swandog

I know but I can't seem to tie it correctly either, atleast to the point of being able to trust it. I'll stick with the Alberto as well.

Avery- first of all, welcome to bass fishing - you have chosen wisely! Now on to your question, I assume you are using spinning gear. I like braid for spinning gear, it has no memory and casts like a dream. 20# Power Pro. It will take some getting use to, but the benifits outweight the negatives IMO. With braid comes awesome knot strength and I use a Polamar knot. It's probably the easiest knot to learn and has great breaking strength. Overhand knots are not going to work (as you found out). I would not use straight Flourocarbon with spinning gear, it's to stiff (although some do). If you feel like you need to use flouro for abrasion resistance/invisibility, then you can tie on a flouro leader. Then you would need to learn how to tie another knot that joins the two line together (Alberto knot). But that may be down the road a bit. When I got into fishing, I just had to sit at a table with some spare line and put time into practicing knot tying. You will feel awkward at first, but with practice you learn where to put your fingers and you'll become much better at it in no time. Google and youtube are your friends.

Yes, it says "3 ball bearings" at the bottom of the side plate.

Oh man, I still have a classic Lew's BB-1N reel with the V spool. I use it every once in a while and it still casts amazingly well. Great reel.

Thanks for the heads up on this. Picked up some Seaguar Senshi for $5 and some change.

Just seems to be to light of line for those lures/applications. I would throw a chatterbaiter and texas rigs on 15-17 lb flouro. Buzzbaits/topwater would be 12-17 pound mono or braid (on baitcasters). I know P-line tests better than the suggested breaking strength, but i don't know. If you are using spinning gear (which I assume you are) you might want to try the Braid/leader thing. Maybe 20# braid with a 12lb mono/copoly/flouro leader.

I use a cheap mono (10-15#) filled between 1/4 to 1/2 the spool capacity, then attach the braid with an Alberto knot. Works great for me.

Heavy weeds and low visibility? Sounds like braid to me.

That mono will work fine for backing. I like to fill at least 1/4 of the spool. You certainly can direct tie to about anything without to many issues. You might want to use a leader for clear water and abrasion resistance. But many people forgo the leader altogether. I direct tie most of the time myself.

I will just echo what has been said already. 30# braid, then tie on a leader of you feel like the conditions/lure calls for it.

This is the knot I use for flouro, hasn't failed me yet. I call it the Shaw Grigsby knot, but I think it is actually the double Pitzen. It slides down easy without burning the line and it doesn't cut into itself on hook set.

If I could only take one setup -- I would use braid as the main line then tie on leaders if necessary (super clear water or if a 'shock' absorber is needed). I have found that braid gives you the hook setting power on the long casts, especially when bank fishing with plastics. Plus it casts and handles so much better than most mono type lines. But, I'm sure this is one subject almost everyone has a different opinion on. http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/fishing-line-system.html

Tried the FG knot a few times and I also struggled with it. Having to keep tension on the line while trying to tie it in a small moving boat just doesn't seem practical for me. However (after much practice) I feel confident in the Alberto knot and have yet to break it. Have also heard that the uni to uni is pretty good as well.

If anybody has any good places to fish in the Terre Haute/Brazil area please let me know. Really looking for some new places. I fish the local county parks and the Shinook coal mine areas, but other than that I'm kinda stuck when I go out on my own. Thanks for any info.

This is the knot I use for flouro. The only name I know to call it is the "Shaw Grigsby knot." Since I have been using it, I've had no fish break offs.

Depends. 1. Braid with flouro leader - I use this the most. texas rigs, senkos 2. Mono for pretty much all topwater (except frogging, then straight braid) 3. Flourocarbon - spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatterbait

Yeah - I have used both straight flouro and braid + flouro leader, both work well. I am currently using 30# PowerPro with a 15# Seaguar Red Label leader (around 7 foot or so). I like the hook setting power braid provides especially on long casts.