so, topic of line, brand, application, presentation, fish types..

ive always been pretty hardcore in the school of thought that says lighter line is always better because it allows for more action from your lure, its harder for fish to see and feel, and id rather have more bites and lose a few than have fewer bites but catch more.

im talking spinning gear here, 7 ft rod, used in an all purpose method, jigs, cranks, you name it.

i grew up using trilene xt.. never had any real issues but recently have switched to suffix seige, no other reason than brand loyalty..

when i fish my local area of central wisconsin, lakes its 4lb and rivers i go 6lb for the abrasion resistance from the rocks. shore fishing i tend to err on the side of 6lb whereas from a canoe/kayak i can stay 4lb and still be comfortable.

im scared to try fluorocarbon... its would be new to me and i dont really like change. not sure if i want the stiffer line and weaker knots for the transparency and abrasion resistance qualities you gain.

im thinking 6 or 8lb mono...

convince me on a brand and pound test for jigging and trolling medium to small cranks

I've been using Stren Original in Lo-Vis Green 6 lb. mono for years. I always spool my lightweight rig with it, which gets most of the action. I have not been disappointed. As far as toughness goes, I landed this 45" NP last year with my lightweight rod using this line with a 1/4 oz jig at the end. At one point in the battle the line was through its mouth.

  (You need to Login or Register

for my heavier rod, I'm undecided, but usually go for something in the 10-12 lb range that has some "extra tough" type of label.

For most canoe trips, I carry 3 rods/reels. One is a 6' baitcaster, spooled with 10 lb. Another is a 7.5' med/heavy spinning rig spooled w/ 6 lb. I also carry a 5.5' ultralight spooled with 6 lb. I also carry an extra spool of 6 lb. All of my line is extra limp. I use either stern or Berkeley, whichever is cheaper.

The baitcaster is used strictly for trolling, mostly for Lakers. Its got the backbone to land them without over stressing them.

Meself I always have at least two spools for each reel I use. One spooled up with Seaguar InvisX 6 or 8 lb Flouro. The other is spooled with 20lb Spiderwire Stealth to which I add a 4 foot length of Seaguar Flourocarbon Leader material in 8 or 10lb. using a uni-to uni knot connection.
I use the Flouro for crank baits - just a little bit of stretch, great knot strength, and not so much stretch that I lose feel of the bait. I use the braid for topwater, jigging and cranking too.
For me, mono is a sorry choice for line. I hate using it after having used flouro or braid, because you have absolutely no feel for the bait, fish or bottom whatsoever. It's like fishing with a cooked spaghetti noodle. I think people like mono because it's forgiving on spinning reels, and its cheap.
Seaguar InvisX is absolutely the best flouro I've found for spinning reels, and if you have a decent reel you won't have any problems from stiff line or memory. Crappy reels tend to be less line forgiving, tend to twist line as it comes into and off of the spool.
For me it's all about feel. Really adds to the fishing fun and success. Fishing is my only hobby, I don't waste money on tee times and golf balls, so I'll glady spend a bit more on fishing line to enhance my experience.
FYI- the extra money you'll spend on these lines will be repaid by the fact that you can keep the braid on your spool for several years without it degrading due to age or sunlight.
You might break off and have to replace the flouro, but it wont' degrade in sunlight like mono either.

Monofilament line degrades with time, sunlight, temperature changes, and worst of all, it actually absorbs water and gets softer. The longer it's been wet, the more it'll stretch, the easier it will nick and break. Modern chemistry has moved beyond this 1950's technology, IMO.

Mono is dead ;)

Whit, I guess you don't like mono!

I happen to agree. I like braided line because it doesn't stretch, is so much stronger for diameter, rolls up easy on your spinning reel, and as you write, I get a better feel. 

