Dude ! Youre channel has bevome one of my favorites to watch and learn. Ive fished for bass fir a while then stopped and bavk at it since 2/ 3 years ago. Tutoral videos if done right are golden. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me and others. Im a bank fisherman, dont have a boat, and your videos apply to that. Gid bless.
I'm sure most won't be surprised when I say I like using straight 20lb low vis green braid. No leader. On my 150 size baitcasters and spinning gear, sometimes 10lb braid on 1000 or 500 sized spinning gear. And of course 6 lb test low vis green mono when focusing on finesse baits. The water in So Cal generally ranges in the 2 ft - 4ft clarity. I also tend to think the braid gives off less vibrations in the water compared to fluorocarbon. Mono a little less than fluorocarbon. When it comes to the bass feeling the line, when worm fishing or finesse in general braid is definitely going to be less obtrusive. So I often forgo the mono for line strength and sensitivity. And of course the lack of a leader to braid knot is very convenient, leaving plenty of room to worry about other things. Large swimbaits I like Straight 20lb Fluorocarbon. If my drag doesn't have more than 20 lb of strength, I don't see any reason to use anything stronger or thicker than necessary.
Thanks Matt. I really needed this. Listening to the opinions of all the different setups can be confusing. BPS line displays can be overwhelming. Thanks for narrowing it down.
I agree 💯. I only use braid for frog fishing and pitching in grass. I also use 15# for just about everything except for jerk baits. But I use copolymer mainly because fluorocarbon is so expensive.
I agree with your leader length on spinning. I like to have enough to re-tie without tying a new leader. I use co-poly on some light spinning, but not straight fouro. I use some mono on a baitcaster for topwaters and spinnerbaits in shallow water.
I agree period that's sounds very similar to my line setups on my rods in reels. Only I used 12 pound and 10 pound for clear water. Braids to a leader for my flipping setup. And 6 and 8 on my spinning tackle. Do I do want to try braids to a leader on at least one of my spinning rods just to see how I like it. As in there's no sense in changing all of them over at once in case I do not like it
My philosophy is pretty much the same as yours. Though I do go lighter than you apparently. Of coarse it depends on the lake! Natural grass lake, rocky inpoudment s or the nearby rivers near by. My norm is 6-14lb if I'm punching it's 35 pound braid. Now I do keep extra reel's so my swapping lines are probably less but I still do or swap out the reel. I do have friends at the tackle shop a block from the house. If I run short on my line they've got it.
I am totally in the same camp you are, I would much rather risk a breakoff and opposed to not ever getting that bite on heavier line, always have and always will!!!
@@floydmayes4924 No attiitude Sir, just stating what works for me and I would consider Truman lake a timbered reservoir I fish pretty often, keep pressure on them and dont horse them in and you to would see you can land big fish on lighter line.
I'm a very simple guy and I try to keep my line simple. I prefer to have my spinners with 10 lb braid to a leader for the most part and my baitcasters with 12-17 lb test fluoro. There are exceptions, like my flipping stick which has 50 lb braid, but that's a rare case.
Thank you for the little tips. What about when you're topwater fishing with ploppers, poppers, spooks, and buzzbaits for examples? What do you use? Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing those tips on the line. Like about keeping one line size unless you need only a rod or two. Do you use 15# for crankbaits as well like shallow crank baits from 1ft to 10 ft? Stay Safe & God Bless!!!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I would like to hear how you handle a fish that has completely swallowed the hook. Do you remove the hook or do you cut your line and leave the hook in its mouth. If the fish is bleeding, do you use something to help stop the bleeding?
depends on how bad it it, i may ct it i may try to emove it. if i remove it i use needle nose and come from under the gill plates to get leverage. works great. if the fish starts to bleed i put hydrogen peroxide on it.
I keep it simple, 20lb Braid on spinning rod. 12lb flouro on baitcaster. P-Line tactical or Sunline Sniper for the win. If a rod is rated for 15lb-20lb line do you put 15lb, 20lb or sumthing in between?
