Bait Caster Question

[RMcDuffee726]

So this summer I plan on buying my first bait caster reel.  I live in New Hampshire and I don't usually have to deal with insanely thick cover, but sometimes I come across cover I wouldn't be comfortable throwing my 8 lb. fluorocarbon line into, and also the fish aren't consistently huge in New Hampshire.  I was wondering what line I would be considering to put on my reel.  I've seen some people say I should be looking at 30 lb. braid, but I feel like that is a little excessive.  Any advice would be awesome, and tight lines! Cheers.

[RMcDuffee726]

I just feel like you can rip the bass out of the water without any fight at all, and that kind of takes the fun out of it for me.

[pbizzle]

So this summer I plan on buying my first bait caster reel.  I live in New Hampshire and I don't usually have to deal with insanely thick cover, but sometimes I come across cover I wouldn't be comfortable throwing my 8 lb. fluorocarbon line into, and also the fish aren't consistently huge in New Hampshire.  I was wondering what line I would be considering to put on my reel.  I've seen some people say I should be looking at 30 lb. braid, but I feel like that is a little excessive.  Any advice would be awesome, and tight lines! Cheers.

 

I just feel like you can rip the bass out of the water without any fight at all, and that kind of takes the fun out of it for me.

A lot of people don't use braid just for the strength. I know that I for one only use it for the manageability and the lack of stretch. This grants you with more sensitivity and power behind your hook set. I'll tie on a mono or fluorocarbon leader for visibility reasons, but it forces me to not rely on the braids strength. If I'm using 50lb braid as a mainline, but a 12lb fluorocarbon leader, I'm definitely not going to winch the fish in like I would with straight braid. I wouldn't use anything less than 30lb braid on a baitcaster, because it would be hard to use. Sorry if that doesn't make sense, but it's late and I'm tired.

[RMcDuffee726]

I appreciate it!

[Lostinthewoods]

I just feel like you can rip the bass out of the water without any fight at all, and that kind of takes the fun out of it for me.

One of the wonderful things about a baitcaster is being able to spool on heavier line! I don't believe the line test will effect the quality of the fight so much as the length, speed and action of your rod. Heavier line simply gives you more margin for error with how you go about reeling in a fish. Line weight will also play a big part in your hooksets. And as a fellow newb to baitcasters let me just say that heavy braid is FAR more manageable than lighter mono or fluoro lines. You'll spend far less time picking out backlashes!!!

[new2BC4bass]

First you don't have to horse a fish just because you are using braid.  Lighten the drag, and line strength plays no part in playing the fish....other than braid should never break.    For me rod power determines line weight.  Majority of my Medium power rods carry 8# mono while MH rods carry 12# mono.  A friend uses 15# CXX or C21 on every baitcast rod that carries mono.

 

Just be aware that lighter lines are harder to clear a backlash.  At least they are for me.  Saturday I had my 2nd rod laying on the curb of the boat ramp.  I was standing right next to the water which is a good 3' lower than the ramp.  Without thinking I made a side arm roll cast.  Doubt I have to tell you what happened.  The reel was spooled with 6# line.  I will have to clear the backlash at home. 

[CDMeyer]

I would go with something in the middle, maybe a 15lb-20lb range would suit you well

[Tywithay]

I fish timber, rocks, cattails, and whatever else you can think of and I have caught huge wipers, stripers, catfish, bass, walleye, etc. Thickest line I own is 15lb Seaguar Tatsu. I don't even remember the last time I snapped a line.

[SCJW]

I use 15-20 lb braid on my bait casters just because I don't like the idea of mono stretching when I set the hook.

[Catch and Grease]

Alot of people say 20lb braid is to little but I have 20lb braid on a lot of my baitcaster and I love it... Power pro super slick doesn't dig into your spool if you spool it tight like your supposed to but I've used other brands 20lb braid with success too...

[F14A-B]

Nothing against braid... But I used mono 10 years in Central Florida.. In the thickest hydrilla patches, in the Atlantic, Gulf, St.Johns, Black creek, Docters inlet... On & on..... Geez ... Never had a problem using Mono! Still use it... I like co-polys, my current fave is Yo-Zuri .. Braid has some advantages. I don't need to use it though... Nothing wrong with using a lite mono.. Especially for sport.. Records..etc.....

[RMcDuffee726]

I think I'm going to go 20 lb. braided line and that should be awesome for the fishing I plan on doing.  Thanks for all your answers!

[BigKev77]

I wouldn't put braid on your first baitcaster. You are going to have backlashes you will have to cut out. Just put a cheap line on there until you get the hang of a baitcaster.

[jlwest506]

I wouldn't put braid on your first baitcaster. You are going to have backlashes you will have to cut out. Just put a cheap line on there until you get the hang of a baitcaster.

This x2