I’m sort of tempted to see what all the fuss is about. Currently only use braid on my finesse rig, but I am wondering if using it on my “do everything” workhorse setup wouldn’t give me better casting distance. I mostly throw walking baits, whopper ploppers, jackhammers cranks and spinnerbaits on this combo but struggle to get distance with many lures unless they are heavy.

 

Which line do recommend, and what lb test? 
 

St Croix Victory 7’2” MHMF 
Shimano Curado XGK

 

 

You don't want a sinking flouro line, and you don't want a flouro leader.  The sinking screws up the action of many surface lures by pulling them under on the twitch.   Use a braid without the Gore fiber, and use a mono leader.

 

I like Suffix braids and XT or similar mono .  The leader is the most important to ensuring proper surface lure action.

I use McCoy’s Mean Green copolymer line and have not had an issue. It’s a super strong line and great if you prefer a single line spool.

 

Maybe Toxic will chime in as I believe he tested the McCoy’s line around 2003.

Through trial and errors, I've decided that I will not use anything other than mono for ploppers.  

If you do it, something like 30 lb 832 braid and a 14# mono leader is what you want.  For a baitcaster, that's about as light as you want to go on the braid side.  You don't want a fluoro leader (though for a plopper it doesn't matter).  But, just swapping from mono to braid on the same rod is going to take any and all give out of the total setup.  If the rod is already light anyway then that's maybe not bad.  If the rod is a touch on the stiff side already (which is my suspicion) then you're just going to have an unforgiving beast of a setup.  With treble hook baits that can cause more problems that answers.

 

With 14# line and a 90 or 110 sized plopper you should be able to cast them to the horizon with a 7'2" MH rod.  Is that still the Curado 200K and have you been adjusting the reel settings with different lures?  Even with the 200k on it, you should be be able to bomb a KVD 2.5 which weighs 5/8 oz.  A 1.5 is only 3/8 but should cast fine.  If only heavy lures are casting any distance for you, I there is a setup and techique mismatch that's the issue, not the line.

10-12lb Yo Zuri hybrid for top waters, 12-15lb for bladed jig.

^ what he said for topwaters - I still like 15# FC for chatterbaits.

6 hours ago, ohioguy25 said:

I’m sort of tempted to see what all the fuss is about. Currently only use braid on my finesse rig, but I am wondering if using it on my “do everything” workhorse setup wouldn’t give me better casting distance. I mostly throw walking baits, whopper ploppers, jackhammers cranks and spinnerbaits on this combo but struggle to get distance with many lures unless they are heavy.

 

Which line do recommend, and what lb test? 
 

St Croix Victory 7’2” MHMF 
Shimano Curado XGK

 

 

 

You should be getting plenty of distance with those lures on that setup. I would consider playing with brakes and spool tension before I swapped lines out.

 

For reference, I am running 15lb Big Game mono on my bladed jig set up, 7'2" MHMF Shimano Intenza glass with a Curado 150 MGL and can bomb a 1/2 oz or 3/8 oz bladed jig out there. I know the K doesn't have the MGL spool, but unless you're throwing very small sizes in these baits, I don't think it should be an issue.

 

If you are throwing very light weights, your rod may not be loading properly, and I would consider a medium over a MH in that case....

 

As stated by others, definitely no fluoro for topwaters.

5 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Through trial and errors, I've decided that I will not use anything other than mono for ploppers.  

 

Dumb question, but how does mono handle on baitcasters?

Not dumb.  Handles well.  I've only used Suffix Elite last few years.  Can't speak to others, though there are plenty of mono fans here that never remarked on bc challenges.

To kinda follow through, this reply come from the manufacturer of McCoy Mean Green Copolymer line.

 

 

“So if I understand correctly, your question is if our Mean Green Co-Poly will pull your top water lures down? If that is the case, no it wont pull your lure down and it wont help the lure float either. Easy way to figure this out is to put a length of line in your sink. We put 20 lb. Mean Green in our sink and after 20 minutes 75% was still on top of the water. Then we pushed it under the water and also just swirled the water around and 75% was under water but suspended. That being said, if you are running a top water lure it would not have an effect on how your lure ran across the water.”

 

Thank You,

Steve Lindell

Sales Director 

Tackle Tamer Products / McCoy Fishing Line / Laurvick Release 

 

 

As I said, I have had no issues with topwater at all.

 

Straight 12 lb Big Game is what I used for decades for all my bass lures except big heavy swim baits. Good casting distance with strong knot strength and abrasion resistance.

Tom

I use Big Game mono for almost all of my needs. I use 8, 10, and 12 pound tests on baitcasting rigs. It handles great.

I run 40lb power pro to a 16lb leader for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Cranks I would drop to 12lb. Topwater I would just cut off the leader and run the braid straight. I fish around a lot of vegetation so I like 4 carrier braid but otherwise 8 carrier is probably going to be smoother and nicer to fish if you're using this for more cast and retrieve techniques. 

I recommend 30lb braid with a 12 to 16 inch leader of 14 to 20lb mono for that application.  Berkley big game is nice for leader material and is relatively cheap.  You want heavier mono because topwaters have a tendancy to catch the treble hooks on the line if the line is too limp like braid is.  A stiffer leader will help reduce issues like that.  

 

When going to a braid reel, only put like 2 or 3 spool rotations of backer line on before putting on the braid because you can absolutely launch baits and having that extra line is nice.