Darren.

All braid on my spinning gear. 10 lb PowerPro in Hi-Vis Yellow. Use a smattering of leader material. Never go back to all mono/copoly/fluoro on spinning gear again. Baitcasting: right now I've got different lb test of P-Line Floroclear. I'd go all braid if my wife didn't know how much line I've got that isn't braid. Until I burn all that out, it's mono, copoly on baitcasters.

Holy smokes that's a sweet reel. X drag, etc. Love to know how it performs.

I've got 8lb P-Line floroclear on one of my Quantum Accurists, coupled with a 6' M rod, and have been able to throw as light as 1/8 oz TX rigged 4.75" Zoom finesse worms and done quite well with that setup. I should say I have been able to cast that weight even w/o a worm on, just to see if I could loft a 1/8 oz lead weight and an empty 1/0 round bend hook. I can if I tweak the brakes, and use my thumb with diligence. Don't get a long cast, but c'est la vie. I love using baitcasters, but when my "fisherman's elbow" doesn't bother me too much (thanks ibuprofen) I prefer using my Stradic 1000's because I can skip weightless baits and such with ease and accuracy and have zero worries about backlashing, or catching the rod in the holder behind me that I forgot to think about. Ahh kayak fishing :-). With my new yak I can lay down the rods so not as much a worry. I've seen some pretty wicked videos of guys able to skip baitcasters, but it takes a lot of practice and is simply not conducive for me to attempt in my kayak. More headache than it is worth. YMMV. So do you have to have a finesse (PX-R) baitcaster to finesse with a baitcaster? No, but if you want to go below 1/8 oz with more success, it would assuredly help. If your wallet can afford such a sweet beast. Spool up one you already have with 6 or 8lb test line and try it out. To highlight something I mentioned above, I think the rod has a ton to do with the ability to cast light stuff on a BC. If you had say a 7' L, ML, or M you could load up way better than my 6' M rod and should be able to toss a 1/8 or lighter a decent distance.

BPS for most hooks, sinkers, and all around gear. Best selection of Zoom, etc. (Near me, anyway). But Dick's has best prices on Yamamoto products by almost 2 bucks over BPS. And like Fishing Rhino said, when Dick's has a 2 for $10 of Yammie stuff, it can't be beat. Stuff I can't find locally: Tackle Warehouse, Hi's Tackle Box Shop, etc.

I was given a pretty awesome fisherman's knife: http://www.cutco.com/products/product.jsp?itemGroup=5721 I don't usually filet because I'm a catch-n-release guy, but it has smooth-stone hook sharpener on the back of the sheath with a groove in it - which I use often. Hooks I don't (or rarely) sharpen: Gamakatsu, Owner Hooks I sharpen: BPS-brand (not all of 'em, but most), other "off" brands I will "toss" a hook if it just won't hold a point.

Welcome aboard, fellow Virginian!

I snell 99% of my hooks (welded or not), the exception being weedless hooks where there's already wrap around the shank. Ditto to the add-more-wraps comment for braid. Depending on the braid diameter, you can wrap 10-15 times or more around a hook. If you're deft of hand, you can also tie an overhand knot in the tag end which will have trouble pulling thru if it slips. Or use the tried-n-true dab o' superglue.

PowerPro Hi-Vis Yellow in 10 lb test is sweet. My eyes are getting older and that extra visibility is a must. Wind can be an issue on spinning reels, esp. if you don't close the bail by hand. But if you can make the wind your friend you'll be good-to-go. I tend to go heavier on baitcasters. I like the PP in 10 because it is 2lb in diameter. Other brands' 10 lb braid is more like 4 lb test. I use 1000 size reels for bass fishing, so prefer as much line on there as I can get. I do use a leader, but did an experiment taking a black Sharpie to the first 3' of line tied directly to the hook. Caught a number of bass that day. Went back to P-Line Floroclear, (and other brands) leader though. And most of what I do on spinning gear is soft plastics, not a lot of fast moving stuff. So IMO a leader is best. I do have Sufix Performance Braid in 30 lb test orange but don't use it much. Really like the brightness, but found the waxy coating stripped off a bit faster than the PP. YMMV.

