Spinning Reel - Braid - What Pound Test?

[Kevin22]

You don't want 30 on a spinning reel unless its absolutely necessary. 20# will do you just fine. 

[SirSnookalot]

 

 

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. 

My line is for the cover not the fish, 10# braid will handle any bass but may not handle pads and heavy vegetation.

Open water is a different story, heavier braided lines are not needed for heavier fish, but there is a limit to that. I wound't use 20# braid if I were targeting 100# fish, not that I haven't caught them on accidental catch.  Most of my fishing is open water, I use 15 or 20# braid and many of my fish run bigger than 10 pounds.  The key factor is not the line, but the drag and technique.

[Wayne P.]

You don't want 30 on a spinning reel unless its absolutely necessary. 20# will do you just fine. 

 

Necessary

 

 

[War Eagle 44]

My line is for the cover not the fish, 10# braid will handle any bass but may not handle pads and heavy vegetation.

Open water is a different story, heavier braided lines are not needed for heavier fish, but there is a limit to that. I wound't use 20# braid if I were targeting 100# fish, not that I haven't caught them on accidental catch.  Most of my fishing is open water, I use 15 or 20# braid and many of my fish run bigger than 10 pounds.  The key factor is not the line, but the drag and technique.

 

 

I agree, 20# just seems like a nice "compromise" of a lot of characteristics and as a general rule of thumb can handle most situations well.  

[Clickster]

I have made the decision to try out the below response. Thanks again all for your input.

 

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....

[Hobie1Kanobe]

I use Spiderwire #40lb Translucent Stealth Braid on a Quantum Smoke 30 & 40 sz spinning reel. You go left, I go right. I always do things differently for the most part and have found a lot of success. I do not use a leader . I like crank bait fishing with braid.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

If you’re interested in comparing fishing line diameters, I ran across a very informative site, mels-place.com that contains a 22-page listing of line diameter comparisons. It’s dated 2016 and while it is not complete, it covers the vast majority of lines.  Select the “Fishing Tackle” option, then select “Fishing Lines” and you will see the download. I’ve found it very helpful ... even if it’s from a saltwater-oriented site! I wish I knew how to paste the link.

[onenutinthewater]

http://www.mels-place.com/String/string.htm

 

 

Good stuff thanks Grumpy!

[MickD]

On 4/18/2014 at 3:15 AM, SirSnookalot said:

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.

A ten pound fish can generate more than his weight in line tension.  That doesn't mean that he cannot be landed on ten pound test line, but for a short distance, and with a little slack line to provide shock when it tightens, no problem to generate more tension than his weight.  I've had king salmon, most likely less than 20 pound fish (since I never caught one bigger than 20, I expect the ones I've lost are less than 20, too) fail split rings with advertised strength higher than 30.

 

With respect to braid line test, my casting trials have proven to me that 30 pound sacrifices casting distance with a stradic 400 and choker rings of 20mm.  I use 10-15 almost exclusively, and think 20, with reasonable casting distance sacrifice, is as high as anyone needs for almost any fresh water bass fishing.

[IndianaOutdoors]

What power rod and what lures/techniques are you using?  It makes a difference for me.  I use 10lb power pro for ml rods that I use for light jigs, drop shot, light rapalas, ned, finesse etc.  I use 20lb on medium spinning rods that I use for weightless plastics, finesse jigs, small spinners, etc.  To me the hook, line and rod power should be somewhat matched. Ymmv

[Land of Lakes]

I like Suffix 832 20lb hi vis for worms and jigs, I tie on a 5 ft of 15 pound Fluorocarbon leader for stealth.