Line for Spinning Reel

[BraytonM]

Hello, 

 

Recently, I purchased a Pflueger President 30 and I was wondering what line to use on it? Nearly 95% of my fishing with this reel will be soft plastics. I have done some research on this topic; however, I have yet to find a definite answer. Is it best to use straight braid, braid with a fluoro leader, or mono? So, I am wondering what line (brand) and poundage to use for this setup?

[Darren.]

I like to use braid for mainline on spinning reels. It is 

better for line management. But to each his/her own.

I also prefer a leader attached in order to keep my 

mainline from depleting too fast for the many hook

ties I might do on an outing.

[PatrickKnight]

I use straight braid 90% of the time (normally 10 lb 832), I only tie a leader when I need it for abrasion resistance.

[BraytonM]

38 minutes ago, Darren. said:

I like to use braid for mainline on spinning reels. It is 

better for line management. But to each his/her own.

I also prefer a leader attached in order to keep my 

mainline from depleting too fast for the many hook

ties I might do on an outing.

What # braid? Also, what # of leader?

34 minutes ago, PatrickKnight said:

I use straight braid 90% of the time (normally 10 lb 832), I only tie a leader when I need it for abrasion resistance.

Thank you for your input. 

[BrackishBassin]

I fish 15lb PowerPro in the moss green 99% of the time on my spinning rod. The only time I consistently use a leader is when fishing a drop shot. 

[Log Catcher]

I normally use 10lb. Sufix siege mono for my main line. I add a barrel swivel and put a 2 or 3 foot leader of 8lb. floro on it. I have never used braid. I don't like the idea of casting a knot through my guides using braid and a leader. I'm sure a lot of guys will tell me i'm wrong. this is just my opinion.

[BraytonM]

19 minutes ago, BrackishBassin said:

I fish 15lb PowerPro in the moss green 99% of the time on my spinning rod. The only time I consistently use a leader is when fishing a drop shot. 

Thank you. I have seen that most people tend to gravitate towards 15lb braid for spinning gear. 

1 minute ago, Log Catcher said:

I normally use 10lb. Sufix siege mono for my main line. I add a barrel swivel and put a 2 or 3 foot leader of 8lb. floro on it. I have never used braid. I don't like the idea of casting a knot through my guides using braid and a leader. I'm sure a lot of guys will tell me i'm wrong. this is just my opinion.

I think you are the first person that I have encountered that uses a mono-to-flouro leader. Thanks for the input. 

[Log Catcher]

2 minutes ago, BraytonM said:

Thank you. I have seen that most people tend to gravitate towards 15lb braid for spinning gear. 

I think you are the first person that I have encountered that uses a mono-to-flouro leader. Thanks for the input. 

You're welcome. The reason for the swivel is to stop line twist. I had a lot of problems with spinning gear until someone told me to do that.

1 minute ago, Log Catcher said:

You're welcome. The reason for the swivel is to stop line twist. I had a lot of problems with spinning gear until someone told me to do that.

They also told me to close the bail by hand. Those two things made a world of improvement with my spinning equipment.

[Scott F]

As you can see, there is no "Best" answer for everyone. I'm in the straight braid on my spinning reels, no leader group. 10lb Suffix 832, Power Pro or Fireline, They all work well for me. 10lb is strong enough but not so strong that I can't break it off when I have to. 10lb will also let me cast farther than thicker heavier braid or any mono/FC line. For where I fish, leaders are never necessary. I use braid because I don't like lines that stretch.

[desmobob]

I have Fireline on my small (UL & L) spinning reels and PowerPro or Suffix braid on my larger ones.  I really like the 4lb. Fireline for ultralights (I believe the breaking strength is WELL above 4lbs.) and 10lb. or 15lb. braid on the larger ones.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[nascar2428]

I use 15lb power pro slick and suffix 832 hi vis yellow. Flouro leaders ranging from 6 to 15lb depending on technique, seaguar red label.

[Crestliner2008]

First off, I would definitely recommend that you try braid. My preference is Fireline Crystal. And 10# test is plenty. With a size 30 reel, you will need to put on a substantial amount of monofilament (8 - 10 # test) as a backing, before attaching the Fireline. 

 

I always encourage the use of a fluorocarbon leader. But not because it might be less visible to the fish. Rather, I use one for it's shock absorber characteristics (yes, fluoro does stretch!) and for abrasion resistance. A 4' - 6' leader rated for 8# test, would be ideal for this set up.

 

Finally, connect all lines with the Alberto knot and you'll be good to go. JMO mind you! Use whatever gives you the highest level of confidence.

[Darren.]

