The best 2 lb. Mono isn't available on most shelves. Lines sold at 2lb. Are typically stronger than they say. I like to fish a .012 leader at 1.5 lb. And will have some line available in my Spring tackle.
The best 2 lb. In my mind is too thick and not flexible enough.
A great leader line will flex when the fish sips it in. Lack of flexibility results in missed chances. Neutral fish won't generate enough pull to flex typical 2 lb. . See my video on fish don't bite and see why a leader flexing is a good thing. I will test some 2 lb. Shelf lines for you coming up and will show the results so you can see what I am receding to.
Not easy to fine 2 lbs test line and I use Trilene XL 300 yards of 2 lbs test line. I remember that good line made in Germany is pretty good line. 2.1 and 3.1 lbs test line. I cant remeber name of brand but you might find it in Cabela's catalog or website. Its green line. This year that I would try Fireline Crystal line and I think its 2 lbs but as thin as half pound! But its not cheap however if its still good for a whole season then it would be great!
although i use mostly fireline or other braid the best mono i have found is also one of the cheapest.cortland camo line.every couple feet it changes color from dark browns or greens to almost clear.i think they make it from 2lb to 30.good knot strength and handles nice.
why do yall want to use 2 pound line to catch bream , they dont call it brain surgery , I use 10 pound test flouricarbin for my leader,and they dont see it, plus I catch big catfish that get in the way
I use 2 pound test line quite often because the really big bluegill can be quite smart at times, and they will hit something presented with 2 pound test because the line is too small to see, and because it allows for a more subtle presentation. It's also fun to tell people sometimes that you're using 2 lb test because they'll want to know more. A lot of people have never even seen two pound test.
I've caught 20 pound striped bass hybrids on 6 pound test, so I've been down that road before. My biggest hesitation in going to 1 lb test would be the fact that I'm usually fishing bluegill around some light brush, and at 1 lb test I'm concerned that I'd break off too easily when my line gets snagged, or that the fish would drag the line across some sticks and the line would break leaving the fish to drag around the piece of mono. I like to go with the lightest line "under the conditions", so I suppose I'd try 1 pound test if I was on a pure sand bottom, with zero chance of encountering brush. It all depends on personal preference, i.e. what sort of risk of breakage you're willing to tolerate in order to increase the number of bites and hookups that you get.
Good point on the brush- light leaders say 1 lb. line on 2 lb. leader would result in you being able to break that leader without moving the brush structure.
If you leader is that light, you would retrieve your split shot, the float and the majority of your rig. For lures and other items where you want the business end back - NO on the 1 lb., that is strictly for live bait. If you can keep from disturbing the structure, you can keep fishing without having to wait for the fish to settle down.
I fish in brush so thick that if it was above the water line on the bank deer would hide in it,in these conditions I use 10 lb test flourcarbon and a wire hook with live crickets. If I happen to get hung up just a straight pull on the line will bend the hook and all I need to do is rebait,this is all done without disturbing the structure after bending the hook back,with this same rig I have pulled 14 lb catfish out of the brush with a flyrod