Are you using 50 - 65 or 80lb Braid

[WPCfishing]

I'm considering trying 80lb Power Pro for toad and frog fishing. I'm in very heavy cover. At times even the 65lb will dig in to the spool of line. I'm thinking the 80 at .18 should do better. Any thoughts ?

50 is out of the question for my needs..

[WIGuide]

I've never seen a need to use anymore than 50 personally, if you think you need 80 then go for it.

[stk44]

If you're saying that 65 digs in, then 80 will dig in less. If it works, it works. I use 50lb and even if I'm pitching a jig in lily pads, it seems to work fine. But maybe you are pitching it into much heavier stuff than me...

[S. Sass]

1 minute ago, WIGuide said:

I've never seen a need to use anymore than 50 personally, if you think you need 80 then go for it.

Same here 50 is the most I have used. Never had a issue I could 100% say was because of the 50lb braids fault. At least not a issue that would require going heavier. 

If its what you think you need to do I agree with WIGuide go for it. 

[BrianSnat]

I have 5 baitcasters, two have 35 lb Power Pro and the others have 50 lb.  I really haven't had issues with either

[J Francho]

80 still digs a bit.  It's the nature of the beast.  After a while, I'll "repack" the spool, reeling in the bait, hold the line with a towel and pressure to get a tightly packed spool.

[thebillsman]

50lb Sunline FX2

[RB 77]

Mostly 50 and 65, 80 only for salt water use for me. The trick for me is to get it on super tight on the spool right off the bat and "repack" the spool on occasion like J Francho mentioned.

[Team9nine]

I pretty much stick with 65#, but know a couple guys who've bumped up to 80# for the best performance in certain situations - go ahead and do it

-T9

[Felix77]

I'm a 50 guy myself.  Power Pro

[J Francho]

^^^best signature eva!^^^

[NoahWatts]

59 minutes ago, thebillsman said:

50lb Sunline FX2

This is the answer

[J Francho]

One line is RARELY the answer!

All that means to me is that there are two people that like the same product.  Nothing wrong with that, and it's good line, but what if that doesn't solve the OP's issue?  Are you both wrong?  Does the line suck?  Probably a huge 'NO!" to both.

Sunline FX2 will dig, just like every other brand of braid.

[soflabasser]

Wow,80lb test braid for frog fishing line?I can see 80lb test braid being used for heavy swimbaits,but it seems excessive for frog fishing.That's what I sometimes use when doing offshore fishing for fish that are much bigger and stronger than any largemouth bass can be.Been using 30lb test braid for years for frog fishing and haven't had a single big bass(have caught several +10 pound bass) break the line when hooked up on a frog.I always check my knots, cut off any line that's damaged, and put new line in my reel every couple months.

[J Francho]

The issue isn't breaking off, it's the line digging into itself on the spool. 

[thebillsman]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

One line is RARELY the answer!

All that means to me is that there are two people that like the same product.  Nothing wrong with that, and it's good line, but what if that doesn't solve the OP's issue?  Are you both wrong?  Does the line suck?  Probably a huge 'NO!" to both.

Sunline FX2 will dig, just like every other brand of braid.

Any braided  line can dig. It's a matter of how its spooled, not the line. Many anglers can use 30lb and be free of digging issues. FX2 is incredibly thin for its test. There is no need for 80lb test in New England, total overkill.

[Big Bait Fishing]

I also use 30 lb. braid for frog fishing , now if i was punching heavy mats i would maybe switch to 50 lb. but i have no use for even 65 lb. braid much less 80 lb. braid !

your casting distance with 80 lb. Power Pro will dramaticaly decrease throwing buzz frogs like you like to throw , i can maybe see you getting long casts with the big 1 oz. Spro , but buzz frogs , not unless you use a big weighted hook !!

[J Francho]

Do you pack your line on the retrieve?

So, your saying it's not an issue for you, correct?  Clearly this has been an issue for others, and they're not all stupid.  All braid can and will dig in on the spool.

See my answer earlier below. 

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

80 still digs a bit.  It's the nature of the beast.  After a while, I'll "repack" the spool, reeling in the bait, hold the line with a towel and pressure to get a tightly packed spool.

You WILL have to do this with FX2, whether it's 30 or 100 lb.  However, the larger diameter braid is easier to deal with, and doesn't seem to dig in as far.

[Big Bait Fishing]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Do you pack your line on the retrieve?

So, your saying it's not an issue for you, correct?  Clearly this has been an issue for others, and they're not all stupid.  All braid can and will dig in on the spool.

See my answer earlier below. 

You WILL have to do this with FX2, whether it's 30 or 100 lb.  However, the larger diameter braid is easier to deal with, and doesn't seem to dig in as far.

i think that is the main issue , not the strength of the braid and wanting to move up in line weight , but there is probably the issue of how tight his line is on the spool !

I , myself never re-pack my braid on the spool and do not seem to get dig-ins and right now i'm using 20 lb. braid ,but i guess my braid never gets that loose on the spool .

[thebillsman]

4 minutes ago, Big Bait Fishing said:

i think that is the main issue , not the strength of the braid and wanting to move up in line weight , but there is probably the issue of how tight his line is on the spool !

I , myself never re-pack my braid on the spool and do not seem to get dig-ins and right now i'm using 20 lb. braid ,but i guess my braid never gets that loose on the spool .

I have the same experience. FX2 in 50lb test is about the same as many other brands' 30lb test at .012mm. Heavy hooksets and battling snags.. sure it can dig, but again in New England you're not pulling 11 pound toads out of the thick.

[Big Bait Fishing]

Just now, thebillsman said:

I have the same experience. FX2 in 50lb test is about the same as many other brands' 30lb test at .012mm. Heavy hooksets and battling snags.. sure it can dig, but again in New England you're not pulling 11 pound toads out of the thick.

Sunline makes pretty dang good braid !! i love the SX1 , i have it on my spinning rod and am gonna put some 30 lb SX1 on my baitcaster ..

[J Francho]

Might not be yanking in 11 lbs. bass, but you might run into a 10-15 lb. pike, or in fall and spring a 20 lb. steelhead or brown. Happens every year. I'm still laughing about my buddy horsing in a 30" steelhead that bit a trap next to a dock of all places!  Thing jumped like 15' feet on the air before breaking him off. It was awesome, and the look on his face … priceless. 

[Jaderose]

I use 30 PP  and I throw in some major slop and cover.  Never had a problem but do what you gotta do

[Swamp Rat]

I mainly use 65lb for frog fishing, have broken 50lb on Lake Okeechobee with a bass that might have ended up my PB, and it wasn't at the knot. However, when throwing toads for snakehead most of us down here throw 80lb braid. I use my Punching/Flipping stick that has the 80lb braid for snakeheads as well as Punching, but if fishing in the rain or at night I will use this stick when I tie on a black Frogzilla. I have yet to catch a dink on this frog, and unfortunately have caught some major mudfish, which can absolutely destroy 50lb braid.

As has been said, run what you want, but I have gone from 30 and 50 braid to 65 and 80, and will not go back. AND, like J Francho advised, repack your line often...it will save you a lot of heartache.

[fishwizzard]

23 hours ago, J Francho said:

The issue isn't breaking off, it's the line digging into itself on the spool. 

What's the logic for using a casting reel for frogging then?  I assume it is a winching power issue, as I suspect you would need a surf-sized spinning reel to really pull a large bass through heavy pads?  

I have a surf reel spooled with 65lb pp and a 4'9" M boat rod, I might give it a try sometime.