New Tatula CV100XS - Line choice?

[RPreeb]

I just bought a Tatula CV100XS 8.1 and I have 3 options for loading it.  Consider me a 70 year old rank beginner with a baitcaster.  I have Sufix ProMix 8#;  SpiderWire Ultimate mono 12#; and PowerPro braid 30#.  Looking for suggestions and the reasons behind them so I might learn some science from the exercise.  Thanks for any assistance.

[Bluebasser86]

What are you planning on using it for? That will be one of the biggest deciding factors. 

[RPreeb]

Mostly under 4# largemouth - maybe some smallmouth even smaller (Colorado isn't exactly a bass angler's Mecca  ).  Most of the local lakes also have walleye that will hit some bass lures, but that would be more of an accident.  Just getting back into it, I want to focus on relearning a little about bass fishing.  I use everything from poppers to cranks to plastics.  No spinnerbaits yet - I had to draw a line somewhere.  I'll try just about anything to get a bite.

 

Anyway, the reel is mounted on a 6' medium Ugly Stik for the time being.  Like I said above, I'm a novice with a baitcaster, so if I say something that sounds really stupid, correct me, but be gentle.  The reason I limited my possibilities is just because I have those 3 spools just sitting around waiting to be used for something.  I was leaning toward the 30# Power Pro, but then I thought maybe it made more sense to get some expert advice before I make a dumb mistake.  If none of those lines listed in the first post is really appropriate, then I'll listen to suggestions.

 

If it matters, my other rig is a 7' medium spinning rod with a Shimano Spheros 5000 series saltwater reel loaded with 10# Trilene.

[thebillsman]

I'm in PA, also not exactly a big bass Mecca. If you figure on using it for plastics and jigs I would go with a nice Flouro, I use 10 or 12lb Invizx. If you plan on using it for moving/treble applications I would go with a decent mono, I choose 10lb Transoptic. If you're deadset on braid I like SX2 for bottom contact and FX2 for topwater, and I use 50lb because of their relatively small diameters.

[RichF]

If you're just starting out with a baitcaster, go with the 12lb mono until you're comfortable.  Mono is cheap to replace if you make a mistake.  It's a good option for poppers and cranks and though not ideal for plastics, it will certainly work. 

[WRB]

Start By using an premium mono like Berkley 12 lb Big Game to learn to cast and you can stay with it as long as you want. Big Game is inexpensive, good abrasion resistance, strong knot strength. I caught thousands of bass with soft plasrics using Big Game.

Tom

[islandbass]

I third Richf and wrb. Please use mono during your learning period. Don't do what I did, starting with 30# braid. First cast and that braid was toast,lol. Anywhere from 10-15# mono will be sufficient.  

[Gus Heinze]

I'm new to baitcasting reels myself. I watched a handful of youtube videos. Here are my "beginner tips", keep in mind I've only been doing this a few weeks now.

 

1) I tied a lead weight to my line and put out some 5 gallon buckets in my yard and worked on my casting from different angles and distances. Liked it so much I bought some practice plugs at Academy for me and my boys to use together.

 

2) I went with braid, I have 30# Vicious Braid on 1 reel and 65# braid on 2 other reels.

 

3) I followed a youtube instruction when spooling them up with mono filament first otherwise he said the braid would spin on the spool. I put a few rounds of the mono filament on, then tied the braid onto the mono filament.

 

4) learn how to adjust the reel with the brake and then the tension knob, once you do that the bird nests don't happen much at all. 

 

5) There is was a tip that helped me at first, since I've removed the electrical tape, but in the beginning I did a decent cast, 20-30 yards, then pulled out 4 arm lengths of braid, then taped a piece of electrical tape around the spool holding the rest of the braid in place, this way the birds nest never got out of hand. Once I learned to tune my reel to my lure I haven't had to use the electrical tape, I will use it again when I teach my sons to bait cast. It's nice b/c you can reel in over the electrical tape and cast away without worrying about the bird nest.

 

6) I like the braid, I've had a few snags, logs, stumps, tree limbs etc...and I can pull REALLY hard on the braid. I even had to wind a stick around my line to give me leverage  and it bent the hook enough to release the snag. Lost the plastic worm, but line and knot held. I bent the hook back into shape and put on another worm and went back to fishing. There is now way other lines would have held up to that kind of pulling I was doing to rip the hook off the stump, that was on 65# braid. For the knots on my hooks and lures I use the uni-knot. 

 

I haven't done a lot of catching, mainly fishing but I've gotten 1/2 way decent with my bait casting. I went out this morning for about 3 hours, had MULTIPLE casts and 1 or 2 small bird nests nothing major. I'm still working on accuracy and distance but I like that I can flip and pitch plastic lures under over hanging tree branches and into tight spots that I don't think I could get my spinning reel into without a bunch of luck.

 

I have 3 reels so far, it seems like it could get out of hand as I'm always looking at others online.

-Bass Pro Pro Qualifier PQX10HD 6.4:1 paired with a BPS Pro Qualifier PQX66MHT 6'6"

-Daiwa Tatula CT 100HS 7.3:1 paired with Tatula 711MHXB

-Lew's SuperDuty SD1H 6.4:1 paired with Berkley Lighting Rod LR701MHC

 

I've spent the most time with the Lew's as it seems to fit my hand the best. I also prefer the clicking noise of the tension knob, it is nice though that I can cast it as hard and as far as I want no thumb on the spool and it gives me zero backlash, keep in mind I have to set it to the lure I'm casting.

 

I'm certain the other 2 reels would do the same, I just have more time with the Lews. I take all 3 with me each time but seem to reach for the Lews at the moment. The Daiwa seems to cast much farther and with ease than the Lews but the Lews feels better in the palm of my hand. To test things out I could switch the reels, it could very well be the rods making the difference since the Tatula is the longest of the 3.

 

Anyways, I got sidetracked, hopefully you enjoy the bait casting as much I as do, good luck with your choice of line, I'm a complete beginner and I like the braid for what that's worth.

 

Happy Fishing!

 

Gus

[islandbass]

@gus: Sorry bud, but you can no longer be called a bc newbie. By the powers invested in me, I hereby promote you to Baitcaster  Master 1st Class, entitled to all rights and privileges granted to those possessing this title.  ?

 

Thanks for making an informative post. 

[J Francho]

5 minutes ago, islandbass said:

@gus: Sorry bud, but you can no longer be called a bc newbie. By the powers invested in me, I hereby promote you to Baitcaster  Master 1st Class, entitled to all rights and privileges granted to those possessing this title.  ?

 

Thanks for making an informative post. 

 

Agreed, I second the motion!

[Gus Heinze]

On 8/24/2017 at 3:28 PM, islandbass said:

@gus: Sorry bud, but you can no longer be called a bc newbie. By the powers invested in me, I hereby promote you to Baitcaster  Master 1st Class, entitled to all rights and privileges granted to those possessing this title.  ?

 

Thanks for making an informative post. 

Thank you sir, still a newbie here, doing a lot of fishing, not a lot of catching but having a blast trying out different lures and casting techniques.

 

I blame it on the heat I figure when it's in the 100s the fish don't want to move.

 

I have been doing all sorts of reading online, watching youtube videos and learning as much as I can. So far it's been FUN.

 

Update, went out tonight with my kids and worked with the Lew's bait caster, threw a 6" worm for about a good hour, had a few bites, no fish but more importantly ZERO backlash!