Matt, so as I have mentioned before I mainly fish from the bank. Im not a gan of baitcasters , and I use exclusively spin cast. What line would you suggest that is an all around good line to use in different applications. Thanks.
Line is something I'm trying to figure out. I always used mono until recently and I started switching to braid. I still haven't tried fluorocarbon except for leader in the saltwater. A couple of my spinning reels need new line and I'm thinking about going with fluoro instead of the mono that's still on those rods. Now I'm by the saltwater again 😬 and I have to figure out what works and where. So this video helps some. What would you use around oysters and around the bays?
I'm amazed at how little mono is used by pros. I've been using 8 strand braid to mono leader on a baitcaster this year. I've had some trouble with it digging in. I'm curious if I should have tried 4 stand or went heavier 8 strand to prevent it from happening.
MATT, do you not fish heavily or very heave matted grass areas with a frog? It is a must to fish a frog with braid in these types of areas!! I am not talking about sparse vegitation , I am talking about complete coverage!!! Noticed you did not speak of frog fishing in this type of cover. Sorry, just wondering. Thanks !!!
Everybody in Florida seems to think they have to have 50# braid on everything. Only rods I have braid on or my frog rod and punch rod. Every thing else is 20# fluorocarbon even for swim baits in heavy pads. I may lose a few but I feel I get more bites.
@@MattStefanFishing yea I used to use mono all the time then I switched to braid a few years ago when I started using whopper ploppers and have never lost this many fish in my life til now
I like braid on my bait casters. I use 10lb with an 8/10lb monofiliment leader for finesse and 30lb with a 15lb mono leader for cranks,texas rig or jigs.
I like the idea of having all the bait casters with the same size line and I primarily use 12# fluorocarbon. I agree with everything you do on the spinning rods even have a couple of rods with straight 6# fluorocarbon for jerk baits, I truly believe I get more distance on casts and bites.
I’m just a regular guy. I only use fluorocarbon. Usually 12 or 15 pound. I’ve caught at least 70 fish within the last two years. Never spent more than 15 bucks for line. Don’t be fooled by all those guys out there. You don’t need all that fancy stuff.
@@MattStefanFishing that wasn’t towards you Matt, there’s this know it all where I fish who insists on leaders and expensive line to catch big fish. I’m just a weekend warrior.
Matt, are you using the X9 or the X5 on your spinning gear? I'm considering trying out the x5 as I'm getting wrapped around the guides of my Ultra light spinning setup with the higher strand carrier braids. I'd be curious what you think about the X5 on the spinning gear.
Not sure why people think fluoro gets u more bites...just a myth...fish aren't smart enough, that a line makes them hesitant...unless it's super clear water perhaps.....if giant treble hooks, a bunch of wires on an A rig, various types of blades, a big metal spoon with a big treble, and many other lures/techniques that have unnatural things associated with them don't effect fish....a line won't either...whether fish bite or not, is all about the angler's technique 99.9% of the time
Finally a pro that agrees with me, mainly 15lb flouro. Most say 20lb as a standard. I use 12 or 10 to crank and 15 most of the time for flipping and pitching
Fluorocarbon is not created equal, if you tell me your using vanish you all ready lost!!!! You never said what brand of fluoro you use!!!!!!!!! I have tested some flour carbons for strength, only Spiro and game passed. The others I tested pulled half your there rated strength , pay attention boys PULL strength of fluorocarbon line is a big deal! I've watched major league fishing and watched guys break off fish and you can see their using fluorocarbon. DON'T BE FOOLED!!!!!
Do you recommend full fluoro. skipping with a baitcaster, vs braid with a leader? I'm most interested in which is better at minimizing backlashes. Thanks and please keep up the great videos!
