Jigs ---- Should I Switch From 30# Suffix Braid And Go To Fluoro? 2025

nocellcontracts reply :

I've been using 30# Suffix braid for jigs and it's never let me down....but I'm wondering if I'm missing possible bites (if fish can see the braid). I only fish 2 lakes:

Henry Neely (Coosa River) - 80% of my trips - water clarity is usually about 10-15 inches

Guntersville (TN River) - 20% of my trips - water clarity is usually 1-2 feet

I only have 1 jig rod, so I've gotta pick 1 jig line. If you feel fluoro is the way to go, which line do you recommend?

Bottom line..... could using straight braid be causing me to miss out on bites? I don't fish "ultra clear" lakes as you can see in the descriptions above.

Thanks.

ChrisWi reply :

It should be fine. If you're worried about fish seeing your line use a fluro leader.

livetofish28 reply :

On 1/11/2015 at 7:39 AM, ChrisWi said:
It should be fine. If you're worried about fish seeing your line use a fluro leader.

This^^

Tight lines

Andrew

BadBassWV reply :

NO!!!!

Catch and Grease reply :

If it gives you more confidence throw a leader on but I think you would be fine with straight braid in the places you mentioned.

nocellcontracts reply :

I was gonna include "I really don't want to fool with leaders - it's just one more knot to snap on me" (which has happened in the past) - but I said "No one will probably tell me to use a leader." --- LOL

Scott F reply :

You can try it, but I seriously doubt you will se any increase in bites. I've said this many times in the past. If the bass are so smart that they can figure out that line is bad, how come they can't figure out that your jig is not real food? Why can't they tell the big hook is bad? Besides, no line is invisible.

Blues19 reply :

I would try an outting with a leader. Go a few hours with the leader and then take it off. if you got a few more strikes, then you may decide its worth the change. The managment of fluorocarbon compared to Braid and the strength of braid may not be worth it to you.

Angry John reply :

Stay braid. I use flouocarbon only because I have to in the vgin clear water here in WA. I would love to go back like in CT but I get no bites

Brian6428 reply :

Yes, switch to fluoro. In my opinion it is so worth the hassle. There's a reason most of the pros use fluoro for darn near everything.

bigfishbk86 reply :

Stick with the braid...everyone on here is going to tell you fish can see the line and all that jazz....don't believe it. Stick with what you got, you're doing it right.

Darren. reply :

Or... you could simply try out using a leader and

see if it makes a difference for YOU.

Brian6428 reply :

On 1/11/2015 at 9:18 AM, bigfishbk86 said:
Stick with the braid...everyone on here is going to tell you fish can see the line and all that jazz....don't believe it. Stick with what you got, you're doing it right.

I think fluoro's benefits extend FAR past visibility. I think it handles way better in the wind and, in my experience, casts further than braid. By sinking it is more sensitive for bottom bouncing lures if you ever have a slack line. Braid is only more sensitive if you're actively dragging the lure and your line is taut. And either way, if fluoro helps me get one more bite than braid it's worth it to me.

Logan S reply :

I think line visibility is a non-issue..even if you were in clear water. Scott provided a good example of why above. (flouro isn't invisible anyway, despite popular belief)

I prefer flouro because when I fish a jig, 90% of the time I'm casting longer distances instead of flipping/pitching the short stuff...I get a better feel with flouro since there is always going to be a slight bow in the line, especially in deeper water, when fishing them this way. I have tried braid and didn't like it for the way I fish, when the jig was falling or resting on the bottom it was more difficult to feel what was happening.

For short distance stuff I imagine it wouldn't matter as much. You could always just try it and see what you think, that's what I did to make my decision .

gardnerjigman reply :

On 1/11/2015 at 9:14 AM, Brian6428 said:
Yes, switch to fluoro. In my opinion it is so worth the hassle. There's a reason most of the pros use fluoro for darn near everything.

X2. I use fluoro for everything except top water... For obvious reasons!

TorqueConverter reply :

Do whatever gives you confidence. Stand on your head and clap your feet together if it gives you the warm and fuzzies inside. I fish in 20+ visibility with red power pro #50 so take from that what you will. I believe that fishing line is incomprehensible to bass and things such as boat visibility are what actually matter.

mjseverson24 reply :

in the type of water you are fishing I would stick with braid, just learn to line watch to detect subtle bites. I use a lot of floro for many different reasons, visibility, slack line sensitivity, and abrasion resistance, but when I can get away with braid I usually prefer it...