Floroclear in mist-green from 6-10 lb spinning leaders (using 10lb PP for mainline). Floroclear in mist-green 10-15 lb casting gear Sometimes Yo-Zuri, fluorocarbon, mono for leader material. Floroclear is my fav for color, diameter. Got plenty of Yo-Zuri spools, used a lot of it, but jut prefer P-Line.

Agree with the Shimano guys. I like the looks of many Quantum spinning reels, and even own two baitcasters which I really like. But for spinning I use two Stradic 1000 FI models. Love the size for bass fishing, brought in some hefty chunks on these with nary a problem. Drag is flawless. Saw no need for 2500 size or above. But that's me. I feel comfortable hauling in a 10 lber on a 1000 FI. I trust the Shimano hands-down. Not so sure about the new white Stradics, though. The Saros is just a step down from the Stradic, and a solid reel. I looked at them, but ultimately went the next step up. You won't regret it (the Saros or Stradic).

For me it is about 90% spinning, 10% baitcasting. My bread-n-butter spinning outfits: Shimano Compre 6'3" M/xfast with a Shimano Stradic 1000FI Shimano Compre 5'9" M/xfast same reel as above. Both spooled with 10lb yellow PowerPro, and a variety of leader material, from mono to copoly to fluoro. I just love the smaller size reel. Have hauled in bass in the 6 lb range with no issues whatsoever! I kayak fish most of the time now, and I prefer the shorter rods, and spinning (for me) is by far easier to work with when in a sitting position. I will use baitcasting gear occasionally, but seems less and less now-a-days. To each his/her own as for preference. Heck, when I do dock fish I've been known to break out my graphite and fiberglass long poles (from 10' to 20') and float fish! Talk about fun. No reel, just a length of line. Lift and net, no simpler than that!

Thought I'd chime in, though a few days late... I snell every hook with exception of hooks with weed guards for plastics. Here's a way to tie the snell. I should add that the snell in the video looks a little lumpy, probably due to the line he's using to teach with, mine turn out clean. And depending on the lb test, I'll wrap between 5 and 10 times (more wraps for the lighter line).I use this with Seaguar, BPS XPS fluoro, and non-fluoro lines with 100% confidence. Am now proficient enough tying it in my kayak fighting white caps out on the water. I tie the snell on hooks from size 4 gamakatsu split shot/drop shot to 5/0 worm hooks straight and offset. Don't tighten down all the way until you've slipped the knot past the bend. The snell pulls against the shank of the hook, and IMO allows for a superb hook set. Google it and you'll find quite a few pros are using the snell for hooks with soft plastics. The other knot I use is palomar, and as J Francho said, properly tied.

I may be in the minority here, but I have not found need (yet) for any hook over 1/0. In fact, the majority of my catches (2-6lb LMB) are on #2 hooks! And that's using 4" and 5" Senkos and Dingers. I like #2, but also use #1 and #4 depending on the situation. I've only bent out hooks on snags, never hauling in a fish. Huge salmon are caught using tiny egg hooks all the time. Yeah, salmon are not bass, but ... I saw no reason I couldn't downsize with bass, too. So far so good! Again, my opinion. I keep line taught, don't have to adjust drag during fight and even haul them up in timber and slop. And the majority of this is on a 5'9" Shimano Compre with a 1000FI Stradic! I agree that you need to set the hook quickly and get them out of the dock ASAP, and probably a MH rod is a good idea. My rod has an XF tip, 10lb PowerPro braid with a 6-10lb leader (P-Line Floroclear 6-8lb mist green, Seaguar Red FC 10lb, Yo-Zuri Hybrid 8 lb). Circle hooks are "okay", but I have NEVER gut hooked a bass wacky or drop shotting. I use circle for other fish.... I love the aforementioned Owner Wacky (in #2) http://goo.gl/cpU52 (Bass Pro short link), but prefer Gammy #1, #2 Split Shot/Drop Shot hooks, and am currently testing the Gammy Finesse Wide Gap in #1. I might downsize to #2. To each his own. This is what works for me. I don't fish around a lot of pipes, so based on that, previous advice to use braid + a good FC leader is a decent idea. My .02.

