I'm broke...

[Jonnysig]

Im not really broke but I do have a question and was hoping for some advice.

I am a weekend fisherman and more importantly a budget fisherman. It simply is unrealistic for me to have many set ups for different applications. I have used braid, fluoro, and mono for thier corresponding applications. It is getting expensive using certain lines and then having to take it off if I need to change things up. I cant afford any more rod/reels so I have to make due with what I have and I make changes according to where im going and what im doing. My question to you experienced guys is would it be better to make fluoro work when I should be using mono? Or would it be better to use mono when I should be using fluoro? I have pretty much ruled braid out because I have to sacrafice and Im not using braid in some of these clear water reservoirs. In other words I am trying to figure out ONE line I can use and stick with to save money. Another way to ask this question is if you were only able to use either fluorocarbon or mono wich would you use. For all aplications. Thanks guys! Any recommendations??

[W.C]

I think your question depends more on what and where u like to fish. If u like the delta than u can get away with using Mono. P-Line or Yozery r very inexpensive lines and will last u a long time, there r pros and cons for everything. If u do fish the delta than u will also need braid for frog or punching even if u want to throw a swim bait or top water like Lunker Plunkers , Hudds and pencile popers two of which r very pricey and u don't want to risk losing one on a big old bass or Striper.

If u r into Lakes however,,, than I would tell u to go primarily Floro because water is very clear an fish in some lakes r very line shy, trust me , you don't want to be in a boat with a guy using Floro while u r using mono, u will get humbled very quick.
It's up to you, only u know your budget and everthing about this sport is expensive. Hope this helped you.

[Garrettt]

Use braid on all your rods and tie a leader, 10' of whatever line, for your application. I think this would work the best for you.

[Ceaser]

to save money got with a braid to Flouro Leader for clear water and mono for reaction. Monos cheap and with a braid to flouro/mono leader set up your braid can last you all year.

[dwise]

You can also consider purchasing extra spools for the reels you already have. This way you can have spools with different lines set up, then all you have to do is change out the spool, and not have to rip off the line every time you want to change set ups. Using braid with a flouro leader saves a lot of money. The braid lasts a very long time, and all you do is tie on a flouro leader of 7-10', which will make a 150 yard spool of flouro last you a LONG time. I use this set up on my drop shot (spinning) and I don't get all the line twist either.

You probably already know this tip, but I will mention this anyway...to save money when changing line on your reel, only replace about the top half the flouro on your spool. Then tie the new line onto the remaining line on your spool. I get two reel fills on my casting reels from one, 150 yard spool of flouro. When filling a completely empty spool, I spool on 12# mono about half way, then tie on the flouro and fill up the rest of the spool.

In the old days we didn't have flouro, so we used mono on everything. We caught fish on it too. Now we have mono, flouro, and braid options, each has their place. So, it's hard to ask if only given one choice, which would we choose.

[Jonnysig]

I hear ya. I have done braid to fluoro many times. For some reason I always end up taking it off. If I remember correctly I wasnt a fan of the connecting knot going through the guides. I also seem to have more issues with braid than fluoro. I can spool fluoro and cast a mile but for some reason with braid I get a lot of tangles, backlashes, etc. Maybe im doing something incorrect. Think im gonna take a look at how much extra spools are. Thanks guys!

[VJ]

Just go buy Yozir Floro hybrid best stuff and cheap you get a lot of line for the money call fishermans warehouse 916-362-1200 and i think its 11.99 for 600yards.

[dwise]

I hear ya. I have done braid to fluoro many times. For some reason I always end up taking it off. If I remember correctly I wasnt a fan of the connecting knot going through the guides. I also seem to have more issues with braid than fluoro. I can spool fluoro and cast a mile but for some reason with braid I get a lot of tangles, backlashes, etc. Maybe im doing something incorrect. Think im gonna take a look at how much extra spools are. Thanks guys!

I use Daiwa Samurai braid. It's expensive, but it's smooth as silk, round, strong, and casts real well. I've tried other brands of braid and didn't like them as well as the Samuari. One reason you are getting tangles and backlashes while casting braid is because of the braid you are using. I had this happen to me when I used 832 braid on my casting reel. I got tangles and backlashes because the braid wasn't smooth and round. As soon as I changed back to Samurai, the problem went away.

I use a double uni knot to connect the flouro leader to the braid. There are other knots that you can use too. On a drop shot set up the knot should rest somewhere between the first guide and the reel. I use 15# Samuari then connect an 8# flouro leader using 12 wraps with the braid to 5 wraps with the flouro. I found by using flouro leaders that I save a lot of money by not buying so much line.

[aNNieNsaLTIE]

Use braid on all your rods and tie a leader, 10' of whatever line, for your application. I think this would work the best for you.

I agree with Garret and Cesar...... If you're on a budget braid will cost a little more at first but if your doing braid to leader you'll save!!!

Braid last a number of years if you're using leader material. your leader material will get the abuse not to much on your main line (braid).

You can also fish the same set up in a wider variety of waters because all you will be doing is matching your leader material to the type of water your fishing.

for example, a spinning rod spooled with 20lb braid. you can be at a clear water lake. all you'd do is choose the #lb test you think would be sufficient enough. if it is a super finesse lake you can always make your leader a little longer.

