Help with line

[JeffD]

I know this has probably already been discussed numerous times, but I'm new on this forum and could use some help. I'm getting back into fishing after a nearly 30 years off. I have baitcasters and spinning reels. I'm a Midwest mainly bass fisherman. I'm reading articles and looking at YouTube videos, and the more I see, the more confused I'm getting. I think I'll use braided line on both with fluoro leaders. I don't know what weight of the braided or the leader. I thought the idea of leaders was to hide the braid with lighter line. I see some guys use heavier leaders than the braided line. Like I said, I'm confused. Could you tell me how your setting up your reels and what your reasoning is.

[MN Fisher]

37 minutes ago, JeffD said:

Could you tell me how your setting up your reels and what your reasoning is.

The three rigs I've got braid on use leaders more for shock absorption than anything else. Straight braid is too 'unforgiving' on hook-set and could rip the lure out of the fishes mouth. With a leader - I use hybrid or mono - there's some stretch so that the hook-set isn't as sharp.

[Backroad Angler]

Generally for baitcasters, common test for braid people use is 30-40lbs. And it will handle pretty much everything you throw at it. The lighter you go, the more likely it can dig in and cause problems. Thats why people usually stay above 30.

For Spinning most common is about 6-20 lb test. Because spinning is usually used for lighter stuff and not heavy stuff like braid, you can get away with that light test.

Now for the leader debate, I believe if you are fishing in rocky waters or sharp objects are in the water like zebra mussles, you should tie a leader on as braid is not super abrasive resistive like fluro is. I also believe fish, especially bass are not line shy, so you do not need a leader to hide the braid from them. 

I use straight braid for mostly anything, but I like using mono/fluro for crankbaits. 

If I were you, I would do a set up for mono, then a set up for braid and compare which one you like better, I've never been a big fan of fluro. 

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

The three rigs I've got braid on use leaders more for shock absorption than anything else. Straight braid is too 'unforgiving' on hook-set and could rip the lure out of the fishes mouth. With a leader - I use hybrid or mono - there's some stretch so that the hook-set isn't as sharp.

Straight braid is unforgiving if you swing for the heavens, but if you do a swift light hookset, you'll be fine. 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, JoshFromBolo said:

If I were you, I would do a set up for mono, then a set up for braid and compare which one you like better, I've never been a big fan of fluro. 

I have 5 BC rigs - 3 braid, one mono and one with Hybrid. I've tried FC...not a fan.

6 minutes ago, JoshFromBolo said:

Straight braid is unforgiving if you swing for the heavens, but if you do a swift light hookset, you'll be fine.

My opinion? Better to be safe than sorry. After three hours with nothing, you get that first strike...you can be forgiven for being a little excited and trying a hard hook-set.

[JeffD]

MN Fisher, what l pound test for your BC's? Are you using leaders at all?

[JustJames]

Ideally for spinning braid anything from 10-20lb braid, baitcaster 20-50lb braid.

Braid on spinning will help or hide line twisted problem and with thinner line than mono will cast further. Also with nature of spinning one shouldn’t use too stiff or too big of line on spinning (<10lb Mono/FC line)

 

Braid on baitcaster is not really matter as much. Some prefer braid for no stretch (better sensitivity) or for buoyancy for top water. Braid also help cutting vegetation better than mono so why ppl fishing with Frog mostly use braid. But one thing which not a lot of ppl mention, too big of braid meaning more line floating in water and with little of slack line you won’t feel a d**n thing with braid.

 

Leader either fluorocarbon or mono, help with abrasions on rocky bottom which braid lack of. Some use leader because they believe that fish can see braid but less with FC/Mono. Some use leader as shock absorption since there is no stretch on braid (I’m not sure that 1-2 feet of leader would help that much)

Now I have all spinning with braid 10lb. Sometime with leader and often time not. I use short leader mostly for abrasions resistance and sometimes long leader 8-15’ with fluorocarbon for sink rate and help with line bowl in water.

On my baitcaster (for bass) I only have one setup 30lb braid that I use mostly for jig, frog and other topwater. I don’t use leader with this setup.

[JeffD]

 The higher pound braid is not a problem for casting distance on BC's?

[JustJames]

Braid is thinner line compare to mono/FC lb to lb. 30lb braid diameter is about 8-10lb mono/FC.

Braid will help with distance a lot if you compare 30lb braid with 20-30lb mono, but not much if compare same diameter. Braid doesn’t coil up under spool so it will flow out better than mono/FC.

[JeffD]

If I was to use a leader, what are your thoughts on length and poundage to connect to 30lb. braid? What are your thoughts on brands for both braid and leader?

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, JeffD said:

MN Fisher, what l pound test for your BC's? Are you using leaders at all?

Heavy rig - 50# Power Pro, 12# Yo-Zuri Hybrid leader

Medium-heavy rig - 30# Power Pro, 12# Yo-Zuri

Medium rig - 20# Power Pro, 10# Stren mono

[JustJames]

Let me ask you this, why do you need braid and why do you need leader? You type of lure or technique? Your location, cover, structure?

I think to answer your question, you should be the one to answer it the best.

