Am condensing my rod/reel combos for an upcoming trip in someone else's boat. I have a good all-round 7 foot MH-Fast rod that ideally I would want to use for both Texas-rigs and buzzbaits.  I have one reel for that combo that I need to string up before I go. Do I use:

 

• Braid: great for T-rigs, great hook-sets for both applications, but can occasionally foul up on buzzbait casts and is less forgiving as you try to land fish near the boat. 
• Fluorocarbon: I see Swindle, KVD, Hackney using for buzzbaits - what do they know? Fluoro can be good for T-rigs provided not in heavy slop, which I'm usually not but sometimes.
• Mono: Jack of all trades, master of none. But some might argue a good compromise.

 

I use Braid. And not sure I understand "occasionally foul up" never had this issue.

If you knew you’d be in the slop bays and canals all day long, I might consider braid, but for the majority of situations, I’d personally be using fluoro for your given your scenario.

Braid to fluoro? 

5 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

If you knew you’d be in the slop bays and canals all day long, I might consider braid, but for the majority of situations, I’d personally be using fluoro for your given your scenario.

What size? 

5 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

What size? 

 

Minimum 15 as a good all-around, but you know your waters best, and a bump up to 17 or slightly higher could be in order depending on cover and corresponding worm and worm weights used. 

If the rod has a truly fast action, I'd go with 15#- 20# mono. If it's on the slower side of fast, say 30 percent tip, I'd go 30# or 40# braid.

16-18# FC

 

the line on a buzzbait is out of the water so it doesn't affect the lure's action

 

what they don't want is the braid getting caught in the blade/hook of the lure, so they opt for a stiff line to reduce "fouling" without the stretch of mono

 

the reason I use FC is not because I swear to all fishing gods that it's the perfect line, but because I also find my Texas rig setups with FC already available with the necessary gear and FC hasnt hurt my buzzbaiting yet

Mono. Lb test would vary based on region, seems like you are in MN so I’m guess there’s lots of veg . 17 oughta do it! I use 12 down here because I’ve never seen a lily pad within 1.5 hours of my house. And there’s only one stretch of grass, the rest gets killed 

For both buzzbaits and Texas rigged plastic.....  My preference would be mono for buzzbaits and FC for Texas rigged plastic but for both, mono. 

 

So for a mono that will do both, Sunline Deifer regular or Amarillo.  The regular version has more stretch than Amarillo but both lines are the closest to FC I have seen in a mono.   They also last a long time.

40 braid or 15 BG will work for either.

The pros are sponsored by line companies and change the line at least weekly eliminating the line weakening from use. 

If you can afford to change out line frequently then FC is a consideration. 

Premium mono like Big Game is inexpensive compared to FC and far more durable with good knot and abrasion strength.

Straight braid in heavy cover is another option.

Only you can make this decision.

Tom

15# Berkley Big Game for everything but punching & frogging!

30 or 50# braid, depending which of my MHF rods I have with me. 

2 hours ago, Catt said:

15# Berkley Big Game for everything but punching & frogging!

x2. 15# big game for both of these applications. Less sensitivity with mono, but I am less concerned with sensitivity with t-rigs since bass seem to hold on to them longer than jigs. Jigs would be different story and only scenario I want fluoro.

@WRB wrote a great post about differences between fluoro and mono in the past. Probably multiple great posts lol.

 

Could also consider YZH #12 lb. or #15 lb. line , Sufix Siege #14 lb. or #17 lb. 

15 pound Seaguar Fluoro 

Appreciate the answers from all ~

 

For those of you scoring at home the final count (including 1/2 votes) is:

 

Braid: 4
Fluorocarbon: 3
Mono: 7

 

I think I'll go with Co-poly lol...

 

5 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I think I'll go with Co-poly lol...

Why am I not surprised, Chris?

 

YZH for the win!

I throw buzzbaits a ton. 15lb fluoro is a common choice for me unless I'm around really heavy grass, then it's braid. 15lb fluoro is also my choice for general t-rigging as well. 

On 9/1/2021 at 9:40 AM, T-Billy said:

If the rod has a truly fast action, I'd go with 15#- 20# mono. If it's on the slower side of fast, say 30 percent tip, I'd go 30# or 40# braid.

That's where I'm at.  Honestly, I don't think you could go wrong with any of the three choices.  I've fished both buzzbaits and T-rigs on all three line types and never had the feeling that one was vastly superior to the other. 

 

I think you're better off pairing the line to the rod than the bait in this case.  Unless of course you're throwing those T-rigs into heavy slop, along something abrasive, or in ultra clear water.  Then I might consider switching to braid or fluoro to deal with those specific issues. 

22 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

30 or 50# braid, depending which of my MHF rods I have with me. 

Not that I know any better, but I'm curious why a change in rod would cause you to want to go from 30# to 50# braid or vice-versa. Casting distance?

 

edit: it occurs to me that you probably mean that you have two MHF rods already spooled with 30# and 50# braid, and that the one that you'd use for these applications is the one that you have with you

Edited September 2, 20214 yr by jimanchower

I throw buzz baits with my 7'2 MH t rig rod on FC and it works out pretty well.  I like 15lb InvizX for sparse to moderate cover.  If you get a fish that runs you into thicker cover or grass make sure to check the last 10 or 15ft for damage right away.     

For what it’s worth I do buzzbaits on my spinnerbait/swimbait rod as I condensed.  12lb big game mono. No problems.  Have also been known to T rig a worm with 1/8 oz weight. Or even weightless wacky if I didn’t bring either of those setups. I know people love to hate on mono but it’s been around so long for a reason. 
 

I have also had problems with the buzzbait fouling on braid so I just don’t combine them anymore. 

2 hours ago, Bankc said:

 

I think you're better off pairing the line to the rod than the bait in this case. 

I agree. I like low stretch mono with fast rods, and braid with mod to mod fast rods. You kinda have to handle the rod to make the call, as ratings are all over the place, not only from manufacturer to manufacturer, but also between different models from the same company.