Bank fishing: What's your ideal fishing line

[analfisherman]

dp,
good question even for the most experienced anglers.

First, if the fear is  line failure is due to strength....you can use like a 20 lb. or more leader.

If it's sensitivity....you can use Fluorocarbon leader.

If it's visibility.......well that debate will go on for as long as people fish. 

In reality, the 'weak link' is more often than not, going to be the knot that you tie the leader on with.

Again good question.

[j102]

Definitely a good question. The case of leader or not, will go forever.

[BankBassBait]

Is flouro more sensitive than copoly due to stiffness? So a stiff copoly would be more sensitive than a supple copoly?

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[SFL BassHunter]

Total Novice question:

I am new to braid but have found it a godsend in all the cover I deal with. I confess to have never used a leader.

Why use a leader? I understand the fish not seeing the line, but but using a leader, aren't I defeating the purpose of having the line strength to pull one in from pads and brush? My mono will then become my fail point. Am I confused?

I would never use a leader when fishing in pads and vegetation. The only time that makes sense to me to tie a leader is when your fishing open water. Eel grass that kind of stuff where your line is more visible.

When your braid is in a pad field it blends in with the pads and stems of those pads. If your punching or flipping a heavy weight your looking for a reaction bite more times than not and at that point the line doesn't matter as much.

For me line visibility matters when your bait is sitting at the bottom and you've got fish hovering over it watching it in the open where that line is exposed.


Next, my experience with leaders hasn't been great in bass fishing. I haven't found a knot that I can easily do while fishing that can hold up. Now I know that's an entirely other discussion and every guy will tell you that the knot they use is the best just like the line, reel, rod discussions on which is the best. But I've tried several and have always found it just adds a weak point to my set up and ain't nobody got time for that!
It's not ideal when you are a bank fisherman but I have dedicated reels with dedicated lines. One thing I do have is a reel with 2 spools. I have a Dawia Fuego (the older model), it's easy to swap spools on it. I have one spool with 16lb sunline mono and the other with 40lb power pro braid. These two lines cover most my bank fishing applications. Ideally I would throw a frog on 50 but in this case I use 40 and haven't had issues. My Dobyns Savvy 734 is very versatile and though not ideal for all applications it's manageable for some and excellent for others.

But in the end you just need to find what works best for you!


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[TNDiver]

Yeah I use straight braid without a leader.  I have read too many people not using a leader, that I don't either.  Not sure if I am missing out on fish or not, but I don't use one.  Honestly though, it is more of being lazy.

I will say that if you are using a good knot, you should be fine and shouldn't have to worry about breakage.

[dpsmith22]

Thanks for all the responses!

I like the idea Rick has, about 2 spools. I believe that would handle all my fishing needs.

I have been fishing worms and jogs with braid. Considering my finesse skills need ALOT of work, maybe I should starting bringing a rod with Mono.

[Smallie_Stalker]

Thanks for all the responses!

I like the idea Rick has, about 2 spools. I believe that would handle all my fishing needs.

I have been fishing worms and jogs with braid. Considering my finesse skills need ALOT of work, maybe I should starting bringing a rod with Mono.

Definitely something you should experiment with to find what works best for you. Just want to throw something out there for you to think about though. Whatever pound test mono you are going to use for finesse applications, the equivalent pound test in braid will give you a line with a much smaller diameter. This will give your baits extra action and will probably also increase your casting distance with any given presentation.

But again, as I said this is just my personal opinion and you should try the mono and see what gets the job done for you.

Keep us posted. 

[dpsmith22]

Definitely something you should experiment with to find what works best for you. Just want to throw something out there for you to think about though. Whatever pound test mono you are going to use for finesse applications, the equivalent pound test in braid will give you a line with a much smaller diameter. This will give your baits extra action and will probably also increase your casting distance with any given presentation.

But again, as I said this is just my personal opinion and you should try the mono and see what gets the job done for you.

