Do you really need super heavy line? 2024
Iowa Matt reply :
It seems to have become the rage lately for everyone to use crazy heavy line (50lb+)............am I the only guy that uses 8-20lb line for all my fishing? I fish about 90% of the time with 10lb powerpro. I don't even own a rod (for bass anyway) with line heavier than 20lb and its been years since I broke off a fish. People always talk about "breaking fish off on the hookset", but they seem to forget that you don't have to try and rip a fishes lips off with braid like you do with mono to get the hooks in. It seems to me like the strike of the fish is often enough to get the hooks in on baits like spinnerbaits and cranks. On plastics a simple pop is all it takes with braid............there is no need to rear back try and bust your rod on every hook set.
I know I'm no pro (obviously), but do we really all need to use 65lb test to catch 2lb bass? I cast the heavy line often enough on my musky tackle, but its a lot more fun to fish with the lighter stuff. I can't fathom how people break off so much with the heavy line.........it just isn't needed to set the hook that hard unless you are trying to look like the guys on BASSmasters..........which I suppose is the point for a lot of people........its more dramatic and exciting.
Am I alone? Crazy?
matt
p.s. maybe this is the reason that I see so many "I broke my new XYZ brand rod" threads on the various fishing sites. I have never broken a rod while fishing ever............
bigtimfish reply :
I do fine using 20 mono for my swimbaits and jig needs. And that is the heaviest that I use. everything else is 10,12 or 14.
Big Mike in Fl reply :
I usually use 20lb or 30lb braid, a couple of my heavier setups have 40 lb (my flippin rod and my jig/heavy t-rig rod) this is as much about the cover I'm fishing as it is about the fish I'm catching, if I'm in heavy hyacinth/reeds/bullrush/pads I want a bit of heavier line to cut through the weeds on a hookset.
rubba bubba reply :
It's a style preference by the fishermen. Fishing is all about confidence and many are confident with the tackle you describe so they use it. I also fish almost exclusively in the 8-14 lbs range - regardless of line type (braids, mono, and fluoro).
However there are situations where that is definitely underpowered.
Like lefty vs. righty reel handles, go with what you like.
roadwarrior reply :
Spinning tackle:
Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb breaking strength).
Baitcasting: #12 Hybrid or Ultra Soft (.013" diameter, 19.5 lb breaking strength).
8-)
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
Its about where ur fishing wood/rocks/weeds/pilings. I have a reel with PP on it for frogging thats the biggest line i use everything else is 15 lbs and under ...K.I.S.S.
Wayne P. reply :
Lots of fisherpersons use superlines for it's lack of memory and small diameter for more spool capacity, and not particularly for it's strength-including me. The best performing superlines are of a diameter that has good shock strength and large enough to lessen the digging in on the spool when under tension. The exceptional strength is just a bonus.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
QuoteLots of fisherpersons use superlines for it's lack of memory and small diameter for more spool capacity, and not particularly for it's strength-including me. The best performing superlines are of a diameter that has good shock strength and large enough to lessen the digging in on the spool when under tension. The exceptional strength is just a bonus.
I use mine for strength. You really dont need 200 yrds of 65 braid fishing wood and weeds 15 foot away. Its all about gettin them out of cover .i have no diggin in problem either. I use 6 pound mono in open water dont matter if im fishing for 20 lb bluefish or 10 pound bass
TheMightyQuinn reply :
I started using 20-30 pound braided line because I was sick of losing lures in trees, snagging on rocks, etc.
Simp reply :
QuoteSpinning tackle:Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb breaking strength).
Baitcasting: #12 Hybrid or Ultra Soft (.013" diameter, 19.5 lb breaking strength).
8-)
RW what I don't understand is you have some great GLoomis rods but you use a line IMHO is high in stretch. I gave the 12lb test a try and found it had to much stretch for my jig applications. Do you use a different line for your baitcasting rod that you use to jig with?
roadwarrior reply :
Well, I have 15 rigs, 11 baitcasters and 4 spinning combinations.
I experiment with new or different lines all the time on a rig or two.
