I prefer 10 lb fluoro for jerkbaits… and 30 lb braid for topwater… 

 

However, my challenge now in a kayak is versatility in the 8 rods I can carry.  So I have one primary rod for the combo

platter of jerkbaits and topwater lures.
 

Anyone use a mono or co-poly that they like to use for both techniques? If so - what brand, pound test, etc? 

Sunline SuperNatural Mono is an AMAZING general purpose low cost line. For mono...its relatively low stretch and low memory. I would not hesitate to use 10# for jerkplugs and topwater.

8lb yzh or super natural 

53 minutes ago, webertime said:

8lb yzh or super natural 

Yes, YZH is a great line. Crazy but 8 lb YZH is the equivalent thickness of 12 lb Sniper  - and 6 lb YZH is about the same as 10 lb Sniper. Something about any 6 lb line scares me to death for any power fishing technique!

I understand what you’re asking, but for me that’s 3 different combos

 

30# braid for all top water except frogs which is 50#. 

12# fluorocarbon for jerk baits and any light t rigs. 
 

You can get away with 30# braid for what you want to do and be fine. 
But always be mindful of setting and landing with trebles using braid 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, Mike L said:

I understand what you’re asking, but for me that’s 3 different combos

 

30# braid for all top water except frogs which is 50#. 

12# fluorocarbon for jerk baits and any light t rigs. 
 

You can get away with 30# braid for what you want to do and be fine. 
But always be mindful of setting and landing with trebles using braid 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree, on my bass boat I had a rod each for topwater and one for jerkbaits. Kayak forces you to make decisions and limit to one rod. 
 

I have used 30 lb for both before and put on a mono leader that floats for topwater, and works reasonably well for jerkbaits.  But it’s a compromise, and I find braid snaps more and that isn’t always a good thing when jerkbaiting in the cold water periods.  Have to be really conscious of not over-working the lure. 
 

I don’t think there’s an easy solution here…

1 hour ago, 00bullitt said:

Sunline SuperNatural Mono is an AMAZING general purpose low cost line. For mono...its relatively low stretch and low memory. I would not hesitate to use 10# for jerkplugs and topwater.

Not familiar with SuperNatural mono, but sounds interesting… appears to be a thinner diameter than many monos or co-polies.  How is the breaking strenght? 

57 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Something about any 6 lb line scares me to death for any power fishing technique!

You're forgetting that the IGFA tested YZH and came up with these 'true' breaking strengths.

1 hour ago, FryDog62 said:

 

I don’t think there’s an easy solution here…

Not familiar with SuperNatural mono, but sounds interesting… appears to be a thinner diameter than many monos or co-polies.  How is the breaking strenght? 

 

Supernatural is my default mono.  I have 6-16# on various rods.  I just swapped the Aldebaran to 8# on the BFS rig and it’s a great line for that.  I fish 16# on my do everything moving bait rod, 14# on my topwater and lighter stuff bait casting rod (things like flukes, walking baits and poppers, lighter chatterbaits, etc).  I fish 10 and 12 on my crankbait rods.  It’s JDM diameter for a given strength and it’s rated appropriately.  Low memory, modest stretch, slick coating that ties good knots.  Lower abrasion resistance so not ideal for pitching into wood but good enough for moving baits around wood.  And it’s cheap.  Easy enough to try a spool and if you don’t like it use it for backing.  

 

The moss green is next to impossible to see above water if you’re a line watcher.  

My jerkbaits rod’s all have braid to leader on them. 20# braid to 10# flouro leader. But like you if I’m trying to save space. I would either just swap leaders from flouro to mono. Or just load reel with #10 maxima ultra green and be done with it. 

2 hours ago, Mike L said:

30# braid for all top water except frogs which is 50#. 

12# fluorocarbon for jerk baits and any light t rigs. 

Same answer for me...the closest I've gotten is I use a 6104cb...in the colder months it has a casting reel with fluoro on it...then when it gets warmer I switch the reel over to one that has 30lb braid in it w/ a copoly leader and use that for a popper...suppose you could also use something like a spook with the same setup but turns out I like a longer rod for the spook so I do the same thing w/ the 735cb I've got...but that one goes between a lipless and a spook. TLDR 2 reels w/ the same rod is the closest I've gotten to doing anything like this...would not throw a jerkbait on anything but fluorocarbon (since it sinks better and the fish can't see it as easily) and not going to use that same fluorocarbon for topwater lures like a popper or a spook.

 

Also straight 50lb braid with a frog for me...

If I were in your shoes facing that dilemma, I’d go 10 lb. clear Big Game and call it a day. Thick enough to handle most topwater work, but thin enough I can work around any depth/action limitations with jerkbaits, and plenty strong for whatever you might hook with either.