Yes another poll

[Flatheadmaniac]

What lb. test line do you use for flatheads?

[flathunter]

If I am targeting Flatheads only I have always used 30-lb test mono

[mrfish/OH]

20-30# line and a 40# nylon coated steel leader I fabricate onto a 2/0 Swivel & a 8/0 circle hook.

[BottomBouncer]

I picked 50+ because a couple of my rods have 80lb. others, like my spinning have 20lb. and 40lb.

[ShoreBoundOne]

Never fished for flats but would love to. So i think i will have to find a tutor before i start strippin my reels...i use 15 pound for channels.
Mitch

[Flatheadmaniac]

I hear ya thats why i put 50 and above..i mostly run 50lb test braided dacron, but have two reels(Quantum 430cx) that i use during certain times of the year when needed, that have 80lb test braided dacron on them.

[Ðe§perado™]

I use Power pro 50 lb. test at 12 dia. on my 6500's.;)

[catslayer]

im new to flathead fishing, only got one 10 pounder on my last trip to the ohio. it was my first but not my last flathead does any one think 20 # big game is good enough for the ohio river

[Ðe§perado™]

I would say that would be the min. for fishing the Ohio river for cats.

[mrfish/OH]

ShoreBoundOne & catslayer, line size is going to depend upon where you fish & how you fish. Off the bank in the Ohio River 20# is usually fine, from a boat, it's plenty good too. I've gone to 25 & 30# line because we are on a quest to break the IN & KY state record bluecat of 104# caught in 1999.

Fishing high snag areas in smaller rivers, creeks, you probably would want to go with 30# min. up to 50#
Current is going to factor into it also, alot of current in the rocks is going to beat & weaken your line too. That's an advantage fishing from the boat, the line isn't in the rocks as bad.

[catslayer]

maybe it would not hurt me to step up to 30# think that would be better.

[Ðe§perado™]

it wouldn't hurt.

[FishNasty]

In the big river I use silver thread 20lb for channels and 30lb offshore angler for flats and big channel. When I fish lakes (tight areas) I use 50lb braid for flats.

[CW03]

I spool my reels with 17-20 pound test SuperTough Stren for flatheads. Looks like I'm the "black sheep" of this thread so far, but everybody uses what they feel comfortable with--line wise, terminal tackle, plus rods and reels. :)

[mrfish/OH]

I never went above 20# line until I began catching bigger fish. Before that I wasn't worried. Also the heavier line is much harder to break on a snag, but I get more of them back, as I guess I'm moving the rocks. I know I was sure glad I had fresh 30# line when I hit my biggest fish ever. I probably still would've landed it on 20# test, but I was alot more relaxed knowing I had just spooled it up the night before. If I knew I wasn't going to tangle with fish over 40# I would stay with the 20#. Never had a problem with it breaking off on a fish. It's mostly peer pressure that got me to switch to heavier line.;)

[catking]

I use 25 pound test Excalibur sliver thread. I use a 30 pound leader, so the line doesn't fray in the rough mouth of the cats. THE CATKING!!!:)

[Ohio Bill]

20 to 30 lb line should be ok if you set the drag....but sometimes i use 40 plus:p