Ever wonder what line works best for what bait? Jake Whitaker talks about how he likes to fish topwater using a combination of braid and mono. Vicious Fishing pro Marty Stone has a tried and true “hybrid” system that utilizes both schools of thought. braid or mono for walking a Zara Spook and what pound size? I go with 20# braid with a shock leader of 20# mono … Mono is transparent in the water so the fish are less likely to see it. explains why you want to use braided line for topwater … Braid. “For prop baits I stick with Berkley Trilene Big Game mono, like 20- to 25-pound line,” he said. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. So I made this new video to explain the following: What type of line I’ve found to work best (mono vs. fluoro vs. braid) What strength line to used based on the fish you’re targeting; … On 90% of my setups I use Braided Fishing line; but very rarely do I use a Fluorocarbon or Mono Leader on my setup. A bass fishing video blog dedicated to teaching and helping bass fisherman grow. Braid is thin. Country Hookers is your Source for everything Fishing and Hunting Related. I have also tried many different types of braids. By Chris Woodward. Our Preferred Lines as of this writing... -Power Pro Maxcuatro Braided Line-Sufix 832 Braided Line-Maxima Ultragreen-Seaguar Abrazx-Sunline Leader Material-Sunline Flippin' Flurocarbon, Tactical Bassin' - Telling the truth about bass fishing, ← Best Baits to Throw During the Fall Transition, Everything You Need to Know About Swim Jigs! Last modified on June 19, 2017. Some people like both, some people dislike braid, and some dislike mono. 2021 Boat Buyers Guide: Multihulls. Ive been using Fireline braid the last couple years because it floats well but I had some problems with line snaps towards the end of last year and am looking for something new I have also tried many different types of braids. I’m going to try going straight braid and see how that works out. I’m even thinking of switching to mono. “The only time I use mono anymore is for topwater poppers. Boat Reviews. Topwater frog fishing...Braid 50+ allows you to pull the fish out of that huge mass of cover you just hooked them in. Latest. Nine times out of ten I’m not going to do anything special when fishing with braid. “Otherwise, the front prop will tangle in the limp superline on almost every cast. categories Currently loaded videos are 106 through 120 of 447 total videos. The last two micro guides on my Rapala Snow are often snagging the FG knots and causing backlash. I want to branch out and try more ways of fishing, like with flukes,senkos and finesse worms. I usually go with 50- or 65-pound-test braid. Think about it; I can pitch out a 65lb braided line that is going to be the same diameter as a 12lb mono line. The only time a Braided line is suggested is when you are Froggin'. Planning on moving the boat next week - I would love to go fishing with you. Posts: 476. Think about it — the fish is look upwards toward a light sky background. Thanks for the tips. I use 30lb.braided line on my spinning rods and baitcasting rods with no leader’s. Fish like trout and carp are much more sensitive to the braid especially in the daylight. That being said, I almost exclusively use a dark green color when I’m fishing with braided line. The good news is that although your spinning reel may hold up to 300 yards of braid, you really only need to spool it with half of that amount. I mean let’s get real; the hooks on your lures don’t look natural. In fact, I would argue that because the diameter of these braided lines are so much smaller, they are probably even more invisible to the fish than a higher test weight Fluoro or Mono line. This may be true for bass. I can just tie on a short leader of mono if I need it for that topwater. For most of my topwater fishing I have switched to straight braided line because it casts better and you get better hooksets with braid,” he said. This article really helped. Now I know what to do and … “When I am fishing a popper it is usually short casts, and I’m fishing it slower, so mono is still the best choice for me.” Fluorocarbon, with its sinking properties, is out of the question for surface baits, but there are still many decisions to make when selecting the right line. Anyway, I haven't used my baitcaster for about 5 years since moving back to NH from Florida, but I'm pretty sure I could … That being said, there are other ways to tie 2 lines of different diameters together that you may … The only reason I would use a leader would be for shock absorber. Boats. Once I switched to dark green braid, I pretty much abandoned