New to baitcasters: What kind of line should I use?

[Nattyboh74]

I have three reels that I want to setup and Im new to baitcasters. I think braid MIGHT be an expensive mistake, true? I have a rod that Im looking to throw frogs on only, and that one I might go with 50# braid. But the other two are going to be more used for moving treble hooked baits, like top waters and some buzzbaits etc.

 

Should I go mono on them, if so what lb should I go with? Im going to use Big Game mono, not that it matters much.

 

Thanks guys

[TylerT123]

Go with about 15 or 17 lb Big Game. Braid would be a Big mistake, the thicker the line, the easier it will be to pick out a backlash. Good luck.

[Nattyboh74]

Just now, TylerT123 said:

Go with about 15 or 17 lb Big Game. Braid would be a Big mistake, the thicker the line, the easier it will be to pick out a backlash. Good luck.

So you recommend to not use braid even on the frog rod, or that would be alright for now since 50# is thicker ( although not that thick in the end ) than say a 15-20# braid

[TylerT123]

2 minutes ago, Nattyboh74 said:

So you recommend to not use braid even on the frog rod, or that would be alright for now since 50# is thicker ( although not that thick in the end ) than say a 15-20# braid

I’d hold off on the braid for now, or set your spool tension so that your lure slowly falls and start your brakes high and slowly work your way down with each cast and I think you would be fine. You should probably decide if you think you’re ready to try braid, when I first got my baitcaster I didn’t focus on catching fish, I just went out to practice with different lures, weights, etc.

[Brett's_daddy]

You definitely should use braid for the frog rod! In fact 50lb. is as low as I'd go for frogs...a lot of people use 65lb. or even 80lb if you're fishing in really nasty slop. Don't forget, the pound test in braid isn't directly equivalent to the same pound test in mono/fluoro...for example, 50lb. Power Pro Braid has the same diameter as 12lb. Big Game mono (or close) so don't let the big numbers of braid scare you. I know many people who use braid for just about everything from top water to swim baits to jigs etc. and just use fluoro/mono leaders as necessary. As far as backlashing, braid is actually easier to pick out than fluoro or mono IMO. That being said start with a cheap mono, get some 12lb. Big Game and practice, practice, practice! Once you get comfortable start getting better/different line and go from there. Start off with nice reels...no Wal-Mart $30 specials or you'll end up hating baitcasting, that's the advice which was given to me and it worked so i'll pass it along :). Good luck!!!

 

[SMITTY0045]

I agree, I wouldn’t spend money on braid til you’re comfortable with a bait caster. Chances are you may get a birds nest that you have to cut out a few times, which will get expensive if you’re using broad. The big game mono will be good to use for now until you get used to casting, even for frogging

[Nattyboh74]

2 minutes ago, TylerT123 said:

I’d hold off on the braid for now, or set your spool tension so that your lure slowly falls and start your brakes high and slowly work your way down with each cast and I think you would be fine. You should probably decide if you think you’re ready to try braid, when I first got my baitcaster I didn’t focus on catching fish, I just went out to practice with different lures, weights, etc.

Thanks. So what pound do you recommend for the frog rod?

[Nattyboh74]

Thanks guys for the input. Looking for lb test on mono now.

[TylerT123]

15 minutes ago, Nattyboh74 said:

Thanks. So what pound do you recommend for the frog rod?

I frog with 12 lb Big Game 

I don’t really have a dedicated setup up but I’d use 50 lb braid or if you want mono then 20 lbish mono.

[the reel ess]

There's no way to know if you want braid without trying braid. And there's really no replacement for it on frogs in slop and around heavy wood cover. The frog does guerilla combat with bass in heavy cover. Braid's not expensive despite what the cost on the box says. Just tie the Big Game to your spool and spool up more than halfway with it. Tie a double uni knot to the braid and finish the spool off with it. You can fill a BC reel 3 times with a 150 yd spool of braid by only using 50 yds at a time. That's $5 or $6 a spool, but you won't need to refill it for a long time. It doesn't rot. It just fades in color.