Currently I have PP 50/12 on my jig rig (BCR854/ Curado 200 E7);
YZ #15 for Mattlures Baby Bass (ES70MHF/ Calais); #12 P-Line
CX Premium for one of my designated jerkbait rigs (PR844C/ Core);
and #4 YZ on two rigs set up for a trout trip (PR844S/ Stella 2500FD
and AVS66MLF/ Stella 1000FA).
Otherwise, I'm "as recommended" : #6 for spinning and #12 for
baitcasting. I honestly don't find any noticeable stretch using #12
on my jig rods, but I'm not (too) hard headed. With such a strong
endorsement for braid from Fish Chris and a few others, I decided
to give braid another try. It's only been a few weeks, but so far I
hate it just as much as I rememder hating it years ago! We'll see,
I'm gong to stick with braid on this set-up at least until next spring
and give it a fair trial.
8-)
RoLo reply :
You are using the word "heavy" to describe breaking strength, but "heavy" normally refers to line diameter.
One of the biggest advantages of braided polyethylene line is its "thin" diameter (30 lb = 8 lb diameter).
I prefer braid to monofilament for its Ultra Low-Stretch, which raises the sensitivity of your rod,
and sets the hook with a flick of the wrist. In addition, braid offers Near-Zero Memory, which is a
Godsend to spinning tackle (all I use). I normally use 30 lb braid (8lb diameter) to eliminate "line-burrowing"
and to enhance "abrasion-resistance". While the high breaking strength isn't necessary, it's a free bonus.
Roger
bass wrangler569 reply :
I'm perfectly comfortable using 8. or even 6lb line in clear, open water, but when I'm flipping or frogging in grass I want something that I can haul them in with. You need that extra strength when you're bringing in 5lbs of bass and 25lbs of grass.
Lucky Craft Man reply :
QuoteYou are using the word "heavy" to describe breaking strength, but "heavy" normally refers to line diameter.
One of the biggest advantages of braided polyethylene line is its "thin" diameter (30 lb = 8 lb diameter).
I prefer braid to monofilament for its Ultra Low-Stretch, which raises the sensitivity of your rod,
and sets the hook with a flick of the wrist. In addition, braid offers Near-Zero Memory, which is a
Godsend to spinning tackle (all I use). I normally use 30 lb braid (8lb diameter) to eliminate "line-burrowing"
and to enhance "abrasion-resistance". While the high breaking strength isn't necessary, it's a free bonus.
Roger
I agree with this 100%. It's not the strength, but the diameter. 10 lb. Braid has an equivalent diameter of 2 lb. mono. That is way too thin for me. I usually use 30lb or 50lb braid just to get a thicker diameter.
KYntucky Warmouth reply :
Heavy...no...strong and abrasion resistant.....yes....
Iowa Matt reply :
I wish they would quite advertising that 10lb braid has the diameter of 2lb mono............because it just isn't so. I wonder if this scares some folks away thinking it will be too small. I will go out to the garage in a minute with my micrometer and find out some real numbers.
Matt
John B reply :
Lots of guys that i go fishing with seem to ask why I typically hook more fish than they do. I really think it boils down sometimes to line size. I almost always fish with 8# Trilene Extra Tough test...nothin fancy or big, just standard 8# mono. I too have never broken a line on a fish, only on a snagged lure under a rock in the river, and no matter what line you have that's gonna break if you yank hard enough.
Even steelheading I use 12# line, and that is for fish in the 5-8# category typically in a crappy river environment.
burleytog reply :
QuoteI started using 20-30 pound braided line because I was sick of losing lures in trees, snagging on rocks, etc.
Braid ain't gonna do you any good in rock.
Iowa Matt reply :
Just checked 2lb Stren off one of my ice fishing rods and it ran .004". The 10lb powerpro I bought last week went between .0075" and .008".........still small, but nearly double 2lb mono.
Matt
Lucky Craft Man reply :
QuoteEven steelheading I use 12# line, and that is for fish in the 5-8# category typically in a crappy river environment.
