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Top water line

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What is the best line for throwing top water baits (Sammy's, Pop Max, etc) on a baitcaster?

I use copolymer, sometimes mono. Both work well 

  • Super User

15 pound Berkley Big Game is what I use. 

Straight 30lbs braid; increased my hookup percentage especially at the start of a long cast.

I don't think there really is a "best" line for top waters, ask 5 different people and you'll get 5 different answers. I use 10-25# straight mono because it works best for me, but I can't fault somebody who likes braid, braid w/ a mono leader, or whatever. Experiment with different options and see what you like best. 

  • Super User

I use Berkeley XL because why use a leader and copoly sinks.  I have 80% of my bait casters with copoly and the other has braid.  My one dedicated topwater rod runs mono because its the best tool for the job.

Sunline supernatural mono...when u but it but it by line diameter not lb test I made that mistake the first time I bought it the ten pound of this is super thin not that that is a bad thing but had I known I would have went with 12-15#.  Stuff casts great

Been using 12lb yozuri Hybrid for a decade and its my favorite by far. I can push it to the brink of casting distance better than braid, and its not quite as stretchy as most other nylon based lines.

I use 40# braid with a 15# mono leader 

  • Super User

Straight braid, 20 lb test.......this year top waters have my best hook up percentage 

  • Super User

I ditto the 15# Berkley Big Game. I use a 6'6" Medium for this as well as other heavier treble hardbait presentations like lipless cranks. This is a pretty good all around line for trebles. It floats (at least for a while), it's cheap and reliable and it has some stretch to help keep the trebles hooked up. I think copolymer is a version of the same idea. I'm actually thinking of switching to it, but i still have hundreds of yards of Big Game to use up.

 

I can see the braid argument though because there are some walking baits like the Spook that you can cast a country mile and not be able to reel up the slack enough to get a good hookset, taking into account the mono stretch factor. Especially when you're trolling along searching for fish. You have to consider that stretch of mono can be 10% of the length you have out. If you cast 60' and set the hook, that could mean you move the rod 6' and don't get any real pressure on the fish. You might even just take the slack out with your hookset.

7 hours ago, Mike L said:

 

Ditto

 

 

 

 

Mike

Ditto X2

I think it is situational. I use both braid and mono.  I do not like braid for walking baits I have trouble with the slack getting caught on the hooks, its not near as bad with mono. but other baits I love the braid, especially on long cast. Just never use Fluorocarbon on top but you probably know already .

 

God bless and good fishing

I really like Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo line for topwater and a lot of other uses where a mono/copoly would be appropriate. I will also sometimes use braid if the rod I want to use has braid on it, or I'm throwing around a lot of vegetation or cover. 

 

Experiment with lines inks and see what works best for you. 

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