Putting new line on the reel.... what's best?

[DSpayde]

Having to reline reels is a regular thing when we all fish often, but here is a question. Following the "spool capacities" usually shown on a reel makes sense, but how far can you push it? I mean, is it smart to put 15lb mono on a reel that shows 140' / 12lb?

Also, is it recommended to use higher test lines on BCs as opposed to spinners? I fish a lot of cover areas on my local lakes and find 'em hiding in all sorts of mess. I want to be able to extract my little friends with a minimum of hassle.

[Raul]

Best is in any type of reel: fill up to 1/8 " from below the edge of the spool regardless of the diamater and how much line the reel can carry.

You can use higher than in baitcasters but not in spinning, higher than in a spinning reel causes the line to "jump" from the spool when the bail is open, and there you are with your spinning reel spooled with over than recomended diameter ( notice I didn 't say: pound test ), you open the bail, swing the rod and cast your lure, as the lure flies ....... whoa ! a monster ammount of line all twisted up snags on your rod 's last guides.

[NBR]

I have always thought the 140/12# rating was to give you an idea of how much line the reel would hold. My experience says that too heavy a line on spinning reels causes casting trouble by jumping off the spool along the same route as over filling the spool. Also as the line diameter gets bigger it has a greater tendency to have a memory coil problem.

Baitcasters could also have casting difficulties with heavy line but it would have to be very heavy. You can also get line so small that it will get inside the works of a bait caster by slipping between the spool and the housing. This becomes a first class mess.

Depending on diameter and stiffness I would have no problem with using 25, 30, 40# or more line on a bait caster. Many use 50# and higher powerpro since it is soft and has a low diameter per pound test.

[Garnet]

Cover areas and Power Pro. I use 30 lb on my spinning reels they are 2000,4000 models. Get some cheap line I use that $1.57 Walmart stuff of the daimeter as my power pro fill your spools full and then pull off 35 pulls about 100 ft. then spool your power pro on. This gives you max spool capacity. BC same deal ! use 50 - 80 lb

Garnet