Fishing Q&A

!@# BaSs FiSHiNG #@!?

IS 20 LBS TEST LINE TO MUCH FOR TEXAS RIGGED WORMS? OR DOES IT MATTER?

Public Comments

1. in murky water it is fine in clean water go smaller and just play the drag
2. No, though if you are using mono I wouldn't go much heavier than that. As long as you can cast the 20 lb line with your reel it will work fine. I use braided line, and I think what is on my reel at the moment is 50 lb test, but it is so much thinner than mono. I prefer the braid because it is much stronger than mono for its size, there is nothing worse than getting in the weeds and breaking off, with braid you can drag the fish through anything. If you are fishing really clear water and are worried about visability then use a florocarbon leader.
3. No its not too much although I would recommend Triline XT in 8-12lb. test.
4. definately too much because bass can see through the water into the line sometimes especially the larger ones...try 10-12 pound test line that should do the trick.
5. Whether you're fishing a plastic worm for bass or drifting a nymph for trout, you're connected to an unseen lure by your fishing line. If the line is slightly taut and the moving lure hits a rock or a stump, you will feel a slight bump. That "feeling" is sensitivity, and it's most dependent on at least slight line tension between you and your lure. If there's a pile of slack line on the surface above your lure or bait, obviously you won't feel a thing. In spite of claims made by most tackle companies, even the most expensive rods, reels, and lines are not inherently sensitive. You are. And all you basically have to do is concentrate as you fish, paying attention to those bumps and thumps that are transmitted to your fingers as you retrieve a lure or fly. Understanding the need for concentrating - that mental fingertip fishing - and actually doing so will immediately boost your catch. Beyond some basic understanding and attitude adjustment, there are also some tackle tricks you can use to enhance your sensitivity. THE RIGHT LINE: Some kinds of line transmit vibrations better than others. Common nylon monofilament is the worst because it's stretchy, like a rubber band. That stretch dampens and diminishes the degree to which bumps, thumps, or subtle pulls at your lure are carried by the line to your fingers. THE RIGHT ROD: Other things being equal, a rod that's light in weight will enhance your sensitivity better than a heavier rod. Keep in mind that this means overall rod weight, not light or heavy action. This is largely why some guys will pay $300 or more for the latest in high-tech graphite baitcasting rods, for example, even though a chain store brand $50 special will cast just as far. That high-tech design weighs less - even if only by an ounce or so - and the weight advantage gives you a definite edge in sensitivity. Remember that concentration in fishing is far more important that pricey tackle - and it's free. THE RIGHT REEL: Reel makers in recent years have started what could be called the ball-bearing wars, and the inevitable surge in marketing hype has led to ever escalating prices. However, there is a valid reason to buying a premium baitcaster or spinning reel. Smoothness of reel operation enhances your sensitivity, and that usually means ball bearings to the max. A reel that clunks, grinds, hitches, or vibrates during a retrieve tends to mask and distorts those bumps and thumps you're trying to feel as they come up the line. Buy the best reel you can afford. If possible, crank it before you buy it to make sure it's as smooth as a baby's bottom. Then when you're fishing, you'll know those bumps and thumps you're feeling can be coming from nowhere else but you lure. THE FINAL TOUCH: Remember that underwater clacks and whacks at your lure are transmitted to your fingertips by the the line under tension. So all you really have to do with any tackle - regardless of the price - is to tune in. Concentrate and be aware of the little bumps and thumps at your fingertips as you retrieve and underwater lure. The battle for sensitivity in fishing is mostly mental, and it's a battle you can win. Monofilament, made from nylon, is still the top choice for Yelas and every other pro on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour. It comes in a variety of strengths and can be used for such a wide variety of applications. Yelas uses Berkley Trilene XT for about 60 percent of all of his bass fishing and sticks with lines between 12- and 25-pound test. "I'd say the number one reason my partners lose so many fish is because they are using line that's too light for the job. When I'm using 25-pound test, my partners are probably using 14, and they think they are using heavy line. I always tell people to err on the heavy side when they are fishing heavy cover, and that it's probably better to err on the light side when they fish clear, open water," he says. When he does fish heavy cover, Yelas typically uses line no thinner than 20-pound test, even when he's pitching in clear water. For the heaviest wood cover, he bumps his line up to 25- pound test XT. Crankbaits work best on 12- or 14-pound test line. That thinner diameter helps the bait get down a little deeper. "I use mono for just about all my topwater fishing, all my spinner baits and for all shallow crankbait fishing. It's perfect for any type of short-range fishing, except those rare exceptions when the cover is so thick I need to use FireLine," he says. The other monofilament he uses is Berkley Sensation, which has somewhat less stretch and more sensitivity than standard mono. It accounts for about 15 percent of all his applications. Although the differences are subtle and most recreational anglers probably wouldn't notice, Yelas says Sensation is ideal for crankbaiting in open water and casting Texas-rigged plastic worms.
6. i'd use at the most 17lb test. With plastic worms your giving the bass so much time to observe the lure that they can easily see the line.
7. yes it does matter... but thats not to much... it will worked i have done that b4.... try it out it works really well