I'm looking to add another rig to my arsenal just for top water. I previously had 12lb mono on my Lews speed spool and it cast like garbage. I switched it to fluoro and now it cast like a dream. Perhaps I just had some cheap mono on it?
What is the best castable quality mono out there?
I have sunline supernatural on my topwater rod and it's pretty supple and casts great. It's relatively thinner than most monos too.
I have 16lb on mine and its .33mm and breaks at about 18lb.
Your mono must have been garbage. Most monos handle better than fluoro. At least that has been my experience with my limited use of fluoro. I've only tried about 3-4 kinds, and one of them came on a used reel. Besides Super Natural you can try Sufix Siege. I have good luck with it in 12# and 8#. Sufix Elite is a bit softer and thus handles slightly better. Most people use Elite on a spinning reel, AFAIK. I don't see many people suggesting it for b/c reels, but I've had the same line on my 50th Zillion for several years now. Trilene XL handles quite well. Big Game is a good line, but I personally feel it doesn't handle as well as Siege until you get it good and wet. Both coil after setting awhile, but Siege does't give me loose coils on the reel for the first few casts like Big Game does.
You might consider a co-polymer or hybrid. McCoy and Silver Thread AN40 get good reviews. I use AN40 in 12# and 8#. Yo-Zuri is very well liked on this forum.
Almost forgot. Last year a friend raved about Spider Wire Ultracast Ultimate Mono. Said it is the best mono he has ever used. He was a tournament fisherman so he has used quite a few lines. I'm currently trying some 10# on a reel.
On 3/24/2016 at 6:22 AM, new2BC4bass said:Your mono must have been garbage. Most monos handle better than fluoro.
Same here. Something was wrong with your reel if it couldn't cast 12# mono. Even the cheapest Shakesphere bulk line should cast on a quality reel when the line is new. So, was your line new and undamaged? Don't judge mono on just that experience. I use cheap, Big Game from bulk, and change often. No problems casting extreme distances in the surf with 40+ year old Ambassadeurs. I think any mono will do your chore, don't overthink it, buy standard and respool every six months or so.....
Sunline and the Seaguar mono handle nice and are at the top of the tier. Both are thin so bump it up to 14# or more if you buy any. Smooth casting mono!!
Pricey but defier 13# - 17# for me.
On 3/24/2016 at 7:47 AM, cottny27 said:Both are thin so bump it up to 14# or more if you buy any. Smooth casting mono!!
Why? I have a heck of a time breaking 12#. I've caught 35 pound fish on 8# line. Largemouth bass aren't notorious fighters. I can see heavier line if you fish in an area where abrasion resistance is important.
Because the 12# is like .280mm in both brands. I've seen and have had both snap like twigs on several trips. Just fishing weightless senkos. Bumped it up to 14# and 15# and haven't had anymore problems.
You must have a wicked hookset. Or else there were nicks in the line. Majority of my MH rods have a 12# mono or co-polymer on them. Never snapped one yet...whether like a twig or a tree trunk. Too much stretch.
I've caught huge saltwater fish on 12# mono, never had any snap like a twig and every cutoff I can trace back to my foolish carelessness forgetting to retie. While fishing I can sense a huge difference between them in the way they handle, especially with topwaters that the original poster is talking about. 14 is great for some topwater lures, the added stiffness helps avoid hanging up the hook and I think in my experience helps a popper pop better. 12 most definitely casts better.
Big game of course!!!
On 3/24/2016 at 7:51 AM, byram bassturd said:Pricey but defier 13# - 17# for me.
This, The green spool of Sunline Shooter Defier. It casts like braid IMO. This stuff is as good as it gets and there is a reason why it is spendy. I have been so impressed with it I will be picking up another spool the next time I order.
On 3/24/2016 at 8:17 AM, new2BC4bass said:You must have a wicked hookset. Or else there were nicks in the line. Majority of my MH rods have a 12# mono or co-polymer on them. Never snapped one yet...whether like a twig or a tree trunk. Too much stretch.
Depends on the brand of 12# and the diameter. Most 12# is like .33-.35mm. The plane CXX 12# might as well be called 16# line it's thick stuff and breaks at 20lbs. I find it hard to believe you guys haven't snapped off 12# line on the hookset. Knots slip, line fails. The Seaguar and Sunline I'm referring to is super thin less than most 10# of other brands.
