Mono, flouro, braided> When do you use which?

Jon55 · 08-02-2005, 05:00 PM

I'm still learning to fish so I need some help here. I use mono for top fishing, flouro for weightless presentations and braided for jigs, especially in stained water and around trash. Everything else is mostly interchangable. What do you guys do?

ExBassGuide · 08-02-2005, 05:42 PM

Just my two cents: I use mono for light line 6-8 pound test.
I use Mono when fishing crank baits (but Flouro work good too). I use super lines when buzz bait fishing (no leader)(BIG BASS).
When Jig fishing I use the super line with a flouro leader (even in off colored water). Clear water is when I switch more to flouro.
Also Welcome aboard!!!!
Roger

rob allen · 08-02-2005, 08:36 PM

I am not a big fan of flurocarbon because of it's enviromental impact but that's a personal choice and i wouldn't push that on anyone else..

as for braid I have been using it on my flipping sticks and have mixes feelings about it.
It's very sencitive and very strong.. I have however broken fish off with braid because it's strength lead me into a false security and failed to check it's condition..( my fault not braid's)
The main thing i dislike about braid is the fact that it tangles easily, for instance with mono if you get the line wrapped around the rod a couple times you can just shake it off, with braid, because it's so limp you have to set the rod down and untangle it by hand. also it is very prone to such tangles..
I'll fish out the season with braid and make my desision on whether to stick with it or switch to heavy mono...

hook jaw · 08-02-2005, 08:52 PM

I stick to abrasion resistant low vis green mono on moving reaction baits (crankbaits, buzz baits, etc) or when pitching a jig around structure and use 6-8 pound flouro on slower presentations (senko, drop shot) in open clear water when the fish has more time to study it.

I've just never gotten comfortable with braids, but maybe should think about trying them again.

Jon55 · 08-02-2005, 09:45 PM

Roger, do I assume correctly then that you use mono with your Senko?

Sandz · 08-02-2005, 09:51 PM

I use mono pretty much exclusivly. Ive fished some braid and some flouro and i havnt seen a difference in the fish i catch. Heck on some of my reels I still have the stock line on there and it works great.

Smj · 08-03-2005, 06:15 AM

For worms and grubs mono is a must for me, I haven't tried putting a mono leader on with superlines yet. I suppose poppers and chuggers and maybe spook typre lures(walking the dog) would be better with mono. With spinny baits, cranks and buzzy baits I've found the supper lines are the ONLY way to go (for me). Picture this; You've just hooked into a fat largemouth, maybe close to a downed tree, maybe on a shallow weed line were the grass and weeds are three feet down and the bottom is three feet below that. You set the hook on that 5lber? and he burries himself in the weeds, or heads straight back into the limbs from where he came to grab your lure. There's nothing like the feeling of being able to put the pedal down on that fish and bring him to the boat. Plus, you can feel every little thing the lure is doing, a little piece of grass will mess up a lure, you can tell it's there. You won't lose as many lures, alot of the time you can pull it loose from snags.

I have three reels loaded with superlines at this time, I got some Fireline 14# years ago and I can't believe it's still holding, used it a couple of weeks ago at Cottage Grove Res. with the same knot tied to a snap from last year, just re-darken it with a magic marker. One with Spiderwire Fusion 17#, about four years old. And I just put 20# Toughline Plus on another reel and like it better than the others. These are spinning reels I use it on and haven't had any tangling problems.

One thing though, the rods I'm using are 6.5' and 7' rated to 17# line, I would be leary of putting this line on rods rated lighter than that.

Smj

ExBassGuide · 08-03-2005, 07:02 AM

Yes I only use mono when senko fishing. Some times when fishing the columbia River I use flouro when split shotting for big small mouth bass. "Carbon pro" line is hard to break so I end up loosing less big s.m. bass. You need to look at your odds when fishing, are you fishing water that hold some BIG fish you need to be ready! Breaking off a big bass is the biggest sin in bass fishing (but we can't always control that too). You need to balance numbers with the risk of loosing monster bass! Good equipment is your first line of defence! You need to know how to set your drag the RIGHT way. You need to use you rod guides as part of your drag system. I set my drag so that when I point my rod at a screaming bass it cant break my line but when I lift my rod vertical I can put some hurt on that bass after it looses some steam.
there I go again....
Roger

BuKuBass · 08-03-2005, 07:09 AM

I use braids exclusively WITH a 10-12' fluoro leader. And let the rod's action provide any shock absorption. My line of choice is Fusion 6/10. It's not as limp as most yet has enuf sensitivity that with a good rod and using the Grisby grip on my spinners, I can feel a fish fort.
With soft plastics, I use circle hooks and therefore bubba-style hook sets aren't neccessary.

