I have a different school of thought for fishing lines and bass fishing. When you fish for Bass the line is one of the most important components. Using the wrong line in a situation can make the difference between catching fish and not catching fish.
But, the fishing line is expensive. 125 yards of certain types of fishing line can range from $5.99-$29.99. Not to worry I have a method for saving money that works great and will help you land more fish. But first, let’s talk about the three major types of lines. Braided, fluorocarbon and monofilament are the major players in the Bass fishing game. Let’s dive in and learn how we can keep our lines tight!!
Braided Fishing Line
Braided fishing line is the strongest of all the fishing lines but also the most visible. The braided fishing line will cast a mileand it has no stretch. I love fishing braided fishing line because you can feel the most subtle of bites. When you set the hook with braided line you are going to have a lot better chance of driving that hook through the fish’s mouth. It also will float on top of the water and you can get a lot better idea of when your bait gets to the bottom.
However, like I said before it is the most visible. If you are fishing in clear water you will not want to use just braid. More on that later. Also, a braided line is more likely to get wind knots when used on a spinning reel. The backlashes that you get on a bait caster however, are easier to get out in my opinion than the other fishing lines.
Braided line is great for a bunch of different situations. When the water is dark or stained you can use straight braid. The guys that like to flip and pitch heavy 1oz weights with creature baits will use straight braid. Lake Okeechobee is a great example of this style of fishing. The anglers here will use 65lb braid so they can get that giant bass out of the cover and into the boat. Since that bite is a reaction bite the line visibility doesn’t matter as much because you are dropping it right on their head.
My braided line recommendation has to be SpiderWire.
This line is at a great price point. I use it all the time and have never had it fail on me. I always use the green color because that is just what I have confidence in. If you click on the picture above you can go to the different pound test and see which one is best for your lake.
The other thing I love about braided line is once I spool up my reel with braid it lasts. I will not have to change my line for 18 months and I fish 150 times a year.
Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Fluorocarbon is known for having little to no stretch. Out of all the fishing lines, this one is the most invisible underneath the water. It is also much more abrasion resistant than the other two fishing lines.
When I think of Fluorocarbon line I immediately think of subsurface lures. Crankbaits, jerk baits, and swimbaits are all baits I want to get a little deeper in the water column. Fluorocarbon is a must for these types of baits. I would not want to use fluorocarbon with topwater lures. Fluorocarbon is constantly trying to sink and would mess up the action of topwater.
Unfortunately, each line has its drawbacks. Fluorocarbon is no exception. Fluorocarbon is less manageable than mono and braid. It is a lot harder to use fluorocarbon on spinning reels for instance. It is not as limp as monofilament and has a lot of memory.
Fluorocarbon is also expensive. Sure you can get cheaper lines but you also get what you pay for. I don’t know about you, but when I hook into a fish over five pounds I want to know my line is going to hold up.
My recommendation for Fluorocarbon is Triline.
Monofilament Fishing Line
I remember a day when I would only use green monofilament with everything that I threw. I am not saying you can’t catch fish with the wrong line. However, you will catch a lot more fish when using the right fishing line for the situation.
Monofilament does not float but it does not sink nearly as fast as fluorocarbon. It is my go-to when I am fishing topwater and spinnerbaits.
When buying monofilament I always go with clear and I always look for smooth casting.
My recommendation for mono is TrilineXL.
Fishing Line Strategy
Ok here is what you all have been waiting for. I am going to help keep money in your pocket and stay a little more efficient as well when on the water.
I fish almost exclusively with braided fishing line. Almost every one of my rods has a braided line on it. The leader I attach to it is different. This is the part where you are going to save some time and money. Regardless of where I go fishing, I can use the same mainline for the most part because all I have to do is change out my leader.
You will have to learn how to tie the double uni knot. That is the key to the whole process. Do not worry I have you covered.
Practice this knot at home until you have it down and can do it with ease. There is nothing worse than dealing with the elements and having to remember how to tie a new fishing knot.
You can keep the same mainline and change out leaders based on what you are throwing. This will make life so much easier for you and save you some money also.
