Aaron124 Loc: Arlington Ohio

As long as I can remember, fishing has always been a big passion of mine. It has literally saved my life and has gotten me through some tough times. It has been my meditation as well as my favorite hobby. I have learned a lot over the years fishing, but one thing I have not learned is how to select the proper line for the bait I am throwing. I usually throw a lot of jigs, traps and chatter baits. But I also like to push myself and throw things I usually don't such as soft plastics, spinner baits and jerk baits. How do I learn what kind of line to match with the bait I am throwing?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Are you jerking our chains?

Aaron124 Loc: Arlington Ohio

Not at all. I have used mono,braid and floro but I never learned the best line for specific baits so I usually just put mono on my reels and use it. But I really want to learn the type of baits work best with those different types of line

Ivey Loc: South Central Tennessee, Tim's Ford Lake

I'll take a shot at it,
Mono floats so when your using baits you'd like to stay on top or float a lure Mono is your best bet. Top water jerk baits and crank baits in shallow water.

Floro. does sink and is virtually invisible in the water. Using bottom bait, Jigs, plastics spinner baits etc. also very clear water Floro is a good choice

Braid, is good for weedy and woody areas. braid will cut through a lot of weeds and is usually very strong for it's diameter has no stretch and can float or sink depending on the brand.
braid is good for very large fish in structure and such. Braid also casts further so many use it with a leader to get the best out of casting distance.

Mixing, for a Carolina Rig you want a braid or Floro main line and a Mono leader this allows the bait to float up behind the sinker. braid or Floro. still provides the sink, strength and no stretch you want.

There's probably as many reasons people use different lines as there are people using them but these are a few thing I think of when loading a spool.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Hi Aaron,
I take my suggestions from TV shows. Bill Dance, Hank Parker, Al Lindner, etc. They use their sponsored products, for sure, but I listen for the line weight, line type and techniques they use for each species. They share, show and teach as they get it...they all made boatloads of money by fishing for a profession. They are paying it forward, if we just choose to listen.
You could start with a 20# braid, learn a good uni knot and try different monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders in 8-12# tests to see which line gives you the lure performance you are looking for. You could also setup a different rod for panfish doing something similar with an 8-10# braid with 4-6# mono or fluoro leaders. The stronger lines will help just in case you hook up with something you may not have been targeting, too.
There are many folks much smarter than I who may have other opinions and they may chime in soon. Have fun with it, experiment and good luck.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I'm sorry, I guess I didn't give your question much thought, it was early when I first answered. When I fly fish for trout, I use a floating fly line followed by a fluro. leader, followed by a fluro. tippet. When I jig for walleye I use braid followed by a fluro. leader. When I fish the Gulf, Surf or Inshore it is braid followed by a Fluro. leader. If I'm fishing offshore it is mono followed by a fluro. leader. I do not fish bass, but I'm thinking about giving them a try on the fly rod. We have a lot of sm & lm around. I do not tie a hook to braid. I have tried it, but seem to have very few "hits" when I do. I will be catching walleye with braid and a fluro. leader on, lose the leader on a hang-up and tie the jig to the braid in order to save time, no "hits". I don't know if it is a coincidence or not, but it always seems to happen, so, I just don't do it anymore. That is the way my rods are set up, if I'm going walleye fishing, I grab the walleye rods, if I'm going surf fishing, I'll grab the surf rods. I'm not switching reels around to different rods. I don't give the line much thought once it's on the reel. I hope this helps to answer your question.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Aaron,
Ivey and Flyguy have just shared more info than I have acquired in over 50yrs of fishing. Use it wisely, have fun with it and enjoy the experience. Thank a Veteran every chance you get.

edjwester

Flyguy,
What test braid and fluoro do you use on your Walleye rod?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I use 14# Power Pro followed by 8# or 10 #Pline Floro. Depending on the watercolor. Even though most of my walleye fishing is done in the Miss. River, the English River or the Lake Mich./Stergion Bay area which has fairly dark water, I will still use that light of a line. Maybe it too light but I seem to get more hook-up and I don't think I lose that many. I do retie if I feel any fraying on the line and I will check it after every fish.

GlennMc928 Loc: Tualatin OR

Don't stress to much about the right line the cave man only had a tree vine for his line.

Aaron124 Loc: Arlington Ohio

Ojdidit... I agree with you 💯 and will most definitely take that information I have learned and apply it this weekend when I go fishing. Also I come from a strong military family having two grandfather's who served in WW2 and a few cousins who served as well. Plus my wife's side had several grandparents,uncles and cousins who served throughout the generations. I always take time out of my day to thank veterans who served so that I can enjoy my freedom. But it is always an honor to be reminded to thank a vet. To many people don't take the time to do that and take advantage of the freedoms they have due to the hard work and sacrifice that others have done for them.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Best of luck to you my friend!

zman1511944 San Bernardino. CA

Amen! But, it has improved a lot. Instead of getting the finger, once in awhile, I get a 'thank you'. I've taught at three universities and the last thing to expect from a colleague, is a 'thank you'. It's more like a snobbish leer. Once, I had a bumper sticker that read, "Guns don't kill people, I kill people". You wouldn't believe the push back. All I said was, "I was in Vietnam protecting your free speech while you snubbed me. Now I'm expressing my free speech and you don't like it. F... you!".

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

That says it all right there. Thanks for your service.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

zman says "you wouldn't believe the pushback".... really ? You put that on a vehicle and considered that you were "merely expressing my First Amendment" ? Not sure what you may have been "teaching" at those universities.... certainly was not Ethics, was it ? Philosophy ? Religion ? Sociology ? naaah.... definitely something to do with Psychology, psychos, psychopaths....had to be.
Sorry for your service, you were convinced was necessary,.... killing Vietcong did zilch for "free speech".... but lots for the military industrial complex.
I rarely express my true thoughts on this subject, but the blatant PRIDE in what is truly an abhorrent act, prompts me to rebut.
I am NEVER going to praise or thank, one who claims to have "defended my rights" by killing.....period....matters not the scenario, street-mugging or war.... soldier or cop.
I know...Waaay off topic on the subject of this thread.... sorry... but some statements simply "push my buttons".
PRIDE in the ability to kill other human beings, will forever be a yank on my chain.... expect some barking and growling in response !