A lot of variables come into play that impact fishing success: Choosing the correct lure, using great live bait, locating the best fishing spot, and the list goes on. Too many times, the line weight and type of line that is being used is ignored.

I am a big believer in using the lightest line for the fishing conditions being encountered. Over the years, I have experienced many situations that have confirmed this belief.

During a winter outing a few years back, I took out a gentleman who wanted a meal of crappies. He came equipped with a couple of rods rigged and ready to go. When I asked about the line he had on, he stated that it was 4-pound-test. I warned him that might be too heavy, and he was welcome to use some of my equipment that was spooled with 2-pound. He declined.

Fishing was normal for me with steady but not fast action. My friend never caught a fish. I ended up giving him some crappies so his wish for a meal would be complete.

In the spring, on a shore fishing adventure, I found myself next to a young man who was having no luck at all. As I proceeded to catch a limit of crappies, he was waiting for his first bite.

While I was packing up to head home, he asked me what he was doing wrong. As it turned out, he had 10-pound-test line, and I was using 4-pound. I stripped some line off my rod, and with the help of a blood knot, tied three feet of light line (leader) to the end of his 10. He immediately started catching fish.

During a summer walleye fishing trip to Crane Lake in northern Minnesota, we stumbled upon a school of fish on a deep hump. The fish were finicky and hard to entice, so I switched from 6- to a 4-pound-test leader and started catching fish. My partner did the same.

Three anglers in the other boat with us soon came to find out what our secret was. We told them that we had switched to a 4-pound-test leader and handed a spool over to them. One of the three in the boat failed to believe line could make that much difference and never caught a fish.

In recent years, I have found that fluorocarbon leaders work wonders. Fluorocarbon does not show up as well in the water as standard line. For walleyes, 6-pound-test is ideal.

I use a lot of braided line and enjoy the strength, sensitivity, and small diameter of these lines. If I am using spinnerbaits or crankbaits, I tie directly to the lure. If I am finessing bass, I will tie four feet of fluorocarbon to my braid. This less-visible leader makes an incredible difference in the number of hits I get.

Choosing the correct fishing line for the situation encountered seems basic enough. However, many anglers fail to believe how important it is to be using the best line for the conditions.

By experimenting between mono, braid, or fluorocarbon, it won’t take long to figure out which option is best. And remember, always use the lightest line you can for the conditions you are fishing. It makes a difference!

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