I like 17lb i use 15lb on cranks in open water. My question is for drop shot or shakey head in 10-20ft on east texas lakes does it make that much diffrence?

No. In know a lot of guys that fish that presentation on 20#

So if you fish it with 20# flouro and do ok with it, why do you see a lot of people using 8#-10#. Don't mean for this to sound like a smart azz question. I am also trying to figure this out. I thought you really need to use small diameter line so that fish could not see the line.

I don't think the water in 90% of Texas reservoirs is clear enough for line diameter to be "critical." Maybe another bite or two, sure, but at a higher risk of line breaking which could cancel out your added bite or two. And, it usually doesn't break on small fish, just saying.

i use #8 just cas i can throw it further and have no problem with bigger fish have upwords of 15lbs on 8lb line just takes a little longer

If your tx rigging your drop shot (bubba rig) and fishing bushes or trees I dont think line size matters as much, also like mentioned above the water is not gonna be real clear where you will be.

Flouro is 100% invisible in the water, line diameter does not matter! Go as big as you can stand to cast.

I use the lighter flouro(6# & 8#) for light weight baits. 1/8 oz shaky heads for example. heavy line on tiny baits seems to rob some of their action for me.
big shaky heads and drop shots ill go back to 17# or 20# flouro.

I think I would feel less bites with 20lb as opposed to 12 or 15. I would like to believe that it is 100% invisable, though I will say that I have more confidence with fluoro as compared to mono or straight braid in clear or slightly stained water

Here�s the scoop on crankbaits and line.

Two points.

� The smaller the line diameter the deeper a crankbait will dive.

� The denser the line the deeper a crankbait will dive.
�. Line density in increasing order: braid, mono/copolymer, fluorocarbon.

Personally, I prefer P-Line CX Premium for a copolymer line. Seaguar InvizX is a good fluorocarbon, but P-Line Halo is also quite good, as is Sunline Sniper. Sunline Shooter is excellent line, but I view it as too low stretch for crankbaits.

Below are a couple of charts showing first various brands and types of line, and pound test ratings, along with their diameters for particular pound test ratings.

The second chart is information on CX Premium with respect to pound test vs. actual breaking strength vs. tensile strength; along with line diameter in both inches and millimeters.





I�ve yet to find any fishing line other than braid that his higher tensile strengths that CX Premium.


TFP

When I am forced to drop shot I use 15# InvisX on my baitcaster.

Ok, just call me a smartazz but the difference is 2lbs. It don't mean a thing.

Tru Dat

30 lb braid. No stretch lets me feel what Im doing down there especially with a deeper bait. Small diameter lets me make long casts. Plus "pinesaddict" never throws a crank bait anyway!!!!!!!! Carolina riggin 12 mos outta the year!!! Dont deny.....

Is this really a post worrying about the difference in 15 and 17lb test line? FFS.

Getting tired head , twenty pound invisx on everything but top water .... Done.

There is a definate difference in line size, type line and from brand to brand. Can anyone guess what that is? It's whatever you are comfortable with. Whatever makes you confident. NOW, with that said, I have perticular reels that I feel function better with one line over another. Also, IMO when fishing in extreme cold temperatures, 15# InvisX works better for me than 20#. There are four main considerations to take into account: sensitivity, memory, abrasion resistance and strength. YOU must decide what this priority is, for whatever application you are fishing and again what gives you the best confidence. With all tis said, I would not go to Falcon Lake with 10 pound test!

What about CXX?

What about it?

use 6-8lb floro here, ur askin for a heartbreak

Honestly do you think fish can tell a 2lb difference in a line that's invisible underwater? Also there's not many lakes around that are that clear .I only like fluidity because it sinks for cramming I've gone back to basics and pretty much throw all mono except for my frog and c rig witch I throw braid on the c rig I use a fluoro leader

CXX is a good line in some circumstances. Personally, I view CXX is a much less desirable choice for crankbaits that CX, and other �slim diameter� lines. CXX is a �fat line,� by which I mean that for a given pound test rating it has a much larger than standard line diameter for that rating. Conversely, a �slim line� is a line that has a significantly small diameter for a given pound test rating than is standard for that pound test rating. What�s important for crankbait lines is that be of high tensile strength, and as small in diameter as you can get while still maintaining the need breaking strength.

CXX is very large in diameter for the pound test rating that it is given by P-line, and is in fact very much under-rated in terms of actually breaking strength. If you match CXX in line diameter with CX the breaking strength of CX will actually be just a bit higher. It�s not the rated pound test that�s important nearly so much as the line diameter.




You�re not considering other factors than visibility of the line to the fish. Smaller diameter line has less hydro-dynamic resistance than larger diameter line. Thus, the smaller diameter line will allow a given crankbait (all other factors being equal) to dive to a greater depth than a larger diameter line. The other thing is that line vibration is an issue as well. When fishing a soft plastic weightless line vibration is not that much of a factor because your line is not under much tension. However, when retrieving a crankbait your line is under very much more tension. This means the line is at least fairly taunt, and that the line is going to vibrate to some degree. The vibrations of your line in such conditions is not negligible. Bass are capable of picking-up this vibration, and it is best to reduce this vibration as much as possible. Again, smaller diameter line due to it�s lower hydro-dynamic resistance is going to produce less vibration than larger diameter line with it�s attendant greater hydro-dynamic resistance.

Finally, having a line that is �stretchy� is a good thing with any bait that has treble hooks as it helps keep the fish from throwing the bait. It�s the same principal as using a lower power rod with a medium action.

The dropshot is a whole nother kettle of angling however. Less stretch is where it�s at when dropshoting. My advice on dropshoting is go with a GOOD fluorocarbon, preferable 14 pound test or less Sunline Shooter if you�re using baitcasting gear. The dropshot started as a finesse technique done with very light line (in terms of bass fishing) and spinning gear. Here in East Texas it has been modified into a power technique with heavier line and gear.

Anything above 8 pound test line is NOT a finesse technique. So you�re really talking more of a power technique when you�re fishing at the LOTP. Given that, then I�d advise going with Sunline Shooter in 20 pound test. This as Shooter is the lowest stretch 100% fluorocarbon that I know of, and it has a line diameter that is about what is standard for 14-15 pound test lines.

TFP

All I'm sayin is I've seen plenty of big fish comin off straight braid my own 9.7 came of braid and I don't think she cared... Also do you think all the pros look at it from a scientific view? I think they just go with what they know and what makes them confident in catching fish...bottom line confidence is key.

For light baits, light line makes a huge difference in how the bait works. A little 4 to 6 inch worm thats 15 to 20 foot down has better action on 6 pound line than 12 or 14. Why kill the action?



I don't see a good argument for using heavier than 10 pound test unless its because of the cover I'm fishing.

I don't really call it finesse fishing unless I'm using 6 to 10 pound line on anyway.

I totally agree. Braid in turbid water is not a problem in terms of observability in such conditions. Further, braid has a very small diameter relative to standard line diameters for given pound test ratings for copolymer, and mono lines.

I would add that I�ve seen a five pound bass caught in very clear water on a wacky-wormed Cheeto, as well as some other weird stuff. That does not, however, negate, nor attenuate the fact that line with lower observability increase the probability of a strike.

I certainly won�t argue that experience is a fine guide to tackle choices when fishing. I was not trying to address specifics to to particular situations with respect to line selection, but rather provide a broad, and general answer to the original post.


TFP

yea your right. Good call. Thank you