I'm getting ready to head to Sturgeon Bay for some smallmouth action and from all the research I've done it looks like I'm gonna have to break out the spinning rods. The water is gin clear down to about 20 feet and from everything I've seen the best line weight is 7-8 pounds. My question is would would go all fluorocarbon or braid with a fluorocarbon leader? I think a lot of guys use the braid there to get longer casts so I'm leaning that way. If I go that route what pound braid would you use with 8 pound fluoro? What knot do you use to connect the two lines?

Thanks as always for your advise!!!

30, uni/uni knot.

I got a new stradic 1000 you can borrow if ya want. i'd be shy of the braid though. just my 2 cents.

My two setups I have 20lb power pro with a uni/uni to 10lb flour! No need to really go lower in TX in my mind! But u should have no problem with 6-8lb flouro! Casts literally a mile and if tied good the uni/uni has never once failed me!

But I have also found out Drag is everything with lighter line! I play with it throughout the hook up! I keep mine fairly tight for the hook set to drive the hook! But immediately loosin a few clicks and mess w it a little to get it right per fish!

back reel bro.

Oh I do... I just didn't want to throw to much at him lol

20 - 30 lb Diawa Samurai braid, 6 - 8 lb fluoro leader line, Crazy Alberto knot, you do not have to use a spinning outfit, I have a Dobyns shaky head rod with a Shimano Chronarch 50, one bad little set up, have fun.

Aaron Martins tip. Braid to micro swivel. Fluro leader. Put a plastic bead in front of the swivel to protect the eye on the first guide. Less time dealing with line twist.

Once you do braid to fluoro leader on spinning gear, you will never go back to using straight fluoro. The casting performance is vastly superior. You don't need a very long leader, 4 foot is plenty. 20lb Power Pro Super Slick connecting 6-8lb fluoro using Uni to uni or Alberto(modified Albright) knot. You can also do the micro swivel if you wish. I'd bring a ton of 3-4 inch dropshot baits like KVD Dream Shots, Jackall Crosstail Shads, Keitech Sexy Impact and Roboworms. #2 hook and some tungsten dropshot weights. Have fun!

I grew up in the northeast fishing smallmouth. No way I would use braid at all. It will cut your success and bites in half. Go with fluorocarbon only. Them suckers are real shy and water is gin clear. Be ready for 50 plus fish days once you get on them. Have fun.

We just came back from Lake MI in June. Every rig we fished with had 30lb braid with 8-10ft flouro 8lb test leaders. We dragged tubes, fished drop-shots and swimbaits, and that's it......and man was it fun! I hope you have a wonderful time. No doubt, you will.

Thanks for all the great advice I knew you guys would get me on the right track I can't wait to get up there!!!

David thank you for the offer to borrow your Stradic I have a few of them so I'm good to go I just have to knock the dust off of them....

It has been a while since i fished the area. I had a great day using a Slo-Poke jig head and Kalin grubs. I inserted the jighead inside the grub and retrieved it at a high speed. The small mouth attacked it. The Kalin grubs are rigged with the tail pointed in the same direction as the hook. I recall using a color that was translucent (cotton candy i think) so you could see the jig head inside the grub. There are a number of articles on how to fish the area if you do a quick google search. Hope this helps a little.

Thanks Paul I think I've watched every video that exists on that place I hope it's as good as everything I've seen!!