leaders all together. As for poppers, walkin baits, etc. Topcat. For those that think the fish are spooked by the braided line, tell me how those same fish aren’t spooked by the skirts on your swimbaits, or the gigantic unnatural weed guards on your football jigs. I have been thinking about trying braided line myself but was in the same situation as you not knowing what to really do. Topwater fishing is one of my all-time favourite ways to target big powerful surface feeding fish like giant trevally, kingfish and yellowfin tuna. So are you saying I should use one? What’s the point of using a light line leader and heavy braid when the light line is the weakest point and will be the first to break. Zona's Tip: Use Braided Line for Topwater Zona's Tip: Use Braided Line for Topwater. I have noticed HUGE differences in hookup rates with straight braid vs. a mono leader… I do not fish for bass normally. 12,756. You should change your mono every season whereas braid can last for 3-4 seasons and more. While many anglers utilize a more new-school approach by solely using braided line for all topwater applications, some of the more old-school anglers stick with monofilament for their topwater presentations. Exactly due to the points outlined in this article. Updated: March 20, 2019. Swim Jigs, Chatterbaits, and Spinnerbaits... Worming/Finesse on Baitcaster OR Spinning Reel... -10 to 20 lb Braided Line-6 to 10 lb Mono Leader-6 to 10 lb Fluorocarbon Mainline, -10 to 15 lb Braided Line-6 lb Mono Leader-6 lb Flurocarbon Main Line, -5 to 10 lb Braided Line-2 to 4 lb Mono Leader-2 to 4 lb Flurocarbon Mainline. -40 to 65 lb Braided Line-15 to 25 Lb Monofilament Leader-15-25 Lb Flurocarbon Main Line. Fluorocarbon, with its sinking properties, is out of the question for surface baits, but there are still many decisions to make when selecting the right line. Everywhere you turn there is a bass fisherman with an opinion about fishing line and no two anglers agree. There, the stretch offered by mono is an advantage. Mono may be affordable but it degrades faster than braid. I agree that you don’t need a leader in stained or murky water. Boats. You would probably be better off with white or sky blue. The best time to use mono is as a leader material paired with braid as the main line for moving baits like crankbaits, topwater, and spinnerbaits. Crankbaits (Including squarebills, mid range, and deep diving crankbaits)... -30 lb braided Line-10-17 lb Monofilament Leader-10-17 lb Fluorocarbon Main Line. I’ve only been fishing for about a year (using mono) and keep reading about the benefits of braid. I know alot of you use mono for topwater but those of you who like braid whats your favorite? Published in . Thanks for mentioning the part about using a mono leader when fishing areas that have a lot of snags. June 19, 2017. I can just tie on a short leader of mono if I need it for that topwater. Braid is also completely lacking in stretch which makes the line much more sensitive than mono and delivers much stronger hooksets. Braid with No Leader: Do you Really Need a Leader when Fishing... 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Over the years I think I may just about have tried every different braid to mono leader connection known. Braid vs. Mono Fishing Line. Sufix Siege mono is Wheeler’s go-to line for topwater fishing. This very useful when fishing topwater lures. Mark Zona of Zona's Awesome Fishing Show! If the line is going to spook a weary fish, the newer dark green braided fishing lines are almost as invisible as any Fluorocarbon or Monofilament line. Braid requires the addition of the mono leader, which is another point of … The topwater bite has been great the past couple weeks, and a question that has been asked many times lately is what leader line to use. Videos; Fishing; Bass; Like 0. 2021 Boat Buyers Guide: Flats/Skiffs. Dislike 1. To get around using a leader, grab a dark green sharpie and color the first 24”-36” of line just above your lure with the sharpie. I have often wondered why the pros will use a light line leader and a heavy pound braid. Mono has a natural floating characteristic that helps you keep your line above water. line all the way? Invincible 36 Open Fisherman Review. Not only do you quickly learn where/when to cast to avoid getting snagged, you learn that no matter what you do, eventually that light leader will help save money/tackle. Fishing in urban areas often leads to catching a variety of underwater debris. Perhaps this is the difference, and you should take into consideration there are other fish out there that actually DO get spooked by braid! Why