Also, it's tough enough to not worry if you run through heavy vegetation, or bounce on rocks.  I never use leaders or swivels in canoe country.  I will accept a few bite-offs for the improved action and feel.  I tie my line to the lure, using a knot that provides a little loop which adds to the action of crankbait.  Once a learned a knot or two, using braided line is as simple as mono.  I have added a sharp sissors or clippers as I can't bite through it like mono. :)

When I notice the first foot or two of line showing some wear, I simply cut it off and keep going. 

prouboy

Puckster wrote on Jan 26^th, 2014 at 8:50pm:

I tie my line to the lure, using a knot that provides a little loop which adds to the action of crankbait.  prouboy

Do you know the name of this knot? I've heard using it is the way to go with crankbaits but I don't know the knot.  I think I tied one accidentally once...  I use what I learned back around 9-10 years old, and I think it's called a blood knot.

For line I use flourocarbon and Spiderwire Stealth. 2 rods both 7 feet.  One med/heavy, the other medium. In a canoe I like the longer rod. I used mono for years but the rocks do a number on it pretty quick when trolling cranks.

That's an impressive northern BTW. I caught a big one that was light colored like that.  It went around the same size and I also was using 6 lb. test and we couldn't get it in the boat (no net). Too big to grab over the neck and I didn't want to go under the jaw because my crankbait was somewhere deep in his throat. He was a mean fish and got the best of us.

When I head into backcountry I only carry one rod and reel (bait caster) so it has to be to be a compromise  - whether I'm casting, trolling, jigging, whether bass, walleye, trout or pike, whatever, it's the same rig.  Over the past couple of years I've been using Suffix 832 and I love it.  I use 30 lb not because I need the strength (although when my lure gets buried in junk it's nice) but because that's a diameter that I can tie easily (the same diameter as 8 lb mono.)  I also don't use leaders but the 832 is very resistant to bite off (I haven't had more than a couple Pike bite me off in the last two years.)  During a 3 week trip I just cut back the abraded line.  But even when it's time to add a new spool I only put on half, which I tie to the remaining unsullied half spool with a double uni.  If you like braid I'd recommend 832.

Forgot to say that I like mono. It's all I use. Back to my corner... :'(

Old Salt I get outfished about as often as not by my buddy Gnawbone Jack who is a monofilament man from waaay back. Whatever works for a brother! :)

Kerry wrote on Jan 26^th, 2014 at 9:40pm:

If you like braid I'd recommend 832.

i have braid on my baitcasters and i use suffix 832. never was a big fan of power pro and i didnt like the 'flatness' of fireline. have been nothing but happy with suffix 832. maybe ill consider running a mainline braid and using a leader of flouro or mono from there.

@whit, i was reading about it last night and everything you said about mono was pretty spot on with the water absorption and stretch. i guess it worked for me and never really thought/cared much about the chemistry.

this is good discussion! cant wait to hear MT's take

I used clear blue Stren, and then later Trilene XL for 25 years of fishing from kid till I was in my late 20's, then I used one of my dad's reels he'd had spooled with spiderwire for ice fishing and man I was sold. I'd never in my life felt the lure or the bottom before like that. After that, I had trouble going back.

I am ridiculed often by my boys when I use mono, but I never seem to fall behind in the numbers. They are Fire-Line fans. I've used Fire-Line, various braids, and some fluorocarbon lines but seem to prefer mono. Guess I'm a die-hard traditionalist.

As far as the muted feel and the stretch, I kind of like those properties. I can feel a bite (or see it) or the bottom but I just have to pay closer attention. Finesse, I think it's called. When I set the hook, the stretch offers some forgiveness so I don't end up ripping it out of it's mouth.

As far a modern chemistry, it's a good thing and I take advantage when I want but on my fishing trips.... i use a canoe - not a power boat, I sleep on the ground in a tent - not in a fluffy lodge bed, I cook over a fire and eat out of the pan while sitting on the ground - not at a table having prepared food served to me.

I'm stubborn, primitive and set in my ways and I like it that way.

Quote:

Do you know the name of this knot? I've heard using it is the way to go with crankbaits but I don't know the knot

There are more than one version of this knot.
One is called the Rapala knot and another is an improved version called the non-slip mono knot.

