Reel Line Rating?

[dtruesdell24]

How far can you go from recommended line ratings on reels? Basically all the reels I am looking at have like 10-15 pound line recommendation. I want to fish heavy cover and need stronger line cause mine keeps snapping in weeds. Cant you go more with braid because of the diameter of the line? Will it be bad for the rod?

[The Next KVD]

The line rating to me is useless.  One brands 15lb line diameter could be larger or smaller than another brands which would result in more or less line the reel can hold. Don't pay ANY ATTENTION to this rating. Spool up with 65lb braid and go to town on em'!  Todays technology means the spools are made of better materials and it is literally impossible to bend the spool shaft unless do to unusual circumstances. 

 

Also I really don't pay attention to rod line ratings either.  No freshwater rod that I know of has a rating of 65lb braid  but everyone does it everyday.  Unless I'm throwing light stuff like shakeyheads ect. this rating will help give you an idea on how light you can go and still get a decent cast out. I think your putting too much thought into this.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

These numbers on reels are not ratings, but rather line capacity. I have braid on reels ranging from ultra light to 6500 round reels

[roadwarrior]

What's important is your drag setting. If your are between 2 1/2 and 3lbs you can use any line

exceeding recommendations.

 

 

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

Maybe this will help.

 

Braids and Equivalent Mono Diameter Sufix Performance Braid 6 / 2 lb. 10 / 4 lb. 20 / 6 lb. 30 / 8 lb. 50 / 12 lb. 65 / 17 lb. 80 / 20 lb. 100 / 25 lb.

[CWB]

Like others have said, rating is for capacity, not a recommendation. Usually they will list both Mono and Braid capacity. Like Dwight said, diameter of each will determine capacity. Put on whatever you want. Rods will usually show recommended lure weight but this is just a guideline also. If you're gonna be flipping heavy cover drag won't be much of an issue as you'll probably using 50-65 or even 80# braid with drag cranked down.

[SirSnookalot]

These numbers on reels are not ratings, but rather line capacity. I have braid on reels ranging from ultra light to 6500 round reels

Right, the only time I would pay attention to those numbers is using mono or copoly in hopes of avoiding too much coiling.

 

What's important is your drag setting. If your are between 2 1/2 and 3lbs you can use any line

exceding recommendations.

 

 

 

 

100% agree, some may be surprised at how big a fish can be landed using the drag properly, even with lighter lines.  I know many people lock that drag down (see it on tv tournaments) and drag that 4 pounder in a few seconds with heavy braid..............that isn't sport fishing, it's not sport at all, sporting is giving the fish a chance.  Heaviest line I use is 20# braid and that's for saltwater, 15# is my top for freshwater, a fish pulling out drag won't break the line.  Sorry for the rant, just irks me to no end seeing 50# line for a fish that seldom goes more than 10 pounds.

[rippin-lips]

Time is money in a tournament scenario. Get the fish in the boat as fast as possible so you can get your line back in the water and catch another.

[Trey Harpel]

yea you can pretty much dump whatever line on to most reels..

Heck Im using LFT flouro hybrid pro 20/30lb on my Pixy PX68 for pitching beavers without issues..

[SirSnookalot]

Time is money in a tournament scenario. Get the fish in the boat as fast as possible so you can get your line back in the water and catch another.

I'd fish that way too if I was competing for 6 figure prize funds, but I don't and never will.  When it comes to fishing for pleasure I won't over power a fish just to drag it in.  Big or small I want the best the that fish can offer me in terms of a good fight, that's why I fish.

[rippin-lips]

I'd fish that way too if I was competing for 6 figure prize funds, but I don't and never will. When it comes to fishing for pleasure I won't over power a fish just to drag it in. Big or small I want the best the that fish can offer me in terms of a good fight, that's why I fish.

Excuse my French but screw that lol. I fish because I enjoy it but I enjoy it even more when I catch a big bass and that's where I get my fight from. If it can be skied to the boat or bank it's not big enough. I've never played a fish in my life. That includes my Pb. Get it in ASAP and get back in the water.

