Need A New Mono 2025
.ghoti. reply :
Berkley, in their infinite wisdom, saw fit to change the formula, or process, to my favorite line, XL. It is no longer acceptable. I don't know what they did to it, but I wish they would undo it. ARE YOU LISTENING, BERKLEY?
I have a few spools of flouro to experiment with for a few applications, but I need a new mono for the majority of my setups. I used 10, 12 and 14 XL on my casting reels, and need something in that strength or diameter range. Braid is not an option.
So far this year I've tried the following:
Trilene XT no
Trilene Sensation a more emphatic NO
Trilene Big Game a big $@ NO
Pline C21 maybe (6lb test on a spinning reel was OK)
Sufix Elite the best option so far
YoZuri Hybrid NO
Tectan not bad at all but very hard to source
What else should I look at?
tomustang reply :
What changed that you noticed/didn't work for you?
We use C21 on everything, 6lb on spinning 1000-2500 reels and mainly 12lb for all around gear, and 15lb for med-hvy
.ghoti. reply :
XL got a lot stiffer, and has a lot more memory that it used to. I used to by two 1000yd spools of 10, two of 12 nd one of 14 every year. I bought 330yd spools this year of the new stuff, in blister packs instead of boxes. There is a definite difference. And I don't like it at all.
00 mod reply :
You should check out Maxima Ultragreen!
Jeff
KSRonH reply :
I used Sunline Super Natural this year on a crankbait set up, and a top water set up and really liked it. I would recommend you try it but use the line diameter as a guide line instead of pound test of the line. I am looking forward to trying Sunlines' Defier but it is a little pricy for a mono. Let me know how you like Super Natural, as I think you'll like it more than the old XL.
JeziHogg reply :
Suffix elite is a great option. Casts very well, it's super smooth sand has low memory. My only con about it is that it's really stretchy.
retiredbosn reply :
Original Stren, nuff said 
dam0007 reply :
spider ez mono, Sufix elite and siege, are my picks. I'm looking forward to trying Seaguar Senshi soon.
webertime reply :
I just got turned on to Maxima Ultra Green and I love that stuff.
thehooligan reply :
Dont use mono anymore but i always liked berkley transoptic.
KDW96 reply :
The berkley xl was changed first of the year,and has been crap ever since. All year ive been experimenting,but only tried a few. Ande,Maxima and Seaguar senshi. So far SEAGUAR has done the best for me.I dont know why berkley couldnt just leave a good thing alone?
The Next KVD reply :
Don't fear you can still get the XL in the old original formula. You can order it from Mills Fleet Farm. Unfortunately there are none of these stores in Illinois from what I can see on there website. http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/berkley-trilene-xl-fishing-line/0000000010913 Right now through the 18th they got Free Shipping. Only available in clear though.
nwmike reply :
not mono but mccoy mean green is great line izorline platinum and xxx are also good
ariess reply :
Check out the Sunline site. They have many different options for all sorts of situations. Of course they do come with a price tag :/ P-line C-21 is good.
A-Jay reply :
Another vote for Maxima Ultragreen - Seriously.
On some sites it's called a Co-poly but according to the Company it's a mono and a very very good one.
A-Jay
Kevinator1 reply :
Hey Ghoti,
If you would consider a copolymer, I've always thought that Excalibur (Silver Thread) was one of the best lines I have ever used. I still use it to this day. Low memory and very strong.
Todd2 reply :
Mccoy in the blue fluorescent is my fav and Ive tried a bunch of them. Low memory.. strong.
new2BC4bass reply :
Too bad about the XL. It is all I used in my youth. This past spring I put some 6# XL on a b/c reel being used for light lures. Although I have been trying other lines, it isn't because I was dissapointed with XL's performance. Simply wanted to try some other lines I have been reading about. Picked up some 6# Siege to try on a couple other b/c reels. Need to try Maxima and McCoy.
I've been using 12# Elite on a few reels, and it is my favorite so far. Have 10# Super Natural on one reel, and 17# Super Natural on another. Read good things about this line, but haven't used it long enough to have a solid opinion yet. I've got a few other brands to try.
Same 12# Elite has been on my Zillion 50th for the past 4 fishing seasons. (Realize that I don't fish as often as 99% of you, and have enough combos that not every reel gets used each time I go out.) I am totally satisfied with this line. Guess the only reason for trying others is curiosity. Seem to think anytime someone praises a line that I need to try it. 
I think you should also give Silver Thread AN 40 a look. A guy whose opinion I highly respect swears by it. This thread has reminded me that I need to order a few spools for testing. Got to keep the Bait Monky happy! 
johnD. reply :
I bought 15 lb Hi Seas Grand Slam mono on sale , it has very little stretch for mono (feels more like Fluoro). With KVD L & L conditioner the memory is managable.
Topwaterspook reply :
Maxima or Gamma
new2BC4bass reply :
On 12/5/2013 at 12:49 PM, johnD. said:I bought 15 lb Hi Seas Grand Slam mono on sale , it has very little stretch for mono (feels more like Fluoro). With KVD L & L conditioner the memory is managable.