Dude ! Youre channel has bevome one of my favorites to watch and learn. Ive fished for bass fir a while then stopped and bavk at it since 2/ 3 years ago. Tutoral videos if done right are golden. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me and others. Im a bank fisherman, dont have a boat, and your videos apply to that. Gid bless.
I appreciate that!
I also had 2 packs of Flukes collecting dust. Never really understood the bait, so thanks for clearing up this for me.
Old braid saved on an empty spool is good for holding skirts on wrapping eyes on rods and other uses. Put on empty bobbin spool.
sounds good!
I'm sure most won't be surprised when I say I like using straight 20lb low vis green braid. No leader. On my 150 size baitcasters and spinning gear, sometimes 10lb braid on 1000 or 500 sized spinning gear. And of course 6 lb test low vis green mono when focusing on finesse baits. The water in So Cal generally ranges in the 2 ft - 4ft clarity. I also tend to think the braid gives off less vibrations in the water compared to fluorocarbon. Mono a little less than fluorocarbon. When it comes to the bass feeling the line, when worm fishing or finesse in general braid is definitely going to be less obtrusive. So I often forgo the mono for line strength and sensitivity. And of course the lack of a leader to braid knot is very convenient, leaving plenty of room to worry about other things.
Large swimbaits I like Straight 20lb Fluorocarbon. If my drag doesn't have more than 20 lb of strength, I don't see any reason to use anything stronger or thicker than necessary.
thanks for sharing!
Nice , All my square bill line is 10, Deep cranking 15. Thanks Matt
Good stuff
Thanks Matt. I really needed this. Listening to the opinions of all the different setups can be confusing. BPS line displays can be overwhelming. Thanks for narrowing it down.
agreed
I don’t like braid at all for bass fishing , now spinning reel speckle trout fishing with a cork I use it , under the cork I tie on fluoro
thanks for sharing!
I agree 💯. I only use braid for frog fishing and pitching in grass. I also use 15# for just about everything except for jerk baits. But I use copolymer mainly because fluorocarbon is so expensive.
Right on
I agree with your leader length on spinning. I like to have enough to re-tie without tying a new leader. I use co-poly on some light spinning, but not straight fouro. I use some mono on a baitcaster for topwaters and spinnerbaits in shallow water.
thanks!
I agree period that's sounds very similar to my line setups on my rods in reels. Only I used 12 pound and 10 pound for clear water. Braids to a leader for my flipping setup. And 6 and 8 on my spinning tackle. Do I do want to try braids to a leader on at least one of my spinning rods just to see how I like it. As in there's no sense in changing all of them over at once in case I do not like it
Awesome
Great Info-Sunline fishing line has great videos on knot tying for anyone interested
thanks for sharing!
My philosophy is pretty much the same as yours. Though I do go lighter than you apparently. Of coarse it depends on the lake! Natural grass lake, rocky inpoudment s or the nearby rivers near by. My norm is 6-14lb if I'm punching it's 35 pound braid. Now I do keep extra reel's so my swapping lines are probably less but I still do or swap out the reel. I do have friends at the tackle shop a block from the house. If I run short on my line they've got it.
thanks for sharing!
What knot do you use to join braid to fluorocarbon on your spinning reels?
mostly uni to uni
I am totally in the same camp you are, I would much rather risk a breakoff and opposed to not ever getting that bite on heavier line, always have and always will!!!
agreed
I would guess you don't fish a timbered reservoir. If you did with that attitude, you'd never get a fish in!
@@floydmayes4924 No attiitude Sir, just stating what works for me and I would consider Truman lake a timbered reservoir I fish pretty often, keep pressure on them and dont horse them in and you to would see you can land big fish on lighter line.
@@johnrayner5599 And I fish Truman ALL the time. I have also caught bass as big as 8 lbs. out of Truman. Good luck with your light line!
@@floydmayes4924 Thanks for wishing me luck but I will be just fine with my lighter line.
Berkley makes some GREAT braid. I am a Seaguar man for fluoro tho. Invizx is a fantastic value. I love Tatsu, too!
yep!
