Does A Smaller Diameter Line Cause Problems With Bcs?

[TNBassin']

Now usually I use just plain old trilene 12# line, but I'd really like to try Spiderwire's 12# line, as it's diameter is drastically smaller and I'm assuming give me better casting distance. Would also let me do some shakey head fishing without lugging my spinning gear around. I've heard that using any line that your BC isn't rated for can cause issues with overruns which I don't want. Could I use a smaller diameter 12# line without any issues? The reels I use are a black max 2 and a gen 2 revo sx. Thanks.

[roadwarrior]

Small diameter braid will dig into the spool. I don't think you will like it on a baitcaster.

If you want small diameter line, I am testing Yo-Zuri #6 on a Curado 50E and it's doing fine.

[TNBassin']

I was gonna stick with mono or fluro. I fish open water with little to no cover, so I don't have the need for braid. Maybe I will just get some fluro and hit it with some KVD LnL.

[new2BC4bass]

I use 8# mono on several reels with no problem. My Sol came with what looks like 6# mono. It is giving me casting problems, but not because it is digging in.

[OkobojiEagle]

I prefer braid in the 15lb - 20lb range on my bait casters.

oe

[Goose52]

My standard line on most of my BC reels is 10lb - I have it on ten reels with absolutely no problems. I have 8lb on three reels and 6lb on one reel - no line related problems with those either. This is all Yo-Zuri hybrid or nylon mono.

[tholmes]

I use 8# Trilene Big Game on a couple of my baitcasters with zero problems.

Tom

[Darren.]

You can use 12lb braid on a BC. I currently have 10lb Fireline (4lb dia.) on one of my BCs (Accurist 570pt) and I've only had it dig in maybe once or twice in more than 8 months fishing this setup (irregularly as I mostly use my spinning gear). And I mostly fish soft plastics with this setup, occasional cranks, spinnerbaits, jigs, etc.

However, I'll be changing out the Fireline for PowerPro. Haven't been thrilled with Fireline in general. I've had great experience with 15/20/30/40lb PP on BCs in the past.

For me, braid as mainline works because I can leave it on for long periods (unless a birds nest kills it). Leader choice changes depending on conditions, confidence, etc. My wallet is grateful to not have to spend so much on spools anymore.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Modern baitacasters handle light line better than previous versions thanks to generally tighter tolerances. Lower end casting reels would be the main concern and slightly underspooling them can help. If your sole reason for using lighter line is added casting distance on a baitcaster, you may be disappointed. For sheer casting distance, properly setup spinning tackle can't be beat.

[baluga]

I prefer 20# braid or up on baitcaster, anything less usually leads to:

1. Line digging in

2. bird's nest which is caused by line digging in.

3. losing expensive lures due to snaps or line breaking during the cast due to bird's nest which started from line digging in.

[BASSHUNTER1961]

I'll use nothing less than 30# braid on BC reels, and even then it digs in.

[hooah212002]

Can someone explain what line dig is, what causes it and how to prevent it? I picked up some 20# PP this evening.

I'd be happy to create a new post if mods so desire. I just figured it would fit here fine.

[Goose52]

Can someone explain what line dig is, what causes it and how to prevent it? I picked up some 20# PP this evening.

On a normal retrieve, with only the resistance of the bait, most line, even thin diameter line, will lay evenly on the spool as the line guide goes back and forth across the worm gear (on a BC reel), or as the spool oscillates in and out (on a spinning reel). Each "layer" of line will be oriented somewhat diagonally across the spool, in opposite directions for each layer - this diagonal orientation is what keeps each successive layer neatly above the lower layer. Now, on a hook set, a fish pulling drag, or any other time when a lot of force is applied to the line on the spool, a thin diameter line is more likely to "dig-in" - have a coil of line bury into a lower layer of line somewhat locking it there, requiring considerable extra force to pull that dug-in line off the spool. This extra effort can be enough to cause a backlash on a BC reel, the line to snap on either a BC or spinning reel, and other nasty stuff. As a result, many folks just avoid the problem by not using thinner line. The problem seems to be especially prevalent with braid.

Having said the above, there are a number of members on this board that successfully use 20lb braid on BC reels...

[hooah212002]

Excellent explanation. Thank you. Does KVD L&L help to minimize it?

edit:

I've also read that spooling as tight as humanly possible helps a lot to reduce it. Is there any truth to this?

[papajoe222]

I use 8# mono on several reels with no problem. My Sol came with what looks like 6# mono. It is giving me casting problems, but not because it is digging in.

