Hey all, I’ve been trying to decide on a perfect line for my medium fast spinning setup I have. 
 

I use this for lots of different things such as ned rigs, shaky head, weightless t rigs and some light weight t rigs. No topwater gets thrown on this. 
 

I’m trying to figure out what line and # would be like the best overall for all those things. I HATE any leaders and I know many and many people use braid to leader but that’s just not my thing so if we can stick to a straight line that’d be greatly appreciated. 
 

I throw in a bunch of stuff and sometimes rocks so I don’t want something that gets cut like butter or something that is weak and breaks easily. But also something that isn’t so bad to handle on spinning gear. 
 

I know it’s a lot to ask, any suggestions? 

I've always used 8 lb mono, or fluro on my spinning set ups. Throw everything from a spinnerbait to worms. Any of the good quality lines will suffice. Also I used KVD line conditioner to help tame any memory.

I was very hesitant to run anything on my spinning rods except mono. I tried straight fluorocarbon and HATED it. ICK!

 

Brother and I took Dad to Frances Case in South Dakota this spring for Smallies.  I spooled up one of my spinning rods with braid to fluorocarbon leader. Initially did not like the set up.

 

But after forcing myself to fish it for a few days, ended up really liking braid-to-leader on my spinning gear.

 

I switched all my spinning rods to 10lb PowerPro bright yellow (so I can see the line), and attach 8 or 10lb fluoro leaders via modified Alberto knot.

 

I really like this set up.  Killer for NED, weightless Senko's.

Go with 15 pound test braid.  Most sensitive, easier hook sets, so thin the fish probably won't see it (many use braid heavier than this successfully), works best with a moderate action rod.  One thing the leader you hate so much provides is a little stretch in the system, which is good with braid as the line.  Also, a leader allows you to cut off and retie without losing your main line. 

 

Everything is a trade-off.  I like the braid + FC or mono leader option.  But many make straight braid work.

6lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid or 8lb Trilene XL

 

Don't be fooled by what the YZH says on the label. It says 6lbs but breaks at almost double that and has the diameter of 8lb TXL. 

 

The 6lb YZH is a fantastic do it all line for spinning gear.

I'll be the devils advocate and suggest 8# tatsu FC line with no leader just line. Best for abrasion and great sensitivity as well as pretty much invisible. Pricey but try it for a year and switch if you don't like it. KVD line conditioner when you are going fishing the next day. 

2 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

6lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid or 8lb Trilene XL

 

Don't be fooled by what the YZH says on the label. It says 6lbs but breaks at almost double that and has the diameter of 8lb TXL. 

 

The 6lb YZH is a fantastic do it all line for spinning gear.

I'd even go down to 4# YZH...that's what I have on the spinning rig I caught this baby on...break tests show it hold to over 8#.

If completely against braid/leader go with sunline sniper in 8#

Looks like it’s between YZH and straight braid. I would like a little stretch which I know YZH can provide but braid is very manageable so it’s a tough choice.  How does 15# braid do for abrasion? It’s relatively not the best right? 

It just depends. I find braid lasts longer for me in rocks than mono as long as I keep an eye on it for fraying. I have 10lb braid to leader on my spinning setups and I love it.  My jig rod is 20lb straight braid. Never been a problem. 

I'm not fond of braid to leader either.

Most of my spinning combos have either straight mono or braid. My bottom contact spinning combos have straight fluro. To me its just more sensitive. Braid is good but not on a slack line. With fluro, you can still feel the bite.

For your techniques i would go with a soft 8 lbs fluro.

Suffix advance mono 8#. 

My suggestion is look closely at the line diameter.

Mono/Copolymer/Hybrid/Fluorocarbon lines over .010D are problematic regarding line management on spinning reel to 2500 size.

Yo-Zuri Hybrid 8# is .011D

Suffix Advance 8# is .011D

Sunline Armillo 11# is .011D

Sunline Sniper 7# is .009D

Maxima UG* 8# is .010D, 6# is .009D, 5# is .008D

Trilene XL 8# is .010D

* Maxima Ultra Green is extremely abrasion resistant.

Tom

 

Seems you're dead set against braid. That's too bad because it all but eliminates line twist and 20# braid is about the same diameter of 8# mono. It's the most manageable line for spinning. I'm dead set against fluoro. So that just leaves mono/copolymer. Choose a quality one that your rod is rated for. 

I’ve tried all kinds of jazz and 6# mono is my favorite. I quit buying 8# and just keep 6 on every spinning reel now 

I like 6-8# mono on my size 20/200/2500 reels.

 

My favorites are:

 

Vicious ultimate mono

Berkley Trilene XL

   Would you consider Nanofil?              jj

I like braid to leader.  If you want a little stretch you can use 10 or 12 ft of mono instead of FC.  The leader also protects the mainline from most abrasion.  It handles better then FC and lasts much longer too.

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Would you consider Nanofil?              jj

I would. I heard it’s pretty easy to break though. I have a spool of it actually that a friend gave to me that I never used. I believe it’s 8. 

And I would like a little stretch but not too much. I know actually FC stretches more than some monos however I do like the aspect of being that fluoro you can feel bites in slack line. A lot of the times after I hop a ned or t rig I don’t reel in the slack line and I let it sit. 

I use CXX on my Topwater rod and I know that’s as low stretch as mono can basically get but how about FC? What would be the next runner up in mono? I know invizx is pretty stretchy 

Just now, Jake51823 said:

I would. I heard it’s pretty easy to break though. I have a spool of it actually that a friend gave to me that I never used. I believe it’s 8. 

 

   Try a San Diego Jam knot and watch your incidents of abrasion. It's tender. I used it for 5 years, but I used it in the river. No great danger of abrasion there. Might be what you're looking for ..... or might not. Never know 'til you try.       jj

15 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I'd even go down to 4# YZH...that's what I have on the spinning rig I caught this baby on...break tests show it hold to over 8#.

I like 4lb for light wire hooks and reel sets, but not for setting the hook with the rod.

I echo @MN Fisher - recommend YZ Hybrid 6 lb. I use it on my ML/XF spinning rod and it casts well and handles decent sized fish well. Keeps things simple with no leaders, and from what I hear it doesn't stretch as much as mono yet it's reasonably senstitive.

 

8 lb Izorline copolymer