I use 12 lb Seaguar Invizx for my finesse fishing (drop shot, shakey head) as well as other applications (Texas rig). Seaguar says it is 8 lb mono diameter. It seems every fishing show or pro talks about using light line such as 6-8 lb test, but I am concerned if I go that light I will break more fish off. Seems I have the correct diameter while not giving up lb test strength.

My question is do I need to drop down to 6-8 lb Invizx like the tv shows and pros say to increase more bites?

I use 4 lb fluoro for dropshotting on clear ponds. Ive caught over 100 fish including a 6lber and haven't broken off once.. It will increase the amount of bites if it's real clear water.

Use your drag and if the cover is not super think you will be fine with 6lb test and youw ould get more bites.

Its not all about them seeing the line, matter of fact I think its less about that and more about the differences in action you get on 6lb vs. 12lb line.

West coast pros will go from 4lb to 5lb to 6lb depending on how the fish want the action. It really makes a difference at times.

Esp on very deep and clear lakes with heavy pressure.

I never go below 8 pound test and I've caught plenty of 8 pounders on that line. If you're comfortable using 12 pound test, I'd say stick with it unless you're in super clear water. However, smaller line does give your bait better action. But I throw a dropshot & shakey head a bunch and the majority of the time I use 8 pound test.

The water would have to be really clear before I would go to 4-6 lb. line. The lakes I fish in the north Texas area have enough "stain" or turbidity that 10 - 12 lb. line works fine. I use 12 lb. P-line CX Premium which is a copolymer with an outer coating of fluorocarbon.

I appreciate the comments and I think I will try the 8 lb test. Thanks.

You'll be fine with that. 8lb test in a good brand of line is stronger than it sounds.

I never go below 8 and I prefer 10.

I never drop below 12lb mono

15lb is lite to me

You never need over 8lb test to safely land any largemouth bass in the world, unless you are in heavy cover or using heavy baits. That's the honest answer. Heavier line just makes baits run more shallow, lose action, and increase odds of any line shy fish finding issue with your presentation. 12lb is not finesse imo... 12lb test means you could basically lock down drag, and rip in a 6lb bass who was charging away from you in open water, on a broomstick rod, and land the fish. This is why modern bass fishing shows so many people just skipping any fish under 5lb or so across the surface. I consider it really unsportsmanlike... even cashing a check... if I'm not fishing heavy cover that will damage and break my line, I don't need more than 8lb test honestly. I get more bites with it by 2:1 over 20lb test. I will also tell you, in most instances and lines I have tried, the jump from 8-12 is more impactful than 12-20. If you aren't running truly light line, it doesn't matter almost at some point. Obviously going to extremes and putting a tiny squarebill on 30lb mono is going to be worse, but within reason, if you're using 12 or 15lb you might as well be on 20lb.

I will say form the action standpoint, a snap or a loop knot goes a long way to getting action back on tight wiggling baits, but wide wobbling/running baits are toast on heavy line, and all baits will not deflect off cover as well on heavier line.

All of that said, for finesse applications, unless you're in gin clear water, don't be afraid to use 12lb braid either if you want 12lb strength. Because it is truly tiny diameter, and the increase in action of the bait, as well as the buoyant nature of the braid, can be really killer on soft plastic presentations. I have less concern about a fish being line shy due to line color/opacity than I do them being line shy because of heavier gauge line.

Lastly, always properly set your drag and use a suitable rod/reel/line/drag combo for the fishing you're doing. I landed one of my best bass on a jenky 2pc "tournament choice angler" rod from academy that I got to carry with me to work on my motorcycle for lunch fishing. Spooled with some cheap off-brand 6lb mono, on a weightless trick worm, 8.5lb surprise from a pond, landed easily because drag was set light enough and I managed the spool when needed with my thumb. 6lb mono so flimsy I could easily pop lures off tying knots if I wasn't mindful I had such flimsy line on... If my drag gives me 50% slippage, and my rod flexes on hard runs, that fish isn't putting even half his force into the line. He's getting some headway running but also has a few pounds of pressure on him wearing him down quick.

Well said. But, I am one of those "non-sporting, water-skiing-bass-across-the-water" dudes. Lol. And to me, 12lb is light. I also think that I can catch fish in just about any situation with the line. Unless I'm froggin, then it's 80lb. But, to each his own. Any fish I leave behind, someone can "finesse" the hell out of if they so desire. Lol.

My rule if thumb? If I can break the stuff tying on a jig...it's too small for my [censored]! I'll break it on my WWF double smack down hook sets! Lol.

It's not the fish you need to be too concerned with, it's all about the cover, especially underwater trees and brush in our TX reservoir lakes. I caught 50lb tarpon on 6lb test when I lived in FL, but with a leader and no obstructions around, you can do that. Not so easy here.

for my treble hook baits I sweet hook set, 8lb is all I use unless heavy cover dictates 12 (50% stronger, seems like small step but a large step up) while my single hook baits get 12, 15, or 20lb at maximum line. I have more of a SHORYUKEN hook set with my single hook baits, which I find superior to the WWF smack down hook set in ferocity, and still don't break 12lb test... though I have put some wicked gashes in the roofs of basses mouths...

a small footnote worth mentioning, I think aside form line breakage potential, smaller diameter lines with more action also keep bass buttoned up tighter when you do hook them. The biggest problem I had fishing heavier line than needed was the ease with which you can pull off a fish you could've played on light line, or the ease with which a big bass could shake the bait off with heavier line. It's an aspect that is rarely talked about but plays a huge impact in landing fish. Some people are however of the school of thought that bringing the fish in like that skiing squirrel from AFHV is the safest way to not lose the bass... I respectfully disagree while routinely landing quality fish even when they just have a single barb from the tail treble nicked into the corner of their lip from a swatting strike, and it's through the lip tissue itself, not even hooked inside the lip. Landing 3 fish or so an outing like that when you get those early short strikes getting on pattern can be huge! I hate missing fish and losing fish more than anything else in the world, so anything I can do to avoid those things makes me a happy man!

I like 10 lb. InvizX for a shakey head