Rethinking Line Size/diameter/invisibility

[abkeenan]

So since the A-Rig craze came about it got me to start questioning the importance of line being "invisible". Forever anglers have been using light line in an effort to keep the line as undetectable to fish as possible. Well now that the A-Rig catches fish and is hardly invisible with its wire part all over does this cause any of you guys to rethink the importance of line size and invisible properties? Not only are the rigs a monstrosity in the water with all the metal but more often than not are thrown on not so inconspicuous dark green braid. I for one will be switching to higher # test on just about all my gear just because I now do not think it matters as much as I used too "pre-A-Rig" days. I will go as heavy as I can get away with so to speak. The only thing now I think matters is just the diameter of the line and its effects on casting distance and how deep a crank or jerkbait will run. Other thoughts and opinions? Don't be afraid to totally disagree. Want some honest opinions good, bad or ugly.

[Quillback]

Well I thinkl the A-rig is a special deal, seems as if the bass lose their minds over that thing and are not bothered by the braid or the wires. It will be interesting to see if this winter they bite it as well as they did last winter.

I'm with you on using as light/thin as line as possible for casting distance and it's effects on lures. I think you get the most natural fall rate and action out of jigs and plastics with lighter line. But fishing around heavy cover such as cedar trees, I'll use heavier stuff.

But nothing wrong with experimenting with different lines, one thing I've noticed watching the pros, is that they are always tweaking stuff and making changes.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think the A rig is probably big enough to do a good job of diverting attention. I don't think you've discovered something overlooked by millions of fishermen for decades. It has long been accepted that the faster the lure moves the more you can get away with in terms of what the fish see.

[kre11]

I will be curious to see what your experience uncovers. I like to fish soft plastics and jigs (slow presentations on Wayne's scale) and have found that even decreasing from 15 to 12 pound test significantly increased the number of bites I got. Also similar results when using floro vs mono or braid. Unfortunately, I don't fish moving baits enough to provide any valuable input there. The one thing that might support your theory is that many crank baits perform very differently when fished on different sizes of line (better action or deeper depth), so using a thin diameter braid may give your bait more action which could lead to more bites.

[Gavin]

I dont think that the line size matters much with big obnoxious baits, or with offerings that you fish agressively. Its a different story for small passive presentations where the fish can get a good long look.

[Feathers and Fins]

The ( A- Rig ) is a reaction bait, it is designed to get very active feeding fish. It does great on schooled fish that are actively feeding. BUT i have seen it thrown into a wide open bite and not get one fish as they were on single baits cut from the bigger bait ball. In that case lighter line single bait was the only way to get a bite. Nor do I think it will work on fish that have time to follow or get a good look at the bait first.

It is a tool no better or worse than any other in my tackle box.

[Ham]

The Alabama rig represents a small school of baitfish so well that the horrible tangle of wires gets over looked. I am not in in any way going to let that change my use of various different line sizes and types of line for my other fishing lures. Some baits really benefit from bing fished on light line. Some baits reallt benefit from being thrown on a heavy line. Some of the little details that keep fishing interesting.

[Tfsh4bass]

The ( A- Rig ) is a reaction bait

This is the key to me...I have never been big on line size on TR when it comes to reaction baits except for cranks but then I am more worried about the depth they dive. I have thrown my swimbaits and blades on 17lb mono (actually jumped up to 20lb when the water was up) for years and won't change. This spring I was throwing my square bill on 20lb fluro and the fish didn't seem to mind. Deep cranks I throw 8, 10 or 12 just depending on time or year and what I am throwing. Now if we are talking about jigs, worms, split shot, drop shot, etc. then I think it makes a difference because most of the time fish get a good look at those.

[dtrs5kprs]

This is the key to me...I have never been big on line size on TR when it comes to reaction baits except for cranks but then I am more worried about the depth they dive. I have thrown my swimbaits and blades on 17lb mono (actually jumped up to 20lb when the water was up) for years and won't change. This spring I was throwing my square bill on 20lb fluro and the fish didn't seem to mind. Deep cranks I throw 8, 10 or 12 just depending on time or year and what I am throwing. Now if we are talking about jigs, worms, split shot, drop shot, etc. then I think it makes a difference because most of the time fish get a good look at those.

Also get better action with light line when fishing a small, slow bait like those.

[Guest csfishinfool]

This is the key to me...I have never been big on line size on TR when it comes to reaction baits except for cranks but then I am more worried about the depth they dive. I have thrown my swimbaits and blades on 17lb mono (actually jumped up to 20lb when the water was up) for years and won't change. This spring I was throwing my square bill on 20lb fluro and the fish didn't seem to mind. Deep cranks I throw 8, 10 or 12 just depending on time or year and what I am throwing. Now if we are talking about jigs, worms, split shot, drop shot, etc. then I think it makes a difference because most of the time fish get a good look at those.

I totally agree, I think it depends if your playing on a fish's instinct to react, or on a fish's curosity. They don't see a jig from thirty feet away and hit it like a freight train. They slowly swim up, look at it, and eat it... or see your line With a blade, crankbait, a-rig. Those fish see these lures for a split second, and have to deside in that window wether to eat it or not.