Fishing line choices

[Bitethis]

So...I am a tackle junkie. I have accepted it, and re-sort and re-organize every winter. I am now finding that I have over a dozen different fishing lines on my reels, and I am having a hard time keeping up with which line is on what rod. I have mono here, flouro there, and braid on this. It is expensive to replace line, and a pain in the butt to remember whats on what.

So...I am looking to downsize my line selections, and wanted input from the community on how to do so. Does someone have an easy way to categorize, downsize, and minimize all the lines?

I currently use flouro on my bass gear, with the exception of top water rods. but i have different #'s all over the place. I would prefer a universal # for everything if that is somewhat reasonable.

I have almost stopped using mono all together thinking i would catch more fish on expensive/invisible flouro. However, I got outfished 3:1 by my buddy last week and he was using 20# clear/blue mono....sigh.

I have braid on my A-rig only.

My crappie gear is all 6# flouro or 6# yellow mono

and a ned rig set up with 6# flouro.

Help me get rid of the 12+ spools of line.....

[dprice]

I use 65 and 30 # braid in sun. and 10 # stren.

Leaders are 12 # stren. keeps my line LONG LASTING

And very few packages ? I respool some twice a year. Most make it all year.

[Bitethis]

I use 65 and 30 # braid in sun. and 10 # stren.

Leaders are 12 # stren. keeps my line LONG LASTING

And very few packages ? I respool some twice a year. Most make it all year.

you put braid on all your reels, with a stren (mono or flouro?) leader?

[Jerry Rapp]

I always get bashed for this type of reply, but I keep line choice very simple. I have tried them all, believe me, and could tell no difference. I fish with guys who have newest super duty FC line or braid. Watch them break off, spend minutes tying on leaders, and looking down at their rods and wondering which line is on what rod. And I still catch just as many or more than them. What do I use. Berkley Big game. 8lb test in spinning rods, unless using my ulralight, then 4lb big game. 12 lb test on crank bait rod, jerk bait rod, both soft and hard. 15 lb for topwater, normal jigs, buzzers, spinnerbaits, plastic baits and a C-rig(I use a Carolina keeper so I don't need to mess with a leader and swivel and drivel. Improved clinch knot for every rig, unless a loop knot for pop r's, spooks, etc. Keeps it real simple. It is just my opinion, but an opinion based on a lot of observations and experience.

[Nathan Shaw]

This may not apply to you, but I use Berkley NanoFil on all my spinning gear and tie on leaders. Granted I'm primarily pan fishing, but I am super happy with that set up. I have 6lb and 8lb NanoFil with 4lb and 2lb floro.

If I decide to troll I'll just tie onto main line.

Nathan

[moguy1973]

I really like P-Line CX Premium. It's a hybrid mono-flouro blend and it's super strong. And priced really well, esp when they have a buy one get one rebate going. I use 8lb on my spinning gear and 10lb on my bait casters. I do have one rod I use for the heavy stuff that has 30lb TUF-line coated supercast braid.

[inshore]

I usually use 20 power pro on baitcasting with a 3 to 4 foot fluro leader. remember 20 braid is 8# diameter using 20 with braid keeps it from loading on its self. I do with 10 # braid on spinning reels with fluro leader. I only use trout tippet fluro which is thinner and tougher than fluro fishing line but cost a lot more. that's why I only use 3 to 4 feet of leader. I also only use hi-vis yellow can see it in all conditions.

[Walcrabass]

Bitethis,

I am an old guy. Old enough to remember when a lot of people used braid because.... well there wasn't any mono that was decent.

Here is the way I handle the line thing:

1.Put masking tape or something else you can write on with a magic marker on your reels. Use C for Fluorocarbon, M for Mono, F for fluorescent line, and B for braid if you can't tell by looking.

2. I use 14 pound Fluorocarbon for daytime Jig fishing/ Spinner Baits/ Worms/ Swim Baits on my Bait Casters.

3. I use 17 pound Fluorescent Trilene XL for my night fishing. With Black Lights of course. On my Baitcasters.

4. I use 10 pound Fluorocarbon on my bait casters for my Crank Baits in the daytime.

5. I use 4 pound Trilene XL on my open face reels for Crappie, maybe 6 for White Bass.

6. Braid, Only on my A-Rig giant man killer rod. About 50 pound test.

Many people say you cannot use Fluorocarbon for top water but this is not true. You simply have to hold your rod tip higher to keep the line out of the water. Sometimes I let it sink on purpose so I can make a chug chug and follow by a darting motion just under the surface.

I use Bass Pro fluorocarbon and as I mentioned Trilene mono. Both of these lines are inexpensive and very high quality. Knot strength is awesome on the Bass Pro Fluorocarbon. I have used Trilene line for over 40 years..... the XL ( extra limp ) is great line.

Don't try Fluorocarbon on an open face .... it is terrible.....don't use braid unless you have to.... it is expensive and requires a leader in many instances.

Wallyboy

[slab slinger]

Sounds like you need 6lb floro to cover your crappie and ned rig fishing. 8 lb floro would cover your shaky head, drop shot, and jerk bait. 10 or 12 lb for cranks and 20 lb floro for flip/pitch and big worms. I would throw the spool of big braid behind truck seat for tying in loads. I hate braid it sucks in the wind and its hard on your equiptment. Just my opinions.

[zarraspook]

I use wire # markers on my reels and they will last 2-3 years with no problems... They are about 1/4" by 1/2" and I place them on the reels in a spot that I don't use to hold the reel....

Lowes / Home depot etc have them -- about $ 10-12 and enough to do 30-40 reels...