Mitch

Cgrinder reply :

I would say use Fluoro, but I really like Fluoro.

corn-on-the-rob reply :

I say stick with braid:

1. Use a leader if you are concerned with visibility. If you are breaking your leaders, you are doing it wrong. (obviously unless you are pulling straight back against a snag or aren't watching for nicks)

2. If using a bright braid, if it makes you feel better use a dark marker to color the last few feet of line up to the lure.

3. I use high-vis yellow braid on all of my set ups and am successful in all types of water. I use leaders on most rods but my jig rod is the one I rarely use them because if im in heavy cover, I could care less about line visibility.

roadwarrior reply :

I like a leader on all braided lines for several reasons:

1. Reduced visibility

2. Abrasion resistance

3. The ability to break-off when needed

nocellcontracts reply :

Thank you everyone. The answers were pretty much 50/50 ---- stay with braid --- switch to fluoro. I am going to buy a spool of 20# red label seaguar and add a leader to my 30# braid. I've decided to do this because I'll be using that rod to punch mats at Guntersville in August and will need straight braid for power. Now, what knot is best to connect the lines so that the braid doesn't cut right through it?

mjseverson24 reply :

I use the double uni knot and love it, but i know there are a bunch of guys that use other ones that work great too. joining the braid to 20 lb floro will create a pretty decent size knot so depending on the rod guides it may get a little interesting if you use a longer leader...

Mitch

ChrisD46 reply :

On 1/11/2015 at 9:23 AM, Brian6428 said:
I think fluoro's benefits extend FAR past visibility. I think it handles way better in the wind and, in my experience, casts further than braid. By sinking it is more sensitive for bottom bouncing lures if you ever have a slack line. Braid is only more sensitive if you're actively dragging the lure and your line is taut. And either way, if fluoro helps me get one more bite than braid it's worth it to me.

My Football Jig Setup (for bottom bouncing) : 15lb. Seaguar AbrazX FC Line , 7:1:1 Baitcast Reel , 7' MH Rod.

*Hootie reply :

Do everything suggested here and you should be fine.

Hootie

nocellcontracts reply :

On 1/15/2015 at 8:13 PM, *Hootie said:

Do everything suggested here and you should be fine.

Hootie

Now there's helpful information.

senile1 reply :

On 1/11/2015 at 8:30 AM, Scott F said:
You can try it, but I seriously doubt you will se any increase in bites. I've said this many times in the past. If the bass are so smart that they can figure out that line is bad, how come they can't figure out that your jig is not real food? Why can't they tell the big hook is bad? Besides, no line is invisible.

I think the OPs water is stained enough that he should have few, if any, concerns about line visibility; however for the reasons mentioned in RoadWarrior's post I use fluoro leaders as well.

In reference to the post quoted above, I've read this many times in the past as well. I've even considered it as valid, but now I think it is taking an interaction and looking at it too much from a human point of view. Why? Because we don't know what is in a bass's mind when it sees these things. So we describe it from our own perspective, which is to say, we would know a lure is not bait so if a bass could recognize line, we think they would recognize a lure isn't real also.

Let's look at this from a different perspective, which isn't necessarily a correct perspective either because we can't know for sure. However, it at least explains why a bass could possibly be spooked by line and not a lure. It has to do with what types of things in a bass's environment would put them on the defensive or make them feel threatened. A jig looks similar to a crayfish. It may have a hook and it may not be exact but if fits within the typical size parameters of a crayfish so maybe these things aren't as noticeable to a bass. On the other hand, fishing line sticks out from the front of the lure and does not fit within the size parameters of any type of actual bait that a bass would eat. It is something that could be seen as more out of place because it extends at a great length from the bait itself. While a bass may not know what it is, it could possibly see it as something that does not fit and this could prompt a sense of unease leading to the fish pulling away.

None of us can know for sure all the things that create a sense of danger in bass, but that is my point. Just because a bass doesn't recognize a lure as inedible does not necessarily imply that it won't sense danger from line. I have read the reports of a number of guides on clear water lakes, such as Table Rock, where it is typical in some areas of the lake to experience 20 - 30 feet visibility. There isn't a guide on that lake who doesn't recommend fluorocarbon or fluoro leaders for visiblity reasons. I don't know if a bass is spooked by line or not, but in clearer lakes, I don't take that chance very often.

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Jigs ---- Should I Switch From 30# Suffix Braid And Go To Fluoro? 2025

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