tough line recommendations needed

Here’s the deal…I’m a walleye guy with crappie and flatheads mixed in. Never really seriously gotten into bass, other than a few smallies. This year, certain conditions have thrusted me into the LMB world, and it’s been pretty fun. I’m learning the jig-n-pig, and it’s going well, but I can tell that I’ve gotta ditch the 10lb Sufix Elite that I’m using. It’s good line, helped me catch some monsters, but when I’m trying to set the hook from 10-12 yards away, in the wind, the stretch of the Sufix just isn’t getting it done. I know most people will tell me to go Power Pro, but I want to know what other options you might think of and why. I know I need something tough and abrasion resistant because a lot of times I’m walking these jigs over trees and trash. I’ve never really been a big fan of power pro, but I already believe it may cast better on my Shimano Curado than fireline. Looking forward to hearing what you guys have to say.

This year I tried PP super 8. It casts much smoother than normal PP. I like it.

Jason

I’m using Northland braid this year and like it. It comes in a walleye and bass version. But I think the only difference is color.

I’ve been fishing/guiding bass for a long time…depends on the kind of water/structure/techniques/tackle you fish. I mainly fish extremely clear water, no slop etc… and use Seaguar InvzX and the new Sufix flourocarbon lines, along with 832 braid here are my set ups; baitcasters

topwater……….. 12# Sufix Siege mono
Shallow cranks/jerkbaits… 8# flouro
Deep cranks……………. 10# flouro
unweighted Senkos, swim jigs, T rigs… 12# flouro
jigs……………. 20# 832 braid
spinnerbaits…….. 17# flouro (due to Pike)
Frogs…………… 50# braid

Super 8? Never heard of that one, strangely enough. I’ll definitely be looking it up.

Thank you guys, I appreciate the comments. And that’s a great broken-down list, Tom.

I talked to a buddy and he was talking about good things with PP. He recently tried Nanofil and absolutely hated it. My buddy has some PP waiting for me to try, so it looks like that’ll be the first experiment. We’ll see how it goes.

So far, I’m pretty impressed with the 10lb Power Pro I’ve been using on my Curado. It’s working nicely for jigs, but not so sure how much I like it for throwing cranks. I’m still working on it all, but I know now with this power pro, when I set the hook, I’m getting that fish. It has worked real well getting numerous large wipers in, as well, knowing the line is not going to break.
Going to be using your chart for some time as a guide, Tom. Thanks!

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So far, I’m pretty impressed with the 10lb Power Pro I’ve been using on my Curado. It’s working nicely for jigs, but not so sure how much I like it for throwing cranks. I’m still working on it all, but I know now with this power pro, when I set the hook, I’m getting that fish. It has worked real well getting numerous large wipers in, as well, knowing the line is not going to break.
Going to be using your chart for some time as a guide, Tom. Thanks!

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The PP is a great choice for the Jig and Pig – don’t think it will work well for cranks. 1st of all it floats so it will affect the running Depth and 2nd I think you will end up pulling it away from fish or pulling them free before they get the bait well due to the lack of stretch. Crankbaits is about the only thing I still use Mono for – Otherwise its all Braid or Fluro

Gursky has got it exact! Use what he says! I use, almost exactly, all he suggests for each application.

I spent last year dropping everything I knew about fishing line and decided to put my biases aside and try several different lines and see what I ended up preferring. For braid, I like Sufix 832. Its smoother than most braids (less screech in the guides) tough, etc, all the stuff if you expect when fishing braids.

As far as non braid – I wanted something that was tough, low-viz and most importantly LOW stretch. When you’re fishing bass, nothing is worse than missing strikes because of a slow reacting, stretchy mono of fluorocarbon. I tried 8 different lines and by far the line I prefer most is Yozuri Hybrid (which I had never fished with before). It has a mono core with fluorocarbon casing (also referred to as a co-polymer line). It is really tough stuff, and abrasion resistant (best I’ve found for not abrading when fishing in zebra mussels). I got snagged on shore last year with 12 pound test on my bait caster and pulled my friend’s 18.5 foot Lund to shore with ease. Best of all, minimal stretch so it sets the hook quickly.

Also, I will also tie many times a leader to the end of my braid when fishing finesse style or in clear water and the Yozuri Hybrid works very well for that application too. I find camo green best for most situations like Mille Lacs, Rainy Lake, but if in gin clear Canadian water, the clear of course works very well.

Low stretch is the key IMO…and I haven’t found anything else as good as this line.

Power Pro Slick for braid and sugio flouro for everything else….

I use 17lb sugio for flipping. Good luck!

Anyone try Cortland Master Braid for bass? I’m mostly a cat gy myself but I throw a jig or two now and then… just wondering what your experience na have to say on the topic.

As usual Tom has a great list. 20 or 30# power pro can get alot done. A spool will last years. my only suggestion wold be don’t over think it. I still catch alot of big bass on some cheap 12 and 15# big game line from wal mart!!
Alot of differnt lines out there! Wow!

I use Suffix 832 in 30lb for bass and I love it. It is smoother than most braids. When I fish clear water I have used a flour leader but 85% of the time I tie direct. It doesn’t do everything but no line does. It is in my opinion a good all around line.

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I’ve been fishing/guiding bass for a long time…depends on the kind of water/structure/techniques/tackle you fish. I mainly fish extremely clear water, no slop etc… and use Seaguar InvzX and the new Sufix flourocarbon lines, along with 832 braid here are my set ups; baitcasters

topwater……….. 12# Sufix Siege mono
Shallow cranks/jerkbaits… 8# flouro
Deep cranks……………. 10# flouro
unweighted Senkos, swim jigs, T rigs… 12# flouro
jigs……………. 20# 832 braid
spinnerbaits…….. 17# flouro (due to Pike)
Frogs…………… 50# braid

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I dont fish ultra clear water all the time but I like those too. I do use some mono for cranks and topwaters.