Does fishing line matter????

[zettler]

I agree with CP on this. I have gave this topic a lot of testing and just 'plain ole sense' thoughts. I curently am using a high-vis braid line for most of my fishing. It has 2lb size w/10lb strength. Fishing clear to muddy waters. Shallow to deep. 1/32oz to 1/4oz jigs. The 'no stretch' feature seems to be best thing to happen to lines. Besides being able to see the lite-ticks, I feel them. 'Ole sense' thing, is that crappies are not that smart. We don't think twice to drop a black/chartruse, chartruse, pink, red/chartruse, yellow, etc, jig down into their habitat, with a lot of confidence it will catch a crappie. There is NOTHING in the lake that matches these colors, but they work. It is hard for me to believe that a crappie will not hit one of these just because there is yellow line on it. In clear water, I think your own shadow will spook fish much more than any line color. Line size will determine how fast your jig falls. Nope, I don't tie on leaders, right to the jig. Just my thoughts. <*)}}}><

If you don't mind me asking what brand braid?

I started to use Vicious fluro and not sold yet on the 8 lb but I am still a newbie!

[Buckeyemusky]

If you don't mind me asking what brand braid?

I started to use Vicious fluro and not sold yet on the 8 lb but I am still a newbie!

I like the Berkley Fireline Tracerbraid, changes color every two feet or two and a half and it is tuff.

[Spoonminnow]

The most important considerations for line choice:
1. little or no memory for less coils, loops and tangles
2. less torsion for less twist and tangles
3. abraision resistance
4. casting distance
5. line sensitivity
6. soft and small enough in diameter to allow the best lure action depending on lure wt. and design
7. stretch (sometimes more stretch is desirable, sometimes not)
8. reel diameter
9. rod action, rod material (glass vs IM6) sensitivity and length
10. water clarity, temperature and depth.
11. line buoyancy when wet (i.e. mono weighs the most)

That said, there are three major lines to consider, some which excel at many of the above factors, some which are horrible;
and there are conditions where one or more of the above are nonfactors. For example:

Braid has zero stretch, the least amount of twist the higher the test, but is the least abraision resistant. It is usually harder to see which requires a lighter action more sensitve rod. Fused braid (Fireline) cast light lures beautifully. Less stretch is not good for using crankbaits and a stiffer rod, but is excellent for long distance top water lures or grub swimming for the best possible hook set. I like 6lb test Fireline for great casting, solid hook sets when fish are active and sensitivity. I'll use a leader of Trilene XL or flourocarbon when fish are less active and small lures are needed. Power Pro doesn't hold a candle to Spider Wire Stealth or Fireline in smaller diameters but is fine for 30 or greater pound test.

Mono has the most stretch but has been improved greatly over the last thirty years. The older the line and the more UV exposure, the more memory it takes on, which is a really bad thing for twist and tangles at the reel. Mono is the only line for spincast reels. That said, I use XL (extra limp) Trilene on my Plueger baitcast reels and no more than 8lb test. If I want a better hookset at a longer distance, I add a 2' leader of thin braid. XT Trilene has the most abraision resistance of the lines I've used, but a bit more memory. Smaller reel diameters require smaller diameter lines with less memory and therefore fused braid or XL mono do fine for me.

Flourocarbon has been said to have less stretch than mono though not in my experience. It is least visible, but less soft than XL and ages as fast as mono. Sensitivity is suppose to be better than mono, but then again rod sesitivity and fish activity matter.

Copolymer lines have also improved, but their expense is not worth it IMO.

I'm sure everyone has had lines they hate (some of which I recommend) and lines they love for valid reasons, but the factors listed do make sense over time and thousands of casts. It's just a matter of fine tuning line to when you need a certain type and size. Junk line comes and goes (or sells for a lot less at Wally World) but good line doesn't always carry a premium price. So the question of, what line do you use?, is not a simple one to answer.

Thanks for reading

FrankM

[zettler]

Most excellent write-up! Thank you.

[Crappie Chatt]

If you don't mind me asking what brand braid?

I started to use Vicious fluro and not sold yet on the 8 lb but I am still a newbie!

I'm using Power Pro Hi Vis yellow. I only spool up about 50 yds over mono. This keeps it from slipping on the spool and saves $$$$. Have tried other brands and seem to always come back to Power Pro. <*)}}}><

[zettler]

I'm using Power Pro Hi Vis yellow. I only spool up about 50 yds over mono. This keeps it from slipping on the spool and saves $$$$. Have tried other brands and seem to always come back to Power Pro. <*)}}}><

Thanks. Do you prefer 6, 8 or 10 pound test or do you change up during the year?

[Crappie Chatt]

I haven't found any need to change. I use the 2lb size, 10lb strength all year long. Heck, I've even got line on from 2 years ago. Looses color, turns white, but still as strong as ever. <*)}}}><

[keeferfish]

Power Pro doesn't hold a candle to Spider Wire Stealth or Fireline in smaller diameters but is fine for 30 or greater pound test.

Same as Chatt and I have never had and probs with the power pro 2lb.

[Bugtussle]

The high vis mono or braid does not seem to bother crappie, but for bluegills, the smoke Fireline or rods with a fluorocarbon leader seem to be much more productive.

[Crappieking1]

This is a great subject, and it sounds like there are many differening opinions on the line subject. All I can go off of is experience, and it seems as though I have tried them all. I used to be sold on Fireline, and once I found that, I thought that was the best line ever. Fireline has great sensitivity, and wears like iron, and there is almost no need to change it for long periods of time.

I pretty much spend most of my time vertical jigging and after finding Fireline thought that I would never use anything else. Then one day, I tried flourocarbon line because I was fishing clear water. With the several poles I had rigged up with fireline and the one pole I rigged up with flourocarbon, I proceeded to catch several more fish on the flourocarbon line. I thought it had to be a coincidence, so I fished some of the regular waters that were not so clear. I still caught many more fish on the pole with the flourocarbon line.

Fireline never let me down and I was convinced that there had to be something else going on. I even started tying the exact same color and size jigs on poles with flourocarbon on one and fireline on the other. The results were so shocking that I couldn't get away from the reality that I not onlycaught more fish on the flourocarbon, but always caught the larger fish on the pole with the flourocarbon. I am a pretty stubborn guy, and it probably took over a year to totally convince me, but slowly I had more poles with flourocarbon and less with fireline until now, flourocarbon is the only line I use.

Now I am not saying it is the flourocarbon line only. I have tried mono side by side against flourocarbon and seem to make only a small difference, so now I guess it is a confidence thing. Flourocarbon line is pretty much the only line I use. I have probably tried every single flourocarbon out there, and as far as the catch goes, I can't tell too much difference.

From personal experience, I found that if you want some visibility above the water, P-line Halo is a good line, but most of the lines I use are clear. I seem to constantly try every different flouro line that comes out. Seaguar Invis-ex is definitely the best flourocarbon on the market, probably the most expensive too. Good all around flourocarbon is Cabela's own brand, you get a lot of bang for your buck buying that.

I fish a lot of tournaments, and feel like Flourocarbon gives me the edge I need. It doesn't matter with water clearity or sun conditions, I usually use clear line. Of course there are some downsides to Flouro line, such as it can be more brittle, and doesn't stretch very well. Also some of the brands are sometimes very stiff too, which can cause problems.

I hope this helps, I am sure there are many who won't agree with me, and to each his own. I am just going off personal experience.

Good Luck!