If you go to a muddy heavy cover water the next week, you can switch leaders again to what you feels suits best.

I think 20lb braid for spinning and 40lb braid for casting is great all around line.

Steven

[Oldschool]

Don't get caught up in the current hype of you must use expensive FC line in clear deep structure reservoirs. Bass are not line shy fish. What is important is how the line size affects the lure action you are using and knot strength.
Don't you wonder how we managed to catch bass in the same lakes for decades before FC line?
An excellent compromise is using a hybrid like P-line FluoroClear, good knot strength and strong line at a reasonable price
Tom

[Dom]

Dont buy into all the line stuff go out and buy you the 1/4 lb spools od berkley big game buy 6,8,12,15,20 lb at 7.00 bucks a spool your investment is 42.00 bucks and you can fish anywhere all year long .In the clear water resivors just down size the line . I have been using this line for years and its great line.

[cking]

Dom I feel ya, I'm in the same boat. I with Garret I have braid on all and use a tag line for whatever the need calls for.

[Dom]

Dont get me wrong I use braid I am a power pro lover yes I spend the cash and I fish the Delta almost 99% of the time but when it comes to senkos, jigs, texas rigs,ect ... I use berkley big game only floro I use id p-line and I use that as a tag on my power pro for drop shotting the delta . On my spinning reels all berkley big game and yes I get em I truley believe most fishing stuff that comes o the market is designed to catch the angler and not always needed to catch the fish. But it took me years of trail and error to come to that conclusion I use to drop the cash on all the new stuff. I have a few brands I am loyal to and I do drop the money like on gary yamamoto , snag proof, etc...but all the other stuff naw put that money in the boat gas tank and go stick a toad!

[dwise]

Berkley Big Game line is a real good line. I used this for many years for all my casting reels. I used Bass Pro Shops Excel for my spinning reel split shot set up. That's good line too. Now I use braid with a flouro leader.

[Oldschool]

Finesse bass fishing with 4 to 6 lb mono in the late 7o's ro early 80's by tournament anglers like Dick Trask and Don Iovino using 3" to 5" soft plastics and light wire hooks was balanced tackle; the right combination to properly present the lure to suspended or inactive bass. Today the same presentations have switched to small diameter super braids with FC leaders. The braid servers a purpose with spinning reels, nearly eliminates line twist, the FC is questionable.
Bait casting reels will not twist the line like a spinning does, the worm can if rigged poorly.
The bottom line is you don't need braid in deep structured lakes with light cover when using a casting reel.
During the same time period on the same lakes as Trask and Iovino and others using finesse presentations, I was targeting giant bass with jigs using 12 lb mono like Big Game. Big bass are far more wary than than the 3 lb bass the tournament anglers were targeting. The 12 lb line was balanced for the jigs I was using.
I have tried all the popular FC lines and none have the knot strength of equal diameter mono.
Knot failure is very frustrating when you loose any bass. With braid and a leader you have 2 knots to fail, regardless what knot it is or how perfectly it was tied; the knot is the weakest link!
The fact that FC sinks, makes it a good choice for deep water applications, beware of the knot strength issues.
Tom

[Jonnysig]

Thanks for everyones input and advice. I have had my eye on big game for a while and thought I should just switch to mono to save money. I will keep FC on my cranking rod since it doesnt get used for anything else. I will also keep my 6-8# floroclear on my DS rod but other than that I think im going to switch to mono for mulitiple uses. I have rods that some days i am throwing a TW on and another day I am throwing a jig in clear water on. yes i know every rod has its own technique but im not spending that kind of money. Thanks again guys!

[Oldschool]

Keep in mind your objective is to reduce cost, not line size choices. Big Game is limited in line sizes ; I believe 10 lb is minimum and Big Game is an over size line to start with. iF you are looking a good around inexpensive line take a serious look at P-Line FluorClear available is smaller diameter line sizes, good casting, good knot strength and give you some of the advantages of expensive FC line. There are other brands; none more reliable for the price point.
Tom
PS; I use Big. Game for my cranking rods and small top water; 10 & 12 lbs, 8 lb P-Line for drop shot, slip shot, split shot spinning reel rods and catch a tone of bass in clear deep structure SoCal lakes. I go down to 6 lb during the winter when bass are deeper.
Tom

[bassindon69]

P-Line PF Original is better Diameter and all that stuff too. Find a line you like and tell your own story It's part of the fun. I thought FluorClear was kinda weak myself Oldschool. Glad ya like like it though.

[dockboy]

Mono is economical, but as mentioned so is braid. I switched over to braid on all but 3 of my 15+ outfits. Figure with good mono you need to change twice a month to maintain the best levels of performance. Braid, you change it once every year, and even 2 years if you are fishing 50lb+ strength. Mono is also a giant rubber band, even in its most refined form, so your sensitivity plummets as the length of line between you and the fish increases/ Braid has far higher strength for diameter meaning your baits run deeper, and due to its no stretch the sensitivity is great. I was a firm believer is straight FC on most things till I switched over to light braid and leader on my spin outfits. Now I run FC only on rip baits, jigs, and senkos due to the need for a sinking line with those baits. I pay far less for line, benefit from superior strength and diameter to both mono and flouro, and the sensitivity is about as good a high quality flouro.

