Spinning Reel - Braid - What Pound Test?

[Clickster]

Howdy All,

 

I am from West Virginia so our bass aren't quite as huge as many other places. I have always used 10lb test braided line. After reading much on here...I am seeing many suggest 30lb. Does that go for my setup too?

 

What pound test would most of you use if you were in my situation? Spinning/Open Face Reel, Some Cover (nothing awful), Braided Line.

 

Thanks for your time.

 

-Click

[jtesch]

I use 15 or 18 pound Daiwa Samurai, thin, strong and casts like a rocket

[Tony L.]

I use 10 lb suffix 832. I feel like if you go too much smaller than that, the line becomes too thin in diameter and starts digging into itself on the spool.

[A-Jay]

I'd say a 20lb braid is a good choice there.

 

It's important to remember that it's a very good idea to be ready & able to land the fish you're hoping to hook and catch, not just the smaller fish that you land while you're waiting for her.

 

A-Jay

[BassinLou]

Just like A-Jay said. My minimum on spinners is 20lb also. 

[Scott F]

My casting distance drops quite a lot with braids over 10 on my spinning reel. I don't fish much heavy cover either. 10 pound braid handles everything I do, I haven't ever found a reason to go heavier.

[ColdSVT]

I like 30#...20 works fine too

[Wayne P.]

So many purchase superlines by their rated strength. It should be purchased based on it's mono equivelent diameter. Whatever mono line you use, get the same size superline.

Typically 6# mono equivelent mono diameter superline is 20# or 30# rated strength depending on brand.

The smaller diameter superlines have very little shock strength.

 

I prefer the 8# mono equivelent mono diameter superlines for spinning gear. That is 40# test with Diawa Samurai and Daiwa Saltiga. I fish for bass with bass size hooks.

[Mike L]

I use 20# power pro which I believe is 6# equilivent on a 2500 size reel.

Thought about moving up to 30# tho.

Mike

[craww]

For bass fishing on spinning reels, I use 10-20. Anything over 20 and casting distance suffers greatly, also the bigger diameter bouyant braids effect the techniques I use a spinning reel for. Dont fully lock down the drag and you'll be fine. If you need to turn a fish just grab the spool so you dont pay out line and put the screws to em.

[Kevin22]

10-20 depending on the structure. 

[Darren.]

I use 10 pound PowerPro which is rated at 2 pound test equivalent mono.

 

It is plenty strong for bass, pickerel, etc. Use a leader and you'll have your shock protection.

 

10 pound PowerPro has a lot of strength, arguably much higher breaking strength than 10 pounds.

 

But 15 or 20 lb test is plenty fine, as well.

 

I always use a leader with my braid setups (which is every setup I use). Always. Saves expensive braid is one reason and way to look at it.

 

Some feel a leader helps with visibility issues. I'm not 100% convinced of this, but won't say it doesn't. And like I said, leaders add some shock protection. I've caught loads of bass 6 pounds to 7.5 using 10lb braid + leader. And many in thick salad, or in downed trees.

 

Choose a leader size based on the type of cover/structure you're fishing. I pick up to 15 pound test leader when I'm fishing in trees. Lower when in weeds, etc.

 

Just my .02....

[BobP]

Most often 10 lb for me.  It gives better action to the bait than heavier braids and I figure you should be able to catch a 7 lb fish on 10 lb braid.  Just don't use a snap hook set.

[CJV]

I use 12lb Sunline sx1 to an 8lb Fluro leader.

[michang5]

Like usual, I'm in step with DarrenM's recommendations.

I have two spinning setups -- for simplicity, let's say one is "heavy" and one is "light."

My heavy setup HAD 20# PowerPro Super 8 Slick with a 10# fluoro leader. I recently decided to downsize to 15# PP S8S, mostly to see if I could eke out a bit more casting distance. I can't say my casts have gotten any longer. However I did catch a 7.25# personal best Wed. morning with it.

My light setup has 10# PP S8S with a 6# fluoro leader. I've not lost any fish as a result of the 10# braid, but I have snapped off a few fish with the lighter leader.

When the 10# braid depletes, I intend to switch to the 15# on my light spinning reel. Mostly so I don't need to carry two braids.

I suspect I will keep the two different weight leaders. Maybe I'll consolidate to 8# fluoro, but I doubt it.

To summarize: You're fine with 10-20# braid. As math would indicate, 15# appears to be a good compromise.

I use 10 pound PowerPro which is rated at 2 pound test equivalent mono.

It is plenty strong for bass, pickerel, etc. Use a leader and you'll have your shock protection.

10 pound PowerPro has a lot of strength, arguably much higher breaking strength than 10 pounds.

But 15 or 20 lb test is plenty fine, as well.

I always use a leader with my braid setups (which is every setup I use). Always. Saves expensive braid is one reason and way to look at it.

Some feel a leader helps with visibility issues. I'm not 100% convinced of this, but won't say it doesn't. And like I said, leaders add some

shock protection. I've caught loads of bass 6 pounds to 7.5 using 10lb braid + leader. And many in thick salad, or in downed trees.

Choose a leader size based on the type of cover/structure you're fishing. I pick up to 15 pound test leader when I'm fishing in trees. Lower when

in weeds, etc.

Just my .02....

[SirSnookalot]

The consensus seems to be 10-20# and I agree.  The only concerns are the knots and if they line is not frayed, strength IMO does not enter into it.  A 10# fish should not be able to break 15 or 20# braid.

[War Eagle 44]

20# is the size I always go with, I've tried several; Power Pro, S8S, 832, & P-Line Spectrex. I've had good service from all of them but in my experience the Spectrex casts the best followed by S8S, 832, & PP.

I have a friend who fishes #15 S8S and I haven't had any trouble matching his casting distances using #20.

I agree with the previous poster who said that he uses a line for the fish he plans to catch not the run of the mill dinks.

[Bankbeater]

Usually 30#, depending on how thick the weeds are.  If I am in very clear water, I will put on 20#.

[Crestliner2008]

I prefer 10# test PowerPro myself. Have it on 3 spinning rigs now for about the same number of years. No problems, no worries.

[bassin is addicting]

i use 20lb PP or Tufline braid on spinning setups with no problems... 

on other spinning gear i use Tufline Supercast.  12 or 15lb.  that stuff casts a mile... 

[Clickster]

It sounds like 20lb test may be the best option for what I'm looking for. I appreciate the input everyone.

[thehooligan]

Exactly what Darren said.

[JigMe]

I have one set up on 10lb, and another set up on 20lb 832 braided line. I fish both setup, but 80% of the time I am using the 20lb braided line because I am fishing structures and covers that might break my 10lb braid so don't want to take any chances.  

[RoLo]

In saltwater, line-test is generally determined by the fish species (snapper blues to giant tuna),

but line-test for freshwater fishing is chiefly determined by the 'cover' you're dealing with.

Since we fish weedy natural lakes in Florida, most of my outfits are spooled with 30-lb Berkley Trilene Braid.

I started out using 20-lb braid, but found that 30-lb braid (which is only 0.002" thicker)

totally eliminated line-burrowing and sharply reduced wind-knots.

 

For mat-punching & frogging I'm spooled with 50-lb Trilene braid (hate losing 1-1/2 oz tungsten sinkers).

For playing with wacky worms, shaky heads and such, I'll use 15-lb Power Pro (Trilene braid isn't available in 15-lb test) 

 

Roger

[Clickster]

I am stuck between 20-30 now. I will have to feel them and see what I think. Thanks again.