Regarding to brand, everyone has their own favorite brands, you would get 100 brands to choose from. Pick whatever you can afford comfortably and wildly available PowerPro, Sufix 832 is a trust brand for braid. Leader either mono/copolymer/FC you will have 1000s to choose from. I use whatever I have for my main line.

You don’t need 30lb braid to land good size bass. 6-12lb Mono/copolymer is suffice in most case.

Everything has it advantages and flaws. For all around setup I still believe in mono/copolymer the best.

[roadwarrior]

6 hours ago, JeffD said:

I know this has probably already been discussed numerous times, but I'm new on this forum and could use some help. I'm getting back into fishing after a nearly 30 years off. I have baitcasters and spinning reels. I'm a Midwest mainly bass fisherman. I'm reading articles and looking at YouTube videos, and the more I see, the more confused I'm getting. I think I'll use braided line on both with fluoro leaders. I don't know what weight of the braided or the leader. I thought the idea of leaders was to hide the braid with lighter line. I see some guys use heavier leaders than the braided line. Like I said, I'm confused. Could you tell me how your setting up your reels and what your reasoning is.

Simple solution

 

Spinning tackle:  #6 Tatsu

Baitcasting:  #12 Tatsu

 

 

[JeffD]

I'd rather not have to tie leaders on if I don't have to. This is exactly why I'm asking the question.

[Kdizzle]

If you want to not spend 60 to 80 dollars for a combined 400 yards of flourocarbon, Yo Zuri Top Knot is a pretty good alternative.

[LionHeart]

Not saying you'll get it here (but it's an internet forum, so you will), but one thing that adds to the confusion of bass fishing is A: it is 90% marketing hype as far as equipment is concerned (vs 30 years ago), and B: a lot of the methodology you will hear boils down to slight preference but can be touted as 'the right way.'

 

This leads to confusion and frustration.  If you want to use braid, I would recommend a decent quality 40 lb like Power Pro.  IMO a very good braid for the money.  40 lb does not suffer from line dig too badly, but still allows decent spool capacity and I feel it doesn't bow as much as 50 lb.  Heck, if I'm cranking I use 30 lb.

 

I prefer monofilament for leaders because I feel like it holds a leader knot better.  Mono or flouro, a good place to be for most things would be 12lb-17lb.

 

 

[JeffD]

Yeah Lionheart, back thirty years ago I had to set my VCR to record In-Fisherman at 1AM. There wasn't anything to speak of on television back then. Now, there's big money in it and that means anybody selling anything says their way is the only way. For me, that's what makes it so confusing. Back then, you wond your reels with Trilene XL and go fishing. Maybe I should just go back to what I was doing then.

[JustJames]

1 hour ago, JeffD said:

I'd rather not have to tie leaders on if I don't have to. This is exactly why I'm asking the question.

Super easy then, 10-15lb PowerPro Super8Slick ii for spinning.

10lb zoyuri hybrid for bait caster and can double up as leader for your braid.

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

3 hours ago, JeffD said:

I'd rather not have to tie leaders on if I don't have to. This is exactly why I'm asking the question.

I say start with out and see how it goes, I don't use a leader with braid. Catch my fair share of fish on anything from wacky rigged worms/ned to 3oz swimbaits. I also don't use anything lighter than #50.

[Armtx77]

10l-15lbs Sufix 832 on the spinning gear and 40lbs Sufix 832 on the baitcasters.

 

I flip the line every year and get a few seasons out of it.

[JeffD]

I'm shocked that everyone is using such heavy braid. Is that just so it doesn't cut into itself. I wouldn't expect to catch a fish anywhere close to 10 pounds!

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, JeffD said:

I'm shocked that everyone is using such heavy braid. Is that just so it doesn't cut into itself. I wouldn't expect to catch a fish anywhere close to 10 pounds!

It's more where I'm casting rather than fish size - state record LMB is only 8#15oz. The heavy rig with 50# is for casting into heavy weeds/lilypad patches where I need the strength of the line to haul fish out of that slop...cutting through the weeds as needed.

[JustJames]

51 minutes ago, JeffD said:

I'm shocked that everyone is using such heavy braid. Is that just so it doesn't cut into itself. I wouldn't expect to catch a fish anywhere close to 10 pounds!

Yeah we try to catch some shark out of bass gear lol. No wonder a lot complain of not feeling or detecting bite. Braid is not for everyone, most importantly not for everything. Imagine you cast 30-40lb braid 30 yds out and try to feel Senko bite. You think how much line is in the water.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Yeah we try to catch some shark out of bass gear lol. No wonder a lot complain of not feeling or detecting bite. Braid is not for everyone, most importantly not for everything. Imagine you cast 30-40lb braid 30 yds out and try to feel Senko bite. You think how much line is in the water.

Why wouldn't you feel it after you reel the slack out?

[MN Fisher]

48 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Why wouldn't you feel it after you reel the slack out?

Ya...braid doesn't have the 'give' of Mono/FC/Hybrid, so taps are more easily transmitted down (up?) to the rod.

[Armtx77]

4 hours ago, JeffD said:

I'm shocked that everyone is using such heavy braid. Is that just so it doesn't cut into itself. I wouldn't expect to catch a fish anywhere close to 10 pounds!

On the bait caster, yes, so it doesn't cut into itself.

 

10lbs 832 is 4lbs mono equivalent diameter.