Is Your Line Causing You To Miss Fish? (Thin vs. Thick Diameter Line)
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
When it comes to catching fish, little details can make a big difference.
What size line you choose is one of those little details.
Most people use line that’s too thick, and it’s causing them to miss fish.
They think, “I might catch something big, so I need 30 or 40 lb. line.”
But that’s not true!
If you’re fishing open flats, you can catch 30-40 lb. fish on 10-20 lb. braid.
If you’re using line that’s heavier than that, that could be why you aren’t catching as many fish as you think you should be.
Check out the video below to see why.
Is Your Line Causing You To Miss Fish? [VIDEO]
Click here to join the Insider Club
Click here to get Daiwa J-Braid
Presentation is key when you’re fishing the flats, and light line makes it much easier to present your bait or lure naturally.
Here’s why:
1. Thicker line decreases casting distance and accuracy
If you’re not covering enough water, or placing your lure exactly where you want it to go, you’ll miss out on fish that you might’ve otherwise been able to catch.
2. Water will more easily drag thicker line
When the water drags your line, it could move your bait out of the strike zone.
It could also put a bow in your line, which could cause you to not feel strikes, or not be able to set the hook in time because of all of the slack.
When To Use Thick Line
Of course, you don’t always want to use light line.
If you’re fishing docks and bridges where you’re more likely to rub your line on hard structure, then you’ll want to have heavier line.
In this case, I like to use 30 lb. braid.
Conclusion
If you fish inshore flats, light line is better.
You can cast farther and more accurately, and the water won’t drag your line as much.
You can get braided fishing line from our shop here.
Have any questions about what type of line to use for inshore saltwater fishing?
Let me know down in the comments.
And if you know someone who’s missing fish because of their thick line, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
P.S. Want access to our best fishing spots and tips, plus discounts to our online tackle store? Click here to join us in the Insider Club!
Related articles:
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Hello, does salt strong have any courses that deals with how to fish with out a boat, from land/banks/shores?
Hey Jose!
We do have a course on wade fishing, which can also be applied to fishing from shore:
https://www.saltstrong.com/wadefishingmastery/module-1-essential-gear/welcome-big-idea/
Does it matter what color the braid? I bought the Gray-Light and the Dark Green from the online store and was curious if color makes an impact or if one is favored in certain conditions.
Luke said in another tip on the differences in fishing lines that he believes the color of line doesn’t matter, which is why he uses yellow braided line (main line obviously) because he can see it better.
Hey Mark!
I haven’t seen any noticeable difference in how fish react to the color of the braid. I had a buddy catch a 36″ snook right next to me using bright yellow braid. The braid color is more for us to see where our line is, and the leader is more for the fish to be clear closer to the lure or bait.
Very true I love 20lb powepro it’s about 6 lb test diameter and a Berkley 20lb invisoline flourocarbon leader unless I’m fishing with my 2 ultralight outfits that have both 10lb on them I always use 20lb it’s super thin but yet not to thin and plenty strong works for me😁
Good stuff Steven!
I go super light with 8 lb braid for all occasions. I don’t do docks, and my only line breaks have occurred when fish at the end of my line took it over oyster bars (which would have severed much stronger lines).
Wow no docks huh sounds to me like your missing out on a lot of great areas especially in the heat of summer different strokes for different folks i guess
Steve…we don’t have many docks up here in the Crystal River area except in the more populated rivers and bays. I prefer getting out in the boonies and escaping civilization whenever possible. My best days are when I see loads of snook and reds while seeing no humans.
Good stuff Gary! Yep there’s no defense against oysters aside from steel haha.
If your top guide on your run breaks just buy a new one
For sure! Can be a quick fix.