What size line can handle basic bass fishing? I have 8 lbs mono on my reel.  I know you probably need heavier line for frogging and other topwaters. Speaking of which. What size line should I use for basic topwater like plugs, poppers, and buzzbaits? Do I have to run 50+ braid of frogs if cover isn't awful. I only want to use mono on this setup. I currently have 8 lbs mono on my Pfleuger President reel. I probably should have gotten a bigger reel. 

Well, with almost no real info on what “basic bass fishing” constitutes to you…I’d suggest a good 10-12lb test mono since that’s what you want to use. Frogging is heavy fishing, but if your cover is more scant and not super sloppy…good 10-12lb can do a lot. I’d focus on other things to start than immediately going to top water…which seems like all people go for these days. Run a solid MF 7’ spinning rod with a 2000-2500 size reel with Big Game mono and you’ll be good for quite a bit of stuff 

On my medium lite and medium rods I use no heavier than 10lb braid. On my medium heavy and heavy I will go 15-20. The reason I do that is generally because they will be bigger/heavier baits or have more drag on them coming through the water. 

I have the same reel on a rod I have used a number of seasons for just topwater.  It has always been spooled with 12lb Big Game.

I fish 6 and 8lbs mono Big Game and BPS Excel in heavily pressured waters on my spinning rods medium light and medium with Penn and Daiwa reels. Concur with others who use 12lbs mono Big Game and BPS Excel and will sometimes go to 10lb test in super clear water that is pressured on bait casters.

Good Fishing

I use 12-pound mono for wacky worms and T-Rigged plastics. I use 30-lb. braid for everything else.

I'd bump up to 10-12 and you should be good in a lot of situations.

 

8 lb mono will absolutely work - it just will be much more likely to break you off if the fish is large and pulls you into any kind of cover.

I use 50# braid almost exclusively. Exceptions are spinning rig (both running 10# braid to flouro leader). 
 

I love all the questions @Cael B!  One thing to consider though is your questions are awfully vague. You’ll find that you will get all the information you seek and then some on BR. However, try to be a little more specific.  Also,

I guarantee you that someone on this board lives relatively close to you and would ALWAYS meet up with you to talk in person. I know I will/would.

I agree with the folks that have said 10-12# mono. I prefer spooling it on a 3500 reel. Seems like the casting distance increases and it helps with line jumping off. Trilene XL and Vicious work well for a spinning reel. 

Most of my baitcasters have 12 or 15lb fluoro or copolymer (mono). The one I usually throw topwaters on has 12lb copolymer. 
 

Spinning rods all are 8 or 10lb braid. 
 

Heaviest I ever go is 30lb braid, and that’s for rare occasions.

The OP more than likely has spinning tackle and 8 lb mono is a good choice.

We don’t know what rod is being used and that is a part of the combo that determines the type and size of lures that can be used.

Tom

I use 8 lb  as a minimum.  In really clear water might go to 6.

 

60 braid maximum for slop frogging.

 

That should give a good starting range.

 

Bread and butter, day in, day out.  20 FC or Mono.

 

I use 20 lb braid on a 7' medium rod with a 2500 sized reel and I've never lost a bass I hooked except a huge smallmouth that bent the little panfish jig (I was scouting a new area) and got away. Granted, I had a my drag quite loose at the time as well.

 

I will also mention I am from Ontario, where bass rarely, if ever, enter the double digits. Adjust your line according to the waterbodies you fish and the area you live. Good luck!

I’m in Florida so it’s 15# minimum and 20# is normal.

40-50# for frogs and flipping for me unless it’s the nasty, thick stuff then I’ll break out the 65#.

For me, I use 12# fluoro for cranks and flukes, 15# fluoro for worms, 30# braid for spinnerbaits, chatter baits,  buzz baits and some top water. Anything else 14# fluoro or mono.

I think you'll be able to do whatever the heck you want from frogging to texas rigged soft plastic with #12 Berkley Big Game.

 

I have to get a stout stick, wrap the line around it, and pull extremely hard to get that to break-off and I'm a fairly strong dude. I don't think you'll have any issues with that in heavy cover.

 

I say keep it simple and inexpensive. Live the traditional mono lifestyle of your bass fishing ancestors. 

My bait casters either have 15 or 10 lb depending on the bait I am fishing with.  One spinning reel has 10 lb on it and the second has 8 lb.  For bass fishing I don't go lighter than 8 lb.

10-12lb Mono Big Game is what I first used when bass fishing. Spray some KVD Line Conditioner and you will be set!