Football Jig – Always without fail fluorocarbon. Fluoro sinks, has low visibility, and the low stretch needed to drive a big hook into a fish. I use 15 to 20-pound test depending on the cover and clarity.
Finesse Jig – Like the football jig, straight fluoro always. I use 12 to 17-pound test depending on the cover and clarity.
Texas Rig – When fishing offshore, I go with fluorocarbon, again because it sinks and has low stretch. I use 15 to 20-pound test depending on the cover and clarity. But when fishing a Texas rig in shallow, stained water around heavy cover, I’ll often move to braided line, 30 to 40-pound test depending on cover.
Crankbait – Always fluorocarbon, 10 to 15-pound test when fishing a deep diver. The smaller the line diameter, the deeper the crankbait will dive. When fishing shallow around heavy cover I’ll go to 15 to 17-pound test fluoro.
Jerkbait – Always fluorocarbon. I’ll use 10 to 12-pound test typically. Moving up a little if I’m around particularly big fish. But you can’t really use heavy line and gear with jerkbaits because at some point the hooks will bend if the line and rod don’t give first.
Lipless Crankbait – In open water or when yo-yoing the bait, I’ll use fluoro in the 12 to 17-pound test range depending on the size of fish and length of cast needed. The smaller line throws farther. If I’m fishing around heavy vegetation and ripping the bait out of the grass, I’ll use braid, typically in the 40-pound test range.
Small Swimbait on a Jig Head – If I’m throwing this on shallow flats or points, I’ll use a baitcaster with 12 to 17-pound fluoro. If I’m targeting fish deeper than 12-feet, I’ll usually for to a spinning rod with a braid to fluoro leader. Even though the braid floats, it’s a small enough diameter that the benefit of being able to cast the bait farther with braid outweighs the negative of having a little bit of upward resistance from the braid. I usually use 10 to 15-pound braid tied to 8 to 10-pound fluoro.
Chatterbait – I use fluoro in clearer water with sparse cover, but I use braid in stained water or around heavy cover. I do realize that’s not the same approach that many of the greats with a Chatterbait like Brett Hite take. I talk in depth about my reasoning for this and dive into what Brett and others do with a Chatterbait and why in this piece,
Chatterbait: Everything You Need To Know About The Vibrating Jig.
Spinnerbait – Clear water and sparse cover, like the Chatterbait I go with fluoro, 15 to 17-pound test. But in stained water or around heavy cover I switch to braid. In the 40-pound range typically.
Swim Jig – The
swim jig is like the Chatterbait and spinnerbait. I’ll use braid when I can (40-pound) if the water is stained or if I’m fishing heavy cover. If not I’ll go with 17 to 20-pound fluoro depending on cover.
Sight Fishing Beds – Except in extremely heavy cover for really big fish, I’ll always use fluoro. Typically in the 17-pound range but working all the way up to 25-pound test if need be. For more on bed fishing, click
here.
Frog – Always braid. I use 40-pound test in open water and loose cover. Step up to 50-pound test in moderate cover and go to 65-pound test in dense cover like mats. For more on frogging, click
here.
Punching – Always braid. Usually 65-pound test. For more on punching, click
here.
Flipping Shallow Wood – Whether this is with a jig, tube, or other Texas rigged bait, I’ll go back and forth from braid to fluoro. Again it all depends on the cover present and water clarity. Anytime I’m power fishing shallow around heavy cover, I want to use braid to minimize the likelihood of breaking my line against the cover. But sometimes the conditions just don’t allow for it and you have to move to fluoro. I like 40 to 50-pound braid for this and 17 to 20-pound fluoro.
Big Flipping Jig in Vegetation – Always braid, 50 to 65-pound test depending on cover. See more about flipping a big jig
here.
Topwater With Treble Hooks – For close quarters
topwater fishing, I’ll use mono (15 to 20-pound). It has the ability to stretch in a close to the boat battle to prevent the fish from pulling off the treble hooks. But if I’m making long casts and expecting to get bit from a long distance, I’ll use braid to ensure a good hookup and help make the longer casts. The fish also have a chance to wear down before getting to the boat and making really hard runs in close quarters.
Back off your drag a little during the fight and be prepared to give the fish the rod a little if they make a big pull close to the boat, but for the long casts and ensured hookups, 30 to 40-pound test braid is key.
Dropshot – Braid to fluoro leader. I use 10 to 15-pound test braid tied to 6 to 12-pound fluoro depending on the size of fish and cover present. If I need a heavier line size, I’ll usually change to straight fluoro on a baitcaster. See more about the Dropshot by clicking
here.
Neko Rig – Braid to fluoro leader. I use 10 to 15-pound test braid tied to 6 to 12-pound fluoro depending of the size of fish and cover present. If I need heavier line size I’ll usually change to straight fluoro on a baitcaster. See more about the Neko Rig by clicking
here.
Shaky Head – Braid to fluoro leader. I use 10 to 15-pound test braid tied to 6 to 12-pound fluoro depending of the size of fish and cover present. If I need heavier line size I’ll usually change to straight fluoro on a baitcaster. See more about the Shaky Head by clicking
here.
Ned Rig – Braid to fluoro leader. I use 10 to 15-pound test braid tied to 6 to 12-pound fluoro depending of the size of fish and cover present. If I need heavier line size I’ll usually change to straight fluoro on a baitcaster. See more about the Ned Rig by clicking
here.
Wacky Rig – Braid to fluoro leader. I use 10 to 15-pound test braid tied to 6 to 12-pound fluoro depending of the size of fish and cover present. If I need heavier line size I’ll usually change to straight fluoro on a baitcaster.
Flick Shake –Braid to fluoro leader. I use 10 to 15-pound test braid tied to 6 to 12-pound fluoro depending of the size of fish and cover present. If I need heavier line size I’ll usually change to straight fluoro on a baitcaster.
