20 lb vs. 30 lb Braid for Baitcaster

[Riverside.bassin]

I recently bought a St. Croix Mojo Bass 6'8" MXF paired with a Shimano Curado 70 that I intend to use for as solely a "light" tackle rod (by this, I mean just smallmouth sized T-rigs, jigs, and stuff you would through in a skinny water type situation for mostly smaller fish). 

 

I'm debating on whether to get 30 lb braid or 20 lb braid for this set up. I usually go for 30 lb and up, but I was just wondering if it would be ok to go with light braid since I'll be using it for lighter applications?

[basser27]

8 minutes ago, Riverside.bassin said:

I recently bought a St. Croix Mojo Bass 6'8" MXF paired with a Shimano Curado 70 that I intend to use for as solely a "light" tackle rod (by this, I mean just smallmouth sized T-rigs, jigs, and stuff you would through in a skinny water type situation for mostly smaller fish). 

 

I'm debating on whether to get 30 lb braid or 20 lb braid for this set up. I usually go for 30 lb and up, but I was just wondering if it would be ok to go with light braid since I'll be using it for lighter applications?

Either or. I Personally would use 30 though

[NHBull]

It be ends on diameter and shape.

Heck, I used 10# for years on some.

Now most are 30.

I think this matters more for us than the fish

[Scott F]

I use 20lb braid for everything I throw on a bait caster. When I’m going “light” for smallmouth, I go 10lb braid on a spinning outfit. 

[Dens228]

I use 30 pound braid for everything except cranks and jerkbaits.  For those i use 20 lb braid.  I don't have any issues using it.  

I'm going to add that I use my crankbait rods for small 1/4 oz and smaller swimbait heads too.  But that has more to do with casting with the rod than the line size. 

 

[long island basser]

Either would be fine. I’d use 20 for what you describe.

[dodgeguy]

Never go below 50.

[MN Fisher]

3 hours ago, Riverside.bassin said:

I'm debating on whether to get 30 lb braid or 20 lb braid for this set up. I usually go for 30 lb and up, but I was just wondering if it would be ok to go with light braid since I'll be using it for lighter applications?

I use 20# Power Pro on my President with no issues. Key is to make sure the line is snug on the spool when putting it on. While mono/FC/Hybrid and larger diameter braids are more forgiving, having looser line with smaller diameter braids can cause dig-ins, backlashes and nasty birds-nests. Every couple trips, I pull off to the backing and re-wind the braid on the spool to insure proper tightness.

[J Francho]

I wouldn't use braid for this, and would prefer 10# fluoro, but forced to use braid, I wouldn't drop below 40#.  I currently use no baitcaster with less than 50#.  A few have 65#, one has 80#.

[OilfieldCowboy]

My "light tackle" baitcaster, sitting on a Dobyns DX702C, is running 50lb braid and I wouldn't go any lighter personally. It was casting 1/6oz spoons last weekend like a dream.

[fishwizzard]

I also would go with 10-12lb fluoro on that set up but if I had to use braid I would pick 20lb.  I think the dig in issues are vastly overstated especially with lighter lures.  If you do this

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

 I pull off to the backing and re-wind the braid on the spool to insure proper tightness.

every few trips it's almost completely avoidable.  The shallow spool on your reel will help a lot at well as will making sure you never try and pull out a snag with the rod/reel, only by gripping the line above the rod tip.  

[Riverside.bassin]

Thanks for all the input! 

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

Never go below 50.

 

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

I wouldn't use braid for this, and would prefer 10# fluoro, but forced to use braid, I wouldn't drop below 40#.  I currently use no baitcaster with less than 50#.  A few have 65#, one has 80#.

What's your reasoning for never going below 50# on bait casters (not interrogating, just genuinely curious!) Is it just so it doesn't dig in, or am I missing out on something bigger?

[J Francho]

I really dislike braid, and dislike thinner braid even more.  I do not prefer how it handles to single filament lines, when I use it, I prefer the diameter be similar.  And yes, anyone that doesn't experience digging at all is probably lying or not really fishing it.  All diameters can dig in.  I'd say I have around 6 regular use casters and at least two spinning reels spooled with braid.  It's got a purpose, but it isn't my preference.

[OilfieldCowboy]

16 minutes ago, Riverside.bassin said:

Thanks for all the input! 