Appreciate the mini review. Although I have a couple bottles of the same line conditioner, I found that I have no desire to keep applying it in order to manage memory. One less line to think about trying. Thanks.
roadwarrior reply :
The answer is probably still sitting in the back of your truck!
Sunline Super Natural
110 yard spools are on sale for $2.99; 330 yards $9.99.
bighed reply :
Izor XXX is the best one I've run across. Suffix is a close second.
retiredbosn reply :
Bass Pro's mono is pretty good as well.
McAlpine reply :
One of the guys here turned me onto McCoy Mean Green and it is really great stuff. I highly recommend it. I am using it in 15lb for spinnerbaits now. Switched over after I had an ~8lb'er bust some 10lb flouro clean in two at the boat and break my heart simultaneously.
cajunpapi reply :
Used 10#, 12# and 15# big game green for years, as of yet I see no reason to change.
quanjig reply :
I picked up a couple of spools of the Sunline super natural and really like it, a little pricy but you can find it on sale from time to time.
TrippyJai reply :
McCoy Mean Green.
Give this line a try. It's strong and has very little memory. In Canada, bass season is only for 4 months, so I leave the line on my spools for the combos that I don't use for 8 months. When I take them out to the lake, a few casts later, the line will be limp again. I've spooled reels for friends and recommended it to people all the time and they alway say how much they love it.
.ghoti. reply :
On 12/5/2013 at 8:03 PM, roadwarrior said:The answer is probably still sitting in the back of your truck!
Sunline Super Natural
110 yard spools are on sale for $2.99; 330 yards $9.99.
Ah crap, I forgot all about that. I emptied out the back of the Jeep, and stashed that spool of line you gave in the garage. I'll dig it out and give it a shot. I just ordered a few spools of super natural from TW. Had to pick up a few ods and ends for an upcoming trout trip, and added some line to get the order up over the free shipping threshhold. Probably ordered one spool I didn't need. What an awesome memory I have. LOL
J Francho reply :
I guess if you gotta use mono, Sufix Elite should fit the bill. Works great for all my winter steelheading.
Virtuoso reply :
Suffix elite for spinning and smaller test. Suffix siege for more abrasive work
Fishes in trees reply :
I only use mono on a few set ups, mostly I use 17 lb for spinnerbaits & square bills. I use 20 lb for throwing rattle baits. I still have a couple of spools of Trilene Iron Silk, perhaps the best rattle bait line ever made. ( once you get it wet & stretched each outing, maybe 5 or 6 casts) Trilene Armor Coated XL is a good substitute, it is the same color and texture, might be the same line, different label. For plain old mono for throwing spinnerbaits, I use whatever 17 lb mono goes on sale at Walmart every January (except for P line, P line sux). Stren Dura Tuff, Spider Wire mono, Suffix all work good. They all require squirts of Line Magic or that KVD stuff from time to time. Last year, I had to buy line when I was at Truman and I needed a tough line to throw deep diving cranks in Timber and I wanted more distance and depth than 17 lb line would give me. The 14 lb Trilene XL Armor Coated worked good for that application for me.
ccummins reply :
Viscious Ultimate Mono
Suffix Siege
new2BC4bass reply :
On 12/6/2013 at 1:57 AM, Fishes in trees said:They all require squirts of Line Magic or that KVD stuff from time to time.
Don't believe I have ever used line conditioner on the 12# Sufix Elite I'm using on my 50th Zillion. Memory after setting awhile hasn't been a problem....unlike Big Game in both 12# and 8#.
Hattrick7 reply :
Tried most on your list and Sufix Elite is the best performer so far. XT is super tough but it just had Way too much memory.
piscicidal reply :
Another vote here for McCoy Mean Green. My partner Robert got me turned onto it. Strong and very low memory.
FishinDaddy reply :
On 12/5/2013 at 9:15 PM, cajunpapi said:Used 10#, 12# and 15# big game green for years, as of yet I see no reason to change.
Big game is all I have used for years in both fresh and salt water. I love it but I never have to deal with cold temps.
APK62 reply :
McCoy Mean Green. Give it a shot!
11justin22 reply :
I hate xl so i can probably give u some other lines that i hate for the same reason lol. Suffix elite is probably the closest with mccoy mean green right behind that imo. Havent tried the sunline. Out of curiosity what didn't you like about sensation? I found it handles well and is one of the lowest stretch lines in the market.
0119 reply :
Big Game has always served me well enough even up to 20#. Memory from sitting on the reel usually works out after a few casts using a reaction type of bait. Maxima is the best mono I've ever come across but is extremely hard to find in my part of the country. Sufix Elite is fine but Seige seems no different than Big Game to me.
Dwight Hottle reply :
Maxima ultragreen. Also try mean green McCoy.
Bruce424 reply :
Mccoy
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