Big fan of Gamakatsu splitshot/dropshot hooks in #2 (and #1, but use #2 ((even used 4's)) the most - and in black). These hooks are my confidence hooks! Caught some nice sized bass with the 2s. Looks like BPS has them on sale right now, too! Need to pick up some 25-packs ASAP. http://www.basspro.com/Gamakatsu-Split-Shot-Drop-Shot-Hook/product/30026/-1124674 Also playing with Owner Wacky hooks in #2 - they're wider gap than the Gammys, and pretty nice, but I've not had the success with them I have with the Gammys. I picked up a bunch of packs from *** over the holidays as they were less than a buck per pack. Alas, looks like they don't carry the #2 hook anymore. http://www.***.com/Owner_Wacky_Hook/descpage-OWNWHH.html Personally I've not found the need for big hooks when wacky worming. Of course, the largest worm I currently use is 6". Mostly use 4-5" worms. Wacky is my absolute favorite and most productive method for bass. Love it.

I think you'll enjoy braid... I use 10 lb yellow power pro along with either a 6 or 8 lb p-line floroclear leader between 6 and 8 feet in length. I have landed quite a number of bass on this combo. The yellow is for easier visibility... Been thinking of trying a pure floro leader, but in the waters I fish, the mist green p-line has been good. And FWIW, I have been fishing my spinning setup (6'3" shimano compre with a stradic 1000FI). Also have braid on my baitcaster setups, but hardly use those any more....

Count me in with the crank bait crowd... Loads more success with soft plastics and live baits.

Indeed. I am not done with it, just for now, my confidence is with the P-Line. As I caught fish with it, I think it has merit and worth more "testing". I suppose I was expecting it to be as invisible as P-Line based on some comparison reports I've read. But my experience just does not line up with that.

Hi Guys- Spent the morning on the water today with the mist green YZHUS 4lb test and it held its own very well. Caught a 2+ lb bass on it with no problems, got hung a few times but never broke the line. So it is definitely strong stuff. But I have one thing "against" it in comparison to P-Line Floroclear. The YZHUS is almost a hi-vis line. I kept commenting to my fishing buddy about how visible it was, especially when the sun hit it. The line just glowed. I had no problems seeing it above water, AND below whereas the P-Line mist green virtually disappears after it hits the water. So there's a huge difference there. I partially like the hi-vis thing, but did feel like it was not clear and did have a milky-green appearance when compared to P-Line. In fact the difference in the two lines is abundantly clear when you hold the spools up to each other. YZ is more neon than P-Line, plain and simple. At least the 600 yd spool I have. I spooled up with the P-Line after the bite had slowed down, the sun, heat and humidity rose. Did not catch anything else that day as the bite stopped. Bottom line, the difference between the two lines was extreme. My buddy was using another of my rods with 6 lb P-Line mist green while I used the YZHUS so I was able to compare the lines in the same light. For INvisibility, IMHO, P-Line crushed YZ. Catch was good with both (buddy caught fish on the P-Line). I will keep the YZ spooled up on the back-up reel, but feel more comfy/confident with P-line still. Just my humble opinion. Have not had any irregular break-offs or bad spools of P-line (so far).... I really appreciate the responses, so thanks much.

Hi all- I rec'd my order and immediately spooled my spare with the 4lb smoke hybrid. Gotta say it was not what I expected. Not as smooth as 6 lb P-Line Floroclear, IMHO. Did cast well, but was definitely not as "invisible" as the mist green Floroclear, but more like a fluorescent blue. Ok, not really that "visible", but in the waters I fish, definitely more visible than mist green. Next up, spooling/testing with Ultra Soft in mist green. So far, not too impressed with the smoke. Did feel a number of hits just fine, but did not like the lay of the line on the spool. Not as "clean" as P-Line. Not ruling it out, just letting you know what I'm thinking/feeling thus far. Floroclear is definitely not out of the picture thus far.

#4 original Hybrid will work just fine on your 1000FI. Great! I actually decided to grab a 275 yd spool of 4 lb smoke, and a 600 yd spool of 4 lb mist green Ultra Soft from Fish307.com last night. They've already shipped it, so I should have it in a couple days. Can't wait to spool up! I went with 4 lb test given the higher breaking strength of the YZ lines, and the same diameter to the 6 lb P-Line. If I need to move up to 6 lb, I'll do so.

