Do you guys find yourselves using braid or FC more as main line? I hear great things about both, but would like to avoid using leaders, still trying to tie a good double uni knot and I hear swivels scare bass. Also ask because I am buying a medium baitcaster setup and thought maybe FC would be good on the spool and just use braid on my medium heavy setup. 

You're going to get so many replies that recommend both.......for me..........braid no leader for most of my fishing.  I use a short mono leader on treble bait rods because the mono is a little stiffer and it helps to keep the hooks from fouling the line.  By short I mean short,,,,,,,like less than two feet. 

21 minutes ago, Dens228 said:

You're going to get so many replies that recommend both.......for me..........braid no leader for most of my fishing.  I use a short mono leader on treble bait rods because the mono is a little stiffer and it helps to keep the hooks from fouling the line.  By short I mean short,,,,,,,like less than two feet. 

What lb do you use for braid? I have 65lb on my med heavy because I was having problems with dig ins, but I probably shouldn't use it for every technique lol. Maybe keep 65 on the medium heavy and use FC or only 40 lb on the medium setup? 

I put 10 lb FC on my spinning setup for finesse

   Fishermen have used spinners for over 80 years, used swivels for over 80 years, and caught bass for over 80 years. Swivels don't spook bass. 

   One thing I'd like to ask: why did you mention fluorocarbon and braid, but not nylon monofilament?  (Just curious.)    jj

Just now, jimmyjoe said:

   Fishermen have used spinners for over 80 years, used swivels for over 80 years, and caught bass for over 80 years. Swivels don't spook bass. 

   One thing I'd like to ask: why did you mention fluorocarbon and braid, but not nylon monofilament?  (Just curious.)    jj

Just not that knowledgeable yet I guess man. As I have gotten the casting fever I have been trying to put together 3 setups(line,gear ratio, rod) to match everything perfectly with the technique. Might be overthinking things lol.

I use braid for 2 presentations only (never with a leader)

All others are flouro. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

   

19 minutes ago, Spoons said:

Just not that knowledgeable yet I guess man. As I have gotten the casting fever I have been trying to put together 3 setups(line,gear ratio, rod) to match everything perfectly with the technique. Might be overthinking things lol.

 

    I've been lucky. I had good fishermen to start me out over 50 years ago, and I have a few really good friends that I can count on nowadays. We're all different, we're all crazy, and we all use each others' equipment if we're curious about it. That's valuable beyond measure.

   Do you have friends who have equipment you could try out, just to see whether you like this or that or the other thing?  The reason I ask is that you can get all the advice you please here, but it's just people's opinions. If you can go out and actually use some of this stuff that you're wondering about, you'll not only get real answers, but you'll get answers that you know apply to you.    jj

2 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   

 

    I've been lucky. I had good fishermen to start me out over 50 years ago, and I have a few really good friends that I can count on nowadays. We're all different, we're all crazy, and we all use each others' equipment if we're curious about it. That's valuable beyond measure.

   Do you have friends who have equipment you could try out, just to see whether you like this or that or the other thing?  The reason I ask is that you can get all the advice you please here, but it's just people's opinions. If you can go out and actually use some of this stuff that you're wondering about, you'll not only get real answers, but you'll get answers that you know apply to you.    jj

That's great, I wish but honestly my friends are all catfish fishermen lol. My current baitcaster is a med heavy/fast with a daiwa tatula ct 7:3:1 so maybe ill just focus on getting the medium/moderate baitcaster setup with a slower reel for cranks and just try a bunch of different lines on it. 

I use braid in 50# for Arigs and 8# for deep vertical fishing.  Everything else is fluorocarbon from 6# to 15#.

21 minutes ago, Spoons said:

That's great, I wish but honestly my friends are all catfish fishermen lol. My current baitcaster is a med heavy/fast with a daiwa tatula ct 7:3:1 so maybe ill just focus on getting the medium/moderate baitcaster setup with a slower reel for cranks and just try a bunch of different lines on it. 

 

   Sounds good.   Good luck!  ?   jj

I'm a hybrid fan I guess.  Mono backer (about half spool), 15lb braid mainline, then a fluorocarbon leader of about 10 feet.  Spinning and casting gear, ultralight to catfish set up's lol.  Just with heavier braid on the big rods.

1 hour ago, Spoons said:

What lb do you use for braid? I have 65lb on my med heavy because I was having problems with dig ins, but I probably shouldn't use it for every technique lol. Maybe keep 65 on the medium heavy and use FC or only 40 lb on the medium setup? 

I put 10 lb FC on my spinning setup for finesse

I use 20 lb for cranks, jerkbaits, mainly treble hook baits, 30 for jigs, t-rigs, spinnerbaits, mainly single hook baits.   I use 65 for frogging and other slop fishing.  I don't have problems with dig in.   I use Sufix 832 or PowerPro......whatever is in stock when I need it. 

I use braid for topwater, FC for most things, and mono for crankbaits.   Poundage is based on the choice of rod/reel, lure, and structure. 

4 hours ago, Mike L said:

I use braid for 2 presentations only (never with a leader)

All others are flouro. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

X2

Frogs and walking baits get braid. Everything else is fluoro! I fish a lot of clearer water and its a confidence thing for me. If I fished a lot of heavy vegetation etc I'd  probably have another rod or 2 with braid for punching etc.