Ok, I am getting my fishing thing together. I just posted a question about barb-less hooks.
Now I am wondering who uses what kind and brand of line and why. This is strictly for my education of the sport.

Trilene XL is popular here, for good reason. It is a damn good all purpose line. I use a lot of Ande and Big Game but that's just personal preference. Braid has its benefits but if you are just starting out I would stay away from it.

Realistically, any major brand line is fine - stay away from "budget"-off-brand lines, I've never seen one worth buying.

I use Trilene XL 8 to 10 pound.... pretty much has been able to handle it all.

I'm a Trilene XL guy as well. I usually use 6#, but am considering moving up to 8# this year as it will cover more of my needs. I miss the days when reels were sold with two spools, I would always have one with 4# and one with 8-10#.

I spooled up a couple of reels with 8lb Gamma Co-polymer...a few years back and I absolutely love the stuff! It is some very strong line and handles well on the spool.

The other rods have 8lb braid...Power Pro or Fireline...and a Gamma leader if/when needed.

Magic

For jigging, I typically use 8# Trilene XT. In theory, bouncing jigs around rocks all the time requires a tougher line, one that won't fray on the jagged rocks, etc. Hence, my decision. It seems to be good line for me.

Triple Fish is by far the best line I have ever used.

I use the 6 lb. mono and it has never failed me.

Triple Fish Camo

6# Trilene xl for casting and jigging and 8# spiderwire for trolling.

Braid, specifically Power Pro. 100% fluoro Trilene leader.

Trilene 8# xl for Jigging. 10xl or 14lb Fireline for crankbaits. I messed around with 4# and 6# for jigging but think 8# the best for general fishing.

for a few years, I labeled my reels with the line brand and test. I concluded Shakespeare monofilament was much better than Berkley trilene. And cheaper.

I think your choice of line should be predicated on the species you target and the specific tactics you plan to employ. Are you jigging? Casting crank baits or soft plastics? Slip bobbering? Trolling artificials? Lindy rigs? Or some combination of these?

What type equipment do you use? Spinning rod or bait caster?

I like Trilene XL as well, but I also like original Stren. I use both for spinning - 8lb test. For casting I use XT - 12 lb test....

quote walleyehunter33: "I think your choice of line should be predicated on the species you target and the specific tactics you plan to employ. Are you jigging? Casting crank baits or soft plastics? Slip bobbering? Trolling artificials? Lindy rigs? Or some combination of these?

What type equipment do you use? Spinning rod or bait caster?"

I just ordered last night from Cabela's two Pro Guide rods and 2 Shimano Sienna reels.
Will probably try just about any lure or bait til I find what works for me in a given scenario.

8 lb Trilene XL for my two spinning and fire line 20 lb for the baitcaster.

quote Savage Voyageur: "8 lb Trilene XL for my two spinning and fire line 20 lb for the baitcaster. "

20lb fireline? wow you don't mess around!

quote openwide: "

quote Savage Voyageur: "8 lb Trilene XL for my two spinning and fire line 20 lb for the baitcaster. "

20lb fireline? wow you don't mess around!"

Not really I think its dead on . Its about 10LB in diameter when compared to mono so thats a nice choice for somone who can handle a baitcaster well.

I have used 4#, 6#, and 8# mono that were purchased as bulk spools from Bass Pro or Cabelas. It is a dark green colored line. Believe it or not, I have had the Cabelas line for 15 years, kept in dark storage, and plan on using it again this summer. The Bass Pro line is called Excel I believe and I have also had very good success with it. I have caught numerous fish in the BW and at home. I have been very pleased with the lines performance and would not think of buying another brand of mono line. They have served me very well over the years.

quote PompousPilot1: "

quote walleyehunter33: "I think your choice of line should be predicated on the species you target and the specific tactics you plan to employ. Are you jigging? Casting crank baits or soft plastics? Slip bobbering? Trolling artificials? Lindy rigs? Or some combination of these?

What type equipment do you use? Spinning rod or bait caster?"

