Pro's And Con's Of Different Line Types?

[Haris122]

Past 5 months I've been using some cheap Zebco Omniflex 10 # Braid because during fall I was told the 10 lb mono I was using is too thick and easily visible for the Trout in the Urban Trout Lakes, so I figured it's as thin as 4# mono, but still has the 10 # strength.

Anyways the trout for reasons unknown to me still didn't buy it, but I got to liking it anyways. Occasionally I do miss the slight memory or stretch of mono line when the braid catches onto a hook or during knot tying, but my only real issue is that the stuff barely ever sinks. Somehow whether right or not, I feel the braid not sinking makes it easier for fish to see the line. So with that being said, what are the good and bad of braided line? Of Mono, and any other types as well. Also just from lurking around I see there's a discussion as to the line pound test strength used for Smallmouth in rivers as opposed to lakes, and that got me wondering what's the difference in regards to what the two different bodies of water do, that would give an incentive to change the pound breakage strength of your line if the fish were to be within the same range of strength/size between the two bodies of water. Thanks.

[Stoneroller]

there are a few.

• starting with limpness, which can be an issue at times, especially with something like a jerkbait where the lure can foul on the line because the line is so limp.
  
• Most braid floats, suffix 832 and spiderwire's fluorobraid both sink due to gore fiber being woven into them.
  
• Braids allows hooks to penetrate them. this is a real mess as the lure and line have to be cut off and retied. in windy conditions that can really suck.
  
• Braid vibrates and resonates when being retrieved. this scares off some fish. bass don't seem to care so much, but I frequently see bluegill and other sunfish picking at the line.
  
• Which brings up braid visibility, braid isn't the least bit stealthy in the visibility arena
  
• Braid breaks at around twice it's listed test strength. if you float, this can be a real issue if a lure or line gets hung up in a swift area. a fluoro leader will allow you to break off if you get hung without being tethered into a bad situation.
  
• cost, braid typically runs $20 or more for 150 yards, similar to fluorocarbon. both about 4 times what mono costs.
  
  but lets talk benefits:

  • longevity braid will easily last 2 seasons, and up to 4 if you reverse your line on your reels after the first 2 and use the other end.
    
  • braid has smaller diameter than comparable mono or fluorocarbon
    
  • braid is STRONG!! it can also be used to saw off an appendage in an emergency situation, don't grab it and pull on it like you would mono or you'll have a nasty cut
    
  • braid usually floats, similar to mono, which in certain situations is good
    
  • braid is limp, which is great on stuff like jerkbaits (as long as you use a fluorocarbon leader) as it lets the bait react more on the slack retrieve (it's one of those catch 22 situations with the limpness and jerkbaits, but the leader solves the issue due to the stiffness of the fluoro)
    

  The line you should probably be looking at for trout fishing is Fluorocarbon. it's abrasion resistant. casts about the same as mono. it sinks. it's virtually invisible underwater. it's about the same cost as braid and will usually last a couple of seasons as long as you don't leave it in the sun or a hot car. (mono is garbage after one season, it becomes brittle and shatters. fluoro will too if left exposed to high temps, as inside a car in the summer) and fluoro has a smaller diameter than mono of the same test. Because it's invisible you can use higher pound test and the fish still can't see it.

  For the past year i've been using Berkely Nanofil, which is a gel spun "braid", not a weave like most braids. It's amazing line on a spinning reel as it completely ignores line twist. The one fault I see with Nanofil is that it's not as abrasion resistant as other braids, but a short fluorocarbon leader would solve that issue quickly.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Good topic. I admit, I usually use Whatever I end up picking up cheap.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't think you can assume the same strength and size. In lake fishing you have an unknown in strength and size that you can't avoid. In stream fishing on the other hand the size and strength are much more predictable. Trout and smallmouth make up the bulk of the fish you're likely to hook in streams and neither is likely to require a line heavier than #8 and that allows some for abrasion. Some go up to #10, but that is probably the limit'

I lakes the fish can be bigger, the snags more numerous and the hooksets harder to make. Most people fishing lakes use as much stregnth as they can get away with and on some lakes that can be a lot. You can use a heavier line on Truman then Table Rock because of the clarity and that is often what drives the line size on lakes.

As far as braid versus mono or copoly, Braid is thinner, but that means it has less bulk to allow for abrasion while it has less water resistance and allows deeper runs for lures. You can gain breaking strength without increasing diameter when compared to the mono's

Mono's are cheaper, offer more stealth and as you know sink. The two biggest advantages to me are that being cheaper you can change to fit circumstances and the shock absorbtion allows you some forgiveness when fighting fish.

I personally only like braid for instances where a floating line is advantageous, such as topwater fishing and where sensitivity is a big advantage such as when fishing jerkbaits.

[kirbydog]

I've been throwing braided line with a fluro leader for most everything and really like it. Been using suffix 832 for the braid and YoZuri Hybrid for the

fluro. Although it isn't a true 100% fluro but rather mono with a fluro coating. Join the fluro to the braid with uni knots.

You get kind of the best of both worlds IMO. Sensitivity of braid and invisibility of the fluro leader.

If you're targeting trout I'd go with 10 lb strength on the braid with 4 or 6 lb on the leader.

[Feathers and Fins]

I have used it all I suppose. The line I now use religiously is fluorocarbon! From the Ocean to the smallest creeks it has proven to me its flexibility and versatility.

The heaviest line I use is 20lbs and that is for tarpon. The lightest is 2lb for trout. I primarily fish lakes for stripers and all striper rods are set-up with 12lb. I can cast a live bait long distances with it or drift slowly with it. I can throw the A-rig with it and jerk-bait it.

I carry one rod loaded with 12lb on a surf rod for casting a large top-water baits and one set with 10lb for smaller top-water.

There is no need to go any larger in our lakes then 12lb test I have landed 2lb bass to 40lb stripers on it. The 20lb I have landed tarpon up to 150lbs with it. If the drag is set right and the angler knows how to play a fish it’s very affective.

The downside is fishing heavy cover you may lose a few lures and maybe a fish or need to change it out more often but you will get bit more often and it is IMO a lot more fun to play a fish then water-ski it across water or pull it out so hard it looks like a Polaris missile coming out of water.

I truly believe people have forgot how to fight a fish and enjoy the power of the fish and are more interested in yanking them out of water. Where is the fun in that? 65lb braid against any bass, trout or striper is really not that fun and only the biggest blues or flatheads can actually match-up to that size line.

Just my 2 cents.

[kirbydog]

Boy isn't that the truth. I've fished with guys that use heavy line and the fish is in the boat in seconds.

Wheres the fun.

T fishing I guess I can see it. Not when theres no money on the line.

[Stoneroller]

the fun of using proper line is twofold,

1. you don't risk breaking off line on a trophy fish and dooming it to death with a face full or gut full of hooks

2. you don't exhaust the fish fighting it on light line so that it cannot recover and eventually suffocates.

hook it, land it, return it to the water as quickly as possible. it's a race against death and the more time the fish spends on the hook and/or out of the water the more of a chance of it dying.