DaleDor · 08-03-2005, 02:37 PM

The last 2 steelhead guides I've fished with HATED flourocarbon. But for bass, it's probably fine. Clear water = flourocarbon.

Chironomid fly-fishing for trout (the fly is not moving much at all...and the fish get a good look at it) is good for flourocarbon.

For sturgeon: braided, period. Surprisingly the LEADER is not mono....the soft braids actually are accepted by the sturgeon's mouth better, as it's limper than mono (sturgeon don't feed by sight nearly as much as scent, apparently.)

If you lose lots of fish with braided, consider going back to stretchy mono, as (especially when using a stiff rod) the forgiving aspects of mono, when playing fish, are really nice.

Wreckless · 08-04-2005, 09:13 PM

For someone who is just getting into it. Mono will do everything you need 99.9% of the time. "Superlines" have their place, but they are not the line you need, most of the time, IMHO. When you get into some "specialized" areas of fishing, check out the braids (spectra is the best), but don't bother as you get started.

P.S. As mentioned before flourocarbon is for very leader shy fish....Don't use it unless you have to, mono is stronger!

Striper Club · 08-04-2005, 10:30 PM

I only use braids for salmon/steelhead. Never tried it for bass, but have not really bothered since 6/8 lb mono or flouro is about perfect for NW river smallies. :smile: If I had spent more time fishing Lake Casitas or Castaic down in SoCal when I lived there, I suppose I would have gone for more strength due to the VERY LARGE fish in those lakes that you need to spend mucho time to learn.

Hunt'nFish · 08-05-2005, 09:53 AM

Although I'm a braid nut, I'd have to agree w/ Wreckless on this. Mono is the line to start with.

Braid has advantages and dis-adv as well.
Braid is great for almost all baitcasters especially those for walleye, salmon/steelhead and sturgeon. Baitcasters for bass I don't think it really matters, but I use braid w/ mono leader. Mainly because it it much easier to untangle a professional over-run (backlash). :grin:

Spinning reels are probably best used w/ mono.
But I hate the memory loops of mono and use braid here too w/ 4ft leaders. Braid can be a real pain on some spinning reels. Just depends on the reel and how old the braid is. As braid is used it gets limper and tends to get wrapped around the bail, pole eyes, handle and even the drag knob on the spool. Stick with stiff "coated" braids here. Also low profile drag knobs (or rear drag), and avoid those w/ bail triggers.

If I've got a big fishing trip or vacation, I'm thinking it would be best to respool with fresh mono. This way the line hasn't taken on any memory loops yet and you don't have to mess w/ tying leaders on. Fresh mono casts nearly as well as braid (distance), but old mono casts like crud!!! Memory loops in the line create friction as it flys through the eyes and you get half the casting distance. Braid doesn't care, it has no memory. So if you have a good spinning reel that handles braid well... HANG ON TO IT! and use that one for most of your fishing when it's a day here or day there and such. But if you have a big fishing trip coming up, respool another reel w/ fresh 6-8lb mono and I think you'll find you'll prefer to use that instead.
Just my 2cents.

<<< BIG TIP >>>
Oh, one other note on braids... before you spool a reel w/ it, put a wrap of blue painters masking tape or duct tape on the spool first. This increases the spool friction on the knot & first loop and will prevent the braid from slipping on the spool hub.
And when tying knots, double the line over whn you tye them otherwise the knot can slip. Braid is very slick, and knots can & do come undone unless you double the line over.

W.Tracker

BuKuBass · 08-05-2005, 03:00 PM

An alternative to WT's suggestion: Use teflon tape; it's lighter and will seal the holes of a wiffle spool with less mass. Also, rather fill the spool completely with braid, pace off 50 yards, fill the spool with cheap mono backing, then top off with the braid. By using a fluoro leader, you'll resolve any visibility/abrasion issues. Also by replacing the tippet when it gets down to four feet, you'll save the more spendy braid.