jigworm isn't the norm. Its something that "just shouldn't be done". Or should it?

[Deitz Dittrich]

I too am not 100% sure.... I do use some pretty thin line.. but I dont use it because I am afraid the fish will see it.. I use it more because it gives the lure better action(IE Dropshotting)

[polarsusd81]

I am not sure if they are line shy or not, but I remember way back when I bought my first baitcaster. I was 9, and asked for gift cards to Bass Pro Shops so I could order it up. I bought a cheap reel, and an ugly stick cause that was what dad used. I think I spent 60 bucks on the combo, and then I spooled it up with some heavy arse braided line, I think it was like 40 lb Big Game braid from Berkeley, and I could not catch a fish on that thing to save my life. I ended up switching the line out for something a little more fitting, 10 lb mono and started catching fish with it. Back then I was confused as to what a flippin stick was as compared to a rod that should be a spinnerbait rod, well maybe not what they were cause I knew the difference, but didn't think the line on it made a difference. I look back at those times and laugh now, but back then I wanted to catch the biggest fish in the lake and thought it took 40lb braid to do it.

I used to fish with that combo on the dock at my grandpa's house on Chisago, and I would watch the bass in the shallows come up and look at the bait on the line, whether it was a jig, or a spinnerbait, or a plastic worm. I would have to say the fish I observed were line shy, cause after I switched out the line, they were willing to bite. There are obviously other factors that played into it, but I do believe they are somewhat line shy depending on the presentation and pressure they are seeing.

The rod is still in the family, but it has a different reel on it now. I gave the rod to my mom and put a zebco spincast reel on there for her spooled up with 6lb mono. Now it is her all purpose rod and works for what she fishes for.