Line Question For The Rock

[Wayne SW/MO]

I've fished high quality 6# and 8#, it doen't get much higher than P-line, for many decades on the Rock. Unless you're using a rod with little tip or a reel with a poor drag I don't see a need for much else for that kind of fishing.

I personally prefer the P-line Original that has a smaller than avergae diameter and seems just as strong as any of its kin.

[balsabee]

Another option is to try 6-pound BPS Excel in the green color. I have used this line on my spinning rods for quite a few years now and it is the best I have ever found for limpness, toughness and whatever else you're looking for in a spinning gear line. I don't pinch pennies with my tackle and would pay more for this same line, but it's nice that it's very reasonably priced. Just means you can change it often without cringing at the price.

Best value in spinning line available. I would pay more as well but don't tell BPS that. The BPS outlet has jumbo spools on sale.

[J-Doc]

Does no one here use Seaguar?

I have personally witnessed a butt-kicking where I was the receiver of such a whoopin' because I was using 8lb flouro and partner used 6lb flouro. In water visibility only 4ft clarity and fishing 15-20ft deep. Must have been the size of the line more than visibility but the smaller line was getting the bites. Could be diameter of line was giving off vibration?

And.......

For crappie fishing I have straightened many crappie jig hooks on 6lb Seaguar Invisx. When I hung up a jig on a tree stump or rock, I had to tighten the drag down all the way (thinking the line would break) and the hook came back straightened. Talk about tough! It's way stronger then 6lb test but it's the size of 6lb test and super limp, low line memory, and I'm catching more fish by switching to Invisx. Really strong line.

[Unimog]

After reading this and other line topics of this forum it's obvious I use way too heavy of line. I use all bait casting tackle and 12# is the lightest I've gone. I use the xps fluorocarbon on about everything but just respooled my drop shot outfit with some 8# berkley 100% walmart had on clearance because I know I need to go lighter. One thing to note however the line diameter of the berkley is only .001" smaller than the xps 12#. Makes me wonder if .001" is worth 50% greater pound test!

[Champ188]

J-Doc, you bring up a good point about using lighter fluorocarbon lines for spinning gear. I had a tour pro tell me a few years back that he wont go below 8-pound test with FC because of its lack of stretch/tendency to break on the hookset. I experienced this problem with 10-pound test on baitcasting gear back in the early years of FC lines but I have since lightened the power/action of my rods to allow for the low-stretch characteristic of FC lines. I have also tempered my hookset to allow for the fact that with today's hooks, you just don't need to jerk like a maniac anymore.

My next experiment is going to be trying some 6-pound FC on my spinning rods and see how my number of bites compares with using 6-pound mono. Thanks for the testimony about the Invis-X.

[Alex Heitman]

Line doesn't matter. We throw huge contraptions of a rigs and fish and still catch the big ones on the lake. I think line matters for what bait and style of presentation you are using plus cover there or not. It may only matter if you are using slow presentations such as drop shot or pesky bottom fish.

[dblades]

Travis, I think you'll be fine with the 6-pound P-Line although I'll make one disclaimer ... I love P-Line but their diameter tends to be a bit larger (and stronger) than other monos in the same pound test. You might go down to 4-pound test, get more bites and be just fine on line strength.

Another option is to try 6-pound BPS Excel in the green color. I have used this line on my spinning rods for quite a few years now and it is the best I have ever found for limpness, toughness and whatever else you're looking for in a spinning gear line. I don't pinch pennies with my tackle and would pay more for this same line, but it's nice that it's very reasonably priced. Just means you can change it often without cringing at the price.

As for jigs, I would recommend 12-pound fluorocarbon. As clear as the water tends to be lakewide in the fall, I'd be afraid of line visibility issues with 12-pound mono. Also, you'll have a lot more sensitivity with a good fluorocarbon. If you don't already have a favorite, Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon in the green tint is the best I've found. A bit pricey but worth it, IMO.

Really, no jig fish were caught in fall on Table Rock before fluorocarbon came along? I'd use what ever I was comfortable with rather than getting frustrated as a first time fluorocarbon user. It takes a little time to get familiar with knots hook sets, etc.

[balsabee]

Line doesn't matter. We throw huge contraptions of a rigs and fish and still catch the big ones on the lake. I think line matters for what bait and style of presentation you are using plus cover there or not. It may only matter if you are using slow presentations such as drop shot or pesky bottom fish.

You say line doesn't matter, and then give two examples where it does....

[Mitch f]

I really think the hybrids like Yozuri and P-Line CX premium are hard to beat...the best of both worlds. I got tired of fluorocarbon breaking at the knot.

[J-Doc]

Line doesn't matter. We throw huge contraptions of a rigs and fish and still catch the big ones on the lake. I think line matters for what bait and style of presentation you are using plus cover there or not. It may only matter if you are using slow presentations such as drop shot or pesky bottom fish.

Seems like you are comparing reaction strikes to finesse fishing which is completely different. A -rigs are the far end of the spectrum using 50-60lb braid only so they are retrievable when they snag. And they do snag often. I know anglers that use flouro on clear water due to pressure on a-rigs. I won't. I have found water that has 3-5ft visibility is where the a-rig shines. More than that istouch and go.

Line does matter as I have seen it multiple times.

Crankbaits, flouro allows deeper depth because it sinks.

Mono, best for topwater because it floats

Flouro, terrible for topwater because it sinks

Drop shot, nothing more than 6lb flouro or you're wasting time. I've drop shot side by side with 6lb and 8lb with same hook, weight, and both at same time. The 6lb outcatches 3:1.

Jigging spoons, same thing. 6lb vs 8lb (flouro) is about 10:1

Crappie jigs, 4-6lb flouro gets bites

A local crappie guide used yellow Viscious and said the color did not bother the fish. The size of the line did. I think it's a vibration thing more so than visibility and color. Fish feed off of vibration.

Just this past Saturday, I had the exact same setup on two rods with live bait for stripers. All fish caught on one rod. Both had same hook, same bait, same knot, same line, rod/reel, etc. The only difference I have found is the rod that didn't catch fish had a kink in the line.

Vibration.

It's how they feed, sense surroundings, etc.

Line does matter.