What line are you using?

[Chris Roberts]

Is everyone here using Mono for gills?  I've never gone lower than #4 line, but I'm curious what everyone else uses.

I'm currently using BassPro #4 Mono, but have been considering switching to a Fluorocarbon.

[Jason Preslar]

I haven't really noticed a big difference in casting distance, but I know for a fact the Spiderwire is stronger. Trilene is what I was using beforehand.

[Slip Sinker]

I use braid for everything. My catch ratio has gone up significantly since i started using it. I currently have a reel originally spooled 5 years ago with 12# spiderwire. I used to change out my mono up to 4 times a year. I believe the sensitivity of the no stretch attribute is the main reason for the increased catch ratio. If they took away my braid i would seriously give up fishing all together.

[dick tabbert]

Chris I personally use fluorocarbon. I'm constantly using different brands tying to find the ultimate in limp fluorocarbon. I have yet to try Nano fill so I can't give any input on that. As a general rule I use 4 lb test and on rare occasions will use 6 lb test in thicker weeds. I caught a 6 lb  Bass this summer on the 4 lb test and 1/16 oz jig and it got in the weeds and I was then wishing I had on 20 lb test but to my surprise he came out of the weeds to be netted and pictures and a released. I love fluorocarbon because you can feel everything but like mono it has its problems and that being that giant birds nest that when you cast comes out of your spinning reel so like I said I'm still looking for that ultimate limp fluorocarbon. Tried  braids a to be truthful It may have eliminated the birds nest I'm just not comfortable with it so I keep coming back to the fluorocarbon.

[Chris Roberts]

The biggest gripe I read about flourocarbon is that it sinks and is not the greatest for float fishing.

I typically wont carry two UL rods with me, but I may have to go strictly pan fishing a few times and try a mono and a flourocarbon.

[Jason Preslar]

I'll keep a medium heavy and an ultralight on my yak or boat. I like to fish for "whatever" bites with the ul and put something bigger in the other rod and troll around (live fish or crank bait of some sort) nothing more fun than an ultralight. I caught a 5.5lb largemouth last winter on it, that was fun, lol

[Tim Cotton]

After reading all the post on here, I also tried the low-test(6 lb) lines this year.  I fish mostly pony jigs tipped with crappie bites and the pickerel would give me fits.  I would lose 3-5 jigs a trip.  I settled on 10 lb powerpro with 3 ft of 10 lb fluorocarbon.  I now rarely get cut-off.  With this setup I landed a 28 inch bowfin this year which gave me confidence with toothy critters.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I know that most folks prefer smaller line but I use at least 10 pound mono religiously and even heavier line on my telescopics....My water is the darkest I've ever fished in and I like to catch the apex predators that hit often....

[Jim Gronaw]

Both Jeffrey and Walt bring up good points about larger predators in bluegill water, and the desire, and skill, it takes to land them.After having tried just about every brand of braid and mono out there over a 20 year period, I find myself going back to the lines I grew up on...quality monos testing 2 to 6 pounds.

I currently use 2 pound SOS mono by Trout Magnet, or, Leland Lures...they are made by Sufix, which I also use in 2 and 4 pound test. For ice fishing I like 2 pound gold Stren (for applications no deeper than 15 ft) If I am ice fishing deeper, I'll use 6 pound Sensithin or SOS in the same weight.

For casting tiny lures and jigs below 1/32 oz, I prefer Triple Fish mono in 2 and 4 pound strengths.This is the softest, easiest casting mono I have ever used in such light poundage.

Much of the line choice is dependent on the environment you are fishing. Surely, snags and wood calls for heavier lines if you need to hustle fish out of a tangle. And I can certainly see where a braid like Nano-Fil could make it's mark for sensitivity, and heavier braids for toughness. But quality monos remain my choice. I have landed carp to 25 pounds on 6 lb test, cats over 10 pounds on 4 lb test and largemouth bass over 6 on 2 pound test. All were caught where I had the room to patiently play these fish out. Like Walt said, proper drag adjustment, and back reeling, along with sensing when a fish should run and when he should be pressured, can allow you to land a pretty big fish on very light line.

[Bruce Tomaselli]

I use a fly rod. I generally use 4 or 5X tippet, which I guess is about 4 and 3lb. test. If I'm likely to run into some small bass, too,l I go with the 4X.

[Joe Angelucci]

Asso Micron 3 in .8 lb weight. Great line 

[wag]

 

              I  use  6 lb.  Sufix  832  braid  =  ( 2 lb. dia  mono)   

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I am firmly in the 4-8 lb category.

SC allows 4 rods for bank angling (that's up from last years 2/man), so I keep a battery of rods in my ready-to-go rod tote. Several are for panfish and a few span the gap between heavier work. I usually tote the following:

1 - Shakespeare Underspin, U/L/6 ft. limber rod, 4 lb test mono.

1- Quantum Spinning U/L, 5 ft graphite rod, 4 lb test mono.

1. South Bend Spinning, Medium-Light graphite 6'-6" rod, 6 lb test mono.

1 - Shimano Trigger Cast Spinning, Medium fiberglass 6'-6" rod, 4 kg Big Game mono.

My favorite all around panfish line is the hi-vis yellow stuff, in 4# test. I have a supply of it from Vicious and Conquer and am always looking for more. It is a limp line and casts well. I believe that a good angler is a line watcher. I like the bright glow this stuff has, which is perfect for the task. Those Lake Murray shellcrackers will either take off in a hurry, or amble away with a bait. Either way, I can see it with this line.

There is a compromise, as is the case with anything: this is not the toughest line. It is adequate, however and gives enough finesse to satisfy. I cant say that I lose many to break-offs with it. But it is not well rope by any stretch. LOL

For leaders I use either 3 lb. fluorocarbon from Berkley, or Trilene green ice fishing line, in 2 lb test..