What type of line should I be using?

[SW Florida Kid]

I use a spinning reel.

Right now, I use my rod for saltwater and freshwater fishing. I think I have Power Pro 20# on my reel right now. It was used for snook, but now we use it for bass fishing only.

So my question is, what type of line should I be using? And what test strength should I be using for bass?

Is it ok to use a rod for bass AND snook?

Oh yeah.... I use the Rapala X-Rap for Snook and Bass and they both love it.... so what line should I be using for this lure?

[roadwarrior]

It seems to me the line you are using is working just fine.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

8-)

[Raul]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

8-)

X2

[SW Florida Kid]

It seems to me the line you are using is working just fine.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

8-)

Maybe its just because I caught a gar last night and it's teeth broke the line (luckily the gar was already on land)... and i was wondering if I should get a different type of line or maybe add a leader.

[vatech]

Well... flouro is more abrasion resistant. Plus it's invisible and will help your crankbait run a few feet deeper.

[SW Florida Kid]

Well... flouro is more abrasion resistant. Plus it's invisible and will help your crankbait run a few feet deeper.

Thanks for the response! What test strength should I use and do you have any recommendations on a brand?

[KYntucky Warmouth]

8lb P-Line CXX, 10-12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid  

[sweet daddy]

All of my bass fishing is done with braid, and fluorocarbon. It costs a little more, and fluorocarbon will work fine with the x rap.

[RoLo]

It seems to me the line you are using is working just fine.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

8-)

x3

Spinning tackle and braided line go together like.....well, spinning tackle and braided line  :

Roger

[SirSnookalot]

Now you're fishing in my pond. I fish snook 365 days a year with spinning gear and do quite a bit of bass fishing. I see people using a host of methods, equipment and baits. I do not think there is a wrong way to do it, whatever you like works fine.

This is what I do. I use a medium 8/17class 7' or 7'6 rod with a 4000 series reel, in most scenarios this is all you need but exceptions do apply.

My choice is 15# braid and 30 or 40# mono leader. Flurocarbon leaders are flushing you money down the toilet, it doesn't

apply to snook fishing. Snook mostly hit in dirty water anyway, not near as often in clean incoming tide. Again exceptions apply but using plain mono leader still catches them just fine.

The Xrap is a great lure and I use it much of the time but snook will hit anything if they are on, if off they will hit nothing. Try 1/4 or 1/2 oz bucktails, soft plastics on jig heads,rattle traps, topwater and about anything you use for bass. The techniques to catching snook are very similar to bass.

I would not use this equipment setup for bass, imo it's just too much.

What you are doing is fine, maybe just a little tweek to improve the numbers.

Shoot me a pm if you would like me to go into detail.

[SW Florida Kid]

Now you're fishing in my pond. I fish snook 365 days a year with spinning gear and do quite a bit of bass fishing. I see people using a host of methods, equipment and baits. I do not think there is a wrong way to do it, whatever you like works fine.

This is what I do. I use a medium 8/17class 7' or 7'6 rod with a 4000 series reel, in most scenarios this is all you need but exceptions do apply.

My choice is 15# braid and 30 or 40# mono leader. Flurocarbon leaders are flushing you money down the toilet, it doesn't

apply to snook fishing. Snook mostly hit in dirty water anyway, not near as often in clean incoming tide. Again exceptions apply but using plain mono leader still catches them just fine.

The Xrap is a great lure and I use it much of the time but snook will hit anything if they are on, if off they will hit nothing. Try 1/4 or 1/2 oz bucktails, soft plastics on jig heads,rattle traps, topwater and about anything you use for bass. The techniques to catching snook are very similar to bass.

I would not use this equipment setup for bass, imo it's just too much.

What you are doing is fine, maybe just a little tweek to improve the numbers.

Shoot me a pm if you would like me to go into detail.

I have a Shimano Rod 6'6" and a Shimano 4000 series spinning reel.

Thanks for the advice!  

[skno]

50lb braid for snook. 12lb flourocarbon for bass. On your other spool of course.

[SirSnookalot]

IMO 50# braid for snook is way too much. The first consideration is where you are fishing, beach, seawall, inlet or freshwater canal. For an all around selection 20# braid is a good choice, too heavy for me as I prefer light tackle and equipment, my pick is 15#. I may go a bit heavier if I'm using bait.

Just yesterday I caught about 6 snook 2 tarpon on 15#, I did get cut off a few times but that would have happened with 100# braid, barnacles will cut thru anything.

Today I'm going for kingfish and bonita which probably fight harder than a snook and I'm using 20# mono on a conventiional 17#mono on a spinner.

The heaviest line I own is 30# and that is use on my shark outfit.

IMO if you know how to use the drag properly you do not need heavy line.

I prefer a 7 or 7'6 rod.

[skno]

Snook I guess your right. I used 30lb braid on my snook fishing trip this spring. And I only said 50lb because I lost a few nice ones that got the line wrapped around pier posts and the line just cut like butter. All in all 50lb would have probably done the same thing.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Snookalot is right line size is about WHERE your fishing rocks,barnacles,wood, not about fish size

[Fish Chris]

Hey SirSnook

IMO 50# braid for snook is way too much

Of course I don't know the first thing about Snook fishing.... But for me, the exact species in question has little, or nothing to do with my choice of line strength. I always choose the lb test, based on the size /  weight of the bait / lure I need to use for that fish.

Hence the reason I have often used a micro-light rod, with 2/10 braid for Sturgeon (knowing that I could hook one of 100 lbs... heck 200lbs or more) and then I will go out fishing for Largemouth's which are not likely to go much over 10lbs, using 50 lb braid > but that's because I'm cranking out a 5 ounce swimbait on that gear over, and over.

Anyway, just thought I'd toss that out here....

Peace,

Fish

[SirSnookalot]

Chris, I have never thrown a 5 oz swimbait, the heaviest thing I throw is a  1 oz spoon or barracuda tubes that I make which may 1.5 oz or so.  I use 15 or 20 braid depending on which rod and reel I'm in the mood for that day .  Many times when I fish the beach I use 10# or 15# again depending on which rod and reel I want to use.  There is only a slight difference in equipment I use.  If I can't hear that drag sing, I'm not happy