I'm a very simple guy and I try to keep my line simple. I prefer to have my spinners with 10 lb braid to a leader for the most part and my baitcasters with 12-17 lb test fluoro. There are exceptions, like my flipping stick which has 50 lb braid, but that's a rare case.
Right on
Makes me feel good about using 12-17 lb floro on most my gear
awesome!
When you are fan casting how far apart at the end of the cast do you generally try to do?
Ever since FFS/Livescope I'm not sure they fan cast anymore.
15 or 20 feet
Thanks for the video. You don’t mention mono. Certainly you’re not throwing top water with flouro?
i like mono for my topwaters
Thank you for the little tips. What about when you're topwater fishing with ploppers, poppers, spooks, and buzzbaits for examples? What do you use? Thank you for sharing.
generally monofilament
I use #15 mono because I am not very good on a bait caster yet. So I don't mind if I have to cut out a bird's nest
sounds good!
If you didn't fish tournaments, how often would you change your line for floro & mono?
i only change it when i need to. meaning its a low spool
@@MattStefanFishing ok cool. That's what I do.
Very good show mister
thanks!
5:54 what's your braid to fluoro knot?
uni to uni most often
Thanks for sharing those tips on the line. Like about keeping one line size unless you need only a rod or two. Do you use 15# for crankbaits as well like shallow crank baits from 1ft to 10 ft? Stay Safe & God Bless!!!!
i will but prefer lightger line
@@MattStefanFishing Thanks Matt!!
Braid for me 👍👍👍👍👍
stick with what works for you
I use everything. I grew up fishing monofilament and still use it today because I'm used to it. I do like fresh line on my reels. Cheers 🍻
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I would like to hear how you handle a fish that has completely swallowed the hook. Do you remove the hook or do you cut your line and leave the hook in its mouth. If the fish is bleeding, do you use something to help stop the bleeding?
depends on how bad it it, i may ct it i may try to emove it. if i remove it i use needle nose and come from under the gill plates to get leverage. works great. if the fish starts to bleed i put hydrogen peroxide on it.
I keep it simple, 20lb Braid on spinning rod. 12lb flouro on baitcaster. P-Line tactical or Sunline Sniper for the win. If a rod is rated for 15lb-20lb line do you put 15lb, 20lb or sumthing in between?
i honestly dont pay attention to line ratings on rods.
Matt, so as I have mentioned before I mainly fish from the bank. Im not a gan of baitcasters , and I use exclusively spin cast. What line would you suggest that is an all around good line to use in different applications. Thanks.
15 lb fluorocarbon
@MattStefanFishing Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.
Thanks Matt what would you recommend for a c rig set up?
i like 15 lb fluorocarbon
Line is something I'm trying to figure out. I always used mono until recently and I started switching to braid. I still haven't tried fluorocarbon except for leader in the saltwater. A couple of my spinning reels need new line and I'm thinking about going with fluoro instead of the mono that's still on those rods. Now I'm by the saltwater again 😬 and I have to figure out what works and where. So this video helps some.
What would you use around oysters and around the bays?
i prefer fluorocarbon, but it can be brittle when fishing around shells.
@@MattStefanFishing oysters cut also
I'm amazed at how little mono is used by pros. I've been using 8 strand braid to mono leader on a baitcaster this year. I've had some trouble with it digging in. I'm curious if I should have tried 4 stand or went heavier 8 strand to prevent it from happening.
it still has some uses!
You were a braid to leader guy for a while. Any issues that made you switch to fluorocarbon?
im only braid to leader with spinning rods. never with baitcasters really
MATT, do you not fish heavily or very heave matted grass areas with a frog? It is a must to fish a frog with braid in these types
of areas!! I am not talking about sparse vegitation , I am talking about complete coverage!!! Noticed you did not speak of frog fishing in this type of cover. Sorry, just wondering. Thanks !!!
i use heavy braid with all frogs. its a must
Everybody in Florida seems to think they have to have 50# braid on everything. Only rods I have braid on or my frog rod and punch rod. Every thing else is 20# fluorocarbon even for swim baits in heavy pads. I may lose a few but I feel I get more bites.
you dont have to have braid in florida
What about for topwater?
