Best Line For Fishing Plastics And Jigs

[kre11]

I will definitely try the Trilene 100%. I am curious, several people have mentioned using braid with flouro leaders. If I use a braid like 30lb power pro with no leader, do you guys believe it decreases the number of strikes? What about at night?

[CaptainJoe]

This topic has been discussed before, so here is what works for me.

For topwater, I use 15# Spiderwire Ultracast Invisi-Braid tied directly to the topwater bait with a King Sling Loop knot. I use a cheap 12# mono for reel backing (1/4 of the reel).

For all spinning and baitcasting equipment for shaky head, dropshot, jigs, and just about all soft plastic fishing, I use the Spiderwire Ultracast Invisi-Braid 15# (open, clear water, very little cover) or 20# (heavy cover/dirty water)with a uni-to-uni knot to either a 4-5 foot leader of P-line Floroclear or Yo-Zuri Hybrid Clear (8# - clear water up to 15# dirty water) tied with a Fish-N-Fool knot. I use a cheap 12# mono for reel backing (1/4 of reel).

It is so easy to set the hook with braid. You can feel everything and see your line in all water and sky conditions. The leader provides near invisibility in the water. I can cast just as far with this braid and it lasts many fishing seasons. I am on year THREE with most of my braid. Do you get TWO to THREE years out of your mono and fluorocarbon? I have used Fireline and PowerPro, but the Spiderwire Invisi-Braid is the smoothest and strongest. It is rod friendly and casts the best. When using braid with no stretch, you must change the way you set the hook. It only takes a small jerk of the rod (about an 18" jerk with rods 6'6" and less and 12" with a 7' rod).

For crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, flukes, swimbaits, swimming jigs, etc., as stated before, I do not use any fluorocarbon line. It just does not hold up for me. Get it tangled and that part of the line is history. It is brittle and breaks too easy in Winter. The knot strength is not good. It is overpriced. Mono has too much stretch and does not have the abrasion resistance. I use a hybrid line that is nylon on the inside and coated with fluorocarbon. I use the same P-Line Floroclear and YoZuri's copolymer line that I use as leaders on my braid. All are tied with the Fish-N-Fool knot. The copolymer construction makes the line very castable and amazingly durable with high knot-strength and low-memory. And, it is affordable. The fluorocarbon coating gives it the same near invisibility under water as expensive fluorocarbon. Depending on the water clarity, cover, and the lure, I will use 8#, 10#, 12#, and 15# test.

[eric1978]

If I use a braid like 30lb power pro with no leader, do you guys believe it decreases the number of strikes? What about at night?

Not in my experience. I use braid tied straight to the lure on even gin clear streams without problems. Could I be missing some strikes because of it? Possibly. But I still catch fish, so they're not all line shy. Using a leader will allow you to break off from snags without amputating your fingers, and you'll still have most of the sensitivity left, but it eliminates the incredible strength advantage of braid, which is one of the main features that makes me use it.

[getfished]

I use it all depending on the application. For plastics like shakey heads and dropshotting I use Berkely 100% fluoro. It can be troublesome though, you have to treat this line with more care. For all other plastics and jigs I use Hi viz Power Pro 15lb with a 12lb fluoro leader.

I may have to try some of the Spider wire braid that Joe mentioned.

[Ranger Z22]

As Capt Joe mentioned, seen this topic before.

Not a fan of BPS brand lines.

I use Seaguar Carbon Pro 12lb test. Initially was breaking that off too. After some research, I went to using a Eugene Bend knot, and in my opinion, greatly improved catching rather than breaking.

z22

[steveearle]

In regards to the fluorocarbon, you need to compare diamters, not lb. test when testing out different lines. I have tried most and have settled on Trilene 100% fluoro...but...when looking at comparisons, I use 6lb. trilene (.010), whereas, if I was using Seaguar I would use 8lb (.009). On TRock football jigging, I use 12 lb. Trilene (similar to 15 lb. Invisx diameter-wise). When you get up around 15 lb. test, depending on which Seaguar you are using, the diameter is about the same....In reference to braid, I use straight 30lb. Stren sonic braid on topwater, and 14lb. Stren sonic braid on my drop shot (swivel and 6 ft. 6 lb. Trilene fluoro leader)...The BPS fluro is good line and similar in diamter to Seaguar, lb. for lb...

[kre11]

Just an update: I spooled up with some 15 lb Abras X and can tell a huge difference over the 12 lb BPS fluoro.

Fished the same patterns and didn't see any decrease at all in the number of bites, but did notice that my line did not have any nicks or frays on it at all when the night was over. No break offs, I am very happy with it. Thanks to everyone for the help.