Interesting comments about 30# Maxima and 30# mono. I tried 30# Maxima a couple of springs ago and, after one hour, I had two bite-offs so I ended the experiment! Maybe I should have kept it up longer.

If I don't want to use wire, I find that kevlar works wonders - never had a bite-off, but it will start to fray after awhile. If I'm in a straight pike situation, I use coated Mason wire (15# or 20# test available). The figure eight knot works well. If I want to have a loop, instead of the knot tight against the eye, I use a bowline. Wire eventually twists and snarls, but the coated Mason wire is cheap, cheap, cheap ....TIM