Which Fishing Line Is Best? Braid vs Monofilament vs Fluorocarbon

Find out which fishing line you should use for different techniques! Do you know there are tricks to make your fishing even easier? Let's start simple for beginner anglers then dive in deep for advanced anglers. We're covering all the different lines and explaining the advantages of each for different techniques.

Each style of line has benefits. Monofilament is inexpensive, strong, and easy to use. Fluorocarbon has incredible abrasion resistance and is incredibly clear. Braided line provides power in an incredibly thin package. While all of these lines have amazing benefits, they also provide challenges that need to be overcome. 

Understanding which line to throw for different techniques will improve your overall fishing experience. There is no perfect line for EVERY situation but there are some options that are great for MOST situations. The majority of break offs, foul ups, and backlashes are a direct result of mistakes in line selection. Below are some of our favorite lines for different techniques. 

Monofilament... 

Basic- Berkley Big Game: https://bit.ly/3361fGi

Quality- Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Finesse- Sunline Super Natural Monofilament: https://bit.ly/3f9CZ8q

Fluorocarbon... 

Basic- Seaguar Red Label: http://bit.ly/2LOVEwA

Quality- Sunline Assassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm 

Finesse- Sunline Sniper: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Braided... 

Basic- Power Pro Spectra: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Quality- Power Pro Maxcuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Finesse- Sunline SX1: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Specialty Lines... 

Leader- Sunline FC-100 System Leader: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Cranking- Sunline Crank FC: https://bit.ly/3fohguC

Heavy Cover- Seaguar AbrazX: http://bit.ly/2aaBBDX

Weightless Techniques- Sunline SX1 High Vis: http://bit.ly/2FngUkQ

Frog/Flip- Sunline SX2 Moss Green: http://bit.ly/31u57xA

Accessories... 

Plano Spool Box: https://bit.ly/30VngVs

Plano Leader Box: https://bit.ly/2CX249A

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Best Fishing Knots Made Easy! 5 Knots You Need To Know!

Learn a couple of these easy knots and you'll be able to catch fish anywhere in the world! We choose our knots based on ease of tying and consistent results. You don't need special tools and you don't need to use your knees and toes to help tie them. These knots are EASY! 

Today Tim is showing the 5 knots we use for all of our fishing. The 3 "Line-To-Lure" knots are the San Diego Jam knot, Palomar Knot, and Uni Knot. The two "Line-To-Line" (leader) knots are the Double Uni Knot and the Double Blood Knot. 

Every time "knots" come up everyone seems to have an opinion. Some people insist on tying incredibly complex knots. Others prefer knots that require special tools. Some anglers just tie whatever knot their grandpa taught them because it works... most of the time. We choose our knots based on a handful of variables. The knot must be easy to tie on the water and can't take an excessive amount of time. It must work with a variety of lines and line sizes. And most important, you must be able to visibly verify that it is tied correctly.  

Now that you know the knots to tie, let's talk about line. There are different lines for different purposes. Below is a breakdown of all our favorite fishing lines for different circumstances. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each line. 

Braided Lines... We use these lines for the vast majority of our fishing. Braided line is incredibly strong, has very little stretch, and is very thin. The downside of braid is that its highly visible in the water. For power fishing techniques like frogging, topwater, flipping, etc braid is amazing! It gives you incredible power to set the hook hard and drag the fish away from cover. In these situations its okay to tie the braided line direct to your lure. If you're fishing slower or in clearer water you'll want to add a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader to reduce visibility. 

-Favorite Braid (Ultra Thin)- Power Pro Maxcuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

-Budget Braid- Power Pro Original: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

-Finesse Braid (Spinning Rods)- Sunline SX-1: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

-Smooth Braid- Sufix 832: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji

Fluorocarbon Lines... Fluorocarbon is the best of both worlds between braid and mono. It has good sensitivity, strength, and is virtually invisible in the water. Its a great stand alone line for all fishing applications (except for topwater because it tends to sink) but it truly shines as a finesse line. It can be used as a main line or as a leader (Sniper for finesse leader, FC100 for power fishing leader). 

-Finesse Applications- Sunline Sniper FC: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

-Power Applications- Sunline Assassin FC: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

-Leader Material- Sunline FC100 System Leader: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

Monofilament... Mono is what most anglers start with. Its incredibly forgiving, has a lot of stretch, is very strong, and its relatively cheap. Traditionally monofilament shines for topwater and crankbaits where stretch is a plus. Over the years we have shifted to braided line and currently only use monofilament as a leader material. 

-Favorite Mono- Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

-Budget Mono- Berkley Big Game: http://bit.ly/2vZGjSb

Line Size Recommendations By Technique... 

Dropshot- 10 lb Braid or 6 lb Fluorocarbon

Crankbait- 12-17 lb Fluorocarbon or 30 lb Braid

Topwater- 40 lb Braid or 15 lb Mono

Frog- 65 lb Braid

Jig- 50 lb Braid, 15-20 lb Fluorocarbon, 15-20 lb Mono Leader

Ned Rig- 8 lb Braid or 6 lb Fluorocarbon

Senko- 30 lb Braid, 10-15 lb Mono leader, 12 lb fluorocarbon

Shakey Head- 20 lb Braid, 10-12 lb fluorocarbon, 10 lb mono leader

Spnnerbait/Chatterbait- 15-20 lb fluorocarbon, 40-50 lb Braid

Big Swimbait- 80 lb braid, 25-35 lb mono or fluorocarbon leader

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

New Kayak Review! Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 136!

