What kind of line would you use

[Matt_3479]

I just picked up a pair of rods. My first two baitcasters and would like some recommendations. First is a 7’6” heavy for flipping and pitching. So was thinking 50lbs power pro. 

 

Secondly is a dobyns sa 734 with a diawa tatula sv. Will use weightless and weights senko’s, swim jigs, and skipping jigs, spinner baits, possibly some top water, swim baits and such. No idea on whAt kind of line to use. New to baitcasting so wasn’t sure

[TylerT123]

50lb power pro is really heavy for bass, I’d only go up to 30lb braid max but that’s just me. If you’re fishing like an A-rig then that’s understandable.

 

Fluorocarbon: Sinking Line, Very thin, good for underwater baits in clear water, not good for topwater baits, abrasion resistant, UV rays won’t weaken the line strength

 

Braid: Thin, Floats, good for heavy covered areas, no stretch, can be hard on reel and/or rod parts, $, can’t cast as far with, difficult to untangle backlash, good for top and underwater baits, cut resistant 

 

Mono: good all around, floating, can stretch, good for top/under water baits, UV breaks down line strength, thick

 

If you’ve never used a baitcaster before, use around 17# monofilament line, since it’s thick it’ll be easy to use and untangle. Once you get the hang of using a baitcaster, I’d consider different types of line.

[riverbasser]

Nothing wrong with 50# braid on the flipping stick. I prefer flurocarbon depending on the cover. If your flipping grass and pads go with the braid

 

The second rod you listed a ton of different techniques that I use different line for. If I had to pick one line for jigs,senkos,spinner baits,swimbaits and top water lol I would have to go with mono although some of these presentations I would prefer something else.

[CroakHunter]

3 hours ago, Matt_3479 said:

I just picked up a pair of rods. My first two baitcasters and would like some recommendations. First is a 7’6” heavy for flipping and pitching. So was thinking 50lbs power pro. 

 

Secondly is a dobyns sa 734 with a diawa tatula sv. Will use weightless and weights senko’s, swim jigs, and skipping jigs, spinner baits, possibly some top water, swim baits and such. No idea on whAt kind of line to use. New to baitcasting so wasn’t sure

50Lb braid on the first. 12Lb yo-zuri hybrid on the second. 50Lb isn't too heavy for bass and braid casts easiest out of all line types. It is also the most abrasion prone but for fishing around moderate-heavy grass and pads it's the only choice. It also we tangles easily and is fairly inexpensive. 

[WRB]

12lb Trilene Big Game is inexpensive and a good all around line for your 734 rod.

Tom

[roadwarrior]

#40 Smackdown for flipping

#12 Tatsu or everything else

 

[the reel ess]

50 on the flipping rod is fine because you can use it to double as your frog combo. I use 30# with a heavy mono leader for the jigs, but the leader is probably not necessary.

 

I'm going to use 30# braid on all my BC combos this year and see how I like it. After I use braid, it gets easy to not set the hook hard enough with mono. About the only things I really like mono for is topwaters and lipless cranks and I use the same rod for both of those.

[new2BC4bass]

As others have said, 50# braid is fine.  When I first got into baitcast reels, the suggestion was not to go below 40# because of the line digging in.  I bought a used reel that came with 30# Sufix 832.  I haven't had any trouble with it digging in, BUT when I first went out with it I spent a good 15 minutes casting and pulling tight spots out from it digging in with the previous owner.

 

Tons of good lines for the other rod.  I am partial to 12# and use a lot of Siege and AN40.  Currently trying out Mean Green and so far it has been very good.  If you go with 17# make sure it is a soft line such as Sufix Elite or Trilene XL.  My personal experience with Big Game is that it takes a few casts to eliminate the worst of the memory.  Once wet it is fine.  First cast with 12# Big Game can result in loose line on the spool (for me).  Siege outside the spool can look like a slinky, but I don't wind up with loose coils ON the spool. I would say Big Game is more abrasion resistant.  I personally wouldn't suggest 17# Big Game to learn on.

 

BTW, I would say that any 10# braid is more than you need for bass.  You use heavier braid for other reasons.

[NYWayfarer]

12 hours ago, Matt_3479 said:

whAt kind of line to use. New to baitcasting so wasn’t sure

If you are new to baitcasters use mono

[scaleface]

I put 17 lb trilene xl blue fluorescent on my worm/jig rod and all my other baitcasters get 12 lb Big Game . 