11 hours ago, BraytonM said:

What # braid? Also, what # of leader?

Thank you for your input. 

I mainly use 15# now, but I also use 10# on one.

I'm fine with 10#, actually, but I got a killer deal on

a 1500 yard spool of PowerPro SuperSlick 8 in 15#

that I couldn't pass on.

 

Anyhow, I use leaders from 4-15# but mainly 6, 8, 10.

Line is either Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Gamma Edge fluoro.

[Brad in Texas]

Consider, too, that with spinning tackle, the lighter the line, the better for casting distance, performance. 10 lbs. is almost always enough test strength for most fish we likely target with such gear because of the way spinning gear is used.

 

Unlike baitcasters that often drag fish back to the boat very fast, we hook a fish and let our rods load up, bring our rod tips up pinning the fish n the hook, let the fish fight, feel a break in the action or a change in the fish's direction, and we reel down as we drop our rods to take up line. We never reel against an active drag. Then we immediately re-load our rods pulling up again, and repeat over and over until the fish is landed.  Baitcasters use their reels to crank in fish; we use our rods to a much greater extent.

 

Then, there is back reeling but that is another "difference" some use.

 

I use 10 lbs. braid, either Sufix 832 in a bright color, lately Sufix Nanobraid (the smallest diameter of all braids I know of) is my preference, these either fished straight in a few circumstances or more likely with an 8 lbs. Seaguar Invizx fluoro leader. Sufix Nanobraid, in 14 lbs. test, is the same diameter as Sufix 832 in 10 lbs. I am convinced it has the best tensile strength of any braid I have ever used.

 

4 lbs. bass and catfish caught on 2 lbs. test on my ultra-light gear made me a believer.

 

Anyway, with a quality braid, I'd stay at 10 lbs. test.

 

Brad

[Boomstick]

I have a 35 Pflueger President reel, which holds similar size lines just more of it and use 8lb line, but I use it for more finesse techniques like shaky heads and whatnot. Ideally, it would have braid with an appropriate sized fluorocarbon leader, perhaps 15lb braid and a 6-10lb leader, depending what you're fishing, cover etc.

[desmobob]

10 hours ago, desmobob said:

I have Fireline on my small (UL & L) spinning reels and PowerPro or Suffix braid on my larger ones.  I really like the 4lb. Fireline for ultralights (I believe the breaking strength is WELL above 4lbs.) and 10lb. or 15lb. braid on the larger ones.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

 

I forgot to mention leaders.  I always use a leader of mono.  I used to use flouro, but have started using regular nylon monofilament, especially on the lighter rigs.  

 

Fluoro has less initial stretch than mono, but stretches a lot as it approaches its breaking strength.  But, when fluoro gets stretched, it is compromised and loses strength.  With an ultralight or light set-up using a 4lb or 6lb. fluoro leader, after you get hung up once and break off, you have probably weakened the fluoro leader to a point where its breaking strength is now pretty low.

 

Admittedly, I have only switched to nylon leaders recently and can't say yet whether or not I believe it is advantageous. My new choice is based on theory at this point!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[BraytonM]

On 4/2/2018 at 8:05 AM, Crestliner2008 said:

First off, I would definitely recommend that you try braid. My preference is Fireline Crystal. And 10# test is plenty. With a size 30 reel, you will need to put on a substantial amount of monofilament (8 - 10 # test) as a backing, before attaching the Fireline. 

 

I always encourage the use of a fluorocarbon leader. But not because it might be less visible to the fish. Rather, I use one for it's shock absorber characteristics (yes, fluoro does stretch!) and for abrasion resistance. A 4' - 6' leader rated for 8# test, would be ideal for this set up.

 

Finally, connect all lines with the Alberto knot and you'll be good to go. JMO mind you! Use whatever gives you the highest level of confidence.

So, I correctly understanding this. You use three lines: first a mono backing, then Fireline, then a fluoro leader? Does there seem to be any problem breaking off due to the fact that you are depending upon three different knots? 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Only 2 knots are actaully in play during normal fishing the knot to spool from the mono wont be touched.the knot between braid and mono  the knot between lure and mono is the main knot.some ppl can tie perfect knots that never break as ive seen the main line break before the knot

[Crestliner2008]

9 hours ago, BraytonM said:

So, I correctly understanding this. You use three lines: first a mono backing, then Fireline, then a fluoro leader? Does there seem to be any problem breaking off due to the fact that you are depending upon three different knots? 

You never get to the backing. It is on there just to support the braid and allow you use less to fill the reel. The backing prevents the braid from slipping on the spool and it's there in case of you catching a HUGE fish that likes to run! The leader & braid main line are all that are in play.