Soft Plastics Line

[BassFishing123]

Is 8 lbs mono a good line for soft plastics? What line do you use?

[NateG]

I use 6 or 8 lb mono a lot for plastics. What situation will you be fishing in?  If it's heavy weeds or cover you could get away with a little heavier, but I feel that the light line will help you get more bites.

[tim4081]

I'm sure you'll get alot of different opinions on this one.  For me, I prefer braid for most soft plastics.  Mono has a lot stretch compared to braid and I think you detect more bites and get better hook sets with braid.  If I'm fishing very clear water or an area where there is a lot abrasion then I'll go with a fluoro leader. 

[Baron49]

For weightless soft plastics I use a spinning rod with 10-14-20 lb Fireline (a fused line)

For worms, beavers, and all other soft plastics I use a bait caster with 30-50-65 lb Power Pro braided line.

Rarely use fluoro or mono lines

[jimfc3]

I use 10lb braid with a 10lb fluoro leader

[jesse1378]

for me it depends on the situation..

drop shot  -- 8 lb flouro
t-rig...normal cover...17lb flouro
t-rig...hvy cover (or know big fish/mudfish area)..65lb braid
weightless trickworm/fluke... 20lb braid

hope that helps.

[ronalddipietro]

mono...12 pd...green low vis stren..works for me...

[elswagado]

Little surprised that braid has dominated the convo so far.  I fish in ultra clear water most of the time and prefer 10 or 12# fluoro.

[Kickin Bass]

I use 10lb braid with a 10lb fluoro leader

+1

[fisherdad]

in the braid camp here too.

weightless (senkos and flukes) or lightweight plastics (shakey head, finesse/trick/small tubes on 1/4 weights, flukes on light weighted hooks), 10lb spiderwire on a spinning outfit.

any flipping baits, 10inch worms or lizards, and frogs go on a baitcaster with 50lb power pro.

[MissedAgainLucho]

I have way too much trouble with braid fraying and breaking on a hook set, especially when fishing around thick cover.  I throw 15-20lb fluorocarbine, it's strong enough to pull 'em out of cover but sensitive enough to feel finicky bites.

[Bassinkorea]

I use fluorocarbon for all my soft plastic fishing in pound strengths of 6lb up to 12lb.

[catt]

15# Berkley Big Game unless I'm fishing matted vegetation or buck brush & then it's 65# Berkley Big Game Braid

[coldfront]

Is 8 lbs mono a good line for soft plastics? What line do you use?

the answer can be 'yes' and 'no'...

on spinning tackle...with lighter wire hooks...the answer is yes.  no doubt.

if trying to drive home a heavier wire hook, not so much...

with medium action rods (spinning or casting), lighter wire hooks..and medium actions...and at reasonable distances like up to 50-60 feet...should be little problem getting hooks in fish.


that lighter mono will also stretch more/more easily.


Mono is still GREAT line...but an angler has to be aware of it's properties and plan on those when determining how/where to fish it...

[DBrooke]

Senco style baits and Flukes I run 15# Power Pro.

[kidd]

Strictly flouro for me.  6-8 lb for finesse fishing with smaller plastics, 10-12 for heavier plastics, and occasionaly 14 lb for fishing in structure with some of the bigger creature baits.

[Pat Curtis]

Fluoro for almost everything for the glacial lakes here in NE Indiana...anywhere from 8# (for Ocho's/Tubes) on up to 17# (cranks and spinnerbaits).

Braid only for heavy cover and top water applications...usually around 50# Stren Sonic Braid.

[bassn1]

I have way too much trouble with braid fraying and breaking on a hook set, especially when fishing around thick cover.  I throw 15-20lb fluorocarbine, it's strong enough to pull 'em out of cover but sensitive enough to feel finicky bites.

Used to have the same issues. Switched to PP and have never had the problem again. Most lakes I fish are deep tree lakes with trees and rocks shallow as well.

I cannot stress how well PP has performed for all soft plastics situations. For the record I do not drop shot. So I have no recommendation for that technique.

[DanielR]

• Drop Shot - 8# PLine 100% Fluorocarbon
• Jigs, Shaky Heads, T-Rigs - 15lb PLine 100% Fluorocarbon

Since I don't fish heavy mats, I rarely exceed this line, except for my large swimbaits. Then we're talking a completely different game.

[DBrooke]

Used some 8 lb. mono today (first time in 3 years)in some tough conditions, set the hook and thought I was using a bungee cord!

[bassn1]

DB - First of all Congradulations on your win  Especially with the current weather conditions! Secondly - Thats exactly the feeling I got whan I tried using floro for a specific technique. I have since return to braid for said technique.

[DBrooke]

Thanks... I had 6 rods with braid in the boat and 1 with mono. Used the mono for 2 casts then back to my jig

[nuke]

It's not that black 'n white.  What are you fishing for, what's the structure like, what's the water clarity and what's the average size fish?

I used to throw 8# test mono on t-rigs for northern smallies but the line stretch was a bit much, plus the rocky conditions that I used to fish would fray the line and I was losing money fish at the boat.  I stepped up to 10# and 12# flouro which I'm still using in southern wooded lakes with very good success on LM's up to 8 lbs (so far).

[bassn1]

I will have to admit to being partial to braid. That being said, If I had moved from mono to Floro instead of mono to braid, I may have a different opinion of floro. I believe that is why you will always have the braid guys and the floro guys. Both are great tools. 

[Baron49]

Used to have the same issues. Switched to PP and have never had the problem again. Most lakes I fish are deep tree lakes with trees and rocks shallow as well.

I cannot stress how well PP has performed for all soft plastics situations.

I totoally agree!