Size braid for heavy setup?

[GreenvilleSC_fishing]

Hey y’all, I’m gearing up to fish more seriously with my sons this spring. Fished my whole life but only recently starting to take gear and technique more seriously.

 

I have 3 baitcasting setups that I’d like to try most things with.

MH fast 7’ with 16 lb flouro

M moderate 7’ with 12 lb flouro (crankbait / small treble topwater)

H fast 7’6” with braid

 

I’m wondering if I should put 50 lb or 65 lb braid line on the 7’6” heavy. I want to accomplish as much as possible without having to switch line. For this setup I’m thinking frogs, light swimbaits (S Waiver, Spro Chad Shad), mini-Alabama Rig, heavy jigs. I have plenty of mono and flouro for leader depending on what I’m doing.

 

In general I want to be able to do as much as possible with these 3 baitcasters. I do also have some cheap spinning setups for finesse.

 

Thanks for the insight!

[Mike L]

To answer your question directly based on what you stated you want to use it for, I’d spool 50# 

 

Braid is a specialty line, at least for me. 
Let the cover and structure dictate what you need. 
 

Personally, I use 50# for a few of what you listed and 65# or 80# for the heaviest of conditions depending on what I’m throwing where. 
 

 

 

Mike

 

 

[GreenPig]

I was gonna say 50 lb but the Spro Chad Shad pushes it to 65 lb. 50 lb is thin enough to dig in to the spool and snaps off can be expensive which why I don't throw bigger swimbaits/glides on braid anymore.

[softwateronly]

I fish braid to leader on all my rigs, and I like 8strand 50lb for general H uses.  My swimbait setups have 65lb.  I haven't had 50lb dig in and snap midcast yet, but I don't doubt @GreenPig's experience.

 

scott

[DaubsNU1]

I run straight 20lb PowerPro on all my casting rods.

 

Cannot remember breaking off at the knot/lure. 

 

I have straightened out some hooks, and pulled up logs. 

[crypt]

I use 40 lb. for punching, heavy flipping. never had a problem.

[PBBrandon]

50 is my go-to. Casts a lot better than 65 imo. I do spool 65 occasionally for frogging or flipping really thick weeds but 50 gets the job done for me

[casts_by_fly]

I’m also in the 50 lb camp. I run suffix 832 which is bigger diameter for a given rating compared to others but I do the things you’re talking about and 50 is fine. 

[Dogface]

I use 65 lb. on my heavy casting rods. I also use some of those same rods for frogging, swim baits, and large pike and musky lures. 

 

One reason I use 65 lb is so I can recover snagged swimbaits and musky lures which are expensive. And I can put much more pressure on big fish with 65 lb braid than 50 lb braid. 

 

 

[T-Billy]

I'd run 65# if you're gonna throw the swimbaits a lot. If it's gonna be mostly the other stuff with the swimbaits mixed in occasionally, then I'd go with the 50#. 

[new2BC4bass]

On 2/3/2024 at 7:05 PM, Mike L said:

To answer your question directly based on what you stated you want to use it for, I’d spool 50# 

 

Braid is a specialty line, at least for me. 
Let the cover and structure dictate what you need.

 

Personally, I use 50# for a few of what you listed and 65# or 80# for the heaviest of conditions depending on what I’m throwing where. 
 

Mike

 

 

Braid has also been a specialty line for me.  When I decided to dedicate my Tatula 7'4" HF for frogs, I went with 60#.  Had read some felt 60#-80# was about right for frogs.  I feel 60# hinders casting distance.  My other braid filled reels (that I spooled) carry 40# on MHF rods.  I always used these reels for fishing in the lily pads when visiting Florida.  Purchased a used baitcast reel and spinning reel that came with 30# spooled.  No problem fishing in the pads with them either.

 

Have some 45# Fins that I plan on using on a second frog rod.

[FishTank]

In the way I fish I don't see any benefits to going heavier than 50lb. Also, I am not a fan of braid for swimbaits.  It only took one snap and a lost glide bait to convince me. I have yet to loose one on mono or FC. There is also something to how braid effects the action of swimbaits that I don't like. Can't explain it but I definitely want some stretch in the line when a fish hits.

[dodgeguy]

On 2/3/2024 at 7:57 PM, GreenvilleSC_fishing said:

Hey y’all, I’m gearing up to fish more seriously with my sons this spring. Fished my whole life but only recently starting to take gear and technique more seriously.

 

I have 3 baitcasting setups that I’d like to try most things with.