Gents, thanks so much for the responses. Since my Stradic has two spools, I think I need to try out the YZHUS in 4lb mist green! BPS put 4lb Excel on it - haven't used it yet, but was free. ;D roadwarrior, thanks for the tip on the Seaguar lines. For now I think I'll stick with hybrids, but will keep an eye on the FC lines. Question, smoke purple only comes in the YZH, not YZHUS, so assume 4 lb would work for a 1000FI spinning reel? or is it a little unmanageable for a reel that size? Anyone bought from Fish307.com? Seems to be one of a few places one can get 4 or 6 lb in YZH smoke purple, YZHUS mist green.

Currently: 6' M Johnny Morris Signature Series Spinning Rod, Fast Tip Shimano Stradic 1000FI, 6 lb. test P-Line Floroclear Sweet, sensitive, backbone to spare - and all purchased on sale or with gift cards so they were affordable!

Hi all, I realize this has been debated and plowed into the ground, but I've got a specific question - okay more than one, (and I hope roadwarrior chimes in given his experience with both) on these lines for finesse fishing. P-Line Floroclear (PLFC) in mist green, 6# test has become my confidence line. I'm a fan of Yo-Zuri Hybrid (YZH), but have not tried the Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft (YZHUS) yet. Since the mist green color seems to work best in waters I fish, I am interested in YZHUS in mist green. The waters I fish tend to be a "green clear", "green-stained". No gin-clear waters (yet). 1) It has been said that YZHUS is "milky" in appearance, I assume that the mist green is that way as well? 2) For those of you who've tried both PLFC and YZHUS, have you found any major differences in the lighter weight lines? Is PLFC "clearer" and thus more "invisible", or are they pretty similar? 3) As well, it seems that some say YZHUS has the same breaking strength of it's elder sibling YZH, but there are no charts to say the same that I can find. Is YZHUS's break strength less than the YZH cousin? 4) Unless I'm clueless on this, YZHUS in 4 lb test = PLFC in 6 lb test in terms of line diameter. So why the discrepancy? Why isn't the line rated by diameter rather than lb test? 5) With regard to breaking strength - if you compare line diameter to line diameter of each line, are they relatively equal? Personally I've not had issues with PLFC on drop shots and wacky worming. I tie a double palomar for wacky and have had no problems breaking at the knot and have lost no fish yet either way. Thank you for your patience and thoughtful response(s).

That actually makes a lot of sense. But do you think in heavily fished waters that fish become line-wary? I hear that all the time whether on TV, at Bass Pro, or from other anglers (yeah, I try to chew the meat and spit out the bones when it comes to the sales pitch).

I'm glad you brought this topic up. I spooled my spinning gear (a while back) with 10 lb yellow Power Pro, tried a variety of leader material (best leader IMO was Yo-Zuri Hybrid 8lb test) in different lengths. I've since "upgraded" to a finesse rig (Johnny Morris Sig Series 6' M rod with a Stradic 1000FI) for drop/wacky and such. My catch rate has gone up dramatically, but not using yellow PP. With yellow PP I found casting was excellent, but catching was not. I fish several area lakes and reservoirs, some "green clear" if you know what I mean, and others cloudy green. I've also used PP in green and red and caught fish on both w/o leaders (the red dye made a mess of my baitcaster, so I stopped using it). For me, the "money line" is P-line Floroclear mist green in 6lb test. Yes it is difficult to see unless the light is "just right", but it has produced like no other, including YZ Hybrid (haven't tried UltraSoft yet). I love the sensitivity of braid, but do not have confidence in it like I do P-Line Floroclear, but I'll probably spool up with the yellow PP sometime in the future on a spare spool and give it another run. Maybe my success/confidence/technique with P-Line will give me confidence in the yellow PP. Who knows? In agreement with others, I think you should give the yellow PP a try. You may find it works for you in the waters you fish. Since I haven't yet reached 10 normal posts, I can't post the link to Gary Yamamoto's hi-vis braid article. So Google "gary yamamoto yellow powerpro" and it should be the first link. If you haven't already read it, that is.