Spinning Reel / Braid with Leader

[Tim Mueller]

So I've been trying to wrap my head around braided line with a leader using a Pflueger spinnger reel. If the line capacity is 8lb/285yd. - 10lb/230yd. (mono. line) do I have to use at least 30lb. braid or can I use something a little lighter like 20lb. braid? I've heard of the 20/10lb (braid/leader) but I'm not sure. I have a spare spool that I would like to try braid on I just don't know the rule of thumb when it comes to this. I was also thinking of using a bright color such as yellow to see strikes. Any thoughts would be most helpful.

[Bluebasser86]

I use mainly 10lb braid on my spinning reels. It handles excellent and is stronger than the rated 10 pounds. I've gone to almost all braid on my spinning reels after years of hating braid. I have green, pink, and white braids on my rods and see no difference in number of bites, just visibility for me. 

[Team9nine]

You can use anything you want (within reason), just realize different diameter line will change the listed capacity either up or down (more or less line needed), depending...and yellow is a fine color for braid 

[junyer357]

I have 15 and 20# braid (power pro yellow slick 8) on my 2 pflueger supreme 2500s. Have used it for several years now with no problems. I never use a backing. Occasionally it will dig in a lil bit after a hars fight or a snagged lure, but nothing a long cast and reeling back with some tension wont fix. 

If you go this route i will also reccomend dedicated leader line as well. It works better than regular flouro to me. 

[bigfruits]

sure, you can use 20lb. 15# is good too.

 

use some cheap backing (or some of your old line) so that you dont use as much expensive braid.

[Tim Mueller]

Ok that makes sense, I thought the manufactures line capacity was a performance related issue. Any recommendation on braid to leader sizing? I.E. if I use 10lb. braid what should be my leader? Or should it be that the leader's diameter should not exceed the diameter of the braid diameter?

[Bluebasser86]

I just try to keep it reasonable. You're not going to want anything too heavy because the knot won't go through the guides well.

[Darren.]

28 minutes ago, Tim Mueller said:

Ok that makes sense, I thought the manufactures line capacity was a performance related issue. Any recommendation on braid to leader sizing? I.E. if I use 10lb. braid what should be my leader? Or should it be that the leader's diameter should not exceed the diameter of the braid diameter?

 

I'll give you an example of what I use for braid + leader:

 

10 and 15# Power Pro (2# and 4# mono diameter equiv)

 

Leaders from 4-15# all on the above braid.

 

The lighter the leader, the more wraps I tie.

 

This is especially good if you use a Mod'd Albright/Alberto

knot. The more wraps the less slippage for smaller dia line.

[MassYak85]

I pretty much always use 15lb braid mainline on my spinning reels. I've also used 10 and 20 before and they were fine. For a leader I'll go as low as 6lb up to 12 or 15lb. 6 for dropshot, I'll go to the higher ones if I'm doing something like fishing worms around heavy cover. I have yellow braid on one of my spinning reels and green on the other. I definitely think it helps in seeing strikes.

 

What are you planning on fishing with this setup? Judging by the line capacity it seems you have the 40 size reel, which has a pretty big spool. If you plan to spool that up with braid I would highly recommend using a significant amount of backing line or else you're gonna end up putting 300+ yards of braid on the spool, 3/4 of which will never see water.  

[jdz197]

All my spinners have 30 or 40 lb braid all the way to the core. No real logic behind it aside from the fact that I'll never have to worry about running out of line, much less breaking it. All my headache now comes from fluorocarbon leader knots, but that's another thread.

[Tim Mueller]

Okay one last question, Power Pro Spectra or Slick? I have some cover to throw into but mostly the open (like ponds and rivers).

[Darren.]

23 minutes ago, Tim Mueller said:

Okay one last question, Power Pro Spectra or Slick? I have some cover to throw into but mostly the open (like ponds and rivers).

 

I use both, like the Slick a little better. Smoother,

seems to cast a little better - and is less noisy if

that bothers you.

 

But it is more ... slick ... so remember that when

tying a leader knot.

[MassYak85]

28 minutes ago, Tim Mueller said:

Okay one last question, Power Pro Spectra or Slick? I have some cover to throw into but mostly the open (like ponds and rivers).

I'm probably in the minority here but I hate slick. I tried it and the weaves of the braid seemed to separate way too easily, to the point where it would separate simply when tying knots, and I had a hell of a time with wind knots that I don't experience with spectra. Many on here like it though and find that it is a great casting line. 

[BigGame0892]

I'm fishing Sunline SX1 braid in 12 lb test yellow.  It casts an absolute mile and is smooth through the guides.  Its been the best braid I've tried on my spinning setups thus far having used Suffix Performance and 832 previously.

[Darren.]

2 minutes ago, BigGame0892 said:

I'm fishing Sunline SX1 braid in 12 lb test yellow.  It casts an absolute mile and is smooth through the guides.  Its been the best braid I've tried on my spinning setups thus far having used Suffix Performance and 832 previously.

 

Would be interesting to see the different "slick" or 8-strand

braids compared here. Daiwa, Sunline, Sufix, Power Pro, 

and whoever else makes... Heard good things about SX1

as well as Samurai. But I'm loaded with PowerPro, so won't

be doing any tests for the foreseeable future.

[tander]

Using regular Power Pro in yellow 10# test and 7# Sunline FC for leader, work real well. I use a Alberto knot to tie the braid and fc together.

[Crestliner2008]

You can use whatever line you want as your main line. Just fill the spool with enough "backing" to get the ending fill even with the spool lip, or just below. Line capacities are not applicable with braid. Line diameter is.

[Tim Mueller]

Can I put 15lb braid on a rod with line rated 6-14lb? It may sound like a stupid question but I'm not sure what the manufacturer means by line rating.

[Darren.]

17 hours ago, Tim Mueller said:

Can I put 15lb braid on a rod with line rated 6-14lb? It may sound like a stupid question but I'm not what the manufacturer means by line rating.

 

Sure. You just want to make sure your drag is

set properly. The rod will do some of the work,

your rod gymnastics some, and the drag some.

Edited March 15, 2017 by Darren.
Grammar correction...

[bigfruits]

4 hours ago, Tim Mueller said:

Ok that makes sense, I thought the manufactures line capacity was a performance related issue.

 

on spinning reels what affects performance is spool diameter, all other things being equal. more line will not weigh down the spool as it does not spin like a BC spool does when casting.

 

a bigger spool will have less memory when using nylon or FC, but you are using braid so you dont have to worry about that. Also, a smaller spool will have more resistance with line hitting the spool sooner than a larger spool. more noticeable when using huge spinning reels for surf casting in salt water.