What is the best line for Musky?

[Jared]

I am new to Musky fishing. What type and lb. of line do you all recomend for musky fishing? I think I will be getting a Abu Garcia 6500C3. I am just starting this year. I just bought a Gander Mountain series musky rod and some bucktails. I live near webster lake in Indiana. I have never used a braided line before, what are the major differenced between braided and Mono? Thanks for any help you can give me. I have learned a lot already from just reading all your post. This is a great site. Thanks Jared. jeckerley@msn.com

[AWH]

I'm sure you'll get quite a variety of answers here. But I have used 50 pound Tuf Line for about the past 6 or 7 years and it's been great. (Would work great with your 6500C3) I haven't had one reason to try anything else.

Before that I used either Cortland or Mason dacron. Both are good lines, but Tuf Line is by far a a superior line. It's a thinner diameter, holds less water, and is much more abrasion resistant. With normal dacron I would have to retie several times a day. With Tuf Line, once a day is more than enough under most circumstances. Sometimes I don't even retie that often.

I will say that in 12 years of musky fishing, I have never lost a fish due to a broken line.....knock on wood! Just make sure you retie your line regularly, and respool when it's needed.

One thing you should know, if you go with a line like Tuf Line or Power Pro, make sure you use mono (any kind, any pound test will work) as a backing rather than to tie your line directly to the spool. This will prevent the line from slipping on the spool. Also allows you to put less line on your reel and saves you a little money when you respool.

AWH

[MN Bassfisher]

I prefer PowerPro, but Tuf Line is also good. Both these lines will not lose fish. I did not like Cortland myself. Another line to consider I used last year on my 5500C3, Berkley Whiplash.

Good Luck.

[kev43]

Power Pro here, its strong and very durable. thin dia. great for casting those baits a mile. like the other guy said use mono as a backer or take a spot of glue on the end of your lint to your reel to keep it from sliping.It also seems like I get less backlashes with P.P good luck.

[Otter]

65# Power Pro for everything but jerkbaits.
80# Power Pro for jerkbaits.

[Jason Schillinger]

I like Power pro and tuf-line. Cortland Spectron and maxima are also lines I use.

[Musk Rat]

I might as well add my two cents. Most super lines are made from the same material its the braid and coating that determine preformance. I have found tuff line plus in 65# to hold up just a bit better than power pro. As far as the heavier lines my buddies really like rip cord si and it seems to hold up well for them. The key to getting the most out of your line is knowing how to use it. I don`t recomend backing because the superline can under certain circumstances dig in. Your best bet is a litle duct tape on the spool over the knot this way you can reverse the line when it gets worn. Also be sure to put the line on as tite as posible to prevent dig in and always use a palomar knot. I think thats it.

[carrocr]

I have 65lb tuff line PLUS on all my 6500C3's and 6500C4's, and 30lb on my "lighter" stuff for smaller baits. I like it a little better than regular tuff line. I'm sure you wouldn't go wrong with power pro or cortland spectra, you don't seem to hear anything but good about either of them.

Good luck with the new equipment....

[ToddM]

Jared since you are new to fishing and have not used superlines here is what I recommend. Diameter is important, especially on a wide spool like a 6500. My best superline experiences have come from 80lb tuff line and 100lb tuff line plus. I like the tuff line plus better. Less dig in and backlash than the other brands I have tried and much more forgiving to a beginner. It casts far.

For mono, I like stren magnathin 20-40lb and excalibur silver thread 25-35lb. Hope this helps.

[Musk Rat]

Todd where did you get 100# tuff line plus? I thought 65# was the heaviest they made in the plus.

[iamwalleye1]

I second the power pro!!
65# Power Pro for everything but jerkbaits.
80# Power Pro for jerkbaits.

[Jared]

Hey thank you all for the Info. I got some 80# power pro today. And also you can get much heavier tuff line and power pro. But it is in the Cabelas salt water catalog. Thanks to everyone for all your help I hope you dont mind all my questions. I checked out several boat ramps today on some musky lakes in my area. This site sure has helped me in getting started at this THANKS Jared.

[Jason Ritchie (Musky Guide)]

Jared,
I think your question concerning the best lines to be used are answered, but no one really touched on the difference between braided and mono lines. Braided lines are far more superior than mono lines mainly because braided lines have very little stretch. After using braided lines I find it very hard to work baits especially jerk baits due to the stretch. Mono is also very bad for kinking and twisting, whereas braided line does neither. I hope I answered your question, and if I can help you in anyway you can e-mail me at ritchiejason29@hotmail.com.

Thanks,
Jason

[Kingfisher]

I have to put in my 2 cents. I use braid for throwing WOOD. I use copolymer MONO for spoons and bucktails and copolymer mono for trolling. I hate Braid for throwing light stuff it acts and feels like rope. I have never had any problem setting the hook while using Excaliber or P-LINE while using a bucktail or spoon. I dont favor a no stretch line unless Im throwing a log like a jack Pot or any other big wood or plastic bait. For my Bucktail rods we use St. Croix 7ft 6" Heavy action bass flippin sticks with 20lb Excaliber and 5500 abu reels. We also throw lots of smaller crankbaits like 4" rattle shads and Rapala 5 " jointed minnows with this rig with absolutly no problems. When we move up to the heavy stuff like jerkbaits and 10" believers, Jakes and other large stuff we go to the 6'3" Fenwick 1 to 3 oz. muskie rod with a 6500 abu spooled with 50 to 80 lb Cortland spectron or Tuff line in the same lb test. The Braided no stretch line is not for landing fish but more for lure control. To get a good hook set with a huge hunk of wood you need less give in the entire rig to drive those big hooks into the Muskies jaw. I really dont like to have to use the heavy line and rods but they are a must when throwing big wood. For trolling You should think about getting some stretch into your rigs. I use softer glass rods that will give a little and help the drags on my reels to deal with the severe attacks that speed trolling up a muskie can unleash. I use Big Reels like the Okuma 30DX with linecounter spooled with 30 lb. Tectin or P-line. The mono will stretch a little absorbing the shock and will help keep the hooks from ripping through the mouth of the fish. I use 10ft. rods made for trolling Dipsy divers in lake Michigan as my side or out rods and 6'3" prop wash rods. I use Downeaster s-10 rod holders mounted on oak plywood bolted to my hull. Line choice depends entirly on the application and there is no clear one line for all. Kingfisher http://www.kingfisherguides.homestead.com/kingfisherguides.html I fish very near Webster . Good luck in 2002 Kingfisher

[Masqinonge']

I'm with Kingfisher on this one. My experience has shown that braided lines are definitely NOT superior to mono, especially in trolling situations where a little (occasionally alot) of stretch is sometimes advantageous.

For overall (other than perhaps jerkbait) musky fishing, I'll take a high-tech, low diameter mono anyday in place of the overly-hyped braid. Just try the DAMYL Tectan, P-Line, Excaliber, Maxima's new Perfexion and Stren MagnaThin.

The argument - Mono vs Braid can go on and on, but I feel that many fishermen have been hoodwinked by a slick marketing campaign conducted by manufacturers of braided lines and/or their agents. In the end, you owe it to yourself to give both a fair shake.