Mono vs. Fireline/Fusion etc. vs. Flourocarbon

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Sat Aug 18, 2001 6:26 pm

Pro Staffers: I know what Roland Houston and Hank Nixon and Kevin Van Dance say about what fishing line they use and don't use and why.
What I'm asking is: What line does each of the BassinUSA Field Staff Members use and why. The "why" is the real question here. Maybe I should have said "Why or why not?"
Thanks in advance JoeM

brendanc · Post by **brendanc** » Sun Aug 19, 2001 7:52 pm

Joe,

Good topic! Many anglers have debated this many times, and I have heard all the pros and cons from both sides... I am very interested in getting more opinions on this topic. I personally have chosen to stick with mono.

I use Berkley Trilene XT for line under 10lb test and Berkley Big Game (Saltwater line) for 12lb test and up exclusively. I only fish with low-vis green no matter what the water clarity. I have found this to be the most effective & versatile line on the market.

I have used the super lines, braided lines, fire line, spider wire & all the others and each has their strong points & weak points. They each have a place in the fishing world, but are limited in the way of versatility. Versatility is the main reason why I searched high and low for “1” brand of line.

Feel is everything in fishing. If you can't feel what your bait is doing, how can you work it effectively? Now, don't misunderstand what I'm saying here. By “feel”, I don't just mean sensitivity; I mean, “feel” in all aspects of the word. How the line “feels' coming through the water. How it “feels” when it comes across structure or is hanging over a branch.

I know that the “super line's” big claim to fame is their sensitivity and I agree that they can help you detect strikes more easily. That's because they are a much more dense fishing line. Density will effect how quick and far vibrations will travel through an object or medium. This helps you detect strikes and keep in contact with cover or structure. Super lines are more dense so they have almost zero stretch. This can be great, but it doesn't always fit the application.

Rods play a huge part in feel. I would personally rather use a stiffer rod with a lower stretch line because it gives me more control over the fish. If you can control a fish, you have a much better chance of landing it. When cranking, a lot of fishermen use a limber rod so that the hooks don't tear out. With jig, worm & single hook baits fishing, guys use stiffer rods so they get more hook penetration. I could go on for hours about all the many variables and details, but the bottom line is “What works best for you”? For me, this is what I have chosen to use and why:

What: Berkley Trilene XT 4#, 6#, 8# & Berkley Big Game 10#, 12#, 20# and Fast action rods for every application.

Why: Every rod I pick up has the same feel and I don't have to adjust to a different setup when changing applications. With Trilene XT once you get over 8# test, the feel changes. Big Game (10# - 20#) feels just like XT 4# - 8#. I have found this to be the “magic” combination. It allows me to have a tremendous amount of control over a fish no matter what type of bait I am fishing. These lines sizes are very low line stretch, but not “zero” stretch. Very abrasion resistant, and will cast extremely well. It is more forgiving when you're fighting big fish. You'll feel the line stretch before it breaks or tears the hook out of a fishing mouth.

Remember, this is just my prefernce and opinion. You have to see what works best for you.

d.mcgarry · Post by **d.mcgarry** » Mon Aug 20, 2001 4:54 pm

Fishing line the most least thought about variable in fishing. I use three types of line for spinning line I have become addicted to "Berkley Vanish" I use this in 4#,6#,8# and 10#. Berkley vanish has the least memory of all the flourocarbons I have used it is the most abrasion resistant and it has the smallest diameter of all the flourocarbons. For baitcasting I still use "Bagley silver thread" it has been a mainstream line with me since it came out some years ago, I use it from 8# to 20# and it has worked very well for me. On my three flipping rods (Two Allstar's and a Castaway rod) that I use for pitching on these I use 40# Spiderwire it has superior strength and low strech it only has one draw back it digs into itselfand you must be careful with it. I change line all the time and it is expensive unless you buy in bulk. I use backing cotton or dacron backing on all my reels and put line on with a wet rag. Line size and diameter effects how deep a bait will dive or run and how fast or slow a jig or worm will fall. You will be able to fine tune your presentations by altering line size, if I want a deepdiver to run deeper i will use 10# test if I want a Rat-l-trap to run on top of the weeds I will use 20#test, if I want my Senko to hit 25' Wacky worm style I will use 4# test. we should always look at the line size when we want to fine tune our presntations. As a side note Brendan was using a Berkley line stripper to change line and he has sold me on it, I just purchased one and it is worth its weight in gold, buy one you won't be disappointed. Good Fishing Dan

