Which line to use on spinning equiptment?

[CaptMikeyMoser]

Hey Folks, I am considering restringing my spinning outfits. I run a charter in South Florida, targetting mostly Largemouth in the Everglades, however I do run a lot of Peacock Bass trips. I have traditionally been using Mono around the 10-15lb weight class. I have also experimented with co-polymers (flourocarbon coated mono). The bass get big down here, and i often deal with pretty heavy cover and structure. Also my peacock trips are primarily utelizing live shiners. These monster peacocks and clownknive fish are snapping through the mon and copolymer lines way to quickly for my liking. I am thinking of switching my reels to braid, maybe flouro leaders too. I will break down my primary uses of spinning gear in hopes you all and your vast knowledge can offer some advice on which line or combo of line, would best suit my methods. Topwater plugs, like torpedoes, poppers etc - mono 10-12 lbs because it floats and I like the strretch for those bass that chase, inhale and keep running.... weightless soft plastics, like flukes  and stick baits (senko style) -also mono 10-12lb for the stretch again, i think it allows me to give the lures more action with a softer feel (if that makes sense)....  Live shiners for peacock and clown knive fish (strong fighters that can reach 15 pounds) -pline copolymer (flourocoated mono) 15lbs - well because i thought it may be stronger and still not visible.... I have 4 outfits tgo restring, any advice is greatly appreciated,  thanks folks!

[new2BC4bass]

Braid is not abrasion resistant so I don't think I would use straight braid in your situation.  A heavy fluoro leader might work in conjunction with the braid.  Use leader material that comes in the very small spools...not fluoro in filler spools.  Leader material is tougher.  Have you tried P-Line CXX or Izorline Platinum yet?  Both are very abrasion resistant, but require use of line conditioner because they have more memory than most lines.

[fishnkamp]

For topwaters I would use mono still. For your live bait I would change one rig to Power Pro Spectra Braid say 50 pound test ( it is the same diameter as 15 pound mono) and then i would tie on a 10 to 15 pound leader made of P Line CXX in moss green. I specifically state that line because it is a very tough copolymer with a high resistance to abrasion (that also means a lot of memory which makes it a bit too much trouble as a main line). For some reason their moss green CXX has a much higher breaking strength than their other lines. In tests the 10 pound test broke closer to 22 pounds.  I would use the 15 pound test probably but experiment with all three. There is only .002 in diameter between 10 and 15 pound line. I use a lot of 20 and 30 pound Power Pro Spectra in my bass fishing here on the tidal rivers around the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries like the Potomac and upper bay. I encounter crab traps, rebar, sunken old boats, and plenty of barnacles on docks, rocks etc. I should also add anything the military "shot" in the waters since I often fish around a military munitions base that live fire test periodically.

For some of the other presentations like the plastics try doing this as an experiment. I assume you are setting up larger size spinning equipment for the plastics , worms, flukes etc.  i do have a friend that "lives with" the memory issues of the P Line. Here is what he does and what i would try. Take a brand new spool of 10 pound or 12 pound test P Line CXX in moss green.  I use a Berkley line station which makes spooling my reels super easy. It only cost $20  from Cabelas and other places.  Attach your reel. Next boil some water on the stove pour it in a bowl and drop your spool of line in it for say 5 minutes. Dump the water out and attach the spool to the line station. Spool the reel. Getting a line warm helps it adapt to the smaller diameter on the reel so you have less line memory issues. This helps a lot with abrasion resistant fluoro line as well. I also suggest a good line conditioner.  Experiment with this on one reel and see how it plays for you. I would try doing it with a 300 yard filler spool (cheaper) if it works out go to the big 3000 yard spool to save more money. I keep a 300 yard spool of 10 pound test on  my boat for leaders all the time. I hope this works out for you. Let us know.  By the way I also use some of the P Line Floroclear and like it for crankbaits and a few other things, but I only deal with big blue catfish, bass, stripers, perch, panfish and the occasional pickerel. Those are my nemesis with teeth here at home.

[buzzed bait]

i'd say braid plus a mono leader would do you well.

[MickD]

I suggest braid, about  20 pound test to retain really good casting characteristics with a 20 pound test hard saltwater mono leader for toughness, abrasion resistance.  Learning the FG knot will have the knot going through the guides very smoothly.

[Bluebasser86]

Depending on what cover and structure you're around (I'm assuming lots of vegetation from my limited Florida fishing experience), braid with a leader should serve you well. 

[NHBull]

15 to 20 lb braid and Seagate blue is your friend

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

Another braid + leader recommendation here.

All I use for LBM fishing on my spinning and 
casting gear.

Spinning is either 10 or 15# and a leader from 
4-15. You could probably do just fine with a 
leader in the 10-15# range. Yo-Zuri Hybrid is 
pretty dang strong for the rating (of course the
diameter is slightly larger), and P-Line CXX is
a very strong line.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

Regardless of the tackle used -  Presenting live or artificial baits to potentially 15 pound hard fighting fish in heavy cover requires tackle that can handle the best fish you hope to catch.

10 - 15 lb line seems under powered to me.  I'd go braid, minimum 30 lb.  As mentioned braid lacks abrasion resistance but that is in reference to hard cover, ie. rocks, dock or bridge pilings, and certain tree branches & stumps.  So a mono or fluorocarbon leader is a good choice.  I'd recommend Maxima Ultragreen, great mono especially for leader material that's reasonably priced.

  In vegetation, grass, pads, reeds etc, no leader is usually needed, Straight braid will cut through that stuff where nylon line seems to bind up - not good for big fish extraction.

Good Luck & I'm looking forward to seeing some great Big Fish Pictures.

A-Jay

[Ratherbfishing]

I have not been able to "quantify" why I do what I do but, for me, braid belongs on a baitcasting reel and soft/limber mono or hybrid line goes on my spinning rods.  If there are heavy weeds or cover, the baitcaster comes out and when the water is clear and "reasonably" free of obstructions, I tend toward finesse tactics with my spinning rod.  But, really, it's all a matter of opinion and style.  This is just what works for me.