Do It All Baitcaster - What Line?

[finzyy]

I just bought my first baitcasting setup. I threw some 8# mono on that I had laying around so I could get a feel for it before I backlash some expensive braid. My question is what line should I throw on it? Keeping in mind that I'm looking to be able to throw a variety of baits. Yes, I know certain tactics work better with different setups but as of now I'm not someone with 6 rods/reels.

Lews Mach 2 Baitcasting Combo

7' MH Rod
7.5:1 Gear Ratio
Line Rating: 10#-20#

I'm thinking 12# mono backing/50# braid. Is this sufficient for all around use? Arguments for whether backing is necessary or not...

 

[LCG]

For all around line, big game mono or yo Zuri hybrid 12-15lb, for heavier cover 40-65lb braid. You can use mono backing or electrical tape, up to you. 

[TOXIC]

In order to learn how to set up and use your baitcaster, I always recommended to my clients to start out with 12lb mono and to put a piece of electrical tape about a cast and a half deep on the spool.  That way your backlash can only go so deep.  Also, tighten your cast control down and use heavy baits while your learning curve improves.  Then you can back it off and lighten up your lures. 

[Yuddzy]

I would stick to 12-14# mono until you're totally comfortable with the baitcaster, Berkeley Big Game line works well and can be bought in large spools.

 

There's some debate about whether or not backing is needed due to many spools having holes to tie onto initially. I'd use monofilament backing to fill the spool up until you hit a point where you'd like your mainline to start, since that line won't be used anyway. (Keep your spool full, don't run it empty. Mono backing reminds you to replace your mainline.)

[softwateronly]

• I throw braid and braid to leader on my bc setups.  Sometimes a bad backlash can have the braid cut itself, but I find with 50lb that seems to go away.  Now that I'm more proficient, I throw more 20 and 30lb braid.  Starting with 50lb was a good idea for me.  

scott

[Deephaven]

13 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

In order to learn how to set up and use your baitcaster, I always recommended to my clients to start out with 12lb mono and to put a piece of electrical tape about a cast and a half deep on the spool.  That way your backlash can only go so deep.  Also, tighten your cast control down and use heavy baits while your learning curve improves.  Then you can back it off and lighten up your lures. 

Why not thicker?  When I started anything less than 17lb was a disaster so that is what I recommend.  I did not and have not used the e-tape trick though so the disaster was mostly very non-professional over run...

[dodgeguy]

50 lb Sufix 832 no backing tie to hole in spool Braid backlashes less not more.Brraid is easier to remove backlash not harder.

[FishTank]

12lb mono. Suffix Elite or Seige. Trilene XL is also great. Braid to me is not general purpose line, especially if you are new to a baitcaster. Its great for topwater and getting through vegetation. 

[Fishingmickey]

Finzzy,

     12-15# Big Game, fill your spool 3/4th full first time and go practice your casting. T-rigged 1/4 oz worm, 1/2 oz jig, something you can cast well and practice your thumbing. Learn how it feels under your thumb and how to stop a errant cast with your thumb that is headed for the trees. Don't swing for the fences, accuracy counts much more then distance.  Set your cast control so when you release the spool and the bait drops slowly and hits the ground the spool stops. Big game is cheap and strong and you can break it off if you get hung up. A spool of 12# Big game will fill your reel about 11 times for 11 bucks, 15# will fill it probably 10 times for 11 bucks and that's at Tackle Warehouse pricing. 

    IMHO 12# Big game breaks over 12#'s easy more like 15#.  Go with it, it's forgiving, cheap and has stood the test of time. Using heavy braid gives you the ability to destroy equipment and maybe seriously cut yourself when you try to break it.

Happy casting!

Fishingmickey

[Deleted account]

All around, 12-15 lb mono or 30-40 lb braid. 

[Hulkster]

I use 12 pound Sufix Siege on my all around baitcasting setup

[Triptych]

To keep it simple, all my baitcasters use 30lb Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand except my frog setup with 50lb J-Braid x8 Grand, 1-4oz swimbait setup with 50lb J-Braid x8 Grand, and punching setup with 65lb DJB x8 Grand.

 

I switch leaders depending on what I'm doing but I'm mostly use straight braid.

[TOXIC]

5 hours ago, Deephaven said:

Why not thicker?  When I started anything less than 17lb was a disaster so that is what I recommend.  I did not and have not used the e-tape trick though so the disaster was mostly very non-professional over run...

You could use thicker but in my experience is that 12lb is a happy medium.  Small enough to be a challenge and thick enough to be somewhat forgiving.  ?

[QED]

10 hours ago, Deephaven said:

Why not thicker?  When I started anything less than 17lb was a disaster so that is what I recommend.  I did not and have not used the e-tape trick though so the disaster was mostly very non-professional over run...

 

I take the opposite view.  Why not thinner?  I started fishing with ultralight spinning gear and moved on to light (4-8 lb test) casting gear.  I have rigs with heavier lines but haven't had to use them in decades.

[Hammer 4]

I have to agree with what TOXIC posted. I would give the same advice.

[jdr99a]

I think the suggestions about mono until you are comfortable with the baitcaster are spot on. I’d personally go with 15lb big game.
 

Once you aren’t worried about backlashes as much, I think braid is the obvious choice for maximum versatility. Braid + leader can get you anywhere you need to go whether that is topwater or bottom contact. 
 

An added benefit in my book is that braid makes your combo more sensitive. 