I'm no fishing knot expert or any knot for that matter, so I have this excellent resource marked in my Favorites.

They explain knots and have a visual guide to there tying. You can speed/slow the video and stop/reverse it as well.

I see a knot I want to learn for whatever, I use a long round shoelace(s) to practice. Much easier than actual fishing line and far more forgiving. ;D

  (You need to Login or Register

I use a heavy braid for my trolling spinning rod, because if I set the drag right, it will slow me down enough to worn me I'm hung up solid and strong enough it'll pull use minor snags.
For walleyes/smallies, I like a light action rod with either 6 lb mono or equivalent in braid.
Both my reels have a spare spool, so I can choose between mono/braid.
I'm partial to Power Pro braid. For the money it's a good value.

I think my choice for line weight might be different ( probably lighter) If I was a tandem paddler because your partner can help with canoe handling.

Solo, I find that often the canoe is working against me and I lose a lot of lures with light line.

Looks like I'm missing out on all the fun.......to much worky worky for this lad.......

One must be very careful with Flourocarbon. It is not all that it is cracked up to be. Knots can be particularly finicky especially in low tests. Avoid Vanish like the flu. Poor knot strength........lots of bass pros use floro and with good results.

As per loop knots I like the Perfection loop knot and use it all the time with 20 and 30lb floro with excellent results in salt water.......be advised, any loop knot is inherently weaker.

QuetiKurt turned me onto the Suffix 832. I bought the stuff and spooled up and was less than impressed. Power pro is certainly stronger stuff and ties well to fluorocarbon. When I pass through Dalton Georgia Kurt has accepted the knot challenge......the only question is will we be asked to leave Cracker Barrel?

Mono vs the newer lines? Each have their advantages. Braided lines allow for greater depth trolling cranks and certainly deepwater jigging spoon applications it is unsurpassed. But better than mono for most applications I say no.

I rather like a little stretch and with some good old fashioned experience have little trouble with missing bites. But for me in canoe country mono is all about walleye and smallmouth. The best time I have had walleye fishing in canoe country was over a deepwater  reef in Basswood with 8lb green XT and a rainbow trout colored taildancer........Lots of nice ones including my personal best legit 7lb and lots of 5's and 6's for 2 hours straight. I came back a week later and again right at dark but couldn't beg a bite even though I was marking them........the difference was braid. Did they not want to bite because of the braid or were they just not eating? I dunno........

Toying with finally getting to WCP this summer and doing some musky/pike fishing. That will be done with 50lb braid. Big lures, big bait caster and line that won't end up digging into itself. Could be interesting.

My advice is to try out everything before you head into canoe country.......make sure your complicated braid to floro knot system works, don't just assume because some guy on U tube says so....and don't forget your fingerless gloves so you can tighten your braided knots and test them (you do test your knots dont you?)

Hey speaking of U tube  ;)........I had great luck with this knot tying 100lb mono to 80lb braid. I haven't used it for lighter applications but it might prove to be better than my usual uni to uni set up which can be fickle at times. Check it out.......

  (You need to Login or Register

Trilene XL Low vis green: used this for decades (prefer XL over XT)
Fireline: use it on and off and like it
Tuf-line: tried once (couple years ago) and liked it
Suffix-832 (last year): liked it but not worth the price imo
origional stren and spiderwire: years ago tired these and didn't care for em
If XL was the only thing available i'd be fine with that...
(no lab-coat review, just a preference list)

@mt, you never cease to amaze me with your knowledge and experience.. we are lucky to have a resource like you on this forum.

i view mono as a 'jack of all trades master of none' that is pretty forgiving, where as braid and flourocarbon are more specialty lines and can be pretty problematic at times.

i will probably end up spooling up with 6lb suffix siege and i wont change because im a creature of habit. i have braid on the baitcasters so i will probably just use them for anything requiring the benefits of braid