Fishing Forum

There is a huge variety in fishing line, and every year it only gets bigger. I thought I'd start a thread, and see what everyone is using, why they use it, and maybe what they're targeting with their set up.


What's your favorite line, and why? (Spinning, casting, or flies)


Spinning- I used Berkely Trilene XT 6lb before. Loved it! It would cast far and set lightly on the water. But When snagging bass in cover, I found it wasn't enough. So I went to the 12lb version. It has more line memory, but I suppose that's to be expected of line with x2 capability. Generally after lake trout, but I sometimes go after bass & panfish.

Flies- I have Rio fly line, with Cabela's house-brand leader & tippet, both 3x. But, since I really don't know what I'm doing with a fly rod yet, (and I have nothing to compare it to), I can't comment on it's performance. So far I'm just trying to target something that isn't green and leafy, or attached to my body LoL! ( I really should look into fly lessons I guess)

Baitcaster- I just recently picked up a baitcaster reel, but have yet to fill it, or even put it on a rod yet LoL! Been thinking about targeting some cats, and maybe carp. I've never caught a catfish, grew up hearing horror stories of getting "stung". I have since done enough research to wonder WTF were my folks thinking when they told me that crap. (And it seems Idaho's full of them, so why not!) As for the carp, well, they're just big and (I hear) fun to catch.


I look forward to hearing from others; what's good, what's bad. Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings! [fishin]
[signature]

This is a really good topic. I'm looking forward to see the answers.

For fly fishing, I've been using either Cortland 333 or 444, for most of my line. I mostly use it because it's easy to find and was cheap at the time and it's what I have. I don't fly fish much any more, so it's not a big deal to me. I have no complaints with the performance. I was quite fond of the Orvis Super Strong tippet materials when I fly fished a lot, but I don't know if they still make it. I pretty much just use whatever is out there without any preference at this point. They all seem to work well. As long it's mono, I tried some braided tippets and I didn't like them at all.

For ice fishing I've tried lots of lines. Everything from braids to mono to ice lines. I really like P-Line floroclear. I don't expect to change from that any time soon, or even try anything else for that matter.

Because I like P-Line floroclear so much for ice fishing, I decided to try it on my spinning out fit. I like it a lot when it's new. As it gets more and more use it kind does a weird kinky kind of thing I don't really care for. Maybe I just need to change it more often? I've used Trilene XL and XT on my spinning outfits in the past and I like the P-Line flourclear much better.

I don't own a bait caster, so I have no input there.
[signature]

I fish bass 90% of the time.

Spinning reels: All of them have the spool covered in electrical tape. Then I load the spool with 20lb Tuf Line XP. It's a braid that I've had zero issues with. Most of my braid is now 2 years old and still performs like new. Almost always I tie a 4-8 ft fluorocarbon leader in 4lb-12lb test depending on the cover/presentation. I like the Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon the best but the BPS XPS fluoro is good as well.

Baitcasting rods: Most of mine are loaded with Sufix Siege or Elite. Typically run 8-12lb test depending on the circumstances. For jigs in heavy rock I will go 14-20lb. A huge benefit to Sufix is the precision winding. Makes for very little line memory. However, this is only available on the 330 yd spools. I don't care for braid on baitcasters except in a few circumstances. Going with straight fluorocarbon is a waste of money IMO.

Chris
[signature]

I use 12 lb Pline fluorocarbon for my baitcasters. I haven't tried braided yet, afraid of the bird nest it could make.

Spinning reels, I use 15 lb Power Pro braided with an 8 ft leader of Pline flourocarbon attached with a double uni knot.
[signature]

I mostly bass fish, not much to add to what has already been post wrt spinning or casting set ups.
- I like to use braid backing with light 10'-15' fluorocarbon leaders on spinning rigs, and one of the best fluorocarbon lines I have found is actually just the Cabela's brand.
- For baitcasting reels, mainly crankbaits and spinnerbaits, I have gone to a copolymer line made by Suffix called Tritanium. Stuff is almost bomb proof for applications where abrasion (grinding through the rocks) is a concern.

- steelhead/salmon, here I do something that maybe not too many people know about. I use a hollow core braid (I use powerpro's hollow ace in #40) and fingertrap splice in long (30-40 yds) fluorocarbon or copolymer leaders. Gives great sensitivity, abrasion resistence and almost no strech so hookup to landing ratios for me are much higher than fishing with mono. Its a little expensive (~$100/500 yds, plus splicing needles @$15 a piece) up front but when you start changing out a couple hunderd yards of expensive fluoro twice a year to switch b/w steelhead and salmon it adds up pretty quick. I've not had to change my braid since putting it on either my spinning or casting rigs 3 years ago, and it casts great for a braid.
[signature]

As I have stated several times previously on this site, I only use yellow braid on my spinning and casting reels. I fish Lake Lowell and the Snake River over 150 days a year. I have gone from losing dozens and dozens of lures and fish a year to next to none.

Where I fish the Snake it is now gin clear. I'm still fishing yellow braid, and have caught hundred of smallmouth bass per month since March, and have fooled a couple of 20" fish and a bunch over 17" so far this year.

I usually color the last couple of feet of line with a black permanent marker - but that is just a habit. Put on a leader if it causes a problem to you. All braid loses color and turns white after use.

Braid is expensive to buy, but I usually only put 50 yards on each reel and it lasts for 3-5 years before I change it. It saves me lots of money. I use braid in size from 5 lb test on the Snake up to 60 pound for the willows and smartweed on Lake Lowell.