[Catt]

15# Big Game will solve all you problems ?

 

Y'all can get by with 12# if ya aint fishing heavy cover, 15# is more forgiving when nicked or scrapped.

 

What y'all will find with Big Game is the more you use the less memory it'll have. It doesn't like sitting on a spool.

[J Francho]

Any decent 12-15# mono or copolymer line will be fine until you're familiar and well practiced with a baitcaster.

[Dtrombly]

For flipping I'd use 50-65# braid or 20-25# fluro. For the 734 id go with #15 P-line Fluoroclear. It's a flurocarbon coated copolymer, which will give you near invisibility for your underwater presentations and it's a floating line which will be ideal for your topwater as well. 

[MichaelCopeland]

I only use Sufix 832 braid on all my rods. 40lb on my baitcaster and 30lb on my spinning rods. I don't pitch into any real heavy cover so I can get away with both the lines I use. I've only ever used braid on my baitcaster so I don't have an opinion on mono or flouro or copolymer on those. I have used mono on my spinning rods and I just don't like it. Braid is easier to cast on either of my rods, no stretch or memory and knots are alot easier to tie as well. It also gives me less problems with backlash and/or birdsnests. 

[James Janousek]

20lb braid with a 2-5ft 10-20lb flouro leader is my go to for an all around type setup.  Once you get used to the zero stretch in braid, it's difficult to go back to full mono or flouro.  If you are fishing heavy cover, go heaver on the leader.  If the fish are line sensitive, go longer/lighter on the leader.  Like MC said above me, braid is easier to knot, fewer backlashes, no memory, etc.

[Yudo1]

50lb braid on the first rod is fine.  I was going to say 12lb fluoro for the second rod until you said topwater so I'd go with either 12 copoly or 30lb braid with leader.

[Boomstick]

22 hours ago, TylerT123 said:

If you’ve never used a baitcaster before, use around 17# monofilament line, since it’s thick it’ll be easy to use and untangle. Once you get the hang of using a baitcaster, I’d consider different types of line.

Great advice! I threw some 17lb Sufix Siege (mono) on one of my reels late last year for fishing moving baits in shallower areas where I didn't care about depth, and it's almost impossible to birds nest it. Also not a bad line for the types of baits mentioned here either. Once you get the hang of that, back off to 14lb unless you fish in a lot of weeds, or 12lb if you almost always fish in clearer water.

[Matt_3479]

Thanks everyone who has responded! I was told not to go with a lighter braid cause it digs into itself and was always told to go 30-40 lbs for most stuff when using braid.

 

didnt realize how popular mono was as I was told secondly would basically be fluro! I’ve used a baitcaster half of last season but never owned one before. My spinning rods all have fluro or braid on them with fluro leaders. 

[scbassin]

What Catt & Tom have said especially since your new to bait casting.

[Matt_3479]

On 2018-01-09 at 12:01 AM, riverbasser said:

Nothing wrong with 50# braid on the flipping stick. I prefer flurocarbon depending on the cover. If your flipping grass and pads go with the braid

 

The second rod you listed a ton of different techniques that I use different line for. If I had to pick one line for jigs,senkos,spinner baits,swimbaits and top water lol I would have to go with mono although some of these presentations I would prefer something else.

What would you prefer for certain presentations? I probably won’t be throwing top water. I know I’ll be investing in more rods fast. 

[riverbasser]

15 minutes ago, Matt_3479 said:

What would you prefer for certain presentations? I probably won’t be throwing top water. I know I’ll be investing in more rods fast. 

Jigs, t-rigs, weightless sinking worms I use fluro

 

Frogs, punching or anything around grass/pads and all spinning rods get braid.

 

Topwater I run braid with short mono leader

 

Spinner baits/buzzbaits - braid

 

All cranks and jerkbaits I use straight mono

 

All rods are backed with 15lb big game mono except the cranks/jerk which is straight mono. This saves money so I'm not filling up the spool with expensive line

[Deleted account]

On 1/9/2018 at 10:17 AM, Catt said:

15# Big Game will solve all you problems ?

 

If you cut some into 1/2 inch strips, run it through a coffee grinder and snort it, your animal spirit will be revealed...