I have looked through past articles on what many river anglers use for line when pitching, dragging, using blades, and even going verticle. Many of the lines mentioned I have used and do like. My question is if you had just one line to use for all conditions and methods what would you choose ? appreciate your input
8lb Power pro 
Fireline crystal 10/4 
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80lb Power Pro, or hi vis 25lb Trilene Big Game…
Oh, you’re talking about walleye fishing
That set up sounds like I may have used it in the past somewhere.
Ahh, yes, the battle of Stinky 
Did you take any dance classes this past year 
Hate to rain on your parade but one line won’t really work for all applications. A good dragging line isn’t the same as a good blade bait line and you would be hampering your success by trying to make one work. You probably could get by with one mono and one superline. I would go with Mustad 6 pound Hi-Viz(yes, I know it is discontinued) and a 8/3 Fireline Crystal.
8 – 10lb Stren Super braid! by far the best braid out there! IMO!
You can drag with fireline, but it doesn’t very well when you’re headed downstream. When dragging upstream, I actually prefer it sometimes.
Casting jigs with fireline works OK, but not as well as mono. You’ll get more snags and will be forced to impart movement on the bait yourself because the current won’t grab the line and lift the bait off the bottom.
So for dragging and casting, I vote mono. I still like the 8# Sensation. Suffix isn’t my favorite. I haven’t tried the new Cortland mono.
Either line will work for vertical fishing. I prefer the fireline because it doesn’t get caught up in the current. My experience has been that, like casting, I need to impart a little more action on the bait when fishing vertical with fireline because the current isn’t doing it for me.
You can’t – absolutely can’t – throw a blade with mono. As I’ve gotten more successful with blades they have become an important presentation to me. You can’t cast them with mono. You have to use braid or fireline.
So, if I were stuck with one setup it would be a fireline rod. I like the 8# fireline crystal. But because I cast and drag jigs more than anything, my fireline rods get the least use in my boat. They’re more versatile, but not as well suited for casting or dragging.
You really would do well to have a fireline and a mono setup in the boat. I have two of each plus two dragging rods that I can cast with in a pinch. The best part is that when I lose a jig or want to change colors, I can just pick up a different rod.
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I have looked through past articles on what many river anglers use for line when pitching, dragging, using blades, and even going verticle. Many of the lines mentioned I have used and do like. My question is if you had just one line to use for all conditions and methods what would you choose ? appreciate your input
I’m a traditionalist, give me Mono any day. And by the way I use 4# Stren Gold ? W/ 6# seaguar florocarbon leader.WHY? because mono affords you a tiny bit of (SLACK) time between the feel and the set.(IT”S FORGIVING)in case you’re having a brain fart…….”Hairjig”
If there was only one I could choose it would be 8# fireline crystal. I pitch blades, pitch plastics, drag plastics, pitch hair jigs, troll crank baits, cast crank baits, with it. Every presentation I have used on the river I have had fireline on, so it will work. BUT and I mean BUT it is not the best for everything. There isnt a replacement for a good quality mono. There are many ways and time that mono would be better than a braid and vise versa but there are more things that you CANT do with mono than you cant with braid. So with that said IF i had to choose it would be 8# fireline but there is no question that you would be way farther ahead to have both in the boat at all times.
Just my .02
Only one line….. I’d pick 6# Trilene green mono. That would cover everything from ice fishing, to jigging the river to riggin on Mille Lacs. Could troll cranks, bobber fish, pitch jigs. Fish for pan fish, walleye and bass. Sure, I’d be dealing with a lot of break offs, but that one line would work very well in most situations.
-J.
8 Lb Stren Magnathin
or 8 lb Stren Super Braid
would be a very tough choice…….
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