And Bob, backlashes are easier to get out of braid than mono. Also, it casts further than any other line if that is important to your type of fishing - but wait until it get broken in.
[signature]

I mostly target bass and other warm water species. I have 8 pound Pline floroclear on my spinning reels, that I use for drop shotting and other fitness techniques. When using my spinning reels for casting situations, I typically go to 10 pound mono. Anymore I primarily use a baitcaster for most situations. Depending on the cover or structure I'm fishing, I use 8 pound or 10 pound mono.

Always being cognizant of my drag setting, I haven't broken off a fish in quite some time on mono, but I have been considering switching to braid. Fishing thick vegetation and trees, lately I have found myself very concerned about losing fish. However as Bob said, I am concerned about creating a serious birds nest.

SmartWeed, have you found one brand to be superior to others?
[signature]

On all my small poles from Ultra light to Medium I use power Pro braid from 10 pound up to 80 pound. For my sturgeon line I use Berkley big game mono 50 pound. Ron
[signature]

Quote:SmartWeed, have you found one brand to be superior to others?

I'm no expert on that. I have only used Power Pro and Suffix. I find no difference in those two - except the new Power Pro Super Slick is that... Slick. Otherwise I find little advantage. One divantage of Super Slick is that the black marker doesn't color the line very much until it get broken in.
[signature]

Fun post! Thanks for creating it!

Spinning- I've tried everything from braid, mono, fluoro, and fireline. I always go back to the Berkley 6-12lb in the red box. Real technical I know...

Casting- On my baitcasting reels for bass, I just use a 20lb braided line and start with an 8' leader of 10lb fluorocarbon that usually winds up being 2 feet after a few trips haha!

I use a round reel baitcaster for catfishing and have it filled with 60lb hi vis yellow braid. Then I use typically 15lb berkley big game from the swivel to my hook.

Sturgeon set ups are both in 50lb Berkley big game on conventional reels.

Flyfishing I use Rio trout series. I'm not an expert at flyfishing, but I've found the 2 best pieces of equipment flyfishing are your rod and your line. I've tried cortland, scientific anglers (cheaper stuff... not the sharkskin), rio, and 2 of the cabelas prestige and prestige premier (i think) and hands down the rio trout series has been the best. I don't think I'll ever use anything ever again, even if there are better lines, I found one that works well for me. Leaders for me vary, but I like the umpqua tapered leaders, or if I'm fishing the Owyhee I'll use the cabelas fluorocarbon leaders.
[signature]

Since I only fish for trout mainly on my spinning rod I use 4lb Stren Fluorocast. I've necer had any problems with it so far and I've caught plenty of fish with it.

For my fly rod I use Rio lines, leaders and tippets for my 2 weight and 5 weight. They just make awesome products and very pleased with them.
[signature]

Wow, nice to see all this insight!

I've never tried braid. What are the benefits? Just the "uber-strength" and longevity?

I noticed yesterday that my Berkley Trilene burns easily - I burned it twice, even wetting the knot I burned it.


Troutman - I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to use 4 lb!
I used to use 6lb, line (man I loved that stuff!!) but I kept snapping it on bass.
I'm thinking about buying a couple extra spools for my reel - so I can set it up with a good bass line, trout line, and catfish line. Does anyone else do this?
IIRC, they sell the spools for $12 a piece, for my $50 reel. That way I could spend $24 and effectively have 3 reels.
14lb drag will hold up to cats, right?
[signature]

Monkee the main benefits of braid are longevity, sensitivity, and low stretch properties.
[signature]

Level wind for bobber flopping = Power Pro braid w/12 lb p-line mono for leader

Level wind line counters for backtrolling steelhead & Salmon = Power Pro braid with 25lb P-line mono for leader

Side drifting for Steelhead = High vis suffix mono 14 lb w/ 10lb P-line mono for leader

Level wind for Sturgeon = 50 lb Trilene big game mono w/ Dacron for leader

level wind & spin casters for trout and kokanee trolling = 12 lb P-line mono

For all the crappie/perch jigging rods.....what ever I have on the bench
[signature]

Baitcasting. Berkley 100% fluoro for most. Trilene xp for my top water rod. 50 lb tuffline xp for my big swimbait/catfish
Spinning depends on conditions 10 15 20 lb power pro braid or 4 8 12 lb nanofil. 4 to 8 lb fluoro leader when using braid for dropshot.
Best line investment you can make, Kevin van dam line conditioner.
[signature]

I fish for trout mainly in alpine lakes. Sometimes they are large. The most amazing line I've used is Berkley Nanofil in 8lb. test. It's 2lb. diameter and incredibly strong and yet zero stretch or memory. Well worth the $20.00. Casts light jigs effortlessly.
[signature]

Great thread. I have never tried braided line before. After reading the comments about it here I stopped after work and picked up a spool of dark green Power Pro 30lb. I'll give it a test tomorrow morning.
[signature]

I use tiline sensation 6 and 8 pound green for my spinning rigs, I like it allot. Low memory, super smooth and it handles bigger fish no problem ive pulled in some dandy carp on the 6lb no sweat.

Fly line I use Rio, and for my tippet I make my own out of triline sensation what can I say it is pretty good line in my opinion,

Baitcaster, N/A
[signature]

Sharks Skin and P-Line 100% pure fluorocarbon[]
[signature]

Braided line is sure different. This morning was my first time using Power Pro 30-pound braid.

For catfish I always use a sliding sinker rig. With mono, the weight usually lands close to the leader swivel. Today I was having trouble with the bait shooting out where I wanted it, but the sliding weight wasn't traveling nearly as far, falling maybe 8-10 feet closer to me than the bait.

Other than that, I like it. It had no trouble hauling in the huge masses of weeds that swept my line under rocks. I'm sure I would have lost a few rigs if I had been using my standard mono line.

Hopefully next time I'll see how it does with fish instead of weeds.
[signature]