[Garrettt]

If you learn to tie the Albright correctly you won't have casting issues. You can cut the tag lines on the knot flush and cast it from inside your reel, through the guides without any issues. The knot, when tied correctly is very small and smooth. Just my 2cents, its the best knot for a union.

[Oldschool]

The big lie about FC line is it doesn't strength like premium mono or mono copolymers. FC % of strength is about equal to mono, the big difference is FC does not recover it's strength after being yielding (stretching), it reduces in diameter and doesn't have the memory to recover. It's this property that causes knot strength issues; cold flow under tension. The real advantage is lower cooefiecent of drag; FC line slips through the water with less surface tension.
Anytime you compare pound test strength you should consider line diameter to compare apples to apples and without any standards the line manufactures label their products to sell, it's up to the angler to decide what works and the line game is big business, there are no panaceas,just a lot of hype! And more good line to choose from today. Choose what works for your fishing techniques and budget, your line is the only thing between you and the fish and the knot and hook keeps you attached.
You don't want to go from I am broke to I broke off!
Tom

[Jonnysig]

Thanks for everyones input. Still not sure what my decision will be. Really thinking about big game.

[jimmy87]

I am a fan of big game as well. Green maxima is another awsome line. Green Maxima is hard to see against the dirty water of the delta if you are a line watcher. and has pretty bad memory. However you can stretch it out to rid the memory. It is by far the most abrsive line I ever used. Unlike most lines expecialy braid green maxima is AWSOME on rocks. It really holds up the best overall. Fishing rocks at mclure or camanche? Green max wins hands down. fishing rocks on delta ? wins again.

I started using maxima FC a while back for the delta because I can see it.
I think it is another great line to choose.

For me green maxima in the lakes for sure becuase the water is clear. I can see the line there and it is invsiable in the water. Lots of rock as well. used on the lake for many years.

on the Delta big game and maxima FC

when I need a line that floats for topwater I like power pro or spider wire.

I have used the yozuri hybrid and it also is good. only thing I dont like about is it is shinney in the water. The fish did not seem to care however!.

[Oldschool]

I was a max line users for years, bought bulk spools and respooled line weekly; good strength, one of the hifhest memory lines on the market and is a problem in cooler or cold weather.
Trilene XT is very similar, little less memory issues. When P-line came out with CCX there was a big movement with the tournament anglers to switch; same abrasion resistance and strength less memory problems.
Aaron Martens introduced me to Sunline in the early 90's and I really likes the Shooter 12 & 14 lb for casting , 5" & 7 Sniper for spinning. Had to learn to tie the San Diedo knot with FC, good line, until the prices started to double from $12 for a 300 meter spool to $35 today. I tred every brand of FC line , nothing came close to Sunline Shooter & Sniper. I lost a few big bass on hook sets and at the baot, became disgruntled with FC.
A friend gave me a spool of 10# P-Line FluoroClear and It performed very well. Had the local tackle shop spool up my jig and worm rods with FluroClear abou 3 years ago and hacen't broke off a big bass since.
I always use TangleFree line dressing; doesn't gum up the reels and comes In 2 oz plastic bottle that fits into my pocket and I highly recommend a good line dressing; KVD or TangleFree, not Real Magic as it gums up the reels.
Try purchasing a 300 yard spool of whatever line you think is good for your budget and fish it!
I did look up Big Gane and 10# is the smallest size available.
Tom
PS; respool with 75 yards of new mono/FC line, no reason not ro use the old line as filler; just tie the new line onto to old. This will save your a lot of money during the year.

[jimmy87]

I use maxima in freezing weather here on our lakes and on gin clear waters of the Smith River in dead winter.
I have not noticed any cold weather problem.

what is it? maybe I have experniced it and just did not relate it to temprature.

[Oldschool]

I used to get Maxima free from the late Rip Nunnery, the west coast rep and set 1 line class world record with 4 lb max for Pacific yellow tail that lasted about a year. Maxima is very strong line, however the memory is a problem. By memory I mean it takes a set on the reel and comes off the spool in coils when cold. You make a cast and have coils of line on the water and easy to backlash was a common problem and most anglers would be stretching the line at the dock before heading out in cold mornings. It was a love/ hate situation with max users; loved the strength, hated to memory issues. The only other line that came close was Andy and Trilene XT, until P-Line CXX came on the market.
Today there are some excellent copolymer lines to choose from. I don't have any in's with P-Line and must purchase it like anyone else....it's my nickel. I fish deep structured rocky reservoirs for giant bass, so strength, castabilty, good knot strength and abrasion resistance are factors I am critical about. You can't catch big bass consistantly if you don't know you are bit and can get a good hook set. Your line is very important and each anglers needs to have confidence that they can feel bites, set the hooks and get the bass in the boat. If you have any doubts, change the line and find a brand that works for you, you are not getting paid to use it.
Tom

[jimmy87]

yep I have always stretched it before fishing. works great after that.