Still iced in here in the north. Ok, I picked up a Rage 7 foot MH rod for flipping and pitching jigs in the pads. Question is what line should I use. Should I use braid with a Floro leader or straight floro? Any info. Would be great.
Depends on the cover. For wood and real nasty slop, go with the braid. For rocks and light weed cover, go with the flouro. Size depending on depth, and water clarity. A good 17lb flouro is very versatile for jigs. I personally like Seaguar Tatsu and Berkley 100% flouro. Also been liking the Vicious in heavier lb test for real deep and real rocky jigging.
The jury is still out for me. I have been fishing Sufix 832 using a direct tie for the past year or so,
but I am currently experimenting with fluorocarbon leader. Specifically Seaguar AbrazX #12. Although
I am not a big fan of braided line, it has improved my jig fishing significantly. I'm very interested in
what others have to say.
I use straight braid. But, in saying this I am usually throwing into heavy cover in stained river water.
It really depends on the cover I'm fishing.
Weeds: straight braid.
Wood: Braid with a 12-15# CXX leader.
Shoals with sparse over and clear water: 12-20# CXX or Fluoro.
Deep, rocky cover: 12# CXX.
When fishing wood, you can "measure" how close your bait is to hanging by feeling the Alberto knot cross a branch. Then it's a simple matter of slowly bringing he jig into contact, drop your rod tip a bit, and pop the jig over. Be prepared, as this often triggers strikes.Having the leader also helps with hangups. It's easier to break off, and not disturb the spot with all the commotion.
Premium fluoro. Either tatsu or shooter. My rods give me all the feel I could ever want.
I fish a lot of rocks. Last year I made the switch to braid with a flouro leader. I have been very happy with the results. I get the no stretch property of braid which helps set the heavy wire hook, by the flouro handles he rocks much better.
If I was fishing heavy vegetation I would probably go with straight braid.
I only use braid for frogs and heavy jig fishing and what I mean by that is putting the jig in cover that a MH rod and 20lb line is too light to fish it. So for that I tie direct, no leader and I hate flouro so if I'm not using braid it is a good copoly. I often throw jigs, worms, and soft jerkbaits into lilly pad fields, and once again, the pads have to be thick for braid use otherwise I'll go with 15 or 17lb copoly. I often am fishing in clear water conditions so that is why my limited use of braid and I hate tying leaders, I've done it, I used mono and flouro leaders and I didn't get any more bites or bigger fish than what I normally use and that is just the way it is so copoly in the appropriate size for what you're doing and 50lb braid for frogs and heavy jig fishing. BTW I'm in the north east, if I was down south it would be different.
15# Yo Zuri for all jigs. Hasnt failed me yet.
I have done all three straight braid, fluoro leader, and straight fluoro. With Hydrilla,milfoil, spatterdock and water Lotus, I really like braid. If I roll up on clear water and sparse weeds and rocks ill use a leader. I also use a leader under boat docks if im useing a rod with braid (I also keep a shorter rod for skipping docks with straight fluoro.)
I prefer to use straight braid for all my jig fishing without a leader. This year I am going to experiment with fluorocarbon and maybe try a fluoro leader with braid. But the old reliable backup is good old Yo-Zuri Hybrid.
If you're pitching/flipping into vegetation I would opt for braid. If there is sparse cover/open water I would use straight fluoro or braid/fluoro leader if you prefer.
If the rod is ONLY for pitching into weeds than go straight braid, otherwise straight flouro would be my answer.
I put braid on. If I need to I will tie a leader. But for me its better to have the stronger, and have the option for the visibility.
Braid w/ or w/o CXX # depends on the cover. Usually I have a leader because I would rather cut a leader to re-tie then the expensive freaking braid....
I fish a lot of grass on the northern Chesapeake Bay and Potomac. I also fish a local trophy bass lake with clear water. Clear to murky, I fish 65# Powerpro and tie direct. For short range work (flipping and pitching), I choose heavier jigs. The fast rate of fall causes a reaction bite, which case line visibility has little to nothing to do with it.
I also fish 20# Flouro when I'm tossing football jigs in clear water rock piles.
However, 99% of my jig fishing is on some form of shallow cover and is tied to 65# braid.
I use 15 lb seaguar invisx flouro for the Cali delta for jigs and 60 lb sunline fx2 braid for jigs and punching
Depends............most of the time it's 30 lb braid with a 17, or 20 lb fluoro leader. Shallow heavy weeds, straight 50lb braid, clear water with light cover 20lb braid with a 12 or 15 lb fluoro leader. I will use a 20 or 25lb fluoro leader with the 50lb braid in heavy weeds if there is clear water and some depth under them.
When I fish a jig over 1/4 oz, it's usually with 15lb P-Line Floroclear, under that weight, it depends....
Sunline shooter #14 flouro for me.
I usually have a rod with 16lb fluoro and another with 50lb braid.
Straight braid is what I prefer. I don't like the idea of having an extra knot that may fail.
Braid for the slop. FC for everything else.
50# braid on my jig rod and 20# Invisix Floro on my flippin stick.
I'll use either or depending on cover, both are tied direct.
Mike
I've been bringing 2 jig rods wen I know I'm going to be jig fishing. One has 15# Tatsu and the other has 50# 832 on it. I got a new 7'11" LTB rod over the winter and I hope the guides are large enough I can still use a leader if I want.
Sunline shooter in 12# for this guy.
I go 30lb braid with a max of 12lb fluro leader. Ive been known to run 10 and 8 too. Growing up on a spring fed limestone stream that sees more pressure than one could imagine I found out how fast a line change can turn your day in a hurry. I dont like to fish 7x on a fly rod, I prefer 5x as my low spot however sometimes 5x just cant cut it. If I can land a 10lb steelhead with a firecracker up its rear on 5x I can land a bass on 8lb fluro.
I use sufix green color 20# for all my jigging. I fish a lot of stained waters. 20# is plenty strong and the line diameter is very small. Braid sensitivity is great for jigs. People complain that 20# braid is too thin and they experience line dig on the reel. I've never had a problem with this but I usually dont use my reel as a winch either. I never use a leader, if I feel like I need one I'm switch to a rod with lighter line on it anyways, usually 6# or 8# sufix mono. I really need to try yozuri though.
I like to put my jigs right behind a rock or a log and slide them up and down slooooooowly and then kind of wedge it into place and keep the line taut. No mistaking a strike or pick up with braid doing this.