MH fast 7’ with 16 lb flouro

M moderate 7’ with 12 lb flouro (crankbait / small treble topwater)

H fast 7’6” with braid

 

I’m wondering if I should put 50 lb or 65 lb braid line on the 7’6” heavy. I want to accomplish as much as possible without having to switch line. For this setup I’m thinking frogs, light swimbaits (S Waiver, Spro Chad Shad), mini-Alabama Rig, heavy jigs. I have plenty of mono and flouro for leader depending on what I’m doing.

 

In general I want to be able to do as much as possible with these 3 baitcasters. I do also have some cheap spinning setups for finesse.

 

Thanks for the insight!

Definitely vicious No Fade Braid in 50.

[JediAmoeba]

Depends on the brand and what you are doing. If you go with maxquatro or a thinner braid, 65. 

 

There are so many braids now from 4 carrier all the way up to 16 carrier. Everyone has a preference but in a traditional 8 carrier I would stick with 50#.

[Puggz]

On 2/3/2024 at 7:57 PM, GreenvilleSC_fishing said:

Hey y’all, I’m gearing up to fish more seriously with my sons this spring. Fished my whole life but only recently starting to take gear and technique more seriously.

 

I have 3 baitcasting setups that I’d like to try most things with.

MH fast 7’ with 16 lb flouro

M moderate 7’ with 12 lb flouro (crankbait / small treble topwater)

H fast 7’6” with braid

 

I’m wondering if I should put 50 lb or 65 lb braid line on the 7’6” heavy. I want to accomplish as much as possible without having to switch line. For this setup I’m thinking frogs, light swimbaits (S Waiver, Spro Chad Shad), mini-Alabama Rig, heavy jigs. I have plenty of mono and flouro for leader depending on what I’m doing.

 

In general I want to be able to do as much as possible with these 3 baitcasters. I do also have some cheap spinning setups for finesse.

 

Thanks for the insight!

I run 50# braid on my flippin/punchin/froggin rod. Seems to be more than enough. But then again, i'm certain going 65 or even 80 won't be an issue. How about this, anything over 49#, whatever you get the best deal on.

[gulfcaptain]

So I run 40lb P-Line TCB-8, never had it dig in. Fish all braid to leaders(even my 8 and 10" baits). The Chad Shad isn't that bug, kinda between a 168 and 200 size S-weaver which I throw with 15-20lb for the 168 and 25 for the 200. My Chad Shad I throw on the same set up line size and braid as the 168. Only difference is the reel sizes.  I utilize older Quantum EXOs in the 200 and 300 size for bigger baits, but still throw the 168 on a standard size baitcaster. Frog and punching 40lb, 50 is plenty,  if you use 4 carrier braid keep an eye on the braid l, you loose a strand or see frays, re-tie, haven't had the issue as much with what I run and if you snap a bait off casting,  well that's from it being shock loaded with no stretch and trying to overpower your casts, then well it goes really far away and never comes back. 

[Bankc]

I don't think it matters much.  The difference in diameter isn't huge at that point.   Dig in doesn't really become a problem once you move past 30#, maybe 40#. (unless you get snagged and lock the drag and try to break the line).  40# test line will break your rod before the line breaks fighting a fish out of slop.  So you don't need to go any heavier.  And 65# braid isn't so thick as to cause problems on casting or decrease your line capacity so much as to cause a problem.  So you don't need to go any lower.  

Some people will develop a preference one way or another for various reasons.  Maybe you'll develop a preference too.  But you'll have to try some out to figure out if you prefer one over the others.  I worry more about brand, color, and carrier numbers.  It's only when I'm using thin braid on spinning gear that I pay much attention to test strength.  

 

I use 40 lbs. braid for my heavy rods.  Why?  Because that's what I had on hand when I first tried them, and it worked.  So I never had a reason to try something else.  But if 65# braid was on sale and cheaper than 40#, I'd make the swap without hesitation.  

[Tennessee Boy]

I go up to 65# for frogs in thick grass.  Dig in a caused by the way the reel wraps the line on the spool.  On my Shimano Scorpion reels it happens with any line under 0.009 inches diameter.  I’ve gone as low as 0.004 diameter with no dig in with my Diawa Silver Wolf PE Special.  That reel is designed specifically for braid.  You need to know what diameter works with your reel.

[JediAmoeba]

I have started using this braid for most things that require heavy line. It is some awesome stuff and I run it on all my jig rods and swimbait rods. I run braid to leader on most things except punching I go straight braid. 

[Reel]

For me there is  no real difference between 50 lb and 65 lb braid.  The casting distance is about the same and one is as visible as the other.  For me 65lb is more manageable.  Less dig in and easier to untangle.  I like Power Pro 8 braid.