I need to upgrade my trout fishing gear for the upcoming season.  I'm looking at a 5' UL st croix with a lightweight reel (7.2oz)

 

I've trout fished a long time with 4# mono throwing super dupers, panther martins and drifting the occasional egg.

 

I'm going to start targeting bigger brown trout (14+ inches) in small rivers with jerkbaits along with lures listed above.

 

Does anyone have suggestion on what brand/type of line I should get?  Pline copolymer got good reviews on tackle tour, but poor reviews on TW.  Should I go pure fluoro?  Will the sub 40 degree temperatures effect the fluoro?

Now take what I say with a grain of salt. Even though I have been fishing for trout for 35+ years, It has been with a fly rod for the past 25+ years. If you are going to be fishing with lures then I would suggest around a 6 lb mono/copoly unless the water is crystal clear. The river I fish the most can be extremely clear, especially during winter, so I normally use fluoro tippet (unless I'm fishing big streamers). For all other cases a good mono/copoly will be fine. 

 

As for the temperature affecting fluoro...Personally I have never had a problem with it, and I fish all winter using mostly fluoro. 

 

Brands - This is open for debate as everyone has a brand hey like so its mostly a personal choice. Most brand names have some good lines in their lineup. If it were me, I would spool up with 6 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid. It has a very high breaking strength and is still fairly supple at 6 lbs. I use 12 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid on my streamer rods I use to target trophy size browns and have never had a problem bringing in very large trout (my PB brown is 33" & it was brought in with 12lb yo-zuri).

 

Hope this helps!

Carlton

What size reel? I'm guessing it's a small reel since you're using it on an UL rod, and if so, fluoro will likely NOT be a good choice.

I haven't used to many braids. Mainly cause the ones I tried where to stiff and had to much cable sound coming threw the guides. I found Berkely fire line a few years back and I love it. A little cable sound but much less then others I tried. However if your taking about a spinning reel. I don't like it on them because it wraps the tip so often because it's so flexible. It does start off a little stiff but after it's been used it gets soft.

The PLINE I tried was stiff and sounded like spider wire threw the guides.

Haven't tried Yo Zuri

The Berkley flor I tried broke at a couple lbs less then the stated strength. Which was common with many brands when it first came out. I haven't tried any sense. If I was going to use it I'd use it as a liter only.

I've always came back to Trilene xl for everything small.

Oh and I haven't trout fished much. I could have used 2lb test for the ones I catch. Lol

My wife and I use ultralight Croix rods from 5'ULM to 7'ULM using 1000 size reels with 6lb P Line C21. The 7' is more preferred for fight. We use these setups for almost anything. One exclusion is the jerkbaits, we use medium light fast or extra fast rods (for better presentation) and keep with the same 1000 size and 6lb line.

On the ML, the jerkbaits we use are over 2" and as big as 3.75"

What size jerkbaits are you talking about? When I go to the White River in Arkansas we target browns with jerkbaits, the same ones I use for bass like EEratic shads, slender pointers, and rogues. All of those baits would way overload a 5' UL with 4lb test. If you're going to fish tiny jerkbaits like 48 pointers, pins minnows, or the smallest size Xraps you'd probably be alright but I'd still probably go with a little longer rod in a light power with a fast action to fish the baits better. I fish my jerkbaits for browns on 6lb Pline C21.

1/8th and smaller. 5' is vital in getting through the brush and hiking.

I need to upgrade my trout fishing gear for the upcoming season.  I'm looking at a 5' UL st croix with a lightweight reel (7.2oz)

 

I've trout fished a long time with 4# mono throwing super dupers, panther martins and drifting the occasional egg.

 

I'm going to start targeting bigger brown trout (14+ inches) in small rivers with jerkbaits along with lures listed above.

 

Does anyone have suggestion on what brand/type of line I should get?  Pline copolymer got good reviews on tackle tour, but poor reviews on TW.  Should I go pure fluoro?  Will the sub 40 degree temperatures effect the fluoro?

I fish the same kind of small streams as you intend to. I use a 6'6ul /w a 1000 size reel. 500 size is fine too.  i've used 4# mono for years w/o any issues and never really felt the need to switch. 

Really like the braid on spinning reels. Longer casts, great hooksets. (gotta be carful and not set to hard) Have found power pro to give me less tip wrap. Six lb is like hair but you can go lighter. Just use a spinning reel that doesn't put the line on to even. You want more of and off x if that makes sense. If hands aren't to cold leaders can be tied with a double uni. Five wraps on the braid side and four on the fluro.

Tight Lines

I only target big browns. 20+ inchers.

I throw shallow shad raps, shallow rogues and flat raps in the smaller two sizes.

I fish 8 lb clear trilene for all of them. I like the stretch. I usually fish when they aren't generating. I don't want to fish deep. If I did, I'd be using a fluoro for everything but the rogues.