[roadwarrior]

Well, some techniques require lighter line. I find that this makes a SIGNIFICANT difference

targeting smallmouth on the Tennessee River. Landing 7 & 8lb brown fish in strong current

requires a reel with a great drag system and a bit of finesse on #4 Yo-Zuri Hybrid or #6 Tatsu.

 

 

 

[rippin-lips]

I agree but when it comes to flipping heavy cover we aren't using 4-8lb test. If we were talking about drop shoting for smallies then I'm with you 100%. My above reply was aimed at heavy cover scenarios. I'm not going to play a frog fish in pads. I'm gonna sail him in so he doesn't get hung up.

[Fishes in trees]

The only way to know for sure if a line will work on any particular reel is to try it.  After a point, heavier line doesn't work on spinning gear very well.   On bait casters, I routinely use 20 lb Abrazx on a Curado 50E reel and it works great - until a back lash happens and then it is a pain.   I  tried 6 lb fluorocarbon on a Calcutta 50 reel and it worked great - until a back lash happened, then it was a pain.  Trial and error is the only way to find out for sure for yourself.  I've read about other guys who use light flurorbarbon line on bait casters and it worked fine - for them - it just doesn't work so well for me.  Guys at the fishing tackle store tell me that using 20 lb Abrazx on a 50 sized reel is asking for it - but it works OK for me. i.e. I can live with the occasional back lash.  Trial & error - just because some one else tells you something will or won't work isn't any reason to try it.  You've got your own judgement - use it.

[SirSnookalot]

 

Well, some techniques require lighter line. I find that this makes a SIGNIFICANT difference

targeting smallmouth on the Tennessee River. Landing 7 & 8lb brown fish in strong current

requires a reel with a great drag system and a bit of finesse on #4 Yo-Zuri Hybrid or #6 Tatsu.

 

 

 

I agree, not only is a reel with a good drag important but the rod maybe more so.  Being in Florida I no longer fish for smallmouth, but I do catch some formidable fighting fish of all sizes.  I go as light as I can, not to say other fishermen here don't manhandle them in, I do what pleases me.  A fish like the one in my avatar, not huge for it's species, I'm guessing is about 8-10 fight on med spinning, maybe a little less as we tend to over estimate time and size.  Too tight a drag and 10# braid may snap and too loose a drag getting spooled is a possibilty, both scenarios have happened to me.  If i"m fishing current in the inlet which runs 6-10 knots depending on time of tide and moon phase I have to use a beefier rod or I won't land them.

I personally do not care to do battle with heavy vegetation and the use of rods, reels and lines more conducive to land fish for those conditions.  We have plenty of good sized bass here, if I happen to lose one so be it.  I don't feel bad losing a 5 pounder and I don't do cartwheels landing one that may be 8#.  I want the best fight I can get from a fish and land it with technique, not brute force.

[John G]

Right, the only time I would pay attention to those numbers is using mono or copoly in hopes of avoiding too much coiling.

 

100% agree, some may be surprised at how big a fish can be landed using the drag properly, even with lighter lines.  I know many people lock that drag down (see it on tv tournaments) and drag that 4 pounder in a few seconds with heavy braid..............that isn't sport fishing, it's not sport at all, sporting is giving the fish a chance.  Heaviest line I use is 20# braid and that's for saltwater, 15# is my top for freshwater, a fish pulling out drag won't break the line.  Sorry for the rant, just irks me to no end seeing 50# line for a fish that seldom goes more than 10 pounds.

 

 

 

Most guys IMHO, including me, aren't out there to see how long we can play a fish. When I hook up, I see how fast I can get the fish in before a gator grabs it. In saltwater, there is no way I will play a fish because of sharks. I am surprised to read that you do play the fish even though sharks are always present. How is that giving the fish a chance when the threat of sharks is always present.

 

Snook, you know guys aren't using 50# braid cause they think think they need it in all circumstances. They are using it because 20 and 30# braid digs into itself bad on a baitcaster if you look at it wrong.

