Dangling by a grannie knot...

[JackOfAllTrades]

OK, I'm gonna ask that one question that, well I suppose I could put in a poll... This is something like asking Ford, Chevy or Dodge? Rifle or Bow? Fly, spin or bait cast?

OK so,,, I got a new rod and reel for my son. He wanted something heavier than his trout rod, but lighter than his medium rig. Got him a Graphite Okuma 8'6" with an Okuma Avenger 30 for Steelhead and Silvers. I realize it's a bit light but that's what he wanted. And, I'd like him to play a fish more than how sometimes he horses them in with bigger tackle so I think it's a good fit.  I use an old Abu fiber glass with Mitchel300 that's caught a bunch of fish over the years. He likes it, and what he's got now is much better in my eyes. I put some braided 10 line on it last year and other than the occasional loop knot, I like the casting distance and feel I get from that line. I just don't know if that line would be good for him.

So, from you more experienced fishers, what line would be right for his new rig? Mono/Pline/Braid?

-Steve

[Huntbear]

maybe look into some flourocarbon line, it is real good stuff, and rates a couple of lbs. heavier than specified, so if he makes a mistake, he may not loose the fish.

[tomy salami]

What color of water does he regularly fish? Favorite techniques?

Braid = brutal strength, great knots, no stretch, neck breaking hooksets, floats, lasts seasons, thin diameter, high visibility.

Mono = varies from mfg to mfg. Forgiving, cheap, decent knots.........so many variables between mfg's.

Flourocarbon = worst knots, unpredictable, brittle, memory, but, can be great leader material for spooky fish.

Float rods: braid.
Drift rods: toss between braid and mono.....depending on situation.
Spinners, casting plugs: braid......with mono shock leaders.

Zero place in my arsenal for flourocarbon, fish aint that spooky from what I have seen.

If I had one line forever? 20# high vis powerpro.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Rivers we hit the most are Nooksack, Samish and Skagit. Time of year and where we hit the Skagit it is usually pretty clear. Nooksack and Samish are never clear. (OK, seldom) His reel has two spools so I think some green or brown mono will end up on one. I'm leaning toward some 10# braid for him. Maybe 12#. He's not the best at knots so the fourocarbon line might be out of the question.

PowerPro braid is what I put on my primary rod. I'm sure it would perform better on a better reel.

-Steve

[tomy salami]

Hard to foul a knot with braid.......

Every time I try flouro, I hate it more.

Hard to miss with ultragreen.........the pitfall is the memory, especially on a spinning reel.

Trilene Big Game aint too bad for mono, if you get a good batch.........you will know if you do not.

Then again, Ande is cheap, limp, and is a good standard issue. Not the greatest at anything.

Braid will serve him well in many applications.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I always thought that braid belonged on bait casters. Thought I was bending the rules by putting it on my spin casters.  Sounds like that was/is the right choice all along?

I'm sure every line has its best use for different water conditions but I think mono leaders with braided line is what I'm hearing from you guys and reading elsewhere?  Fouro lines just aren't designed well enough yet?

-Steve

[tomy salami]

Flouro, in my book, is a leader material only..........but I would rather downsize the mono 2-4#, when fish get paranoid. I would never use it as a mainline.

I have fished some spooky fish, and never have I seen flouro make a marked difference to clear,light, mono.
However, Tuna guys love that crap.......

Braid on a spinning reel do good deeds.......casts, works good with bobbers, gives a beginning drift fisherman a good "feel of the bite", and you have to try to screw up the knots.

The only pitfalls of braid are the tangles, fishing in crowds, and the fish can see it in clear water.

[rasbo]

ultra green on all my river lake and stream rods,love the stuff.and its great on a casting rod

[JackOfAllTrades]

"ultra green"  What brand? Mono? Braid?

-Steve

[Huntbear]

tony,

ask a lg. mouth bass fisherman about flouro.  Talk about a fish that sees a lot of pressure and is spooky.  I loved flouro when I was bass fishing all the time.

[rasbo]

"ultra green"  What brand? Mono? Braid?

-Steve

maxima mono

[tomy salami]

I do not fish for bass.........I do not fish for tuna............

Bass probably see 100x more gear than any salmon or steelhead.  Tuna gots eyes the size of racquetballs

I got no use for flouro..........maybe it has gotten better over the last two years. The two lines I tested out, could not tie a consistent knot, snapped off on fish, was stiff and brittle............but the fish could not see it.

Give me 6# mono, any brand, over 10# flouro..........70% of the water I fish gots color anyway, so I could run piano wire, if I wanted to.

Salmon/steelhead just do not warrant the flouro..........presentation and bait selection will trump line visibility every day.

[jackelope]

i have always known flouro as a good leader material. i'd never blow the money on flouro as a main line, and i've never had problems with flouro tying knots. i have also never gotten into all the new braids. if it were me i'd run 12# main line maxima ultra green or the brown with 2-6' 8# flouro leaders for any steelhead or coho salmon we have here. if the fish were getting a lot of pressure or the water was gin clear i'd go to a 6# leader for steelhead as long as i could handle the drag well on my reel.


flouro does not last on a spool. if it is a year old, throw it out and start over.

i probably agree re: flouro probably not being needed but i got caught up in the craze. it works well on a fly rod setup for me too. mono caught lots of fish before flouro came out...
 

[tomy salami]

If a gent can get away with it...............chameleon. The dark brown stuff. Meanest knot offered in mono. Touch thick in the diameter, but so what, if it is on a levelwind.

Gramps was never wrong. Chameleon main and ultragreen leaders. Makes me want to break out some 18" leaders, a Ray Bobber, or a birdy drifter with a 2/0 hook, drive some 1/4" solid core and my Abu 2500C.

[Antlershed]

Fluoro is good leader material if you get the good stuff (Seaguar or P-Line CFX). I tried one of the fluoro coated monos on a spinning reel. Fished it one day, took it off and threw it in the garbage. Worst line ever. For maximum breaking strength you can't beat P-Line or Izorline, IMO. For a spinning reel, either the P-Line Evolution or the CX. Do not put CXX on a spinning reel as it is designed for baitcasters. The CX has a little better strength, but the Evolution will cast a little better. I don't like braid for drift fishing because it will explode when it rubs on a rock. I love braid for float fishing though.