Let me know if you ever want to get rid of that reel, I've been looking for one for a while now.

If you're using mono, or flouro, you can go as light as 8lb. on most reels. I've used 8lb. Stren on my Abu C3 for years.

[Goose52]

Excellent explanation. Thank you. Does KVD L&L help to minimize it?

edit:

I've also read that spooling as tight as humanly possible helps a lot to reduce it. Is there any truth to this?

I don't think L&L would have any effect either way...but don't know for sure - I don't use it.

Sure - having tight line on the spool is a good thing - it doesn't have to be to extreme - just nicely tight...

[new2BC4bass]

Let me know if you ever want to get rid of that reel, I've been looking for one for a while now.

Getting out to fish this year has been mostly a no-no so when I do go I don't take the Sol because I bought it for a specific purpose, and that purpose isn't throwing 3/8 oz. on up. I also bought a Presso spool for it. Still have to make the spacers, but haven't been in a hurry to do that because I want to become proficient with the factory spool first so I will have a baseline to compare any improvements gained. So "no" the reel isn't for sale at this time. I will save a link to this thread in case it ever is, and give you first chance, but imagine you will have a Sol before that ever happens.

[rockchalk06]

If your looking for mono with the hodini power of fluoro give the co-ploymers a try. The Yozri gets rave reviews here. No one stocks it locally, even my Bass Pro, so I haven't gotten a chance to use it. I did buy some P-line fluoroclear in 12# to test as a buddy wants a review on it.

[Capt.Bob]

Now usually I use just plain old trilene 12# line, but I'd really like to try Spiderwire's 12# line, as it's diameter is drastically smaller and I'm assuming give me better casting distance. Would also let me do some shakey head fishing without lugging my spinning gear around. I've heard that using any line that your BC isn't rated for can cause issues with overruns which I don't want. Could I use a smaller diameter 12# line without any issues? The reels I use are a black max 2 and a gen 2 revo sx. Thanks.

I have used baitcasting gear since before Braid. I have found that I gain sensitivity, strength, casting performance, and it last much longer since it is unaffected by the environment. But, many say they use less than 6lbs test mono diameter. This is less than 20lbs test braid. I use 20lbs. test Braid on two of my outfits. 20 lbs Braid works good for me on my open water finesse and light tackle rigs. I use 6 or 8 lbs test Fluorocarbon leaders on them and that is what I set the drags for. If I get hung on the bottom I wrap the mainline around my hand and break off, I never stop the spool to over ride the drag, so it never digs into the spool, this works great, but I have tried it on my other rods used around weed and wood with 12 and 20lbs test leaders and it will dig in and cause casting problems till it is run off the spool past the diggin and then works good again till max tension is put on the heavier set drag again.

The 20 lbs Fierline Tracer braid and Power pro fishes better than 6lbs mono because it gets down with less weight quicker, has much more feel and sensitivity and is as limp as sewing thread. But I will only use it on a light drag set for no more than 8 lbs. test. If you are going to use it for 12 lbs test leaders or to do what you use to use 12lbs mono, I would suggest going no lighter than 30 lbs braid which is 8lbs test mono diameter, and personally prefer 40lbs test, as on rigs setup for anything more than open water, when weeds wood and obstacles are around, or I am simply fishing for larger species, I use 12 to 20 lbs test leaders, and with the 40 I can usually runn against the heavier drag settings and still keep from digging in. Plus reap the benefits of the smaller line diameter, the 40 lbs test braid fishes better than 10lbs test mono and fluoro, and is the same diameter of those lines.

most bass size reels are rated with as low as 8lbs test mono, that is 30lbs test for most Braid when going by the same diameter, but as I said even 30 lbs braid will digin if you put 30 lbs of pressure on the spool.

[TNBassin']

So if my Revo SX is rated for 12lb test, would going to 10 cause me any issues?? I don't use braid at all, so that's not any option for me.

[hooah212002]

On a somewhat related topic, do you guys experience a higher rate of overruns with braid? I had a heck of a time this morning when I went out. I sprayed KVD as I was spooling and I don't think I was casting any differently, but I was getting a backlash almost every cast. Now I'm worried that I ruined a good portion of my line because of it. I got hung up and lost a jig, but it broke off really easy and it wasn't at the knot. It broke off requiring much less effort than the 12# spiderwire mono I was using prior. I certainly cant afford to take off a bunch. I did use mono backing, but I'm unsure how much i have left in the roll. It was a 150 yard roll of Power Pro.

[baluga]

I have less overruns using braid compared to mono or FC line.