12# line, now that's going heavy...I usually go 8# line and even down to 6# line.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
It all depends on the fish and conditions you are fishing. Bigger fish or heavier cover, stronger line and vice verse!
old bassman reply :
Heavy line in my opinion is used when fishing LMB in heavy cover and it is the only time it's needed. Flipping in mats and thick salad and haulin up an 8 pounder with 6 lbs. of salad is the only need. I do not fish with anything heavier than 12lb test and that is even too heavy. Good 10 lb. is ideal. I fished the surf in N.J. and N.Y and Mass. for many years and never fished with any line heavier that 15lb. test. That was for correct lure presentation. 15lb mono will catch a 30lb fish and larger if you set the drag correctly and have patience IMO. Let me clarify that in the surf there are not many rocks and stumps to contend with.
kingfisher85 reply :
im using 8lb line.. and its that "angler" brand as well, i believe its the cheapest garbage line there is..
just the other day i brought in 6-8 lm bass that im guessing were in the 4-5.5 lb range..
on my spinning setup ive brought in a few bass and trout around 1-3 lbs as well.. havnt lost one yet.. im not dragging them through heavy cover though and ive got my drag set fairly light though too.
the bigger or harder fighting ones can run with the line a little bit but i find that alot more fun and exciting, im not the kinda guy who just reels straight the fishing straight in. ive seen a few guys who just reel it in as fast as they can and that just isnt nearly as much fun.. at least in my opinion anyways.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
All i can say is today is the day braid is gone from my arsenal, i have used braid for a few yrs now on 1 rod. Well today i got me a nice ol birdnest ,usally i can get um out well this one was the killer .I made 10 cast perfect then spent 45 mins trying to undo this one.I got it undone and bam 4 cast later same thing .Maybe my dexterity is gettin bad who knows all i know is when i get a BN with mono i can be done with it and keep fishing.Maybe using pistol grip baitcasters for 30 yrs takes a toll .So im gonna eat my own words and K.I.S.S. Big game for 8lb to 15lb and 2 lb to 6lb stren original.With these picks i can fish frshwater and saltwater anyday anytime anyplace .things are much easier when they are simpler
Hammer 4 reply :
Like RW, I use 12lb yozuri us on my bc'rs..1 is a swimbait/jig rig..I don't find that the line stretches that much, but then I've never used braid either. Also have 6 and 8 lb yozuri on my spinning rigs. I find that this line is pretty strong, and has good abbrassion resistance..cept for sharp rocks..lol
Wayne P. reply :
I just got a fishing report from a guide service on the Potomac River near Washington,DC. and remembered this thread. Here is part of it:
"In grass beds, a black or green frog worked over the thickest portions of the grass had paid off with larger than average bass, and when the bass refuse to strike the topwater offerings, we have switched to a 1 oz. tungstun sinker and a 4" Berkley Chigger Craw and have punched the heavy weight through the mats, finding bass under the thick carpet of grass. We have found that in order to keep from breaking off bass in this thick mat, we have been forced to use at least 65 pound braided line, and Spider Wire Stealth has been our choice of line. As the grass continues to thicken, we will probably be forced to up our weight to at least a 1/1-2 oz. tungstun weight to punch through the thick surface grass."
Iowa Matt reply :
It still amazes me that people either don't like or haven't tried braid...........IMHO it is the beggest advance in my tackle since I began bass fishing (middle 80's). It allows me to detect subtle strikes and details of the structure I am fishing in that I would never get with any kind of mono. I use six standard rods when I am out after bass; 5 have braid and one has flourocarbon (for drop shotting) and the only time I ever use mono now is for ice fishing because braid freezes. To me (this is just my $0.02) braid allows me to cast farther all else being equal, feel more bites easier with no uncertainty, set hooks more solidly with no crazy BASSmasters TV hooksets, and get my baits deeper quicker.........plus it lasts about forever. I can't see a down side and wonder why mono is still so popular........are people just stubborn?
Matt
burleytog reply :
Braid isn't a do-everything line. It has it's appropriate applications.
bilgerat reply :
I'm still on the fence about braid and I'm teetering more and more back toward mono......
fishinflip415 reply :
today with the advantage of florocarbon and the thin diameter of braid why not go a little heavier. Floro has the advantage of being harder to see in water than mono so why not go a little heavier in test. Also I don't know where most of u fish but fishing the cal delta mostly where every cast could be a 10lber and has some of the nastiest cover out there I don't go with anything less than 14lb. And when I'm flipping,punching or frogging no less than 65lb power pro. In real clear water I usually downsize. Even then I usually go 30lb braid with leaders of mono or floro depending on what presentation I'm doing. I say take advantage of what's available and I think it's always better safe than sorry.
bigtimfish reply :
It seems to me that the only thing braid would be good for is Flipping jigs in really heavy cover and really thick grass to haul the pigs out. And I guess for frogs, but I no longer fish frogs so I have no need for it.
