20 lb vs. 30 lb Braid for Baitcaster

[dodgeguy]

35 minutes ago, J Francho said:

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.

I used braid for years. I find myself switching back to low stretch mono. I hate flouro. I cant see wasting 15$ when you get a backlash that kinks it. I switched from braid due to the nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I might be not catching some extra fish. Now with low stretch mono available I can get reasonable sensitivity as good a flouro if not better and not have the noise or digging issues at all of braid.

[Backroad Angler]

30 lb braid, I have never gone lower.

[GReb]

Only way to know is to try it. I wanted to like braid but it just didn’t work for me. After 3 months I trashed it all except for the frog rod. 
 

I have that same rod in the LTB series and it has a really fast tip. If you do put braid on it just be mindful there will not be much forgiveness on hooksets. Personally I use 10lb Invisx flouro. It’s very manageable, sensitive, and has the perfect amount of stretch 

[waymont]

I go down to 15lb Power Pro SS V2 on my Shimano Curado 70 without issue.

GO 20! It's easy to cast, and has less drag than 30lb. And it's fun to fish with too.

[waymont]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

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.

I’m not lying, and have been using 15lb PP Super Slick on a Curado 70 without issue, and have caught some 3lbers using jigs with 12lb leader. 

[Fin S]

I use 20 lb braid to mono and have no problems.

[ATA]

On 5/5/2020 at 4:48 AM, 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?

do yourself a favor and use 20lb test maxquatro with 16lb test 100 flour leader, you'll thank me later

By the way congrats on new setup, both are best seller on TW and Shimano 70 is on sale, very nice set up, But personally I would never go 30lb test on that reel.

[ThatZX14Fella]

Honestly, I'd drop it down to 10 or 15. I like the smallest diameter I can get away with. I use 20 pound as general purpose bass fishing. The only reason I'm going to go 65 on my Ambassadeur is because it will be used for catfish, too.

[wisconsin heat]

Honestly light braid can be a problem on baitcasters, digging in being the main issue. That being said, I started with 65 and then 50, and then 40, and then 30. I don't have any problems with the 30 and I just spooled up with the 20 because I have the same question. I plan on using the 20lb braid for my kayak rod to fish a variety of lures with, I mostly want to use it for squarebill crankbaits, topwaters, and weightless plastics.

[waymont]

5 hours ago, wisconsin heat said:

20lb braid

You wont have a problem. Use mono backing up to about 2 casts worth of braid, and you wont have an issue.

I have a Curado 70 and a Tatula Sv TWS with 15lb Power Pro Super SLick V2 and don't have any issues.

I've caught multiple 3lbers on these rigs.

[RoLo]

I have no objection to 20-lb braid (use it / love it). However, 30-lb braid is only 2/1000 inch fatter,

but is 50 percent stronger (pretty much rules the roost).

 

As for 'line-burrowing', I can count on one hand how often that's been a problem, a hand with 2 fingers.

Line-burrowing is a possibility with 'any' line material, hinging a lot on modus operandi.

For example, the angler is preoccupied with a Lift-&-Drop retrieve, a guarantee of loosely spooled line.

Then he snags an underwater log, lurches back angrily and puts an arch in the rod

that defies blank failure. Making matters worse, he notices 'buried line'!  (Is anyone surprised?).

 

Roger

 

 

[J Francho]

Usually happens after catching a fish when jig fishing.  It’s my hookset.  

[Manifestgtr]

On 5/5/2020 at 7:48 AM, Riverside.bassin said:

I recently bought a St. Croix Mojo Bass 6'8" MXF paired with a Shimano Curado 70 

This is one of my favorite combos. I have a feeling you’re gonna like it. I use mine for a bunch of different light things. The sciii 68 mxf is my favorite mojo bass rod. Lightweight and balances nicely with your 6-8 oz reel of choice. 
 

If you’re ever feeling a bit blue blooded, I suggest the 68 mxf legend x/aldebaran combo. It’s not exactly cheap but if you’re patient and wait for some deals to pop up, it’s not brutal. The legend x is a highly under appreciated series imo.

[ww2farmer]

On 5/5/2020 at 1:09 PM, J Francho said:

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.

 I use 20lb and 30lb braid on all my casting reels. Digging in is not an issue in those diameters, with the line I use (regular old timey power pro) on my reels (daiwa fuego CT's), in my hands. Your results may vary. But I'm certainly not "lying or not really fishing it".....in fact, short of someone who fishes for a living, you might be hard pressed to find someone who's used it more than me, and it's never given me any issues.

[Riverside.bassin]

Seriously guys, thank you for all your input! I didn't realize that line type was such a debated topic - but now I know (and happy that I know).

 

I decided to try out some 20 pound braid, I just ordered it a few days ago. I'll update this thread in a while to tell you what I think of it. 

2 hours ago, Manifestgtr said:

This is one of my favorite combos. I have a feeling you’re gonna like it. I use mine for a bunch of different light things. The sciii 68 mxf is my favorite mojo bass rod. Lightweight and balances nicely with your 6-8 oz reel of choice. 
 

If you’re ever feeling a bit blue blooded, I suggest the 68 mxf legend x/aldebaran combo. It’s not exactly cheap but if you’re patient and wait for some deals to pop up, it’s not brutal. The legend x is a highly under appreciated series imo.

 

I'm really excited to get out and use this set up, as I've been looking for something lighter for a while now! Someday if I have the money, a legend x is definitely on the radar

[Teal]

7 minutes ago, Riverside.bassin said:

Seriously guys, thank you for all your input! I didn't realize that line type was such a debated topic - but now I know (and happy that I know).

Almost everything as far as bass equipment is highly debatable.  Everyone has a different feel for what is right for them.  Good luck with the 20# line.  Let us know how it works for you.

[Bird]

Been using 15 - 20# Power pro for many years.

The small diameter makes for a clean leader knot and exceptional casting. 

 

One learning curve worth mentioning regarding braid, sweep your hooksets vs coming unglued. 

 

[dodgeguy]

On 5/5/2020 at 12:53 PM, 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?

Yes no dig.

[waymont]

On 5/5/2020 at 12:50 PM, J Francho said:

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

So what if it digs in after a big fish? Next cast it's gone, keep fishing. Or should I say KEEP FISHING!

 

[J Francho]

lol, you been holding onto that for four years now. Feel better?

 

😀

[throttleplate]

I use 20 lb suffix braid river fishing next to the dam and catching a big muskie, catfish, and fat heavy buffalo head in current i get dig in, its notable on next cast, no big deal.

 

[bulldog1935]

What's dig?  

 

[waymont]

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

lol, you been holding onto that for four years now. Feel better?

 

😀

You're a broken record.

[J Francho]

Thanks.