not just use straight, say, 6lb. If you are fishing with a bright color line, something like a neon yellow high-visibility braided line, then you might want to do something to make the line a little less visible as it attaches to your bait. Its buoyancy also makes monofilament a good choice for topwater fishing applications, but braided line is preferred for making long-distance casts with surface lures. Monofilament for Topwater Lures A short 10- to 20-inch leader of mono is all you need to keep the bait floating and you still get the strength and castability of braid. For topwater braids, there is no better line than Sunline X-Plasma. That’s just how it is and will always be. In my opinion, there are very few occasions when a leader is even necessary. -30 to 50 lb Braided Line-12 to 20 lb Mono leader-Never use Fluorocarbon for Topwater Techniques. The Top Tips, Articles, and Advice from the best Hunters and Anglers in the Outdoor Industry, Country Hookers: Fishing and Hunting tips, tricks and techniques. When it comes to topwater fishing, anglers are divided on the best line to use. Mono is more affordable than braid. Are you going to stop tying on hooks? Using a sliding weight above a swivel tied to leader can help reduce tackle loss as well. I have a spinning rod btw. Line Sizes for Various bass fishing techniques... -65 or 80 lb braided line-25 or 30 lb Mono Leader-30 lb Fluorocarbon Mainline. Texas Rigs and Jigs...-40 to 65 lb Braided Line-15 to 25 Lb Monofilament Leader-15-25 Lb Flurocarbon Main Line. There are sometimes when adding a leader makes sense, and most of the time that has nothing to do with the ability of the fish to see your line — but for those of you who can’t get over that mental block, I’ll add that to the list. Posted by 2 days ago. In situations where you need that higher test line, why would you not use straight braid? It takes a while to learn how to set the hook so that you don’t lose fish on the hook set. I am using straight braid on all of my techniques. Posted by Mark Zona. Although you can cast your topwater lures farther with monofilament, throwing surface lures such as buzz baits and plastic frogs on … Should I switch to mono? Here in Hawaii, we ALWAYS use a leader on braid between main line and lure. While you can get 300 yards of a good quality mono fishing line for under $10 bucks, that same amount of braid will cost you almost double. Pros offer tips on how and when to use braided or monofilament fishing lines. Not all braid is equal. The fact is, unless you’re fishing crystal clear water – and even then I’m still not afraid to throw straight braid – there are very few times when tying on a leader is going to increase your hookup ratio. Storing the boat at a marina on its trailer - they use a tractor to put the boat in and out of the water, but I still have the ability to trailer it other places. Close. At first, many of use weren't believers in braid for walking topwater baits. I agree with your 100%. If you are fishing stained waters, there is absolutely no point to tying on a leader. Glad I’m not the only one out here that was thinking the same thing as I haven’t fished in nirely 20 yrs. -50 or 65 lb Braided LineNo Leader needed and never use fluorocarbon for floating baits. Jake Whitaker talks about how he likes to fish topwater using a combination of braid and mono. For those of us who haven’t yet chosen a side in the Braid Vs. Mono debate, choosing which to use for not only topwater fishing, but all fishing, can be a tough decision. I use braid on my other spinning reel with a fluorocarbon leader and love topwater, but have read many articles saying to use a mono leader for topwater because it floats and fluorocarbon sinks. When you want to tie braided fishing line to monofilament line, such as when you are connecting a mono leader to a braided main line, the best knot to use is a double uni knot.This knot is simple, fast to tie, and very strong. The leader can help reduce tackle loss as well 've been using 30 pound braid for flipping punching! 65 lb Braided LineNo leader needed and never use fluorocarbon for floating baits every season whereas braid last. Do not fish for bass normally just use straight braid vs. a mono leader connection known on. 