Line weight

[Joe_w1234]

So I will be getting a md lt Slx rod with a 2500 nasci on Black Friday. I want to use braid to leader for added sensitivity, but I’ve never had braided line or a md lt rod. What size braid/flouro should I use? I will be using dropshot, tubes, Ned rigs, etc. Thank you for any information, I really don’t know much about this. 

[FishinBuck07]

I would say 10 or so pound braid and probably 6 pound fluoro!  But that is just my opinion.

[NHBull]

.....yup, 10lb braid and your good to go

[rtwvumtneer6]

Just something to consider... I switched to hi vis yellow braid for techniques where line watching is critical.  Even with "heavier" braid (I've used all the way up to 20#) the green is hard to see.

 

[Hammer 4]

10 to 15 lb braid, and 6 to 8 lb fluro. Your choice.

[Fishingmickey]

!0# braid is awfully fine and difficult (for me to see) to tie a FG knot. On spinning I go 15-20# and then size the leader for the conditions. Normally 6' long 8-12# leader Fluoro or Mono. 

FM

[Joe_w1234]

1 hour ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

Just something to consider... I switched to hi vis yellow braid for techniques where line watching is critical.  Even with "heavier" braid (I've used all the way up to 20#) the green is hard to see.

 

I’ve heard this as well. I was leaning away from it but I think I’ll go with it. Now with the problem of figuring out what size line. I’ll figure it out though. I’m thinking maybe 12# braid to 8# leader

[NHBull]

2 minutes ago, Sweet Tater Pie said:

I’ve heard this as well. I was leaning away from it but I think I’ll go with it. Now with the problem of figuring out what size line. I’ll figure it out though. I’m thinking maybe 12# braid to 8# leader

Not all braid diameters are the same, Smackdown being relatively smaller.  That said I too went Hi-Vis and use uni-uni, since the lines are so thin

[rtwvumtneer6]

3 minutes ago, Sweet Tater Pie said:

I’ve heard this as well. I was leaning away from it but I think I’ll go with it. Now with the problem of figuring out what size line. I’ll figure it out though. I’m thinking maybe 12# braid to 8# leader

Guess I never did answer the original question.  I typically run 20# braid to an 8# leader.  The line diameter for the brands I use work well for my knot and clear my guides without issue.  

 

You can certainly get away with lighter line, but it makes the connection knot tough to tie.

[BigAngus752]

X2 on the hi-vis, 10lb braid and the uni-uni knot.  If you don't like the glow-in-the-dark greens and yellows I have had excellent luck with "ghost" (white) braid.  I'm not sure if the "fish can see the line" thing is true or not but I have had my best success with the ghost braid on slow presentations with a spinning set-up.    

[primetime]

Thats a nice rod and reel set up which will do it's job well.

 

I like using 15-20lb braid on spinning reels over 10lb since I find the larger diameter braid in the 4-6lb test mono size is easier for me with knots, and seems to handle the wind better as well. I find that 10lb braid is too thin & frustrates me with twists & knots. FLuoro leader in 6 or 8 is perfect for what you are looking to do. 

 

I have tried using yellow braid in the past to line watch easier, but I have always felt I had less strikes. Even with a 3-4' leader, I just feel the line is easy for fish to see. Maybe just a confidence thing, but I prefer going with green. I can still see it well as it floats, and seems for natural if using shorter leaders.

[redmeansdistortion]

17 hours ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

Just something to consider... I switched to hi vis yellow braid for techniques where line watching is critical.  Even with "heavier" braid (I've used all the way up to 20#) the green is hard to see.

 

I use high vis on all of my rigs now.  I like to have an idea of where my bait is and it's great for that.

[Hook2Jaw]

10# is hard to see.  I use 12# for lighter finesse offerings to help with casting distance, but those are primarily baits I have contact with and don't need to see as much as weightless, slack line offerings.  Those get thrown on 15#.

 

High vis braid for both, 15' of leader.  The long leader is so I only tie the occasional FG knot on the kayak.  6-12# leaders.  14#-17# leader while inshore fishing.

[rtwvumtneer6]

1 hour ago, redmeansdistortion said:

I use high vis on all of my rigs now.  I like to have an idea of where my bait is and it's great for that.

Yep.  Great for detecting subtle bites, and bites that come on a slack line fall ??

[bunz559]

From my experience, 10lb braid works fine but can sometimes be a pain. On windy days with slack line, your line may wrap and twist itself. Sometimes it'll knot itself and you'll have no choice but to cut and retie a leader. Not really a problem if it happens close to your leader knot, but if it's 20 or 30 yards out you'll be cutting away a lot of line. I'd really suggest going with 15lb or 20lb. Preferably 15lb. I'm currently running 20lb Power Pro Spectra Yellow on all my spinning reels and sometimes feel that the 20lb just doesn't come off the spool as freely and smoothly. After this season, I'll be relining all with 15lb. 

 

As for leader size I use a either 8lb, 10lb, or on some occasions 12lb depending on cover. Majority of the time, I run 8lb in the deep reservoirs around me. I only step it up when fishing heavier cover waters like the California Delta. 

[Grim_Reaver]

I'm going to echo 15lb test

[MickD]

I also agree with those advocating braid in the area of 10-15 pound test.  With the newer 8 filament braids, the 15 will cast more like a 10, giving very long casts.  That is what I do.  I even use Hitena 21 pound, which casts like a normal 10.  

 

I just don't agree with 6 and 8 pound test FC leaders, especially if you're using FC line instead of leader grade FC.  With FC, they are simply too fragile.  I use no less than 10, often 14 in leader grade or fly tippet FC.  Since the braid is so small and the leader at about 10-14, double uni's will work with all but the smallest guides.

[Hulkster]

for what its worth when i ran 10 pound sufix 832 braid on spinning gear i got wind knots. 

 

I think heavier is better. maybe 15 or 20 (its still very thin)

[MickD]

13 hours ago, Hulkster said:

for what its worth when i ran 10 pound sufix 832 braid on spinning gear i got wind knots. 

 

I think heavier is better. maybe 15 or 20 (its still very thin)

A friend of mine has reported the same thing.  I think part of the problem may be line twist.  Braid is much more tolerant than mono or FC, but there is a limit, and I think it first shows up with a "wind knot" that forms in slack line.

[Glenn]

I never have problem with line twists on spinning gear, regardless of line type or size.  Why?  Because I always do these three things:

 

 

And for the record, I don't use leaders either.

[GreenPig]

Berkley Ultra 8 Crystal (easy to see)10 lb braid and leader 6, 8, or 10 lb fluorocarbon depending on what lure I'm fishing and water clarity. 

[Fried Lemons]

I've used 10lb braid and am currently trying 15. The 10 was plenty strong but tying leader knots was a serious hassle. It's much easier with 15. For leaders I run 6-8lb copolymer for about a rod length. Since switching from fc to copoly leaders I have had zero issues with the line failing at or near the connection knot.

[bazzelite19]

10# braid has a 6# diameter. Thats pretty thin but will cast light lures very easy. If youre around heavier cover consider 15# to 20# braid. With a 6-10 # leader of your choice. You can even tie a 15# leader on if you want to skip around docks and horse fish out. Theres no rule to only using light spider web line. The better the braid the more round and uniform it will be and better casting. Consider trying nanofil which is specific for spinning gear

 

 

 

 

[deadadrift89]

15-20# braid for me with 8-10# fluoro leader