Fishing line

[jp]

Hope everyone is having a great summer!!

I'll be making my yearly trip to KY lake in about 3/4 weeks. Looking for advice on fishing line. I hear so much about fluorcarbon is that the way to go? What line is best for each technique?

What's the best for:
- cranking
- spinnerbait
- topwater
- carolina rig

I'll really appreciate some feedback. Working all the long hours is worth it if the hours on the lake are productive.

Thanks and God bless!

[Col Forbin]

The only one of those I use Flouro on is C-rig. I wouldn't consider it on topwater (it sinks). I have had this discussion with Dave Stewart on numerous occasions - and he has said there is no need for Flouro on this lake. I think it is finally starting to sink in. The water here isn't clear enough to warrant Flouro (invisibility is flouro's primary benefit). I do feel like it has a better feel - more so on lighter lines, however, the sensitivity benefit starts to balance out about 15 pounds. Some say it has less stretch. Again it is the same. You can tell a huge difference in 8# flouro and 8# copolymer, but once you get up around 12# the stretch is the same.

The biggest downside of Flouro is it is useless once it is knicked up. Around here we are dragging through rocks and it eats through the flouro. 20 # flouro with the slightest knick in it is as useless as fishing with 2 pound line. A good copolymer like gamma is as tough as nails.


I am going to be trashing some flouro this week for some gamma. I fished a tournament this past weekend, and was out caught 5 to 1 becaus of flouro. We were fishing around stump beds up on flats marked with some rebarb. My partner was using standard mono, he freed and boated several fish that was wrapped around the rebarb. I never landed a fish that came close to the rebarb. If the flouro slightly grazed the rebarb it was shredded. I am also tired of re-tying my jigs every 10 casts because the rocks had been snacking on the flouro.

Dave - you were right and I was wrong. I should have known a guy who spends a couple hundred days a year on the water would know a thing or two about fishing here.

[WacoWildcat]

+1 on the Gamma. That's the best copolymer I have fished. Tough stuff and the memory isn't bad like some others.

[jp]

So, what type of line would you suggest? I've used Suffix, but not really impressed.

[MagikSmallie]

I feel that flouro stands up better than mono on abrasion contrary to what Col Forbin says perhaps different brands, I use Seaguar I've used sizes from
8#-20#, and in every size I feel it has great sensitivity and very reisistant against abrasion when fishing rocky structure, I agree on some of these murky lakes it is not necesary, but on the highland reseviors its really usefull.
I use flouro on everything except topwater becuase of the sink of flouro, buts it has less stretch than mono, more abrasion resistant, and its invisible.
JMHO

[Todd2]

I've always used mono until the last couple years and I've tried several fluoros since then. I found something about each one that made me switch, whether it be poor knot strength, price, memory, etc. I bought the Gamma Copolymer (on the advice of some folks on here) and have taken it out twice. I gotta say it's some good stuff. It handles like a mono but has good sensitivity and it's very strong. It seems to hold up as good as fluoro but I haven't caught any pigs on it yet. Before I bought it, I researched around a little and it seems that Gamma and Pline CXXX were the two copolymers recommended the most. I might get the Pline next time just to compare the two. I thought their flouro was the best so I'm sure the CXXX is some good stuff. The Gamma is a little harder to find unless you buy on-line.

[shawnrd81]

Just use what you have most confedince in. I use about every type of line every time I go out. If you are worried about knicks or line snapping get some 200# power pro that will pull a semi through some rocks.

[Stevens]

braid works great for c-rigs.. but you cant quite set the hook as hard as usual. I do use fluro on my crankbaits. 10 or 12lb, just because you are going to feel a little more than with mono. and 14lb mono for topwater and 17lb mono with spinnerbaits are good all around. good luck!

[offdtop]

Rule of thumb "smallest line you can get away with", as for brands? well that's almost a Ford vs. Chevy fight anymore! I have tried literally 20 different lines this year for my spinning rod, flurocarbon has definately been the way to go when using finese baits. I have tried them ALL, and price was a factor as I began this endevour and I kept thinking "the more I spend the better it must be", JMO - I was wrong, in fact my latest testing is with P-Line with Flurocarbon coating and just 1/2 hr ago I caught 15+ fish in less than 30 minutes it worked and felt as good as any line I have tried. Seagar is good line, Berkley 100% - good line, but neither of the two had out performed the P-Line (I have never been a fan of P-Line) To me so far I am highly impressed, I have had strength/sensitivity and hardly any memory!!!!

So all the guys so far are right, and you need to spend more then 2.00 for 15,000 yrd spool, that stuff doesn't work unless you like rubberband line. 10lb test up to the 15-17lb range will get the job done.