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.

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 to view media files and links)

@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