As the title states, I'm looking for help on what type of line to try for a few set ups.  I've only used mono and flouro.  Have never tried hybrid so wondering if that is a better all around line when I use a rod for multiple applications.

 

7' ML-F with a Shimano Stradic.  

I use this for fishing a local river (DuPage).  Mostly smallies.  6# line.  Since I fish from the bank it's the only rod I bring since I'm walking through heavy brush.  I fish everything from soft plastics to finesse jigs to light top waters.  

 

6'9" M-F with a Shimano Stradic.

This is my all around spinning set up for fishing LMB.  8# line.  Bass in my area get no bigger than 5#s, or maybe I haven't found the bigger ones yet.  Mainly fish soft plastics, inline spinners and light swimbaits.

 

7' MH-F with a Shimano Curado 200K.  

This is my all around baitcaster for fishing LMB.  12# line.  On this I fish jigs, topwater, spinnerbaits, swimbaits.  This rod is my workhorse where I use the most diverse baits.  Wondering if I'm better off with hybrid line here?

 

Also have a dedicated rod for crankbaits (I use mono) and a rod for flipping/pitching (braid).

 

If you guys/gals could offer up your thoughts on what type of line to use for the three rods above I would greatly appreciate it.  

 

 

 

7ft ML/F- braid to leader or straight flouro, somewhere between 6-10lbs

 

6’9 M/F- braid to leader or 8-12lb flouro

 

7ft MH/F I’d probably run braid since you mentioned top water, probably 40lb braid. If you want to tie a leader 15lb flouro would be good. 

 

If you are unfamiliar with tying leader knots YouTube is your friend. I’d start with the double uni then move up to thinner knots. 

32 minutes ago, NathanDLTH said:

7ft ML/F- braid to leader or straight flouro, somewhere between 6-10lbs

 

6’9 M/F- braid to leader or 8-12lb flouro

 

7ft MH/F I’d probably run braid since you mentioned top water, probably 40lb braid. If you want to tie a leader 15lb flouro would be good. 

 

If you are unfamiliar with tying leader knots YouTube is your friend. I’d start with the double uni then move up to thinner knots. 

Thanks for the input.  I’m relatively new and don’t know much about braid to flouro so I’m hesitant to try. Maybe down the road I’ll give it a try. 

A lot of people like braid....especially on spinning reels because it won't get line twist near as fast as other lines.  However, I like mono/co-polymers and use the same weights you do.  I do use some braid on both reel types.   However, the majority carry mono or co-polymers.  Some I like are AN40 and Siege for BC and Elite or XL for spinning.

For the 7' ML/F rod, I would suggest 5lb braid with a 6lb leader.

 

For the 7' ML/F rod, I would suggest 15lb braid with 8lb leader and maybe occasionally 6lbs depending on conditions and what you're throwing.

 

For the 7' MH/F rod, since you throw frogs I would suggest 40lb braid. If you add a frogging rod, I would suggest 15lb or 17lb fluorocarbon, mono or copoly. I generally prefer to not run braid on casting gear if I don't need to -- first it's quicker to rig up not tying a leader and second it's easier to remove a bird's nest and even the best of us will occasionally hit a low hanging branch of something.

I use 10 lb yellow braid with 6-8lb fluorocarbon leaders on my spinning set ups. 30lb yellow braid with or without a 15lb fluorocarbon leader on my baitcasting set ups. 

Thanks for all the replies.  I greatly appreciate it.  I've read as many threads on this forum as possible the past few days.  I read one thread and think I know how I want to set them up.  I read another and get confused as hell!!!!  But what I take from that is many set ups work and everyone has a different opinion.  But, it does seem the majority like to use braid with a leader and maybe it's time to step up to that.  I used Sunline Sniper and Yo Zuri Fluoro on my spinning gear and constantly deal with line knots.  It's been pretty frustrating.  Here is what I'm going to try:

 

7' ML-F  6# Yo Zuri Hybrid

 

6'9" M-F  10# Sufix 832 Lo-Vis Green to fluoro leader.  I already use 40# Sufix on my flipping/pitching rod (the rod I use for frogs) and like it.  

 

7' MH-F  20# Sufix 832 Lo-Vis Green to fluoro leader.  Can also change to mono leader depending on presentation. 

 

Just need to learn a few knots and it seems lots of folks use the Alberto or Uni to Uni.  I also think this will help with the line knots/bird nests I've been getting on my spinning reel.  I've never had that occur using braid on my baitcaster.  

 

Thanks again for all the help/advice.  

