What # test to use?

[RickT]

I hope I can get an answer to this question.

 

If I have a rod and reel that are mismatched as to what # test is recommended for them, should I use a # test line that fits the reel or the rod? My reel is rated for 6 - 10 and my rod is rated for 12 - 25.

 

Thanks

[gulfcaptain]

First I'd ask what are you looking to fish with?  What kind of bait, the type of cover around where you're fishing, and I'm guessing this is going to be on a spinning reel if I'm not mistaken.  

[RickT]

Yes it is a spinning reel.

 

Primarily soft plastics - fake minnow, worms, senko-like worms.

 

Usually no heavy cover, usually light to none

 

Sometimes rocky bottoms and sometimes vegetative bottoms.

 

usually from shore

[bagofdonuts]

use 10lb braid

[gulfcaptain]

I'd agree, use 10lb braid and you can always use a leader of mono or FC in different pound tests to suit your needs.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Line ratings are next to useless on a fresh water rod.   On a reel it's just for line capacity reference. 

[ww2farmer]

9 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Line ratings are next to useless on a fresh water rod.   

 

???? So using 6lb test on a XH power flipping stick rated for 15-30lb line is a good idea?

 

I'm just messing with you, but you get the drift.

[fishnkamp]

My personal preference is Berkley FireLine on spinning reels It just plays very well.  I usually tie on a 4 foot leader of P Line CXX in 10 pound moss green. Stick a half a spool of 14 mono on the reel first. Then i spool 14 pound test original Fireline. That line is the same size as 6 pound Berkley xt mono. The P line breaks around 23 pound of pull.

[rawjuice]

Get 8-10lb yozuri

 

or as some suggested, 10lb braid with your choice of leader material! Cheers!

[RickT]

Thanks all. So what I see is that rods and reels do not necessarily have to be matched and from the answers it looks like you go with the line matched to your reel.

[Jagg]

Your tackle will work better when balanced, so yeah try to match your rod and reel to the weight of your rig and lb test of your line. Finesse fishing with light line and light tackle works a lot better with 30 and/or 35 size spinning reels and M and/or ML spinning rods compared to MH or H casting flipping sticks and reels and vice versa.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

5 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

 

???? So using 6lb test on a XH power flipping stick rated for 15-30lb line is a good idea?

 

I'm just messing with you, but you get the drift.

I was thinking more along the lines of not being afraid to use 65# braid on the same rod.  Anyone who'll put 6# on an XH is probably using a spinning rod upside down to crank with their right hand. Lol

[MickD]

I just don't understand what a reel rating for line pound test is all about.  Never seen one.  The line/capacity notes on the reels are just to tell you how much line the reel will hold.  The only reel characteristic that has anything to do with line pound test is the drag capacity.  

 

Bottom line, use any line you want to on your reel.  

 

As to the rod, you can use any line you want on that , too, just don't allow your drag setting to overpower your rod.

 

Don't overthink this.  Do your setups to maximize your efficiency for whatever you are trying to do.  Forget the "ratings".

[MassYak85]

What you are calling the reel rating is simply the line capacity specs of the reel, generally for the line sizes the manufacturer think most people will use on them. You don't have to match those to the rod, just use common sense and don't use a 40 size reel on an ultra light rod with 80lb braid lol. 

 

You want to match the reel and rod to the techniques they will be used for. Smaller reels for finesse presentations involving light line, larger reels for larger diameter lines. I woudl assume that rod would be a MH based on the line rating but again I have no clue as I have never once payed attention to that. 

[WRB]

With spinning reels line diameter and memory matters. Most fresh water bass spinning reels are between size 1000 to 3000 and rate the line capacity using monofilament line lb test between .007 to .012 diameter or 4 lb to 12 lb test.

Spinning rods rated 12 lb to 25 lb doesn't sound like a fresh water rod, what make and model is it?

Tom

[Largemouth21]

10 lb Trilene XL