San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

What’s the best pound test line for braid and or mono for the bays. Also, suggested leader line for using braid?

Thanks !

Lots of brands will work fine. I use 8 lb Gliss for spinning and 6 lb Ande mono for baitcasting (but have one reel with 10 lb for heavier lures). For leader, I just use 6 or 10 lb Vanish fluorocarbon, typically only 1-2' long. J-braid is nice for spinning too. I rarely get broken off even though spotties have small teeth. Check your line often for abrasion and you won't have a problem.

I usually use a swivel to connect leader to line, that also works as a grass catcher.

I don't think spotties are very line shy but lighter line casts further and maybe gives better lure action. I most commonly use 1/4 ounce jig heads with soft plastic grubs or swimbaits.

m

Float tube:
Medium action baitcast rods, 80 size reels, 6 lb. Izorline XXX mono. When I tie a separate leader (with a swivel), 8 lb. flouro. This is for throwing 1/4 ounce lures.
Medium spinning rods, 2000 size reels, 4 lb Izorline XXX Mono. For hardbaits.

Shore fishing:
Same setups, but...
might go up to 8 lb. line if I know I'm going to be dragging spotties out of / over the grass beds.

Wow, I’m really over killing it. I’ve been using 15lb braid with 15lb leader. I’m trying to go light as possible without worrying if I’ll be broken off during a fight.

It's unusual to be broken off during a fight unless the drag is set too tight. You will snag on weeds and bottom debris from time to time but with 6 pound line, it almost always comes free once you get your float tube over or past the snag. Sometimes a spotty will bury itself in the grass but again, get vertical over the grass and it will come free. Giving slack sometimes works too; the fish will swim out of the grass and you can resume the fight.

6lb to 10lb straight mono.