 

What's your reasoning for never going below 50# on bait casters (not interrogating, just genuinely curious!) Is it just so it doesn't dig in, or am I missing out on something bigger?

For me it is line diameter, not breaking strength, that determines what braid I run on what setups. 50lb is generally close to 12lb mono diameter, it handles nicely on baitcasters and when spooled on with adequate tension limits the severity of any digging in.

[fishwizzard]

For me the only point in using braid on a casting reel is the strength:diameter ratio. But with lighter rods, there is no advantage to having too much extra strength, so it seems pointless to use braid that is as thick as 10-14lb mono/fluoro unless snagged lure retrieval is high up on your priority list.  

20 minutes ago, J Francho said:

And yes, anyone that doesn't experience digging at all is probably lying or not really fishing it.  All diameters can dig in. 

I will turn that around and say that anyone who has huge issue with dig in is either throwing heavier lures on too light briad or isn't taking the few easy steps to avoid it becoming an issue.  

 

OP, go on amazon or ali and buy a $6 spool of no-name braid and give it a try.  If it doesn't work out you can use it for backing reels. 

[NJBasstard]

That 70 handles 20lb braid well but I honestly don't see a noticable difference between 20lb & 30lb besides getting a little more line on the spool. For finesse applications I believe either one would do just fine.

 

J Franko is right though that occasional line dig in is unavoidable. Doesn't matter how you spool it on it's going to happen. It does seam that anything below a 10lb mono equivalent is more susceptible to it. I prefer braid most of the time and have been using 20-50lb on most my setups for years. The 40lb seams like the sweet spot as far as line management goes.

[J Francho]

20 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

I will turn that around and say that anyone who has huge issue with dig in is either throwing heavier lures on too light briad or isn't taking the few easy steps to avoid it becoming an issue. 

It's not a huge issue.  But it isn't a figment of my imagination, or some "misuse" of the product.  Honestly, sounds pretty snotty to suggest it - EVERY SINGLE PERSON I'VE FISHED WITH THAT USES BRAID GETS SOME DIG.  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.  Generally occurs after hookset, or a hard pulling fish.  I don't think that 50-80# is too light for baitcasting, nor 20# too light for spinning.  Like I said, it isn't a huge issue.  But it happens.

[J Francho]

I can't remember what color socks I put on this morning. ?

[fishwizzard]

Sure, but every single person I know has had their shoelaces come untied before, that doesn't mean that velcro closures are the only answer.  Every single person I know has had fluoro get a kink in the middle of the spool and has had to replace it, that's not a reason to never use fluoro.  

 

Note that I never said "dig in isn't real", I was saying "it's not a big deal with lighter lures/shallow spools and it's pretty easy to mitigate it.  I can type that in all caps if it helps you understand.  

[fishwizzard]

3 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Can't remember the last time I had a dig in and I use as light at 10# braid.

Stop it with your fake news bro. 

[MN Fisher]

14 minutes ago, J Francho said:

EVERY SINGLE PERSON I'VE FISHED WITH THAT USES BRAID GETS SOME DIG.  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

I didn't say I never get dig-in - just that it's a non-issue. Every reel - BC and spinner - I've used, no matter what line I've had on it has the occasional dig-in. It's just part-and-parcel of fishing. If I was going to get upset at the occasional dig-in, backlash, wind-knot, whatever...I might as well give up fishing entirely.

[J Francho]

Good luck with the light braid crusade.  I still haven't switched to velcro.  I'm almost 50, I'm sure that time to switch will come.  Not yet, though.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

I still haven't switched to velcro.  I'm almost 50, I'm sure that time to switch will come. 

Well, not for at least another decade.

I'm 60 and still tie my shoes - well, not my dress-boots...one pair is just pull-on, the other is side-zip.

[JediAmoeba]

28 minutes ago, J Francho said:

It's not a huge issue.  But it isn't a figment of my imagination, or some "misuse" of the product.  Honestly, sounds pretty snotty to suggest it - EVERY SINGLE PERSON I'VE FISHED WITH THAT USES BRAID GETS SOME DIG.  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.  Generally occurs after hookset, or a hard pulling fish.  I don't think that 50-80# is too light for baitcasting, nor 20# too light for spinning.  Like I said, it isn't a huge issue.  But it happens.

I never get digging unless I have a deep spool but in those cases I run a backing.  I use 15# and 20# braid and bomb casts on my reels.

[J Francho]

I don't get it casting either, just when catching.