Original stren for mono Mccoy mean green for copolymer
I like sunline supernatural and sufix elite
On 3/24/2016 at 8:28 AM, kickerfish1 said:This, The green spool of Sunline Shooter Defier. It casts like braid IMO. This stuff is as good as it gets and there is a reason why it is spendy. I have been so impressed with it I will be picking up another spool the next time I order.
If you want the best this is it. Defier is the Superman of monofilament.
Trilene mono from Walmart or Amazon. Great stuff and cheap. The fish love it.
Big Game for me, but I will be trying the Seaguar Senshi for my jigs soon. I keep hearing good things about it and it's still cheaper than fluoro by a long shot, even though it's expensive for a mono.
Berkley Big Game.
CXX
I love how stretchy it isn't.
Sunline Defier Armilo #15
http://www.sunlineamerica.com/shooter-defier-armilo/
big game just works
Big Game will reign supreme in the future as it has done for decades.
On 3/24/2016 at 8:28 AM, kickerfish1 said:This, The green spool of Sunline Shooter Defier. It casts like braid IMO. This stuff is as good as it gets and there is a reason why it is spendy. I have been so impressed with it I will be picking up another spool the next time I order.
Defier Armilo is made just for topwater applications. The regular Shooter Defier is for everything else. Great stuff.
On 3/25/2016 at 2:43 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Defier Armilo is made just for topwater applications. The regular Shooter Defier is for everything else. Great stuff.
It better be for that ridiculous price on mono. $22 for 165yds!!!!
For non-import stuff I think hands down Sufix Elite is the best mono. Actually if you weighted price into your decision pound 4 pound I think Sufix Elite still wins. The way its wound eliminates virtually all memory and its soo supple.
I use 2 brands of mono now and I would try a new brand every season on at least one set up to find the line that I liked the most. The 2 brands are Berkley Big Game, and I use it for my cranking set ups and Spider Wire Ultimate Mono, not to be mistaken for EZ Mono. The Spider Wire Ultracast ultimate Mono is thin, the 10lb has the same diameter as 8lb Big Game and it doesn't seem to stretch very much and has excellent abrasion resistance and knot strength, really pleased with it and I'm sticking with it. I use the 6lb and 8lb on spinning rods, the line does say optimized for casting reels but I found in 6lb and 8lb line with a spritz or two of KVD L&L that it handles fine, I'm really impressed with it.
If I am going to use mono, I sure am not now or ever going to pay that kind of money for it. That's just plain...well.......it is.
Hootie
Berkley Big Game
On 3/25/2016 at 2:43 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Defier Armilo is made just for topwater applications. The regular Shooter Defier is for everything else. Great stuff.
Dwight, I am not sure I would classify it as a one trick pony. I use it for all my reaction baits and feel it excels at it.
Big game, Seaguar!
I've seen people post that good old fashioned Ande mono is the best, and it's cheap enough to replace every season.
On 3/25/2016 at 5:21 AM, kickerfish1 said:Dwight, I am not sure I would classify it as a one trick pony. I use it for all my reaction baits and feel it excels at it.
I am using the Armilo for all treble hook applications.
Another vote for big game, used it for the first time last year amazed how great it was on my baitcaster, performed very very well.
By castability, I'm assuming you're talking about how limp or resistant to spool memory it is. Mono will absorb water to some extent, eliminating much of the memory. It will also readily absorb line conditioners, which not only address any memory issues you feel it has, but it also makes the line slicker which contributes another factor into castability.
There are many good mono lines, find one you have confidence in and stick with it until it disappoints you. My guess is the only way it will do that is if you raise you expectations
On 3/24/2016 at 1:56 PM, Hogsticker said:If you want the best this is it. Defier is the Superman of monofilament.
Spot on. Defier has exceeded my most optimistic expectations of what a premium Mono casts, fights and feels like!
Honestly, I could never go back to standard mono like Stren, Sufix or Trilene. Defier is in another realm.
Personally I like Berkley Big Game and Sufix Siege. Both work great for me and neither line is too expensive