Keep us posted. 

True about braid being thinner. I think the reason this question goes on forever, is because it is entirely personal. Everyone is going to have "their" way.

I would think in a tourney, I would want a leader, to make certain I am taking every negative possible, out of the equation. Focusing on other parts of presentation.

Like a golfer or hitter in baseball. You need to narrow your "swing"t thoughts to 1. Same as fishing I bet.

[FloridaFishinFool]

Ditto minus a leader

Double dittos!

I have no obstacles to fray my line on so that is not an issue.

I gave up using clear lines decades ago. I never use any clear lines of any kind to fish with- only for backing and that's it. Braid and fireline only.

[BassTrap316]

Braid. Braid, braid, braid. I love braid. 30lb. I can definitely see why braid would not be ideal in your situation though. I used to beat the bank exclusively. I fish mostly bottom bouncing baits and weight less worms like a senko or a dinger. It's just hard to beat braid for bass fishing IMO. The sensitivity is awesome when you're on the bottom, and if you're watching your line and paying attention, missing bites is not an issue throwing weightless plastics om slack line. And even if you don't see the line jump, you'll more often the not eventually feel the fish. I don't fish a huge amount of treble baits... mostly because the lakes I've been fishing the last 6 years are weed covered. So the zero stretch characteristics don't concern me much because I so rarely fish a bait with treble hooks. I throw a spinnerbait with braid a lot too. I do prefer mono, but if you train yourself not to set the hook as hard and as immediately as you ordinarily would, you shouldn't miss any fish. Once the fight is on though, I love braid for getting them where I want them, rather than letting them go where they want to go!

My second choice would be copolymer as well. The sensitivity is reasonable for bottom hoppers if you've got a good one. But more often than not, I find myself wishing I had braid on when I'm using copolymer in this situation.

[West6550]

For people need a leader. I caught 2 trout and wife caught one yesterday in a gin clear pond yesterday on 40lb braid.. no leader lol

[BankBassBait]

For people need a leader. I caught 2 trout and wife caught one yesterday in a gin clear pond yesterday on 40lb braid.. no leader lol

Nuff said, i was getting tired of the leader knot biting my thumb. Thank you

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[SFL BassHunter]

For people need a leader. I caught 2 trout and wife caught one yesterday in a gin clear pond yesterday on 40lb braid.. no leader lol

I want to see you come fish Amelia Earhart Park with Lou and I. lol. We will use 8-10 lb Fluoro or YZ and you can use some 40 braid. There is a 99% chance you'll be tying on a leader. lol

[West6550]

I want to see you come fish Amelia Earhart Park with Lou and I. lol. We will use 8-10 lb Fluoro or YZ and you can use some 40 braid. There is a 99% chance you'll be tying on a leader. lol

Glad you left 1% for me. Cause I can assure you I wouldn't lol

[SFL BassHunter]

Glad you left 1% for me. Cause I can assure you I wouldn't lol

That 1% is reserved for you, but you ain't catching anything. lol

[West6550]

That 1% is reserved for you, but you ain't catching anything. lol

I bet a trout guy would tell me the same. I fished that gin clear pond and caught quite a few :-)

On 40# lb braid on both MH rods... is the best idea. Probably not. But it worked several times at that.

I told Lou this the other day on Okeechobee. We were fishing clearer water.

Lou was throwing 50lb braid and a frog. He had several birds chase his white frog.  And so did I on my worm. Last I checked the air was as clear as it gets.. and aren't most birds supposed to have great vision?

It is all about confidence. I personally don't think it is necessary 99% of the time and people just get all worked up and over think things.

You could be right though and I would just practice casting lol

[SFL BassHunter]

Lol I practice casting a lot. Nothing wrong with that.


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[Mossive]

Total Novice question:

I am new to braid but have found it a godsend in all the cover I deal with. I confess to have never used a leader.