I just ordered last night from Cabela's two Pro Guide rods and 2 Shimano Sienna reels.
Will probably try just about any lure or bait til I find what works for me in a given scenario."

I'd go with a quality 6#-8# mono. Trilene XL is a good choice.

Good luck, be safe and have fun out there!!!!

quote Nathanha: "

quote openwide: "

quote Savage Voyageur: "8 lb Trilene XL for my two spinning and fire line 20 lb for the baitcaster. "

20lb fireline? wow you don't mess around!"

Not really I think its dead on . Its about 10LB in diameter when compared to mono so thats a nice choice for someone who can handle a baitcaster well."

Ok, now that I'm home I just looked and I misspoke. I meant to say my bait caster reel has 20lb Spectra Power Pro line on it. It has the strength of 20lb line and is the size of 6lb line. If I get a Rapala stuck on a rock I just wrap the line around the butt of the rod and pull the lure free. Do Not try to just pull the line with your hands, you will cut your hand with the line. This stuff is very strong. You need to tie a Palomar knot with this line to your lure, and you need to cut the line with a good scissors, not a clippers or knife.

I use trireme XT for everything except lake trout and whitefish jigging in 90 to 100 ft and deeper , I use fire line because it doesn't stretch.

I've always have used Trilene XT. However, was VERY DISAPPOINTED last year with the switch to the smaller spool packaging it came in. I had to re-line 3x in Quetico due to line twists! Tried all the tricks in the book to get the line untwisted and nothing worked...luckily, had one reel with older line on it that I was able to use with great success.

quote Indyfisher: "I've always have used Trilene XT. However, was VERY DISAPPOINTED last year with the switch to the smaller spool packaging it came in. I had to re-line 3x in Quetico due to line twists! Tried all the tricks in the book to get the line untwisted and nothing worked...luckily, had one reel with older line on it that I was able to use with great success. "

I almost always deal with bird nests even with Trilene XL. I am determined this year to make sure I spool it correctly. Good U Tube shorts on this. Otherwise, Trilene XL 8# for casting plus 14# braid for trolling. Braid never tangles on me.

Silver thread AN40 or Stren Magna Thin are my favorite, but I usually just stick to Trilene XL.If you look at the diameter of Trilene XT you see that it is actually much thicker than XL which is mostly why it is considered stronger. Trilene XT 8# tests around 12# but is also close to 12 pound diameter.Kinda dishonest if you ask me. I had a friend that gave me a hard time about using 10# Magna Thin because he used 6# generic line and said it would not spook fish as much. I then showed him that they were almost the same diameter.which shut him up. Don't just go by what they say the test is, it is the diameter to strength ratio that matters.

quote Thwarted: "

quote Indyfisher: "I've always have used Trilene XT. However, was VERY DISAPPOINTED last year with the switch to the smaller spool packaging it came in. I had to re-line 3x in Quetico due to line twists! Tried all the tricks in the book to get the line untwisted and nothing worked...luckily, had one reel with older line on it that I was able to use with great success. "

I almost always deal with bird nests even with Trilene XL. I am determined this year to make sure I spool it correctly. Good U Tube shorts on this. Otherwise, Trilene XL 8# for casting plus 14# braid for trolling. Braid never tangles on me."

spool on the floor, 10 quick cranks, lower the rod tip. if it coils up, you have the spool upside down. flip spool and continue filling. what also helps is to soak the spool in water first.

for line twist, like after trolling a spoon or an inline spinner, remove the lure, start paddling as you pay out naked line, the water will remove the line twist, and you will be amazed at the amount of drag line alone can generate. just walking on dry land while paying out line will remove the twist too.

I use 10lb Fluroclear for the last couple of years. So far so good with it.

For spooling line--

Turn your line to be spooled upside down with label facing the floor- then proceed with tension. Properly done, this gets rid of most spooling line twists.
It's the exact opposite way the line was put on the spool, label facing up makes the line twist off opposite the way it was put on- hence, kinks.
At least that is what I learned at Gander Mtn back in the day spooling line for customers before we got a machine...