First, I would NOT recommend using mono for pitching blades. You’ll have poor feel for the action of the blade and you’ll lose far too many versus fishing a braid.
I would highly recommend mono for pitching those plastics. Berkley Sensation Solar (available at area Fleetfarms), Suffix Elite and Mustad Ultra are all good products in 6 – 8 lb test.
For the braid, go with a 2 – 4 lb diameter fireline or power pro. 
James,
Mustad Ultra? Can you comment on how it compares to the others?
Thanks,
Chris
I use power pro for everything on the river unless it is to cold…my question to you James is what reason do you prefer mono over braided for pitching plastics just curious? 
thanks sir
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James,
Mustad Ultra? Can you comment on how it compares to the others?Thanks,
Chris
I have to admit right from the get-go that I have less experience with this product then the other two lines listed. It is “softer” than the Elite and stronger than the Sensation. I would rate it on par with Elite for strength. Elite seems to have more stretch but nothing too noticeable. I found it fairly manageable in the cold and it had good abrasion resistence.
Overall I would give it a thumbs up. Dean stocks it at the resort and it is far cheaper than Sensation.
Suffix for mono and braid for pitching blades for me.
I’ve had excellent luck with suffix, and its reasonably priced!
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I use power pro for everything on the river unless it is to cold…my question to you James is what reason do you prefer mono over braided for pitching plastics just curious?
OH!
OH!
James!
Can I answer this question!
I love this question cause it makes you go: BS!!!!, NO WAY!!, HOLY BALLS, It’s TRUE!!!!
Erick;
Take a 3 foot section of mono.
Bend it in a 1/4 moon.
With your finger tip, roll one end of the line, ever so gently.
If you hold the other end of the line with your finger tips, you will feel EVERYTHING!!!
If you do the same test with braid, the braid will not transfer vibrations on “limp” line.
Braid only transfers vibration when it is taught.
That is why the Sensation is such a good mono. When you pitch it out, and you have a big bow in the line, you will still feel all the “sensitivity” that you wouldn’t feel on a braid.
You might think that it is minimal, but holy crap, there is a lot there!
Also it seems like the “bow” in mono while pitching helps keep your jig up and out of snags a little better.
Thanks for all the replies!
One more question for you James, regarding fishing blades with braid and mono with plastics…Would you reccomend a Medium-Light Fast action rod to be used for the blades vs. a Medium action and a medium action rod to be used for pitching plastics vs. a medium light action??? (I should mention the rods are 6’6″ Avids)
Common sense would think that the medium-light action would have a bit more give in the rod itself, which would compensate for the lack of stretch in the line when fishing blades, and vise versa for fishing plastics. Is this true?? 
Thanks Again
Pitching jigs on braid just flat out gives me the creeps. 
But that’s doesn’t address the “why?”
You answered part of it by addressing your change to mono in colder temps. Man, when ISN’T part of the day below freezing when the jig pitching bite is going good?
I feel I have much greater sensitivity with mono when fishing light jigs on a drift when I am unlikely to have a tight line. Try Shrek’s experiment… that will provide some insight.
I also like the way the diameter and “body” of a mono helps to most closely match a natural drift speed.
And last, but certainly not least, when I stick a piggie on mono, that fish is in the net 99.9% of the time. I lose very, very few fish. I love the stretch a good mono offers as it keeps me from setting the hook too soon after the hit and it provides the needed cushion to soften boat side runs and hard head shakes that will pull hooks loose when fishing braids.
Braid works great when the fish are responding to a faster swimming presentation. When the fish want a bait presented as naturally as possible, mono is the way to go.
But if braid works for you, more power to you. I’ve said it before, there’s no wrong way to catch a fish.
it is what i needed to hear though..I did pitch a few times last spring and fall with mono but have always gone with the hard line for some reason…the natural drift does make more sense though being as it is a greater line diameter. Thanks again guys
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Thanks for all the replies!