[JMac603]

Another #12 Big Game vote here. I get the braid argument for tying on different leaders for different baits too...I just hate braid-leader on casting gear personally. Launched far too many jerk baits and tungsten into the great unknown on an over run and the connection knot snaps. I realize this is a "me" problem haha.

[Jig Man]

Until you have some casting skill the best advice you will get is what Toxic has given you.  Buy a 1/2 oz casting plug then go to a quiet open space like your back yard or a church parking lot and make a few hundred casts, repeat as necessary.

[DaubsNU1]

Got my first bait-caster years ago (I'm talking early 1990's)...and pretty much hated it. Mono would back-lash all the time. Spooled up some braid and it made a huge difference!

 

Braid has been on all my bait-casters ever since. I started with 30lb Fenwick IronThread...I still have a spool or two laying around the shop.

 

Moved to 20lb PowerPro. That's pretty much all I run. It's light enough to give me good casting distance on all my lures...and heavy enough to throw the big stuff when I need to.

 

I use a modified version of the Trielene knot...

 

 

After step #2, I take the tag end back through the opening on the right.

 

Note: keep a chunk of wood / broom handle to wrap around braid if you get hung. That stuff is tough!

 

[gim]

1 hour ago, JMac603 said:

into the great unknown

 

[finzyy]

All, appreciate the comments. I got the fishing bug last summer and I've been pond hopping with my Ugly Stik GX2 cheapy combo. 90% of the time I'm throwing a wacky rig senko. As mentioned, I've never owned a baitcaster and I had the itch to buy one, so so I did. I bought some 14# Trilene XL Smooth Casting that I'm going to spool up for now. Once I get more comfortable with it I'd like to run braid with a fluoro leader. 2 questions to leave ya'll with.

#1: Is using an o-ring on your wacky rig senkos a MUST when using a baitcaster? 

- I first spooled up some left over 8# mono I had. My first cast in the street backlashed (oops). Luckily not very bad at all. Fixed it and then threw it 20 more times no issues. I took it down the pond and all was well until I made a cast and the senko went flying off the hook and that turned into a bad backlash.

 

#2: Power Pro - What would you suggest for good all around braid? 30# or 40#?

- When I bought the Mach 2 I did buy 30# Power Pro. As far as what I would like to use this setup for, a little of everything. I'd like to throw crankbaits, jigs, clickbaits with braid tied to a fluoro leader. I'd like to be able to remove the fluoro leader to throw some of my topwater frogs. I don't know of any ponds around me with lilly pads. Most of the vegetation I see at my local ponds is only a few feet off shoreline. For any reference, I'm in the Midwest.

Thanks

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, finzyy said:

All, appreciate the comments. I got the fishing bug last summer and I've been pond hopping with my Ugly Stik GX2 cheapy combo. 90% of the time I'm throwing a wacky rig senko. As mentioned, I've never owned a baitcaster and I had the itch to buy one, so so I did. I bought some 14# Trilene XL Smooth Casting that I'm going to spool up for now. Once I get more comfortable with it I'd like to run braid with a fluoro leader. 2 questions to leave ya'll with.

#1: Is using an o-ring on your wacky rig senkos a MUST when using a baitcaster? 

- I first spooled up some left over 8# mono I had. My first cast in the street backlashed (oops). Luckily not very bad at all. Fixed it and then threw it 20 more times no issues. I took it down the pond and all was well until I made a cast and the senko went flying off the hook and that turned into a bad backlash.

 

#2: Power Pro - What would you suggest for good all around braid? 30# or 40#?

- When I bought the Mach 2 I did buy 30# Power Pro. As far as what I would like to use this setup for, a little of everything. I'd like to throw crankbaits, jigs, clickbaits with braid tied to a fluoro leader. I'd like to be able to remove the fluoro leader to throw some of my topwater frogs. I don't know of any ponds around me with lilly pads. Most of the vegetation I see at my local ponds is only a few feet off shoreline. For any reference, I'm in the Midwest.

Thanks

Leaders are not needed.

I always use an o ring when wacky rigging

Power pro is outdated and obsolete. I suggest Sufix 832 in 50 lb. That's 12 lb diameter so it helps stopping line dig. I have no problem casting 50 compared to 30. As a matter of fact when the 30 digs in a little at times it looses distance. 50 pretty much totally stops this. Guys who say they don't have dig probably have really loose drags.

 

[roadwarrior]

St. Croix Victory  VTC73MHF

 

https://stcroixrods.com/collections/freshwater/products/copy-of-victory-spinning-rods?utm_source=bass+resource&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=CAD+2022&utm_id=smallmouth&utm_term=2022-05-16

 

Line:  #12 Yo-Zuri Hybrid

[BooshBass]

My do-it-all is Yo Zuri Hybrid 12#.  I appreciate the Berkley Big Game suggestions as well, it's the mono I use on my mono reel and it's what some great fishers I know use for everything.  But, I don't view the Yo Zuri Hybrid as high maintenance at all so why not use the hybrid for the all around - all around flexibility is why it exists I assume.  It's just as cheap as Big Game as well.  

[Revival]

If you go braid, I would go 40lb.  If you go anything else, I would go 12lb yozuri hybrid.

 

For backing, I like 10lb Big Game.

 

Backing serves more than one purpose for me. Allows the braid to grip but more importantly, it saves me money.  I use 75 yards of braid on each reel and the rest is backing.  So if I purchase 300 yards of braid, I can use it for 4 reels.