There are a couple of different baits where I will not make an exception. When I am throwing a crankbait of any kind I will throw exclusively fluorocarbon. To help you guys out I have a chart to help give you an idea of what lines to throw with what baits. Keep in mind that the pound test has to do with where you are. If I am in Michigan with the crystal clear waters of Lake St. Clair I may use 6-8lb fluorocarbon. If I am at lake Guntersville I will use 15lb. I will let you make those decisions as far as strength of line. This chart will help give you an idea of what to use for what baits.
Fishing Line Chart
Shaky Head | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Texas Rig | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Tubes | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Flutter Spoons | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Jig | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Spy bait | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Swim Jig | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Senko | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Swim Bait | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Jerk Bait | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Carolina Rig | Braid w/ Fluorocarbon leader |
Flipping Baits 1oz | Braid |
Frog | Braid |
Swim bait in heavy grass | Braid |
Alabama Rig | Braid |
Top water | Braid w/ Mono |
Chatter Bait | Mono or Fluorocarbon |
Spinner Bait | Mono or Fluorocarbon |
Drop Shot | Fluorocarbon |
Crankbait | Fluorocarbon |
Vertical jigging spoons | Fluorocarbon |
Lipless crankbait | Fluorocarbon |
Fishing Knots
If I am fishing any bait that I just cast out and reel in steadily I will use a Palomar knot. This is not a bulky knot that could potentially mess with the action of the bait.
If I am using a bait that I bump on the bottom like a shaky head, tube, or jig than I like to use the fluorocarbon knot. This is a very strong knot and a little bulkier.
With all knots, it is important to lube them up before tightening them. If you tighten them while they are dry it can weaken your line.
Check your line
Your line is going to get nicked up. If you are fishing around grass or rock then it can get weakened. If you catch fish it can get scuffed up. Check your line and if you feel a nick with your fingers then simply take a second and quickly retie. It will save you so much heartache. That next bite could be your personal best and you don’t want laziness to keep you from getting that fish in.
I had to learn this lesson the hard way. I was fishing around heavy grass and sticks with a spinnerbait. I had been boat flipping bass. I did not check my line and the next time I went to boat flip the fish…..this happened.
Luckily I have cat like reflexes and was able to retrieve my fish.
Below are some must-have fishing line accessories that you do not want to leave home without.
Of course, you need fingernail clippers. However, these have an extra tool that will help you pick out backlashes. I would use these for cutting your mono and fluorocarbon lines.
Braided line scissors. These are seated and will cut braided line with ease. If you have ever tried to cut braided line with fingernail clippers then you know what I am talking about. These are a must-have for braided line. I would order two because you need a pair at home and a pair in your boat.
For your spinning reels I love this. It puts your line on the correct way so it won’t unspool when using it.
To put your line on by yourself with a bait caster I prefer this tool.
If you do have some one just grab a pencil and a human and have them hold the line and apply a little bit of tension as you spool your bait caster.
To remove your old line from your reel you have to have a fishing line remover. It is simple and it also has a tool to sharpen your hooks. This will save you so much time.
To help prevent backlashes and line memory you will want to get some line conditioner. Start your day off with spraying a little bit on each of your reels and you will cast further and have fewer tangles and backlashes. This is especially good on hot summer days when your line gets hot.
We have all had this happen. We go to get some fishing line and it is unspooled and tangled with our lures. Then it gets damaged and we have to peel a bunch off. Get yourself a line spool storage box and save yourself the headache. These things are great and hold six spools. Each section has a hole where you can feed the line through so you don’t even have to open the box.
If you like to pre tie your leaders (which saves time on the water which = more fish) than get yourself one of these.
Get a couple of rubber bands and place your hook into the foam. When you break off you can just take your pre-tied leader with the right jig head on it and get back to fishing faster.
In Conclusion
Line choice is crucial to the action and performance of your bait. The days of using the same line for everything are over. If you are going to go fishing set yourself up for success and use the right line for the situation. Use the chart that I included as a guide. Use that double uni knot and get proficient with it. Comment down below if you think I missed anything regarding fishing lines and applications.
I hope this helps you keep your lines tight. Remember to follow us on Instagram, Like us on Facebook, subscribe to our Youtube and subscribe down below to get access to our e-mail list giveaways and products and discounts.
If you think someone needs this then please share it.
Tight Lines
This Post Has One Comment
Pingback: How to Catch 10x More Bass - HookdOnBassin
Comments are closed.