One more question for you James, regarding fishing blades with braid and mono with plastics…Would you reccomend a Medium-Light Fast action rod to be used for the blades vs. a Medium action and a medium action rod to be used for pitching plastics vs. a medium light action??? (I should mention the rods are 6’6″ Avids)
Common sense would think that the medium-light action would have a bit more give in the rod itself, which would compensate for the lack of stretch in the line when fishing blades, and vise versa for fishing plastics. Is this true??
Thanks Again
Oh yeah, these are good questions.
I would definitely recommend a medium power, fast or even extra fast, spinning rod for fishing plastics. Having the fast tip helps take the stretch out of mono line when you get hit at the beginning of a long cast and the medium power helps make sure that hook penetrates deeply once the line does come tight. A medium light just doesn’t have the needed power to fish jigs over 1/8 oz or send the hooks home with mono.
Now the rod selection for blades is a bit trickier. Fishing with Dean last week and swapping rods back and forth I think we got to the heart of the question after a little experimenting.
Dean was using 6’6″ Legend Elites in ML. These rods are super sensitive and have a lot of “give” in the blank once the fish are hooked up.
I was using a 6’8″ Legend Elite Medium and we both agreed that the medium power rod was far more sensitive and allowed an angler to fish a blade much more precisely. The medium light has some “give” to the blank when you give the blade a twitch on an upward lift. This causes you to move the rod a greater distance before you feel the vibration. The medium power rod has a stiffer blank and offered very little give in response to the light weight of the bladebait. As a result an angler used a minimum amount of lift to generate the needed vibration of the blade… which is the ideal presentation.
So you’ve got a harder choice with this one. Do you want a medium light rod that will provide more cushion when you hook up a big fish or do you want a medium action rod that will allow you to more accurately and effectively present a blade resulting in more hooked fish knowing you might lose one from time to time?
I like the mediums myself. I know at one point in the trip Dean stated the medium lights might have to go up for sale. But that really comes down to personal preference. Again Dean’s “try it before you buy it” rod program is just the best thing since sliced bread. Grab a couple rods, walk down to the dock and spend 20 minutes putting each rod through the paces. One of the rods will stick out as the right rod for you and the way you prefer to fish.
James,
I tried fireline on my AS68MXF and it was like fighting fish on a broomstick — not nearly enough give. My AS69MLXF is awesome with braid; however, I concede that you do give up a wee bit of sensitivity with the softer tip. Your thoughts on fighting fish with the 6’8″ XF/super line combo?
Edit: whoops! I suppose I could have read the “so you have a choice” part of your response. 
Your the man James! 
Your wisdom is greatly appreciated
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So you’ve got a harder choice with this one. Do you want a medium light rod that will provide more cushion when you hook up a big fish or do you want a medium action rod that will allow you to more accurately and effectively present a blade resulting in more hooked fish knowing you might lose one from time to time?
So the question is…Anyone looking for a brand new MLF6’6″ avid??? 
Thanks Again!
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James,
I tried fireline on my AS68MXF and it was like fighting fish on a broomstick — not nearly enough give. My AS69MLXF is awesome with braid; however, I concede that you do give up a wee bit of sensitivity with the softer tip. Your thoughts on fighting fish with the 6’8″ XF/super line combo?
Oh man, that Avid 6′ 8″ Medium XFast would be awful with braid. Like you stated… broomstick! I’m not using Avids for fishing blades. To be blunt, I stunk as a blade bait fisherman until I got an Elite in my hands. I was constantly overworking the blade which meant I was turning off most of the fish that came close enough for a second look.
I guess my honest answer is that not all Medium Power X Fast rods are created equal or fish the same, even rods from different product lines made by the same manufacturer.
I really like the Elite 6’8″ Medium XF and couldn’t imagine using the Avid version of that rod for the same purpose. Both rods are rated for 3/16 – 5/8 ounce lures and have the same stated power and action. But, I will tell you without hesitation, the 6’8″ Elite fishes more like a ML when compared to that 6’8″ Avid.
Then next time you get down to Everts take a few casts off the dock with that ELite and tell me what you think. If you have your Avid along, compare the two. I think you’ll agree that the 6’8″ Elite fishes and feels like a lighter power rod than stated on the handle and does a great job of finding that compromise between power and action for working blades.