This kayak just won "Best Of Show" At ICAST 2020, let's look at why! When we heard the Sportsman Autopilot 136 had an Ultrex trolling motor and could "spot lock" to hold position so we didn't have to paddle the kayak constantly, we knew we had to have it! Come along as Tim takes it for a spin on the water, looks at the features, and shows how to operate the motor. 

This is a top of the line kayak! Its incredibly stable, has room to stand, walk, and enough stability to fish from virtually any position. We've had it out in big waves, heavy winds, and have had the opportunity to catch some great big bass from these boats. If you're upgrading to a larger kayak or considering adding a trolling motor to an existing kayak, you should give this a look. 

The 13'6" version (136) retails for $3999 while the smaller 12' version (120) retails for $3799. This is a serious investment for an entry level kayaker but is a no brainer for a bass angler coming down from a bass boat. As bass boat angler's we've already fallen in love with the spot lock feature of the Ultrex trolling motor and know there is no going back. Having this same feature in a kayak gives us the ability to go farther, stay more stable in rough water, and most importantly, focus on the fishing instead of the positioning. 

Below you'll find links to the kayak as well as some of our favorite kayak accessories. The kayak link will take you directly to the manufacturer's website (Old Town), while the accessory links will go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of the items. 

Sportsman Kayaks... 

-Sportsman AutoPilot 136: https://bit.ly/3h9ngaS

-Sportsman AutoPilot 120: https://bit.ly/32ySIuZ

Favorite Pedal Drive Kayak... 

-Predator PDL: http://bit.ly/2WyVQka

Favorite Kayak Accessories... 

Storage- Plano Guide Series V-Crate: http://bit.ly/2BLjK4f

Life Vest- Mustang Elite Inflatable PFD: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP

Electronics- Humminbird Helix 9 Chirp G3: http://bit.ly/2GmFXui

Anchor- Kayak Anchor Wizard: Source Locally

Battery- Bioenno Lithium 100 AH: Source Locally

Links To Some Of Our Kayak Fishing Videos... 

-10 lber Caught From A Kayak: https://youtu.be/bNTZvcyep-0

-Epic Golf Course Pond Fishing: https://youtu.be/8NoDLM2fpyE

-Tiny Creek Fishing- Crystal Clear Water and BIG Fish: https://youtu.be/6k76sDqv7hA

-Summer Topwater Fishing: https://youtu.be/QpGrXiY5t0c

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Summer Bass Fishing Gear Review! New Baits, Tackle, and Equipment This Summer!

Let's take a look at some of the best new gear for this Summer! From new crankbaits to worms, trailer accessories to reels, we're covering it all! This review is a selection of products from a variety of brands that have been making a difference in our fishing lately. Some items are brand new to the market, others have just recently had a positive impact in our fishing and earned a place in the review. 

You may have noticed that our recent videos have not been from our home state. We're back out on the road, traveling the country, and exploring new places. We're coming to a lake near you, trying new gear, catching new fish, and continuing to grow our angling knowledge so we can help you become a more consistent angler as we share that knowledge. In the spirit of road tripping, we've recently had a lot of positive experiences with our boat and trailer upgrades so today Tim begins with a series of trailer upgrades that have been impacting his fishing in a positive way. 

Boating/Trailer Equipment... 

-Moto Stop Transom Saver (Yamaha): http://bit.ly/2SCCwW4

-DD26 Transom Saver (Mercury): https://bit.ly/2BfaZlC

-TH Marine Steer Stop- https://bit.ly/2Sc5Ikg

-Fulton F2 Series Trailer Jack: https://bit.ly/2YHEB34

-Fulton F2 Series Winch: https://bit.ly/3frtFx8

-Spare Boat Buckle Winch Straps (Loop End): https://bit.ly/2BgnOw1

Its no secret that we're both tackle junkies. When new gear comes out we're always quick to give it a try. We're constantly fishing new brands, new baits, and new equipment. With Covid creating supply chain issues across the fishing industry we've been reaching even further to try new baits and gear while some of our favorites are sold out! These are a few of the items that have stood out for us in recent months. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and product descriptions of each item. 

Baits... 

-Megabass Z Series Z-1 Crankbait: https://bit.ly/2Y9dkHB

Favorite Colors: Mat Craw 2, PM Hot Gill 2, Kasumi Ito

-Megabass Z Series Z-2 Crankbait: https://bit.ly/3fsxn9G

Favorite Colors: GG Gill, Mat Craw 2, PM Hot Gill 2

-Teckel KickKnocker Topwater: http://bit.ly/2nvxkoA

Favorite Colors: Bone, Lime Ice

-Yum Mighty Worm: https://bit.ly/2Yajojh

Gear... 

-Shimano Bantam Metanium MGL 150 B: https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

This reel is AWESOME for the price! If you're looking for a new high-end "do everything" reel this is it! Today's video is just giving it a quick stamp of approval because there is a dedicated review of just this reel coming in the future. We didn't care to be first on a review, we wanted to really break this reel in and see how it did over time... more to come on that very soon. 

-Sunline FC Structure Fluorocarbon Line: https://bit.ly/2UMO73N

This line is designed for fishing around structure. Big Worms and Jigs, deep water, etc... is what they had in mind when designing this. Its been on the market for a couple years but I'm just giving it a fair shot now and so far I've been very impressed. 

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G