I like straight monofilament 15-17 lb for topwater
@@MattStefanFishing yea I used to use mono all the time then I switched to braid a few years ago when I started using whopper ploppers and have never lost this many fish in my life til now
What part of the Potomac river I always fish the Potomac creek and accokeek.
i fished from belmont bay to mallots bay
What is your go to brand of fluoro in 15 lb?
100% berkley trilene fluorocarbon
I like braid on my bait casters. I use 10lb with an 8/10lb monofiliment leader for finesse and 30lb with a 15lb mono leader for cranks,texas rig or jigs.
sounds good!
I like the idea of having all the bait casters with the same size line and I primarily use 12# fluorocarbon. I agree with everything you do on the spinning rods even have a couple of rods with straight 6# fluorocarbon for jerk baits, I truly believe I get more distance on casts and bites.
Nice! You sound like you're in California.
thanks for sharing!
Good video
Thanks
I’m convinced I use a spinning rod for jerk bait.
me too
I’m just a regular guy. I only use fluorocarbon. Usually 12 or 15 pound. I’ve caught at least 70 fish within the last two years. Never spent more than 15 bucks for line. Don’t be fooled by all those guys out there. You don’t need all that fancy stuff.
stick with what works for you!
@@MattStefanFishing that wasn’t towards you Matt, there’s this know it all where I fish who insists on leaders and expensive line to catch big fish. I’m just a weekend warrior.
There is not ANY fluorocarbon that I have tried that's worth anything. Went back to mono and am happy I did!
stick with what works for you
I have had way more breakoffs with floro, so I went back to Trilene Big Game and before and after have NEVER had a bass break off Big Game 12lb.
@johnnieanderson9378 I have used 12 lb. Big Game for crankbaits for a whole lotta years and never had a breakoff other than intentional!
Matt, are you using the X9 or the X5 on your spinning gear? I'm considering trying out the x5 as I'm getting wrapped around the guides of my Ultra light spinning setup with the higher strand carrier braids. I'd be curious what you think about the X5 on the spinning gear.
i use X9 on spinning gear
Not sure why people think fluoro gets u more bites...just a myth...fish aren't smart enough, that a line makes them hesitant...unless it's super clear water perhaps.....if giant treble hooks, a bunch of wires on an A rig, various types of blades, a big metal spoon with a big treble, and many other lures/techniques that have unnatural things associated with them don't effect fish....a line won't either...whether fish bite or not, is all about the angler's technique 99.9% of the time
its actually more about the sound and water vibration the line makes versus clarity of the line itself
Finally a pro that agrees with me, mainly 15lb flouro. Most say 20lb as a standard. I use 12 or 10 to crank and 15 most of the time for flipping and pitching
thanks for sharing!
Spro and gama passed,gama is garinteed or your money back beat that!!!!!
thanks for sharing!
Fluorocarbon is not created equal, if you tell me your using vanish you all ready lost!!!! You never said what brand of fluoro you use!!!!!!!!! I have tested some flour carbons for strength, only Spiro and game passed. The others I tested pulled half your there rated strength , pay attention boys PULL strength of fluorocarbon line is a big deal! I've watched major league fishing and watched guys break off fish and you can see their using fluorocarbon. DON'T BE FOOLED!!!!!
i use 100% fluorocarbon
@@MattStefanFishing you strength test so you know Lol
Do you recommend full fluoro. skipping with a baitcaster, vs braid with a leader? I'm most interested in which is better at minimizing backlashes. Thanks and please keep up the great videos!
i skip with full fluoro
👍
thanks for watching!