What pound test?

[bma3]

Hi all, 

 

I don't know which #test I should put on my Shimano Sahara 2500 for light lures like ned rigs or drop shots. I'm thinking 15# braid to a 8# flouro leader. Could I also use 20# braid? Thanks.

[frosty]

15-20 would be good, I have 20 on my spinning rod and I wouldn't go heavier, but I'm thinking of dropping down to 15 just to see if I get any extra casting distance, but yes 15# braid with an 8# leader will work good. 

[Crestliner2008]

A 10# braid with an 8# fluorocarbon leader is plenty.

[NHBull]

Bass fishing with a spinning rod seldom needs more than 10 lb braid.  8 lb leader is fine, but 6 would be my choice.  

[Finnz922]

SX1 12 or 16lb and 6 or 8lb fluoro

[Tucson]

I've read in the past that smaller diameter braid lines tend to dig into the reel.  Any truth to that?

[Crestliner2008]

15 minutes ago, Tucson said:

I've read in the past that smaller diameter braid lines tend to dig into the reel.  Any truth to that?

 

No. I use 2# test Fireline on several crappie rigs. Have caught some mighty big bass and northern pike on this size braid, with no problems with the line digging into the reel. I believe that assumption was bred with earlier spinning reels that don't distribute line well on the spool. Pflueger Presidents do not exhibit this trait. Great reel for braid.

[smr913]

I think 15/4 PP would be perfect. I like 6# leader

[NYWayfarer]

I use straight 8lb fluorocarbon no braid on a size 2500 reel. I use that reel for drop shot and Ned rigs.

[MickD]

Lots of opinions here.  Mine:  15 pound braid, 10-15 pound leader. Just to avoid the "fragility" of the lighter ones.  Especially around cover.  I just don't see the need for anything less than 10 pound leader, and 2-6 just isn't going to be reliable in or around cover and rocks.

 

I believe that the digging in was caused by flat lines going in "edge" first.  Many lines today are round and don't do that.  Keep in mind that your drag setting will determine to a large degree how much of a problem, if any, digging in will be.  But fundamentally, when you have a slippery, very strong for its diameter line, digging in is more likely to happen.  I tend to go a little light on drag setting with braid since it has no stretch, give.

[hunterPRO1]

id say 15# braid.

 

 

[NHBull]

3 hours ago, Tucson said:

I've read in the past that smaller diameter braid lines tend to dig into the reel.  Any truth to that?

You tend to hear that more with baitcasters..Never had the problem spimcasters

[mreservices]

12lb Suffix Nanobraid / 6lb FC Sniper here.  FG knot between them.  Casts a mile.

[CTBassin860]

Chances are your throwing these on spinning gear.Small diameter braid digging comes on baitcasters.

[Tucson]

21 hours ago, MickD said:

Lots of opinions here.  Mine:  15 pound braid, 10-15 pound leader. Just to avoid the "fragility" of the lighter ones.  Especially around cover.  I just don't see the need for anything less than 10 pound leader, and 2-6 just isn't going to be reliable in or around cover and rocks.

 

I believe that the digging in was caused by flat lines going in "edge" first.  Many lines today are round and don't do that.  Keep in mind that your drag setting will determine to a large degree how much of a problem, if any, digging in will be.  But fundamentally, when you have a slippery, very strong for its diameter line, digging in is more likely to happen.  I tend to go a little light on drag setting with braid since it has no stretch, give.

Good tip on the drag setting.

[Raul]

It depends, only fools would go with nothing less than 30 lbs braid in my neck of the woods.

[Further North]

I look at this a little differently:  I run 30# braid to something like a 7# - 10# fluorocarbon leader.

 

Reasons:

1. 10# braid cuts my fingers.
2. I do find that it digs into the spool - if I've got the drag set too tight.
3. Closer line diameters make it easier to tie knots.
4. It takes less 30# braid to fill a spool.

[Scott F]

A lot depends on where you are fishing. I fish clear water lakes and rivers for smallmouth. Longer casts are important to me. 10lb braid will cast lures farther especially true if you are using light lures like ned rigs. My casting distance suffers greatly as I increase line size. It's easier to break off when you happen to get snagged. It's also strong enough to land most any bass that isn't in heavy cover. 

[WRB]

The Ned rig is nothing more than a finesse style jig, not a rig. Set up your outfit for light weight jigs; mushroom head, dart head, wacky head, round head, etc 1/16 to 1/8 oz. No reason to use braid with a leader unless that is your preference, straight mono, FC , braid or braid with leader makes little difference to the bass. I use 7 lb Sunline Super green Sniper FC for the above jigs.

Tom

[JustJames]

I'm cheap kind of guy, so I don't have any rod/reel for any specific rig. All my spinning gear from Sahara 750 up to 2500 size got 20lb braid daiwa j-braid and leader depend on what I'm gonna fish with from #4 Izorline up to #10 ZYH hybrid . This braid (8 ply) is soft/thin and faded like no tomorrow. If I can do over I will go with 20lb Power Pro.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I fish the lightest I can get away with in a given circumstance. This applies to braid as well.  When I say lightest I'm talking diameter not breaking strength. 

[Airman4754]

I run 15lb SS8 with 6lb CX leader on the Ned. 

[MassYak85]

I've pretty much settles on 15lb braid for my spinning setups (mind you I'm only talking bass fishing) and use anything from a 6 to 15lb leader depending what I'm fishing and the water and structure I'm fishing in. I think you'd be fine with 10 or 20 as well, and I would probably go no higher than 30 depending on your local conditions.

[RoLo]

 

The difference in line diameter between 10-lb braid and 20-lb braid is 1/1000th inch (0.001"),

which is 1/3 the thickness of a human hair. Slashing your breaking strength in half (by 50%)

to reduce line-diameter by 11% is not an appealing tradeoff.

Roger

 

 

[frosty]

1 hour ago, RoLo said:

 

The difference in line diameter between 10-lb braid and 20-lb braid is 1/1000th inch (0.001"),

which is 1/3 the thickness of a human hair. Cutting your breaking strength in half (by 50%)

to reduce line-diameter by 11% is not an appealing tradeoff.

Roger

 

 

So there's going to be no increase in casting distance caused by this factor alone? Good, now I don't have to respool my spinning rod. 

Edited April 16, 2017 by frosty