I bought a Shimano SLX 6'10" M XF combo to use for jerk bait fishing. I am new to this presentation and going to give it a go this spring. Long story short I bought some 15 Invizx FC and put it on the reel as I thought I was going to use this reel for something else but it turns out I am going to use it for this jerk bait rod. From what I read most people seem to recommend 10# with some also saying 12#. While I am sure 15# would "work" is it so far from ideal I should bite the bullet and strip it off and put 10# on? Being new to this presentation I want to make sure something silly like the wrong # line does not affect my success.

Not too much, unless you happen to be fishing extremely clear water, then you might want to go lower.  But, FC is fragile, and I would not go much lower unless I was striking out and thinking the fish might be seeing the leader.  I fish pretty clear water in Sag Bay MI and Lake St Clair with 15 and have caught one big bunch of fish in the last year.

 

Not at all. Go for it.

Your fine!
i like 10 or 12 and have even used braid.

What ever works

15 lbs FC you are using is .013D, 10 lb Big Game mono is .012D, 12 lb is .014D the line the majority of Jerk bait anglers use. If you can cast 15 lb FC effectively it should be OK.

Tom

I use to use this same line for jerkbaits and never had an issue.  I have since gone to 12lb only because I got a good deal on a big spool. 

But is 10 still the "preferred" choice if you are using FC?

I throw mine on 10 lb fc. Never had any issues.

I use 12# on my main jerkbait rod, but i dont notice a real difference when i go to my second/back up rod i use that has 15# on it.  

Yes that's way to big.  Flouro is heavy and will drag the bait down.  I use 10lb yhb because it's almost neutral, but does sink very slowly.  If you are trying to get deeper then that's entirely different.

I prefer 10lb or 12lb flurocarbon, but I have used 15lb fluorocarbon and it's generally acceptable. I used 12lb mono a lot last year to fish in shallow waters too, and that virtually never snags the front hook which is another added bonus.

54 minutes ago, Angry John said:

Yes that's way to big.  Flouro is heavy and will drag the bait down.  I use 10lb yhb because it's almost neutral, but does sink very slowly.  If you are trying to get deeper then that's entirely different.

This is exactly what I use I like my jerkbaits to suspend. Sometimes in late fall fluorocarbon is good when I want a slow sink.

If the line sinks about the same rate as the lure you shouldn't have any issues snagging the line with the front treble. I use mono to eliminate hook snagging the line issues.

Tom

I never use anything heavier than 10 , sometimes 8.  If the rod is going to be used only as a stickbait rod I would go ahead and put the 10 on it.  You can save the 15.

If your in this area, the stickbait bite will hang around for a while yet but it will be fading.

 

On 3/18/2020 at 8:22 PM, Angry John said:

Yes that's way to big.  Flouro is heavy and will drag the bait down.  I use 10lb yhb because it's almost neutral, but does sink very slowly.  If you are trying to get deeper then that's entirely different.

15# FC worked pretty well for Hank cherry in the classic

Hmm...

My recommendation is Sunline Shooter Deifer Armilo #11.

 

 

 

I throw em on 12 lb red label but have used 15 numerous times with the same success 

But being new to jerk bait fishing 15# won't really negatively effect the action or learning curve, correct?

3 minutes ago, michael1 said:

But being new to jerk bait fishing 15# won't really negatively effect the action or learning curve, correct?

I don't think it will, just get out there and Fish!