Mono vs fluro vs braid

[JKTrevecca]

Good stuff. THanks for the input. Gives me some idea's. I think it's 90% about the drag. I must have had mine a bit on the tight side. I like the idea of using lighter line and having to play the fish but there has to be a balance that will still allow me to keep em out of the brush/timber. I'll keep working on it!

[tacklemake]

I will keep using my knot it less work and holds great.............woody

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by JKTrevecca

Good stuff. THanks for the input. Gives me some idea's. I think it's 90% about the drag. I must have had mine a bit on the tight side. I like the idea of using lighter line and having to play the fish but there has to be a balance that will still allow me to keep em out of the brush/timber. I'll keep working on it!

Always check you knots after tying. A lot of bad untested knots get the line and drags in trouble.

I use 65lb braid to the lure on my last striper (40") and with the drag all the way down on a Curado I wasn't concerned with losing. The rod was bent at a 90 above the first guide from the reel. It's a lot of pressure but the fish was turned then landed with no equipment issues. I'd rather do that than worry "if" it's going to be enough after the fish is on. With these fish at least.

Just me though.

[Pookie]

I'd like to hear TK's thoughts on this. I have a little experience with the big ones at Tim's Ford, but that was long ago, at least before braid hit the market. I used 20# test then, and the largest thing we boated was 35# trolling a bucktail jig and following the birds.

One thing that sticks out in your post is this: You fail to mention re-tying. I use a fresh knot each and every time I hit the water. Additionally, if fish lips touch my lure, I re-tie. Not for crappie or bream, but when I land a big fish, I always re-tie. You never know if he has drug your line over limbs or rocks. It gives you the opportunity to inspect the line and cut out the bad part, if any.

[Travis C.]

Just to clarify, my line of choice will vary upon environment setting. That is a river snag filled setting but on a lake like Pookie's scenario 20lb is plenty. I use 10lb fireline crystal on lake setting with little chance of hanging me up successfully. I have caught fish close to 20lb the crystal and txnative caught some a whole lot bigger on it. You just have to gauge your surroundings and line up or down accordingly.

[MNfisher]

In a small river in tight quarters, i'll use a 8 foot custom heavy Muskie rod with 80 pound PowerPro on a Calcutta 400b with the drag locked down. No leader. But in the open lake setting I'll use anywhere from 10 to 20 pound braid with a 12 to 20 pound flouro leader. Last year I caught a 28 and 33 pound striper on 10 pound braid with the 10 pound flouro leader. Now this is not my goto set up for big fish. But I got then in! My 44 lb striper was also on 20 lb braid, no leader.


Mike