When fishing jigs and such... what lb. test??

[waterfoul]

I've been running 12 lb Gamma copolymer on my jiggin rod... 6'6" Medium heavy, fast action with a Curado baitcaster. The gamma has the same diameter as 8 lb mono and is fairly low stretch for a non-superline. Should I be using a heavier line for my bottom fishing? I normally throw this rod in 6-15' of water using 3/16 or heavier t-rigged creature baits or jig and pigs. I don't seem to be getting good hooksets. Yesterday I lost 5 fish after a couple seconds of fight.

[thedude]

probably not your line so much as the rod. the heavier the jig - the easier it is for the fish to shake it out. i use a medium rod w/ a fast tip. either a 6 6" spinning w/ 8# or a 6'6" baitcasting w/ 12. The fast tip lets you load up on the fish more and keep consistent pressure on the hook.

using line w/ a little stretch doesn't hurt either.
w/ no/lo stretch lines i tend to horse the bait right out of their mouth....exception being flipping where i throw braid on a long rod (8') so i can haul them out of cover fast.

[scottyhoover]

20lb fireline on a Med. Heavy 7' baitcaster. Quantum Accurist reel.

[lawnboy]

8 lb mono
Light action 7' rod

I just went with setup this year, love the sensitivity, and feel.

Just the other day while walleye fishing I hooked up to a 15” silver bass. Talking about a fun fight, the line was screaming and the rod was bent all the way over.

[ezyeric]

On my worm and jig rod (6'6" Medium Heavy Fast Action baitcaster (as most worm / jig rods are) I just 40lb superbraid I use this mostly for pitching to heavy cover so I also want the braid for getting out of thick cover.

I would say it should depend on the application, your rod specifications. I dont think there are many pros that use baitcasters with 12lb or less line, most are 17lb +.

I only use light line if I have to (finess or cranking). Otherwise I dont see many reasons not to on a baitcaster. I used to not think this way but as soon as I got into bass fishing and read alot I realized I should not be buying line based on size of fish I intend to catch, but other factors.

I only have ever used braid on this worm / jig setup so i cannot directly compare, but I've never lost a fish my hooksets have been very solid.

I dont see why your line would not give a good hookset though, 12lb low stretch eh? Well only way to find out is to try another, doesnt hurt but ($7) to your wallet.

[The Fishing Pollock]

I wont use anything but braiede in at leastttttt 20 pound test. usually more aroudn 40 pound. No streach so ya can horse them off the bottom before the runn their faces and yoru hook into the weeds, trees, stumps, or rocks

[Oldgrandman]

Fish suck in the bait usually. If using a stiff rod and you keep your line tight you could be causing the short strikes that way. Not saying for sure but maybe.
I like to use 6 lb Trilene XT, a 7' to 7 1/2' med. light (love my Fenwick) and rest the rod on my fingers not grasp it and keep the rod tip a little high and a slight bow in the line when possible and see the bite in the line as much as feel it. Need good reflexes to set the hook. A good wrist snap usually does the trick.
Dat be my 2 cents on it.

[chamookman]

Pitchin' rod, med/hvy 7' St. Croix - 14 lb. Fireline. Flippin' Rod, Cabela's hvy 7 1/2 ' - 20 lb. Fireline. Rip-Lips :chillin: ! Bob

[sfw1960]

Mike ,
What if I said to use a smaller hook??
I know you like them mammoth hunks of coat-hanger - but they just don't penetrate like a smaller hook.
Just an idea - On a more extreme example ~ I can't tell you how many 20" bass fell to a #6 or #4 baitholder.

;)

Or all new rods is good too.............................................
:fish2:

[waterfoul]

I'm using a Curado reel... so I know I've got that covered. The rod has a fast tip... loads up nicely. I think I may put some powerpro on it and then a 10 lb floro leader using a knot a friend showed me tonight to connect the two lines (can't remember the name of the knot). I can always go across the street to the park to test this out... seem to catch more fish over there these days than in the bigger lakes!

thanks for all the imput.

Lost two nice fish at Wabasis tourney tonight... had em for perhaps 5-8 seconds each then they came unbuttoned. But that was on Senkos... which I need no help with, thanks. Just a light bite tonight and I was a little quick on the uptake.