So I am limited to two rods and I'm a multi- species guy so I have a "big fish" 6ft 6 med fast action which i use for bass ( i hope to start using it for walleye, and small pike) and a "small fish" 5ft ultra light mod- fast action for trout and panfish, both are spinning tackle. Right now I'm curious about my "big fish" rod. I have had 10lb mono on it and had trouble with hooksets on small large mouths. I am considering braid but I don't really want to use a leader so I'd like to know if I should use braid, mono, or flouro. The water where I usually fish is fairly murky ( about 1 to 1.5 ft visibility) and I fish exclusively from shore. I mainly use Texas rigged or weightless plastics, small swimbaits( 2 inches), inline spinners, and spinner baits. Any advice helps.

For spinners, I would use 15-20lb braid. It will handle nicely. As far what braid. I use Power Pro, and soon eithers will chime in with a host of other braids. Goodluck with your choice. 

I would say braid would work for you, but I would highly recommend using a leader. Fishing from shore, it is going to be really hard to break off 20-30lb braid without a lighter test leader.

 

Other benefits of a leader:

Lower visibility (may or may not matter, this is debatable)

Better abrasion resistance (definitely a fact)

 

I use 30 lb braid on almost all my rigs. I use straight braid for some things and leaders for others.

The Alberto knot is really not that hard to tie and is very reliable.

For spinners, I would use 15-20lb braid. It will handle nicely. As far what braid. I use Power Pro, and soon eithers will chime in with a host of other braids. Goodluck with your choice. 

 

so should I have a backing or leader?

If you aren't fishing a lot of really heavy cover, 10 to 15 pound braid is all you need. Use some old mono line to put some backing on. You are trying to put enough on so you don't put on more braided line than you would normally use. Skip the leader for a while. Generally for me, leaders are a lot more trouble than they are worth. I use all braid all the time in mostly rocky situations and have never had a break off do to abrasion. If after a while you find a need to add a leader you can but keep it simple at first and skip the leader. A lot of guys find it doesn't help that much, some guys think they need it.

so should I have a backing or leader?

 

Scott F, posted above exactly what you need to do. 

If you aren't fishing a lot of really heavy cover, 10 to 15 pound braid is all you need. Use some old mono line to put some backing on. You are trying to put enough on so you don't put on more braided line than you would normally use. Skip the leader for a while. Generally for me, leaders are a lot more trouble than they are worth. I use all braid all the time in mostly rocky situations and have never had a break off do to abrasion. If after a while you find a need to add a leader you can but keep it simple at first and skip the leader. A lot of guys find it doesn't help that much, some guys think they need it.

So what are some preferences as far as brands? I don't want to spend too much.

I would say braid would work for you, but I would highly recommend using a leader. Fishing from shore, it is going to be really hard to break off 20-30lb braid without a lighter test leader.

 

Find a nice strong stick, wrap the line to it by the reel, point the rod straight to the snag, then walk backwards until the line breaks. This way you are not stressing the rod nor reel. It should break at the knot, or hook bends open, or you get the log from the bottom of the water.

So what are some preferences as far as brands? I don't want to spend too much.

 

Try some 10 pound Power Pro. Won't cost as much as some other lines, it will cast farther than 20 pound, and will work as well as almost any braid.

 

Right now I'm curious about my "big fish" rod. I have had 10lb mono on it and had trouble with hooksets on small large mouths.

 

Regardless of whether you should use braid or not, you should not be experiencing that hookset problem. Many of us fished with mono for years, before there was such a thing as braid and managed to set the hook. I personally used 10# mono, either Trilene XL or Stren. I managed to do successful hooksets on some pretty good bass by western NY standards. Who knows, depending on what's happening now, you could be back at some future date saying you use braid and are having trouble with hooksets.

 

By the way, you didn't say what kind of hookset trouble you're experiencing.

I would definitely recommend that braid. 10lb suffix 832 is what I tried recently and it was strong enough to haul in a very large snapping turtle that took my bait when I was catching frying pan sized channel catfish. In murky water, you can safely get away with not using a leader, at least if you are targeting bass, but it would also depend on whether or not there is structure that might fray your line. Catfish don't need a leader either. Your line could be flourescent colored with flashing lights and a catfish would still bite.

Other fish, though, that have either good eyesight or teeth (trout, walleye, pike), a leader is probably a good bet to keep the fish from either seeing your line or from fraying it. In a pinch, the mono you have already could be leader material. Just make sure you PRACTICE TYING LINE TO LINE KNOTS. I lost two quality fish at first because I didn't have my line and leader securely connected.

Regarding backing- it isn't necessary, but again is a good idea because it will save you a lot of money. If I fill my spool halfway using mono, then it doesn't take nearly as much braid to fill it the rest of the way. As expensive as that $h!% is, I like to save as much as humanly possible.

You will not be disappointed.