Willzx225 reply :
I just got back from the Potomac fishing a BFL up there and I was flipping 80lb PP (after being strongly suggested this by my local buddy) and 1 3/4oz weights in the mats. Personally I witnessed 2 guys break off 65lb braid while flipping the grass. IMHO why not go with some goat rope in that situation?! Line visability is not a factor but getting 5+lb fish out of 20lbs of salad is. Braid is a tool just like mono and fluro. Certain conditions just 'require' braid. Mostly heavy heavy grass.
ArcticCat500 reply :
QuoteSpinning tackle:Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (.010" diameter, 11.9 lb breaking strength).
Baitcasting: #12 Hybrid or Ultra Soft (.013" diameter, 19.5 lb breaking strength).
8-)
Im not picking on you RW, but I took these recommendations from you awhile back, and wasnt impressed with it. The switch went from Brekley Trilene XT's n XL's. After several trips out I switched to Power Pro Braid, the best use for the Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Hybrid Ultra Soft I found was either backing for the braid or to hang the wifes birdfeeders. Nothing personal, it just didnt work for me.
Spinning gear: PowerPro 15/20
Baitcasters PowerPro 50
flechero reply :
QuotePersonally I witnessed 2 guys break off 65lb braid while flipping the grass.
Anything can happen... the question is why. They didn't use 65 pounds of pressure on the rod or reel... both would have failed. I suspect they either didn't retie when line was frayed or had weights with an edge on them. (or perhaps bad line)
QuoteCertain conditions just 'require' braid.
I don't have any trouble punching grass with XT.
While braid is good in grass, it's hardly required for success.
Teal101 reply :
Explain to me the point of having 65 lb braid with a significantly weaker 12-20lb fluoro leader?
I think I'll stick to fluoro. 8-)
grimlin reply :
QuoteJust checked 2lb Stren off one of my ice fishing rods and it ran .004". The 10lb powerpro I bought last week went between .0075" and .008".........still small, but nearly double 2lb mono.Matt
Funny you should mention that,I just checked mine and i got .045-.050.Pretty dang close to 2lb line if you ask me.Sure you are checking it right?
I rarely use braid.Rocks and zebra mussels discourage any kind of braid usage around here.
Willzx225 reply :
I agree that it wasn't the force that broke their 65lb braid but it was the conditions that they were putting their baits that lead to it. I agree 100% that it was angler neglegence for not retying but by using heavy braid you cut down on the amount you have to retie. The main use for braid in grass, IMHO, is that it cuts through the grass instead of slidding through it. By cutting through the grass it increases your chances on getting that fish out of the grass instead of having him bury up in it. Can you get by w/o using braid in matted grass - yes. Would I put my $200 entry fee and possible 3-5k top prize on the line and use mono/ fluro - no. But then again that is just me. Different strokes for different folks thats all.
NOVA Angler reply :
I fish the Potomac River pretty often. I fish anything from heavy hydrilla mats to moderate milfoil beds and everything in between. I use both 65# braid and 20# Flourocarbon on my flipping sticks. For the moderate to moderately heavy cover I prefer the Flourocarbon. For whaterver reason I just seem to hook up better and I've never had a problem breaking off fish. For the heavy hydrilla mats I use the 65# Power Pro. I find that I still lose fish from time to time, not because of line breaking, but because when it is very thick I sometimes can't get them out of the slop fast enough. I wonder sometimes if I'm actually ripping the hook out of their mouth due to the added drag and weight of the grass. I use the braid because, like others have said, it supposed cut through the grass better than flouro. With that said, sometimes the hydrilla is just so thick that it doesn't matter. You'll break your rod before you get the fish out. It litterally feels like you are hung up on something that just isn't moving. Sometimes the fish works itself free, but often they come off. I'm not sure how much benefit the braid provides, but I imagine it is definetly better than flouro in this situation (strictly for its abilitiy to cut through the grass).
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