Oh great! Now I got to buy another couple of rods.
dd
But something I did do strikes me as being smart. I got 5 of my pitching & dragging rods rigged with the same reels. So I got 5 spools with braid and 5 spools with mono and the ability to switch things up as needed. So, for instance, say I’m dragging braid and I notice a couple of gentlemen smacking the snot out of them pitching. 
I can switch the spools on a reel and switch tactics without necessarily switching rods. Or I could just have all 5 rods rigged differently. Or I could…. I’m getting confused.
dd
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Oh great!
dd
dd
Gosh…sorry to hear that Joel.
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So you’ve got a harder choice with this one. Do you want a medium light rod that will provide more cushion when you hook up a big fish or do you want a medium action rod that will allow you to more accurately and effectively present a blade resulting in more hooked fish knowing you might lose one from time to time?
Great Point James!!
Thats where you almost HAVE TO fish them both…I fished 68MXF Avids first on a Guide trip with James seven years ago, we really did well pitching jigs in high water…then
the next year we pitched light (1/16 oz) hair jigs for post spawn Ladies down in Pepin. We were in my boat and I offered James my new LE66ML…tell you what…he smoked my butt! I stuck with the 68MXF…he also outcast me even though we both fished 6# Solar. I did get a couple pretty nice Eyes but could barely feel the pick up. James had one about 9# and lost one at the boat that I couldn’t reach with my net that was a TANK!
I have begged, borrowed, and sold most all my older rods and reels to boil my collection to three personal River rods…an LE63MXF(vertical jigs/blades), LE66MLF (pitching light jigs/blades and bucktails), and a 68MXF heavier jigs…mono…fall fishing with Kalins)
For guiding I use AV69MXLFs and Limit Creek 6’9″ Smoothies for allround Walleye/Smallie use.
Work some blades and pitch some jigs with both and you’ll have a better idea which suits you. I would take a hard look at the TWS66MLF if the price tag on the LE is over budget.
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I’ve said it before, there’s no wrong way to catch a fish.
You should hit pool 2 with me James. I know dozens of ways to fish that don’t work 
Now you have me thinking. For over two years know I’ve had a legendary lack of success on Pool 2. And I’ve been using 15# Power Pro the whole time….. I don’t think I’ve ever used mono down there. Maybe it’sd time for an experiment!
Rootski
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Oh great!
dd
Gosh…sorry to hear that Joel.
Dean’s retirement or my kid’s college. What’s more important?……. College is overated. Sign me up for another Elite. Medium this time!
Don’t ya just love IDA….. 
thanks guys~
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Dean’s retirement or my kid’s college. What’s more important?……. College is overated. Sign me up for another Elite. Medium this time!
Trip with Dustin or another St Croix?
Trip with Dustin
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But something I did do strikes me as being smart. I got 5 of my pitching & dragging rods rigged with the same reels. So I got 5 spools with braid and 5 spools with mono and the ability to switch things up as needed.
Dean clued me in to this last year. I am still working on my rod selection, but it is a great idea. Each rod “feels” the same when casting and I think it decreases the time it takes you to learn a new technique.
Stren Hi-Vis Gold is AMAZING line for pitching jigs The stuff is super strong, very easy to see jump and casts like a dream. I can fish with 6lb all day on a good ML fast action 6’6″ rod and never have to worry about breaking a fish off
Hi All,
Just a heads up that the Cabelas in Rogers, MN is having a big game measuring event this coming weekend. Feb. 20-21. M.O.M. ( Minnesota Official Measurers) will be on hand to handle all the measuring. M.O.M. will have Boone and Crockett, Pope and Young, Longhunters, and NASHC (shed antlers) measurers on hand. All measuring is free. Any entry that qualifies for a record book is subject to that books entry fee if the owner decides to enter it.
Here is a link to Cabelas with the hours etc.
Thanks.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/community/aboutus/retail-detail.jsp?detailedInformationURL=/cabelas/en/content/community/aboutus/retail/retail_stores/rogers/rogers.html
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