Braid + leader for versatility. Alberto knot is what I like and my leader length is such that the knot never goes into the reel. I can change lures easier and not keep cutting into my main line braid except when changing leaders. A 5-6 foot leader will last a while until too short or just needing a different type of leader. 

 

I use 20# braid to usually an 8# fluoro leader on my medium/fast spinning, and I have 30# braid to 12# fluoro on a baitcaster. I can use a mono leader if I want to use topwater lures. I have no issues with the Alberto knot going through the guides. 

 

 

I started out aiming for cheap and simple.  I am still cheap, but have abandoned simple..... somewhat.  I went for a couple years using Yo-Zuri Hybrid (6-15) for everything.  Went quite well for a while, but once I tried braid, I decided it was worth complicating.  I do use leaders (abrasion resistance, to save braid on reties, and to facilitate breaking off...visibility is just a bonus that I am not convinced is a big deal.)  I practiced tying leaders (and other knots) while sitting around in the winter. 

 

That said, there is some mixing it up, but for most part:

Spinning: 18# Gliss w/8# YZH leader

Treble hooks: YZH (8-15)

Other baitcasters: Braid (20-50) w/YZH leader (8-12)

 

I wish I could remember who created and posted this because I really would like to give him credit, but a couple years ago, someone put this chart up and I thought it was very well done:

 

 

 

On 10/9/2018 at 2:41 PM, I/MBasser said:

 

 

7' ML-F with a Shimano Stradic.  

I use this for fishing a local river (DuPage).  Mostly smallies.  6# line.  Since I fish from the bank it's the only rod I bring since I'm walking through heavy brush.  I fish everything from soft plastics to finesse jigs to light top waters.

 

With the top water aspect in mind I feel a floating line is in order. Your familiar with mono, stick with simple, good and cheap 6-8 lb Berkley XL. Step up to a better quality monofiliament, Sunline Deflier Amarillo 6-8lb.

 

6'9" M-F with a Shimano Stradic.

This is my all around spinning set up for fishing LMB.  8# line.  Bass in my area get no bigger than 5#s, or maybe I haven't found the bigger ones yet.  Mainly fish soft plastics, inline spinners and light swimbaits.

 

Just a step up from above, 8-10lb Xl or Sunline deflier 8-10lb. Fluorocarbon I would avoid due to it's stiffness causing the line to slap the rod, memory and tendency to fly off the spool. if you go the braid to leader route.  I would go no lower then 20lb braid or higher then 30lb. As far as leader goes 8lb-14lb mono, fluoro or copoly/hybrid depending on what line traits you want (float-mono, sink-fluoro, abrasion - coploy).

 

7' MH-F with a Shimano Curado 200K.  

This is my all around baitcaster for fishing LMB.  12# line.  On this I fish jigs, topwater, spinnerbaits, swimbaits.  This rod is my workhorse where I use the most diverse baits.  Wondering if I'm better off with hybrid line here?

 

I would recommend for this set up 12# Berkley big game or Berkley 14#XL if you want to go cheap and strong. Berkley makes a good/great quality monofiliament. Fluorocarbon would be Sunline Sniper or Shooter 14-16#. Straight braid for frogs, jigs, flipping or punching 30#-50#.  Braid to leader route, 30-50#braid and 12-20lb fluoro, mono or copoly/hybrid for the same reasons listed above. 

 

Also have a dedicated rod for crankbaits (I use mono) and a rod for flipping/pitching (braid).

 

If you guys/gals could offer up your thoughts on what type of line to use for the three rods above I would greatly appreciate it.  

 

 

 

Good luck!

FM

On October 9, 2018 at 4:21 PM, NathanDLTH said:

7ft ML/F- braid to leader or straight flouro, somewhere between 6-10lbs

 

6’9 M/F- braid to leader or 8-12lb flouro

 

7ft MH/F I’d probably run braid since you mentioned top water, probably 40lb braid. If you want to tie a leader 15lb flouro would be good. 

 

If you are unfamiliar with tying leader knots YouTube is your friend. I’d start with the double uni then move up to thinner knots. 

1. Maxima 5 lb Ultra Green mono.

2. Berkley 8 lb Big Game.

3. Sunline  11or 13 lb Defier Armillo Nylon. 

note: Armillo smallest #test is 11

Tom

What is your river water like? The tidal Potomac is usually murky and I have BPS 8lb mono green on all three of my spinning reels and always have.  Toxic posts on here and also fishes the Potomac and he is a far more experienced spinning reel angler than I so it would be interesting to get his take.  With the exception of braid on my frog rod and mono on a couple of others for spinner baits, blade baits and top waters, the rest have 15lb Invizx flouro.   I realize you are a bank angler and don't cart around a dozen rods.