When I fished for smallmouth in northwestern Ontario, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior, I used 6 lb. test. It was plenty strong enough to land hundreds of smallmouth and the occasional 20-lb. pike or king salmon. I switched to 30 lb. braid and 12-pound mono when I started fishing weedy water, but I know where the weeds grow in the two primary ponds I fish and so I'm going to keep a spinning reel with 6-pound test in my canoe or kayak in 2026 to achieve longer casts and have a line that's harder for the bass to see. Of course, near weeds, I'll use heavier line. 

Especially on spinning tackle, Japanese braid will get you both smaller and stronger

Same diameter as 2-lb mono is 12-lb breaking strength in X-braid.  

@Swamp Girl - they call it threadline for a reason - this is one size larger than #0.6 (redfish above was landed on #0.6) - learn a good leader knot, and your last few feet can be whatever mono you want, while the braid working line will cast farther and handle better under all conditions.  

 

Yeah, I know how braid works diameter-wise, but it's opaque. Mono is translucent. 

19 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

Yeah, I know how braid works diameter-wise, but it's opaque. Mono is translucent. 

I'm assuming you're thinking about visibility here or shall I say low visibility with mono?

24 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Same diameter as 2-lb mono is 12-lb breaking strength in X-braid.

I have to look into this. I downsized braid a couple of years ago because of the water current putting a nasty bow in my line, but I feel like I could drop down even more. Thanks for posting bulldog

 

@Swamp Girl, apologies, not trying to hijack, this post was very helpful to me.

Mono absorbs UV, so it creates a shadow. 

The reason fluoro is different is that it transmits UV.  

 

You're also already using the right reels for braid.  

@Swamp Girl - fluoro also comes in hard or soft for the same diameter - soft is limper and lower-strength for the same diameter - and soft fluoro is still smaller diameter than same-strength mono.  

3 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I'm assuming you're think about visibility here or shall I say low visibility with mono?

 

Yes, visibility.

 

I also like the feel of mono. As much as I like and appreciate braid, it's a little limp for my tastes. Fluoro is too stiff. Mono is just right. 

 

I also trust light mono. As I shared in my opening post, I've landed heavy fish on light mono.

 

2 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Mono absorbs UV, so it creates a shadow. 

The reason fluoro is different is that it transmits UV.  

 

Of course, but as I wrote above, it's too stiff for my tastes. 

1 minute ago, Swamp Girl said:

Fluoro is too stiff. Mono is just right.

 

Three little fishing lines .... BOY, it's going to be a LONG winter, isn't it @Swamp Girl!

There's a reason Toray Exthreaad is the most expensive fluoro made.  Each diameter/test is formulated separately to get the right result.  

https://carolinafishingtackle.com/products/toray-bawo-exthread-fluorocarbon

Onshore stock is handy, but if you're already shopping in Japan, it's cheaper there.  

This line is both limp and low-memory, which are normally competing properties in any monofilament line.  Smaller diameter than same strength mono.  

I went back to my roots this year with an ultra light outfit with a 6' St. Croix trout rod and 4 lb Trilene XL.

I've landed some nice fish with this, granted I'm throwing this in clear, snag free water.

55 minutes ago, herder said:

I went back to my roots this year with an ultra light outfit with a 6' St. Croix trout rod and 4 lb Trilene XL.

I've landed some nice fish with this, granted I'm throwing this in clear, snag free water.

 

Helpful. Thanks!

I fish all season with 4 pound copolymer line. Ultralight spinning. 

I do have to say after many years of using braid with a leader it took awhile to get used to using pure mono. 

Not sure how to put it into words, but the "hits" are a lot softer, don't feel every tick, definitely need to be a more conscious line watcher. 

@herder that's why finesse braid was such a boon for our winter fishing.  

Big fish sip tiny winter bait - they don't expend energy to feed, because they don't get much back.  

 

 

Although I’m not catching monsters by any means I really like the 4 pound KastKing  monofilament I’ve had on my 1000 size Piscifun reel for the last 4 seasons and I’m planning on continuing to use it this upcoming season as well. The red color has held up extremely well while the blue color faded/bled out as soon as it hit the water.  

Im going to add I really loved the Blue monofilament when I first received it and spooled it on my reel so if anyone knows of a not extremely expensive monofilament in this color and is willing to share the information I’d greatly appreciate it. Sorry @Swamp Girl I don’t mean to take your post off the rails .

I use 10 lb x-9 braid on 2--2000 size spinners.

6' 8 lb flouro leader.

Its weedy here year round, never an issue. I'm not casting into matted vegetation, runnin the edges.....

6 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

There's a reason Toray Exthreaad is the most expensive fluoro made.  Each diameter/test is formulated separately to get the right result.  

https://carolinafishingtackle.com/products/toray-bawo-exthread-fluorocarbon

Onshore stock is handy, but if you're already shopping in Japan, it's cheaper there.  

This line is both limp and low-memory, which are normally competing properties in any monofilament line.  Smaller diameter than same strength mono.  

Is this line a big upgrade from tatsu?

I use Sufix Siege mono on my rigs, 12 on baitcasting, 6 on spinning (1000 size stradic)

Somewhere in my teens I went from 8# XL to 4# XL.  Once I started primarily bass fishing many years later 8# and 12# mono/co-polymer lines became the majority.  I do have some 4# and 6# to try on a spinning reel or two.  Tried 6# braid.  Zero abrasion resistance.  Added a leader.  Something I seldom use.

6 minutes ago, Hulkster said:

I use Sufix Siege mono on my rigs, 12 on baitcasting, 6 on spinning (1000 size stradic)

I like the Neon Tangerine.  

 

Nice combos.  

I’ve caught a bunch of big fish on 4-6# mono (mostly trout, salmon, and carp). Just realize the limitations on your setups. Even in open water you’re going to struggle to get a good hookset on a medium rod, 6# mono, and a whopper plopper with #2 hooks. There is just a little too much give to set that thicker hook well.  

9 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

a whopper plopper with #2 hooks.

 

I'm thinking of using 6 lb. test with hard jerkbaits. I don't use Whopper Ploppers much anymore. My local bass have learned to avoid them. 

5 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

My local bass have learned to avoid them. 

Don't you hate it when they pick up their toys and go home. Those bass just take all the fun out of fishing for us humanoids.

 

TBH Swamp Girl, I fished for years with just 8# test mono. It was like life when I grew up with no cell phones or computers ... just seemed so much easier ... good luck

I fish very clear water, and mostly use 6lb mono or co poly line. I keep a casting rod on hand for topwaters. The light line handles good on my spin gear, and works perfectly for my smaller baits.

13 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

Is this line a big upgrade from tatsu?

Tatsu is Really low memory, but stiff and springs off the spool.  

ExThread is more limp with the same low memory.  

15 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

Im going to add I really loved the Blue monofilament when I first received it and spooled it on my reel so if anyone knows of a not extremely expensive monofilament in this color and is willing to share the information I’d greatly appreciate it. Sorry @Swamp Girl I don’t mean to take your post off the rails .

I think that's Sunline Super natural in blue.  Best mono there is right now.  Very thin.  If you can find some.