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What is the best monofilament for light saltwater tackle?

Posted on 9/16/17 at 9:49 am
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
70921 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 9:49 am
What do y'all think is the best monofilament out there? 17lb stren is what we used to always use before switching to braid. I remember it being very strong and pretty cheap but needed to be changed out every year. Is there anything better out there?

I've had enough of braid and it's ability to make the nastiest backlashes ever seen by humans. Cutting it off of everything I own today.
Posted by Saskwatch
Member since Feb 2016
17968 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 9:56 am to
I use 12 lb Ande. Don't know if it's the best but I've been using it for 15+ years and it hasn't given me a reason to switch mono.

If you are putting power pro on a baitcasting reel then put 30lb test on. Smaller diameter increases backlashes greatly. Not so much of an issue on spinning reels.
This post was edited on 9/16/17 at 10:04 am
Posted by PapaPogey
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2008
40463 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 10:00 am to
quote:

I've had enough of braid and it's ability to make the nastiest backlashes ever seen by humans. Cutting it off of everything I own today.


seems like user error to me, not the braid. I've got 12 reels at the camp all with PP and rarely have a backlash that has to be cut. Good thing about having to cut it is that there's usually a ton left on the spool because of the size.
Posted by Uncle JackD
Member since Nov 2007
59433 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 10:26 am to
I couldn't stand braid either... had knots all the time and my baitcast reels wouldn't cast heavy things like popping corks worth a shite.. user error? Perhaps.. but mono works way better for me. Stren14 FTW! Cheap and strong! It's caught me lots and lots of reds and specks.
This post was edited on 9/16/17 at 10:27 am
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
70921 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 10:28 am to
Nope. Tried everything there is to try with braid. I keep putting it on because I keep getting told it's the best but I hate the shite. I hate tying polymer knots, I hate how it defys physics by burying itself in the spool, I hate how sometimes it hangs up and launches your brand new $7 top dog across the bay.

I'm done with it. It's going on my tight lining poles and thats it. Mono on everything else.
Posted by keakar
Member since Jan 2017
30152 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 10:33 am to
I have been a bag fan of stren fluorescent for years but I find the eagle claw mono at walmart to be just as good and a great value too.

I use the 14 lbs stren for my speck poles and the 20 lbs for my redfish lines and never found an issue with them.

now I use the eagle 15lb and 20 lbs lines and they are just as good and you get more yardage per roll plus its a lot cheaper.

I do find the line needs replacing each year but you should be doing that anyway.

the only time I had a breakoff was if I had an oyster cut the line or if I don't check my line for frays and retie as needed after catching several fish. especially when those specks tend to fray the line with their teeth
This post was edited on 9/16/17 at 4:44 pm
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
86366 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 10:35 am to
quote:

the best monofilament out there
It's Maxima.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
70921 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 10:39 am to
They sell that at academy?
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
28038 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 10:55 am to
Sufix is really good stuff
Posted by farad
Member since Dec 2013
12212 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 10:58 am to
best I've used and have used for many years is Berkley Trilene Big game mono...
inexpensive and quality...
Posted by DonChowder
Sonoma County
Member since Dec 2012
9249 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 11:16 am to
Give Izorline a try.
Posted by The Last Coco
On the water
Member since Mar 2009
6918 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 11:58 am to
quote:

monofilament
quote:

needed to be changed out every year

Yeah that's all mono. Depending on how often it's used, it may need to be changed more often.

As far as braid goes, it's just not for everyone. I use it almost exclusively but some of my fishing buddies can't stand it.

With mono, I always fish either trilene big game or trilene xl, but most major mono manufacturers are fine. Stren, trilene, suffix, or pline are fine.
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
86366 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 11:59 am to
Oh, no they don't.
Posted by Wolfmanjack
Member since Jun 2017
1203 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 12:56 pm to
Mono berkley big game however I only use it to make leaders now. Power powerpro super slick on all my reels now. Fishing with straight mono feels like it's a rubber band.
Posted by down time
space
Member since Oct 2013
1914 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 1:15 pm to
I think 12# big game is the best for all around inshore mono, I use a 20# fluoro leader with it sometimes

Also use 8 strand braid, both have their place
This post was edited on 9/16/17 at 1:17 pm
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
70921 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 2:41 pm to
I bought a roll of the 30lb ande stuff to try first since it was so cheap and I could use it for leader and holy F'n backlash factory

Gonna go back to 17 or 20 pound stren I believe
Posted by tigerbass
SE Louisiana hill country
Member since Sep 2016
342 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 3:16 pm to
Trilene big game if going straight mono. You may to try to get the hang of power pro slick. During the winter when the bite is subtle braid is a must.
Posted by Tigerhead
Member since Aug 2004
1176 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 3:41 pm to
quote:

I bought a roll of the 30lb ande stuff to try first since it was so cheap and I could use it for leader and holy F'n backlash factory


Dude, 30# mono. What reel are you using? Penn 309? I use 12# Berkley Big Game with 20# flouro shock leader and I've landed 20 to 30lb jack crevalle without breaking off. That 30# is too stiff for a baitcaster. Unless you are throwing that on a large surfcasting set up, it's a recipe for backlashing. Drop down to 12# in summer and 10# in winter and any good mono will treat you right. But as someone said, you will have to spend $7 a year to change it out if you don't want to break fish off.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
70921 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 4:04 pm to
Calcutta 200b

I knew it was going to be bad, just tried it for shits and giggles. I put it on my tightline rig and I needed some leader material anyway.

It actually ain't that bad on the ambassador.
Posted by 007mag
Death Valley, Sec. 408
Member since Dec 2011
3921 posts
Posted on 9/16/17 at 4:32 pm to
Trilene Big Game 15#

As far as braid problems I don't have many of the issues you're having but I use 65#, it's equivalent to the size of 15lb mono. But I only use braid when I need sensitivity. With corks there's no need for braid and with topdogs I'd choose mono over braid for the stretch to help prevent the treble hooks from pulling out.
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