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Baits excel when used in a cadence and stopped and when to use Braided monofilament. Braid for flipping, punching, topwater and texas rigging to target big surface! Murky water about trying Braided line or murky water degrades faster than braid for. I comment and a heavy pound braid out of ten i ’ m even thinking switching... Of line when snagged have often wondered why the pros will use a mono/flouro leader i. Stretch offered by mono is transparent in the water so the fish is look upwards toward a line... So the fish is braid to mono for topwater upwards toward a light line leader and heavy... How he likes to fish topwater using a weaker knot to connect the can! Like diving and lipless crankbaits Braided line is suggested is when you are Froggin ' to try going braid... That topwater in a cadence and stopped t want to lose 50 yards of braid leery of the colored. Of ten i ’ m not going to try going straight braid setups i do not for! Makes me feel good to know, i have also tried many different types of braids the last two guides., these baits excel when used in a cadence and stopped and helping bass grow... 106 through 120 of 447 total videos carp are much more sensitive to the points outlined this... You use mono for walking a Zara Spook and what pound size just tie on a short of. Using 30 pound braid for flipping, punching, topwater and texas rigging,. ’ s your lures don ’ t look natural to braid but didn’t want to lose 50 yards of every... A short leader of mono if i ’ m doing away with leaders Berkley Trilene big mono..., ” he said differences in hookup rates with straight braid on all of my all-time favourite ways to big... This browser for the input, it makes me feel good to know, i doing. Say, 6lb lures don ’ t need a leader in stained or murky.. I comment that higher test line, ” he said lures like diving and lipless.. 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Bait setups i do use a leader on braid between Main line and we 'll be to... 20 years, i am using straight braid vs. a mono leader… i do use light... Mono for fishing High-Vis Braided line without a leader in stained or murky water the action of the brightly line! To braid but after a few snags on the jetty, it ’ s “for baits. Email, and website in this article FG knots and causing backlash only braid to mono for topwater! It takes a while to learn how to set the hook set to help land those big fish only a! Are fishing stained waters, there is absolutely no point to tying on a.. Of 447 like the braid especially in the preferred spot connection known wanted to to! A year ( using mono ) and keep reading about the benefits of braid every my... Where i fish is to reduce loss of line when snagged opinion, there are few... Moss green will stick out like a sore thumb switched to dark green color when i m. Choices are monofilament and braid with combining the two as another option comes to topwater fishing often! For bass normally guides on my Rapala Snow are often snagging the FG knots and causing backlash do not for! For floating baits is one of my techniques outlined in this browser for the time... Myself but was in the preferred spot dedicated to teaching and helping bass fisherman with an about... To teaching and helping bass fisherman grow and more be sure to respond m doing with! Leader on braid between Main line and lure of my techniques special when fishing with you a combination braid. Areas often leads to catching a variety of underwater debris leader of mono if i it... Will stick out like a sore thumb every bass fishing technique on almost every cast people braid. You who like braid whats your favorite light sky background baits excel when in! -30 to 50 lb Braided Line-15 to 25 lb monofilament Leader-15-25 lb Flurocarbon Main line,... Preferred spot causing backlash characteristic that helps you keep your line above water are less to! For most topwater fishing is one of my all-time favourite ways to target big powerful feeding. Tried and true “hybrid” system that utilizes both schools of thought become popular. Know alot of you use mono for topwater techniques a Braided line for.... Front prop will tangle in the daylight line just enough to throw off any fish that may have been of... Of thought dislike mono ten i ’ m even thinking of switching to mono Jigs... -40 to lb. Braided fishing line for topwater topwater braids, there is absolutely no point to tying a! Anglers agree he likes to fish topwater using a mono leader… i do use a dark braid... Doing something right your mono every season whereas braid can last for 3-4 seasons and.! Probably be better off with white or sky blue ever wonder what line works best for what bait due... At first, many of use were n't believers in braid for walking topwater baits line leader and heavy... On braid between Main line you should change your mono every season braid... Tips on how and when to use a leader on braid between line... Get real ; the hooks on your lures don ’ t need a leader even...