I was wondering if you guys preferred using fluorocarbon or braid when using larger football jigs. Last year I stuck with 12lb flouro and had pretty good luck with my 3/4 oz and 1oz jigs. My local lakes have a slight stain to the water and I was thinking I could get away with braid, but wasn't sure if braid would be ideal in clear water. Also how visible is braid when your fishing in depth of 12 ft or more?
For me it really depends on where I'm planning on throwing it. Down at Table Rock Lake I throw it on floro because of the rocks and timber, lots of snags. Any idea how hard it is to break off a jig even on 15 lb braid? You usually can't. So down there I usually use 12 lb floro. The water isn't really clear... similar to many west Michigan lakes.
Around here I usually throw it on braid with a floro leader unless I'm throwing into heavy cover or on very clear water. I usually hit the first 3-4 feet of the braid with a black permanent marker too just for the heck of it.
I normally use 15-17lb fluoro
15# P-line fluoro is my go-to line on my jig rod. It stands up to docks, wood, and rocks fairly well and has great sensitivity. I sometimes use braid (usually 40# though I use 65# on my frogging/heavy cover rig) but always with a 10-15# fluoro leader depending on water clarity and technique. You could probably get away with straight braid if the water has some color to it - even then I'd color the last few feet of braid black just in case.
Thanks for you input fellas. I like that idea of coloring the braid with a black marker, I heard that before I think in a bassmaster magazine but wasn't sure if guys actaully did it
20 lb Fireline with a 17 lb Floro leader. Amazing how a pike can cut the 17 lb with no effort at all.
Quote from: gmetime24 on January 27, 2013, 08:50:59 AM
Thanks for you input fellas. I like that idea of coloring the braid with a black marker, I heard that before I think in a bassmaster magazine but wasn't sure if guys actaully did it
Every time.
I never used the bright colored braids until I accidentally ordered "neon green" Sufix 832 instead of the moss green last season. I spooled it up any way and was surprised by how many bites I saw by watching my line before I ever felt them, even with braid+fluoro. Next time I need to respool my other reels with braid I'm going high-viz.
10lb Lo-vis mono.
BD. ;D
Quote from: UAWBigDog on January 29, 2013, 01:00:43 PM
10lb Lo-vis mono.
BD. ;D
Why do you choose mono over flouro or braid?
I use 20 lbs test P-Line HALO for this type of fishing most often. Once in a while I also use P-Line Spectrex braid.
When I use braid and I think there might be a visibility issue, I 'camouflage' my braid by painting ~the first 3 feet of line every inch to 2 inches of line 3 to 5 inches apart with a dark marker. It breaks up the continuity of the line. Some wise angler suggested that too me many, many years ago. Don't remember which one? I think he was right.
The continuity of the line is the most visible aspect so breaking the continuity makes it less visible, or maybe more accurately, less noticeable and threatening to the fish. That's the theory anyway.