Need Opinions! 50# vs 65# Braid

[A-Rob]

I have been using 15lbs mono for flipping/pitching on my lake. It has never broken. I was going to switch to braid for this year (with a mono or fluoro leader). I always hear/read about pros using 65#. But they are all fishing florida lakes that are HEAVY stuff. My lake is Georgian bay, the back bays are weedy, bullrushes, some lillypads, but never like what I see in Florida...

Would 65# still be necessary or could I get away with 50#? What would be more manageable? I already know 50# is cheaper!

[George Welcome]

What are you using for a reel?

[central.PA.bass]

You will be fine with 50...   I like using 20lb Fluoro for flipping and pitching as long as im just fishing in grass..

if there is wood involved, 50 should be fine.

[Wayne P.]

A braid that is the same diameter as 15# mono is about the 65# test. If you reel performs well with the mono, it will perform even better with the same diameter braid due to the lack of spool memory. If you "need" more line length on your reel, you can downsize to the lighter size braid which will have a smaller diameter. One of the pluses with superlines is you can have a small diameter line with a lot more strength than monos. Most chose a diameter that packs well on the spool and doesn't dig in when stressed. The 10# mono equivelent diameter superlines and larger do a better job of that.

[midnighthrasher]

I use 30lb power pro with a 10lb seaguar invisx leader and have NEVER broken off. I think that 65lb is over kill but that just me.

[Hot Rod]

I prefer 30 # because I use it to not only pitch/flip but also for casting frogs/toads over slop.  I tried heavier lines and they are o.k. for pitchin/flip but I didn't care how they perfomed on overhand casting applications.

Don't recall ever breaking a fish off with 30# though have expereinced some fraying issues around jagged rocks.  Typically I don't fish braid around that type of cover anyway.

[A-Rob]

I use a shimano baitcasting reel....cruxis. It recommends about 12lbs test mono. I push it with a 15 but it handles well with the Maxima mono.

Thanks guys, I figured 50# would be fine, without digging in on the reel, not breaking, and costing me less. Just didn't want to wuss out and lose the first fish of the season!

[central.PA.bass]

just back it with some cheap,heavy mono...  spool on half a spool of 20lbs first then tie on your braid..  makes an expensive spool of braid last twice as long! and the braid wont dig into your spool

[Hammer 4]

You could use 55# Diawa Samuri..same dia as 12# mono..I use a 12lb leader of trilene 100% fluro for now. Someone recomended Maxima fluro, so I might try that.

[A-Rob]

just back it with some cheap,heavy mono... spool on half a spool of 20lbs first then tie on your braid.. makes an expensive spool of braid last twice as long! and the braid wont dig into your spool

I actually do that already with my mono. I keep some old heavy stuff on to about 1/2 then fill my good mono over top. I will do the same with the braid. I didn't think about how it would stop the braid from diggin in. Thats awesome, thank you.

[Wayne P.]

Hammer 4, the Samurai 55# is the diameter of 10# mono. There is no 12# mono equivalent diameter in that line of product. That is just one of the reasons it is a better line than most any other superline. It is smaller in diameter for each pound test class.

I use the 30# which has a 6# mono equivalent diameter for finesse presentations.

[Hammer 4]

my mistake, thanks for pointing that out Wayne..

Old age has it's disavantages...

[Wayne P.]

Old Age, LOL

I'm kind of aged also, 67 in April this year.

Now what was the subject?  :-/

[Hammer 4]

Aged...I like that discription.. ;D

Old Age, LOL

I'm kind of aged also, 67 in April this year.

Now what was the subject? :-/

[A-Rob]

Thanks Wayne P for your help!

[RoLo]

First let me say what a lucky guy you are.

I used to fish Georgian Bay every chance I got (Moon River to French River).

Because of its fine diameter, braid is often characterized as a "weed-whacker"

but that's wishful thinking at best. Polyethylene braid excels in nearly every line-amenity imaginable

except' abrasion-resistance. Ironically, the most effective way to enhance the abrasion-resistance

of braid is to increase its line-diameter. Twenty-pound braid has the strength to handle

most any freshwater situation, but heavier breaking strengths are needed

so braid can live up to its fabled weed-whacking ability. We're only talking here

about thousandths of an inch, and even in the heavy pound-tests, braid is still a fine-diameter line.

Microfilament Braid

POUND-TEST       DIAMETER       MONO EQUIVALENT

8 lb       .005"       1 lb

10 lb       .006"       2 lb

15 lb       .008"       4 lb

20 lb       .009"       6 lb

30 lb       .011"       8 lb

40 lb       .012"       10 lb

50 lb       .014"       12 lb

65 lb       .016"       16 lb

The last time I fished in Canada (2006) I used 40-lb braid and found it to be perfectly adequate.

In the final analysis, the choice depends on your personal comfort level.

Roger

[A-Rob]

Thanks Roger, having someone who has fished my area gives me a lot of confidence in the info you provided.

I fish the Midland/Penetang area. A couple of the bays towards Severn Sound is where the heavy stuff is I fish. I am sure the 50# will do if you are saying 40# did you good.

Thanks kindly!

p.s. you are right, it is a gorgeous lake, I appreciate any time I get on it!

Take care