Best line for smallies on a spinning reel????

Post by **Basshole** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:15 pm

Just wanted to know what everyone thinks the best line (color, Lb test, Braid/Mono) for smallie fishing is????
Thanks

Post by **Wallyboss** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:36 pm

Braid with a fluorocarbon(Seaguar) leader

Post by **Basshole** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:11 pm

LB test????

Post by **Wallyboss** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:13 pm

I have 20lb PowerPro and 15 lbs fluoro leader or 8lbs fluoro if finessing.

Post by **Bass Addict** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:55 pm

12lb Mono Berkley Triline

Post by **Sportspal** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:25 pm

I've yet to see a smallie over 10lbs, but given that I may need to pull them out from branches, I'm set with 15lb spiderwire invisi-braid on one reel, and 15lb Powerpro on another.

Post by **Fishing 24/7** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:03 pm

i would go with mono befor any braided .. especialy for smallies.

Post by **MichaelVandenberg** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:29 am

Mono - Berkley XL 8 lb works but I have had a few break offs but I believe I get more bits with the light line. Cast real good too.

Fluro - Berkley Vanish 10 lb, less break offs but the line is stiffer and does fly off the reel a bit when you have slack line.

I prefer the mono.

Never braid for smallies.

Mike

Post by **curls** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:54 am

Out of curiousity -- why no braid for smallmouth, but almost always for largemouth?

Would you say yes to braid + fluoro or mono leader?

Post by **Todd B.** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:59 am

8lb braid with a 3' flurocarbon section to the bait is what I prefer.

Post by **Wallyboss** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:10 pm

I also prefer my mainline being braid but I always use a Fluoro leader.

Post by **FishingIsHealing** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:04 pm

I've tried a few and my favorite right now is GREEN pline 8lb cxx or whatever it's called.

I find it's EXTREMELY STRONG when compared to 6lb trilene or stren.

I use 6lb regular colored trilene and I love that for smaller fishing applications such as panfish, perch, tiny smallies

Post by **MichaelVandenberg** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:07 pm

curls wrote:Out of curiousity -- why no braid for smallmouth, but almost always for largemouth?

Would you say yes to braid + fluoro or mono leader?

I only use braid on my frog rod for Largemouth due to the extremely long cast, the no stretch factor and the strength (it is 65lb braid). All my flipping sticks have 17 lb P-Line Fluro.

In gerenal though, when I fish smallies they are in open water and that is why I use the lighter line. For largies I am fishing in heavy weeds (be it deep or shallow) and hence the heavier line.

Cheers,

Mike

Post by **Bobber** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:45 pm

For smallies I always use mono on my Sahara reel and Crucial spinning rod. I find smallies are more finiky when it comes to actually seeing the line and usually are in deeper water where you don't have to horse them out of the weeds. Using braid with a leader only gives you another point of failure if your knot is not done just right. This is my opinion, but you can also check here for other opinions. We ran this question in the <a href="http://www.fish-hawk.net/hawktalk/viewt ... >Fish-Hawk Opinion Search</a>.

Cheers,