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Tue Aug 21, 2001 2:19 am

OK- So we've heard from two Field Staffers:
Brendan who uses two types of mono as a way of maintaining a similar feel and always knowing when the strength limits of the line are being approached. It gives him total confidence.
Dan who uses mono/flourocarbon/braid depending on application. The different types allow him exceptional versatility as well as a high confidence level.
Thanks guys. Now we will wait to hear from other FS Members. JoeM

ukey28 · Post by **ukey28** » Wed Aug 22, 2001 2:23 am

I like to keep things rather simple. I like a line that doesn't stretch too much, doesn't have too much memory, has good abrasion resistance, and still is reasonably thin. So I like most of the other guys am a Trilene XT and Trilene Big Game fan. Anything under 10# is XT anything 10# and up is Big Game. I didn't find any difference in catch rates when I switched colors so its whatever on he color. I tried the Braids and was dissappointed most of the time I like 6# fireline in the winter when I'm throwing light jigs and I need the extra sensitivity. And as a bonus the fireline doesn't stiffen in the cold weather like regular mono. I put a piece of flourocarbon as a leader. Nothing fancy in my choice, the only thing I have to remember is what size line is on which combo.
Frank

JayInGrapevine · Post by **JayInGrapevine** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:19 am

To add a little something, a combination of lines is required a lot in Texas, especially on clear water fish.
20lb braid with a P-Line florocarbon leader is a necessity, especially in lakes that get a lot of pressure. I mainly use it on my dropshot rig and for senkos, as reaction type baits aren't as closely examined by the fish. Try the braid/floro combo next time your out and pay attention to your bite ratio. Saturday for example, I fished a dropshot all morning under overcast skies on a rig with 12lb Iron Silk and kept up with the two guys using braid/floro. Once the sun peaked through, I didn't get a sinlge bite for 30 minutes while they kept catching consistently, it wasn't until I switched to an extra rig they had with the braid/floro combo that I got bit again. It's not something you pay much attention to until you see it in action.

carl · Post by **carl** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:06 am

You know what, where have you clowns been for the last couple of YEARS? I wrote you Joe, what ever your name is, and you didn't have the goood mannners to respond. I've never read about any of you. Ever go up against C. Morganthaler, beat him twice. If it wasn't for Johnnie, Conley, and a few others, you jerks wouldn't have **** to say. I really resent you asking what the "Staff" thinks, excluding better fishermen than you.Carl

carl · Post by **carl** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:21 am

By the way Grapevine thanks for the info.

mofish · Post by **mofish** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:30 pm

Jay

Welcome to the board?? How did you find it?

speaking as a fellow Texan I agree with you on the use of braid and a leader.

I have not tried the flourcarbon leader yet and I say yet because I will be soon. I been using Power Pro with Big Game leader but on lakes like Eagle Mountain with some clear water I think that the flour leader would help more.

Again welcome to the board and look forward to meet you in person one day.

JayInGrapevine · Post by **JayInGrapevine** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 5:53 pm

I actually found the board when I was looking for a comparison of different brands of florocarbon.
If it adds to the conversation at all, I've decidedon P-Line 100% pure Floro leader material. I know it's not exactly the best, or maybe the most legal way to test, but I went to academy and snipped about a foot from roll of the P-Line, Maxi, Vanish then went to BPS and got a foot of their store brand Floro. All was in 17lb test.
I brought them home and put them in my fish thank under the lights. WOW! The P-Line almost dissapears. Especially compared to the others. As far and strenghth, I'm gonna have to break down and spend the $7 for a 25yd spool of the P-Line to test it more thoroughly. Saturday the P-Line worked pretty well as I landed multiple bass over 6 pounds without any break offs, but a few guys in the boat broke off on the initial hookset. This is attributed to the lack of stretch you get with Floro. I just counter this by using a fairly limber rods and a short, deliberate hookset.
-Jay