Putting a 6.4.1 H20 Mettle bait caster on a 6'6" medium rod and my research says this is a good rod for top water. So what line should I use and what topwaters are good with this and which are not good for this?

I prefer 12-16# mono simply because it floats! I know a bunch of people that like to use braid. Avoid fluoro for top water at all costs!

I use 15lb Defier Armilo. It's a very supple line, so it's easy to cast and has no memory; at the same time it has very little stretch. I definitely suggest some form of mono. Fluoro sinks too quickly. I don't like braid because it soaks up too much water and starts to sink slowly as the day progresses.

some people like 30# braid and some people like 12-17# mono. try each as they both fish differently. you can't go wrong if your line floats.

Either 12lb suffix siege (because it is on my treble hook rod) for poppers or 30lb braid for spooks

I use braid, it floats. I like 20 or 30 lb for things like poppers and spooks. 30 or 50 (with a MH or H rod) for frogs and buzzbaits.

10-30lb braid for each application...

12lb yozuri hybrid or 30lb braid work for most of my topwater. I use 20lb hybrid for my big pencil baits and walking baits.

I use 15lb Defier Armilo. It's a very supple line, so it's easy to cast and has no memory; at the same time it has very little stretch. I definitely suggest some form of mono. Fluoro sinks too quickly. I don't like braid because it soaks up too much water and starts to sink slowly as the day progresses.

 

Can you explain what would cause braid that has soaked up water to sink? A sponge filled with water still floats. Is the water held by the line heavier than the rest of the water? Does water cause the Spectra fibers in the line to lose it's buoyant properties?

A few years ago I started using straight 30 pound braid on my topwater baits.  Don't have a good reason to go back to thick mono like I was using.   Never had hooks "tear away" or any of these other issues.    In fact, 100% of my treble hook presentations are with braid now (with the exception of bladebaits), and all my one hook bottom bouncing stuff is with straight flouro.   I know, ass backwards.

mono, 15lb big game

For me it's mono... I use 2 rod setups for top water.. Mono will absorb trace amounts of water I usually quit topwater 45 minutes after sunrise .. Unless its a special bite going!

Scott

10 lb mono for most topwater. The frogs and huge topwaters and wake baits are on a frog rod with 50# braid