Why use a leader? I understand the fish not seeing the line, but but using a leader, aren't I defeating the purpose of having the line strength to pull one in from pads and brush? My mono will then become my fail point. Am I confused?

I have braid on almost every reel of mine, i never use mono and have floro leaders for anything deeper than 5ft.

some folks like the visibility of the floro when using bottom baits/lures/jigs etc. They are concerned the fish will get scared off by the braid so they put a few feet of leader on. There are a ton of very strong knots you can use (g knot, double uni, albreight) that wont fail on you.

That being said I have caught plenty of deep fish with braid on, i'd chalk this one up to a confidence play.

[basss]

Braid is my go to bank fishing line.  It has drastically cut down on the amount of lures donated to the tree and bush gods while bank fishing.

[analfisherman]

Just a thought on 'leaders'.

Lou have you ever tried putting/using 'coply' LEADER with braid?

In reality, the only time I use a leader is not for 'stealth' but for abrasion resistance.

Just a thought and GREAT THREAD!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Just a thought on 'leaders'.

Lou have you ever tried putting/using 'coply' LEADER with braid?

In reality, the only time I use a leader is not for 'stealth' but for abrasion resistance.

Just a thought and GREAT THREAD!

I have actually... after fishing leaders for a couple of years I came to the conclusion of just throwing one main  line and not throw leaders. The only time I throw on leaders since then is when I'm doing offshore fishing for yellow tail snappers... lol!!

[lhcbassman]

OK I am new to braid and trying out some bank fishing but the water I'm bank fishing is pretty clear so should I be using braid or something else?

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[Capt. BassinLou]

OK I am new to braid and trying out some bank fishing but the water I'm bank fishing is pretty clear so should I be using braid or something else?

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You will be receiving a mixed bag of responses with this question. Some will fish all braid, some will fish all fluorocarbon  (fc), copoly, or mono. You will also find several will use a braid/leader combination. Interesting thing is, all have caught fish with whatever line they chose to throw. Read through this thread, and others on this forum like it, and experiment with what works better for you and the waters "you" fish. Good luck!!

[FISH520]

Braid. Braid, braid, braid. I love braid. 30lb. I love braid for getting them where I want them, rather than letting them go where they want to go!

this^^^
I like PP  but i see Spiderwire has a ultacast invisi-braid that has me interested.

[TheLastRodBender]

Total Novice question:

I am new to braid but have found it a godsend in all the cover I deal with. I confess to have never used a leader.

Why use a leader? I understand the fish not seeing the line, but but using a leader, aren't I defeating the purpose of having the line strength to pull one in from pads and brush? My mono will then become my fail point. Am I confused?

What I've found when using braid in area's thick in cover, like you're referencing, a leader is not necessary.  PERSONALLY speaking I've lost more fish on a leader then I've caught because I tend to break the line on a hookset.  I will say a lot of the benefits of finesse fishing with much much lighter line, with a leader attached has it's benefits... and something I am actually going to work on using more this year.  In open water drop shot / shaky head / ned rig type conditions, where a jig style hookset is not necessary, the cast ability with 6lb test braid far outweighs that of a mono or flouro option, with increased sensitivity.  Those finesse situations MAY give the fish more opportunity to 'see the line.'  Having a 6lb test braid line with a 3 foot leader of 8lb test flouro will give you the ability to feel EVERYTHING in deep, clear water, but it does open the door for a 'weak point' in the line.   I've heard of SO many anglers using leaders with great success.. something I've struggled to get totally comfortable with.

On a side note, if you tie braid straight to your bait and you're bank fishing... getting hung can get VERY dicey.  Having a leader that you can break off with minimal line sacrifice is actually a good thing, and prevents 40ft of line being left to hang out under water.


My answer to the original question is 12lb P-line.  When bank fishing, I'm restricted in how many rods I want to be lugging around a body of water, and that line can do everything.  Its sensitive enough to fish a shaky head, and stout enough that I can throw cranks and jigs.