 

If you want to get really cheap (and I do), when you're done with that braid, reel it onto another reel and you'll be using the new end again. If you're using identical reels, (I have 3 identical ones) you can take the reel you just spooled the used braid onto and put it on your frog rod. I have yet to lose a fish because of braided line. I have lost plenty of them with mono in my life. Mono also won't give you as good a walking action on your frog unless you tie a loop knot. i change the Big Game on my reels a couple times a year to be safe. It's cheap insurance.

 

As for the treble lures, I use 15 lb. Big Game, but I don't deep crank much. Most the places I fish are pretty shallow. I use a BC reel with 30# braid for jigs and T rigs. I'll usually use a leader of 15# mono with it. Cuts down a lot on line stretch and gives good hooksets. I change pout the leader a lot because I trust the mono a lot less.

[Hulkster]

i use 12 pound test Sufix Siege on my curado 200i and love it. its as strong and abrasion resistant as Big Game but its much more limp. its amazing how far i can cast with it. 

[Glenn]

50lb Seaguar Kanzen for the frog setup

12lb Seaguar Rippin' mono for baits with treble hooks

15lb Seaguar Rippin' mono or AbrazX Fluoro for baits with large single hooks (buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, T-Rig, etc).

 

I'm not a fan of leaders at all.  Too much hassle to tie, and it adds another point of failure (the knot). Plus you need to carry a spool of leader line with you and retie it when your leader gets too short.  When I'm on the water, I want to fish, not mess with my line.

[Brett's_daddy]

27 minutes ago, Glenn said:

12lb Seaguar Rippin' mono for baits with treble hooks

Glenn do you use this for top water treble baits AND crankbaits? If so, why not fluoro for cranks, it sinks which is what you want the crank to do?

[Nattyboh74]

Is there a chart on what to use for backing when using braid? Like I should use 12# mono for 20# braid etc.

[long island basser]

20 minutes ago, Nattyboh74 said:

Is there a chart on what to use for backing when using braid? Like I should use 12# mono for 20# braid etc.

I use older line that’s laying around, really any you want. Keep it simple.

[Glenn]

5 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Glenn do you use this for top water treble baits AND crankbaits? If so, why not fluoro for cranks, it sinks which is what you want the crank to do?

He asked about mono.

[Brett's_daddy]

4 hours ago, Nattyboh74 said:

Is there a chart on what to use for backing when using braid? Like I should use 12# mono for 20# braid etc.

Try to stick near the diameter of the braid you plan on using, for example if you're using 50lb. braid try 12lb. mono backing.

 

https://www.thehulltruth.com/sportfishing-charters-forum/267001-chart-diameters-braid-vs-mono-vs-lb-test.html

 

[Nattyboh74]

Thanks!!

[Boomstick]

15 hours ago, TylerT123 said:

Go with about 15 or 17 lb Big Game. Braid would be a Big mistake, the thicker the line, the easier it will be to pick out a backlash. Good luck.

I don't think they make 17lb Big Game, but they do make 17lb Sufix Siege and it's a great choice for beginners. On my Daiwa Tatula SV (rated for 14 and 16lb lines) it still casts pretty far but is really hard to bird's nest and really easy to pull a bird's nest out since it's easy to grab the line. It's also pretty abrasion resistant and very good handling line.

[Dangerfield]

If you had the choice between 12-15lb YZ Hybrid and 12-15lb Big Game, which would you use for a dedicated crank/jerk/treble hook rig?

 

The big game 900/1175 ft spool is ULTRA cheap or I can get 12-15lb Yozuri Hybrid 275 ft spool for twice the price. Trilene Sensation looks like a decent option too, any have any experience with it?

[Somd Fx4]

I got my first baitcaster a few months and I put Berkley Smooth cast xl 12 lb mono. I think it works well for a few timer.

[thinkingredneck]

I am a braid guy, when jit comes to single hook baits.  Tried Mono, Fluro, and Hybrid, keep coming back to braid.  For treble hook baits, I am still experimenting because I rarely use them.