I love pitchin, I live near lake erie (long point bay) and lake st. claire where there is a ton of cane grass or whatever you call it. I have 20# yellow XBraid sinking on my JWR and yellow 30 Powerpro on my pitchin stick and they work great. On my flpr IMX loomis I run 50# PP and I dont really like it. I'm planning moving over to a 22 Bantam HG/MB Swamp survivor and wondering whether or not I should go to something like super slick?? I pitch almost exclusively, sometimes i'll flip when im deep into the grass but almost never.

What do use and why.

I switched from original Power Pro to Seaguar’s Smackdown for the conditions you described.

It’s one of thinnest 8 carrier braids sold and pitches or casts smooth and silent.

Mike

I think you are talking about reeds. For that kind of vegetation I prefer fluorocabon ( 20 or 25 pound test). I get more precision with it because of less dig in. Most of the time the water around reeds is clear so the fluoro helps there to. I mostly fish the Sait-Lawrence so I think the water is similar.

What is it exactly that you don't like about the 50 pound Power Pro ?

50 or 60 lb FX2, straight.

I am experimenting with 30 lb Sufix 832 to leader.

I use 40-50lb 832 braid with a 17lb tactical fluorocarbon leader for most of my pitching.

With that said, even though the water around here (central NY) is pretty clear, I will throw straight braid (50lb 832) if I'm in really thick stuff and still get bit just fine.

Cortland 50lb green silent braid.

3 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

I use 40-50lb 832 braid with a 17lb tactical fluorocarbon leader for most of my pitching.

With that said, even though the water around here (central NY) is pretty clear, I will throw straight braid (50lb 832) if I'm in really thick stuff and still get bit just fine.

I've never had any issues with straight braid in the thick stuff. My JWR and Pitchin stick which i use for a peripheral approach both have leaders.

23 hours ago, Reel said:

I think you are talking about reeds. For that kind of vegetation I prefer fluorocabon ( 20 or 25 pound test). I get more precision with it because of less dig in. Most of the time the water around reeds is clear so the fluoro helps there to. I mostly fish the Sait-Lawrence so I think the water is similar.

What is it exactly that you don't like about the 50 pound Power Pro ?

I just dont like the way it comes off the reel. I know that it has a break in period but the Xbraid is signification smoother.

4 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

I use 40-50lb 832 braid with a 17lb tactical fluorocarbon leader for most of my pitching.

With that said, even though the water around here (central NY) is pretty clear, I will throw straight braid (50lb 832) if I'm in really thick stuff and still get bit just fine.

AGREED! As largemouth are more ambush predators I doubt a leader is really necessary. Could be more of a liability when in the thick stuff.

On 7/15/2026 at 1:29 PM, Mike L said:

I switched from original Power Pro to Seaguar’s Smackdown for the conditions you described.

It’s one of thinnest 8 carrier braids sold and pitches or casts smooth and silent.

Mike

Great recommendation - all of my local dealers are sold out of 40# and highter. Wonder why?

I use Berkeley X-9 for fishing in the rough stuff, or docks.