Big Game 25 lb test

[Cgolf]

I tried a search on my iPad and couldn't find a topic specifically on this. saying that the search with the new forum doesn't appear to work well with the iPad so I apologize if this is a duplicate. 

I had a spool of the 25lb big game that I got really cheap somewhere thinking I could use it for fly tying or something like that. I got my eyes opened reading some threads here that mentioned using this stuff. 

I am looking to put this on an Abu 5500 C3 round reel, what types of baits should I be tossing with it? Have a few options for the rod I could use 

[Goose52]

Well, if you have a rod that will handle them, big honkin' swim baits come to mind...

[deep]

8" weedlesses and 250s.

[Cgolf]

32 minutes ago, Goose52 said:

Well, if you have a rod that will handle them, big honkin' swim baits come to mind...

I have a 7 foot Muskie rod and an 7' 8"med Clunn glass cranking rod that should do the trick. Due to the Muskie will have to go with a steel leader though. 

[Cgolf]

Anything other than swimbaits?

[JustinU1X]

Drop Shot

[Airman4754]

I've caught just a stupid number of Chinook and Coho salmon on that exact line and reel, as for bass you're ready for a world record! 

A piece of advice, undo the three long screws on the handle side and remove the two or six (depending on the age of your reel)  little plastic breaks if you're throwing anything over an ounce. The tension knob will do what you need and it will cast forever.

[webertime]

Carolina Rig Leaders if you are dragging through zebra mussel covered bottoms.  Aaaaaaand....  Swimbaits

[Raul]

Macho men, just like me, use that line for flippling to mesquite trees, huizache brush and tule, if you happen to hang up oh well you can always pull until you uproot that sob.

[tholmes]

13 hours ago, cgolf said:

Anything other than swimbaits?

Catfish bait. That's what I use it for. I've also used it for trolling Storm Big Macs for freshwater stripers. It's strong, tough stuff, but not the most castable line out there.

 

Tom

[Fishes in trees]

Over the years I've been betrayed by Big Game too many times.  One ten yard length might be perfect, the next 10 yard length might be of variable diameter or have a kink in it or whatever, I just don't trust the quality of that stuff.   If I were using it to hang pictures, I would double or triple or quadruple it before I would trust it to hang a picture on the wall.   Just don't trust that stuff.   Over the years, too many issues.

[K_Mac]

2 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

Over the years I've been betrayed by Big Game too many times.  One ten yard length might be perfect, the next 10 yard length might be of variable diameter or have a kink in it or whatever, I just don't trust the quality of that stuff.   If I were using it to hang pictures, I would double or triple or quadruple it before I would trust it to hang a picture on the wall.   Just don't trust that stuff.   Over the years, too many issues.

The last time I said here that I didn't care for BG, I took a beating from the BG community. While it is cheap, there are many better options IMO.

[Cgolf]

5 hours ago, K_Mac said:

The last time I said here that I didn't care for BG, I took a beating from the BG community. While it is cheap, there are many better options IMO.

Not that I am actively looking to fully move away from braid, I have just decided to try this and the Gamma fluoro that I had in my line drawer to see what if anything I am missing. 

You did pique my curiousity though, what would be some better options if I find I like this stuff, but want to up the quality some. I am surprised by the quality issues though, Berk XT used to be my go to line before fireline and power pro. Would have thought they had their mono game down to a science.

[new2BC4bass]

I've never used anything over a 17# mono.  Admittedly no problems with it.  I'm curious as to what kind of memory you guys have with a 25# mono.  Especially with Big Game since I have memory problems with the 8# and 12# Big Game I use until a few casts have been made.  I almost never use a line conditioner.

[Cgolf]

1 minute ago, new2BC4bass said:

I've never used anything over a 17# mono.  Admittedly no problems with it.  I'm curious as to what kind of memory you guys have with a 25# mono.  Especially with Big Game since I have memory problems with the 8# and 12# Big Game I use until a few casts have been made.  I almost never use a line conditioner.

I will be interested to see as well. I am hoping that the Abu 5500 c3 has a large enough diameter spool to limit the memory issues. I have line conditioner, but have never used it, maybe I should. 

[new2BC4bass]

Line conditioner does help.  If I am going to use it, I normally spray the line before spooling it onto the reel.  Occasionally before heading out the door if a certain line is giving me too much memory problems.

[K_Mac]

4 hours ago, cgolf said:

Not that I am actively looking to fully move away from braid, I have just decided to try this and the Gamma fluoro that I had in my line drawer to see what if anything I am missing. 

You did pique my curiousity though, what would be some better options if I find I like this stuff, but want to up the quality some. I am surprised by the quality issues though, Berk XT used to be my go to line before fireline and power pro. Would have thought they had their mono game down to a science.

Berkley XT is my go-to mono. I like it far better than Big Game. I use it for treble hook baits. I use P-Line CXX copolymer for most other single hook "moving" baits like swimbaits, swim jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc. For all "contact" baits like jigs, t-rigs, etc. I use fluorocarbon. CXX would be my choice for everything if fluorocarbon wasn't an option. It is far better than Big Game as an inexpensive general purpose line IMO. FWIW I do not like braid and only use it when I have to.

[Cgolf]

13 minutes ago, K_Mac said:

Berkley XT is my go-to mono. I like it far better than Big Game. I use it for treble hook baits. I use P-Line CXX copolymer for most other single hook "moving" baits like swimbaits, swim jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc. For all "contact" baits like jigs, t-rigs, etc. I use fluorocarbon. CXX would be my choice for everything if fluorocarbon wasn't an option. It is far better than Big Game as an inexpensive general purpose line IMO. FWIW I do not like braid and only use it when I have to.

XT is awesome stuff and always has been. I have some 8 year old 10lb XT line on an old quantum lite reel that rarely gets used and it still casts great. Picked up a new spool of 10 lb to possibly try on deep divers to see how different it is from braid. 

I wish they still made the solar XT, I loved that line and it even worked great on gin clear water. 

[aj88kc]

I do a ton of catfishing. I have a mh tiger (not the cheap white ones) with a penn fathom 25 that I run 30lb big game on it for flathead. I am throwing anywhere from 7-10 ozs of weight with bait and sinker with that setup.  I tell you that just to say that 25 lb big game is some big thick stuff. I own 3 5500's as well and the biggest big game i put on it for catfishing is 12 lb. and it has good castability still. Anything past that you are really going to be clogging up that little 5500. If you wanted that breaking strength on the 5500 i would go with braid.