[SirSnookalot]

Most guys IMHO, including me, aren't out there to see how long we can play a fish. When I hook up, I see how fast I can get the fish in before a gator grabs it. In saltwater, there is no way I will play a fish because of sharks. I am surprised to read that you do play the fish even though sharks are always present. How is that giving the fish a chance when the threat of sharks is always present.

 

Snook, you know guys aren't using 50# braid cause they think think they need it in all circumstances. They are using it because 20 and 30# braid digs into itself bad on a baitcaster if you look at it wrong.

 Haven't been bitten off by sharks and gators enough for me even to think about.  I've read numerous posts on this site alone where fishermen are using less than 30# braid on b/c without the digging in problem.  A problem I don't have using spinning gear, more than enough rod backbone and spinning reels have more than an adequate drag.  Not only will I play a bass I sometimes open the bail so I can enjoy the fight a bit longer.

[John G]

I just paid more than $30.00 for some 30# Hi Vis Yellow Power Pro for my Calcutta 100 and I have had digging problems. I bought the thin diameter for capacity. If you pull hard on it, even though the drag isn't all that tight, it digs into itself. I must not be putting enough tension on it when I put it on the spool.

[WRB]

Not all reels are designed to properly handle braid due it's small diameter, high strength, abrasion and bait caster level wind. The suggestion to set your drag to the equal diameter mono line is good advice.

Your rod question is also rated to mono line strength, not braid. Most general use bass rods are medium heavy or 3 to 4 power. The power rating MH and 3-4 pounds of lifting power means higher loads can damage the rod, again set your drag no higher than the power rating: 3 to 4 pounds of drag with a MH rod using braid, heavy or power rating 5-6 = 5 to 6 pounds of drag.

You can pull off about 50 to 60 yards of spooled braid, tape over the remaining line with Teflon plumbers tape(1 to 2 wraps), then wind the line back onto the reel using a wet cloth to add tension. When you cast the spooled line remains tight under the tape, less line to dig down into or backlash.

Tom

[dtruesdell24]

Not all reels are designed to properly handle braid due it's small diameter, high strength, abrasion and bait caster level wind. The suggestion to set your drag to the equal diameter mono line is good advice.

Your rod question is also rated to mono line strength, not braid. Most general use bass rods are medium heavy or 3 to 4 power. The power rating MH and 3-4 pounds of lifting power means higher loads can damage the rod, again set your drag no higher than the power rating: 3 to 4 pounds of drag with a MH rod using braid, heavy or power rating 5-6 = 5 to 6 pounds of drag.

You can pull off about 50 to 60 yards of spooled braid, tape over the remaining line with Teflon plumbers tape(1 to 2 wraps), then wind the line back onto the reel using a wet cloth to add tension. When you cast the spooled line remains tight under the tape, less line to dig down into or backlash.

Tom

So if I were to get a medium heavy rod with 10-20 pound line recommended, what strength braid can I use without it damaging the rod? 

[rippin-lips]

I normally run 50# power pro but I've even used 65# power pro on med/hvy rods. The braid isn't going to damage your rod. Boat flipping fish or dropping it against the gunwale will over time. It's all about setting your drag properly and that's with any line you use.

[WRB]

So if I were to get a medium heavy rod with 10-20 pound line recommended, what strength braid can I use without it damaging the rod?

50 or 65 lb braid with drag set at 4 lbs.

Tom

[dtruesdell24]

50 or 65 lb braid with drag set at 4 lbs.

Tom

What about a heavy action 12-25lb rod?

[ElCompaBroccoli]

So basically, if I'm understanding this correctly (I just got into fishing and only have a Shakespeare Durango rod with the matching reel that came with 10lb line) I can use that setup with some 30lb line? And catch big fish like a 18-24 inch Spanish mackerel or fish of that size? All I've caught is Pacific mackerel with 10lb line cause I thought that's all I could do with that little rod. With a 1oz wait it already bends it down a bit. Please help.