Hello. I have a Dobyns fr705cb (mh/mf 1/4-1oz) paired with a Curado 71HG that I intend on using primarily for squarebills and lipless cranks, but will also be used for jerkbaits and some top water baits on occasion (like poppers, spooks and jitterbugs)... So pretty much anything with a treble hook that weighs under 3/4oz

 

What type of line would you use to cover the majority of these baits?

With topwaters listed in the mix, you should probably stick to mono or braid. Personally, I'd use fluoro for everything else listed and toss topwaters on another outfit.

28 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

With topwaters listed in the mix, you should probably stick to mono or braid. Personally, I'd use fluoro for everything else listed and toss topwaters on another outfit.

I'm assuming you're not suggesting flourocarbon for top water because of the lines lack of buoyancy... It wants to sink. 

 

Would braid with a flourocarbon leader help counteract this somewhat? If not, what about braid with a monofilament leader?

 

My concern with going with braid or flourocarbon is the lack of stretch and ripping out hooks.

I have a rod I use for basically the same thing- squarebills, jerk baits, spooks, etc. 

 

I use 20-30lb braid tied to a 10lb mono leader. I like braid because it’s considerably easier to manage, cuts through grass, and sensitive. The mono leader is for a little extra stretch, and won’t wrap around the trebles as easily. 

 

Normally I use an Alberto knot, but I’m learning how to make an FG knot quickly and consistently. I don’t know why, but knots are just not my “thing”. 

4 minutes ago, Smalls said:

I have a rod I use for basically the same thing- squarebills, jerk baits, spooks, etc. 

 

I use 20-30lb braid tied to a 10lb mono leader. I like braid because it’s considerably easier to manage, cuts through grass, and sensitive. The mono leader is for a little extra stretch, and won’t wrap around the trebles as easily. 

I'm thinking this might work best, though I'd probably use 65# braid as my main line. On the other curado 71's I have anything under 50# tends to lash because of dig in.

56 minutes ago, Can't Catch Bass said:

I'm assuming you're not suggesting flourocarbon for top water because of the lines lack of buoyancy... It wants to sink. 

 

Would braid with a flourocarbon leader help counteract this somewhat? If not, what about braid with a monofilament leader?

 

My concern with going with braid or flourocarbon is the lack of stretch and ripping out hooks.

Correct. Straight fluoro sinks too quickly to effectively work any "slow" type of topwater like spooks, poppers, etc., though it actually works pretty well for things like buzzbaits. Very easy to test and see for yourself.

 

Braid with a mono (nylon) or copoly leader would work fine with topwaters and is even preferable to straight braid. You could always back off your rod power or action one notch to help compensate. A longer leader would also gain you a little extra cushion.

A good braid in the 30lb. test range will work for all treble hook applications. If you’re concerned about tearing hooks out of the fishes mouth, you’re over powering the fish when fighting it. Set your drag correctly and use the rod to bring them in by pumping it up and reeling in the slack when you drop it back down. If you don’t think you can transition to doing that, Go with a quality hybrid like Yozuri. It isn’t the best choice for top waters if you’re working them slow, but will get the job done on most if you work them with your rod tip up.

12 lb Lb Big Game or 13 lb Diefer Armillo Nylon.

Tom

I'd use 10 or 12 pound Big Game for those baits.

10 hours ago, Can't Catch Bass said:

I'm thinking this might work best, though I'd probably use 65# braid as my main line. On the other curado 71's I have anything under 50# tends to lash because of dig in.

  I don’t see that being an issue in anywhere but very clear water. That’d be the only place I’m ever worried about line visibility. I don’t have any water like that, really, so I don’t worry. Anything like that, I might change my tactics. 

I'm using #11 Sunline Shooter Defier Armilo

 

Interesting to read discussions on lines to use for every different technique.  Twenty years ago I think I used 14lb mono for everything except frogs and that was 20lb mono.  It is nice to have choices today.  I still like simplicity though with 14lb mono for topwaters, 15lb flouro for under water baits an 50lb braid for frogs.

30lb braid with a mono leader for everything but lipless baits I’ll use straight braid for those.

Seaguar Invizx for the stretch factor that it has for everything except top water. My top water rod I use Mono and my frog rod braid. This works great for me

I would stick to mono for cranks and topwater. If you were just using the rod for cranks then you could try fluorocarbon.

 

I never crank with braid. Preference really.