Smallest Diameter Braid On a Baitcaster?

[iceintheveins]

What would be the smallest diameter braid you guys would use on a baitcaster to keep the line from digging into itself?

[bwell]

I have tried to use 30# powerpro and that dug into the spool pretty bad for me, and I lost a couple lures in the process...  Then I started using 50-65# powerpro and it works great, no digging whatsoever.

[TrippyJai]

I have tried to use 30# powerpro and that dug into the spool pretty bad for me, and I lost a couple lures in the process... Then I started using 50-65# powerpro and it works great, no digging whatsoever.

That was my first ever mistake when putting braid on to a baitcaster. Not only did the waste the braided line, it gave me a massive headache.

[rubba bubba]

The only digging problems I've had were with Powerpro. With Suffix and others, no issues.

I have gone as low as 10lb Fireline Crystal which has a 2lbs mono line diameter. It worked fine.

Just my experience.

[NewKidInTown]

What would be the smallest diameter braid you guys would use on a baitcaster to keep the line from digging into itself?

It depends. Power Pro is pretty thin,i'd say 40 for that. Not all braids are the diameter it claims to be. I use Invisibraid which runs a tad thicker than Power Pro,so I can use 30 without digging being an issue. Generally 40 is about min size.

[kikstand454]

:-?

i ran 12lb power pro on my c-rig rod all last year and moved to 15lb this year.

i two hand cast this rod all day, swinging for the fences.

40lb is more managable though i guess...but its dang near impossible to break.

[Big Bait Fishing]

i used 30 lb. power pro on my revo sx for a year and a half and it worked great , no digging issues ..........

[BassThumb]

I started with 20#, which was regrettable, then tried 30#, then 50# and 65#, and after that 40#.

The one that performed the best? 50#, no doubt about it. 50# is the way to go, IMO, unless you fish some really nasty cover for possible DD fish. Then I would recommend #65 or heavier.  If you're worried about line visibility, it's best to use a leader instead of stepping down the braid size.

40# is the minimum I would recommend, but I don't really see a significant advantage of using 40# over 50#. 30# is really too thin for a baitcaster. The line doesn't lay on the spool right and you lose casting distance IMO. You can feel some shifting when you push on the spool hard, down and side to side with your thumb, because the wraps are stacked on top instead of laying next to each other. Try putting 6# CXX or 20/6 braid on a casting reel and you'll what I'm talking about, there's big-time stacking and overlapping of the lines. It's not as severe with 30/8 lines, but it's still there.

Also, if you have to tighten down the drag and break off a lure with 30#, the line will cut into the spool and fray the line on the spool, causing you to mysteriously cast off a lure plus 60' of line later that day or week or month.

[islandbass]

i used 30 lb. power pro on my revo sx for a year and a half and it worked great , no digging issues ..........

Me too. I like 30# especially for its castibility. Line dig? what line dig?  ;D

[RandySBreth]

Whatever is the line diameter the reel manufacturer recommends in mono, don't go smaller than that.

Like most have said, I had the best results with line that equals the diameter of 10- or 12-pound mono as a minimum.

[Wayne P.]

The smallest I use is the 6# mono equivelent diameter. I don't use Power Pro and have no digging in problem.

RandySBreth, no reel mfg recommends any size line, they only state the capacity of a certain size line. The reel will hold more of a smaller diameter and less of a  larger diameter .

[htbass]

What would be the smallest diameter braid you guys would use on a baitcaster to keep the line from digging into itself?

I use 30 power pro (8 pound equivalent) on most of my bait-casters. Never once had a problem.The line must be spooled on the reel extremely tight or you'll get that digging. After I spool up a reel I go outside and tie off the end of the line to my fence or shed. Then walk out all of my line. Then I tighten up my drag to the max and start reel in keeping as much tension as possible on the line. After you do this you'll see that the line is on now on perfect and very tight. When you feel the spool after doing this it will be as hard as a rock which will eliminate digging forever. You'll also minimize birds nest.

[RWSCHMITZ]

What would be the smallest diameter braid you guys would use on a baitcaster to keep the line from digging into itself?

I use 30 power pro (8 pound equivalent) on most of my bait-casters. Never once had a problem.The line must be spooled on the reel extremely tight or you'll get that digging. After I spool up a reel I go outside and tie off the end of the line to my fence or shed. Then walk out all of my line. Then I tighten up my drag to the max and start reel in keeping as much tension as possible on the line. After you do this you'll see that the line is on now on perfect and very tight. When you feel the spool after doing this it will be as hard as a rock which will eliminate digging forever. You'll also minimize birds nest.

100% RIGHT

[Mike Z]

Can you guys explain this "digging"? I bought my first baitcaster last week and spooled it up with 8lb mono, figuring that I would have to cut a lot of line off in the first few months and didn't want to waste it on braid. When I laid it on the reel, I just held the line between my thumb and index finger so it would wrap somewhat tight.

I figured this was tight enough but after reading the above comment about walking in the line, I now see that it could be a lot tighter. Is this necessary with mono line? I also have enough line on the spool that my longest cast will never go the 100 yards or so worth of the filament I have on there. Is this really an issue? Never had a problem on my spinning reel, so I am in the dark on my new baitcaster.

[htbass]

Can you guys explain this "digging"? I bought my first baitcaster last week and spooled it up with 8lb mono, figuring that I would have to cut a lot of line off in the first few months and didn't want to waste it on braid. When I laid it on the reel, I just held the line between my thumb and index finger so it would wrap somewhat tight.

I figured this was tight enough but after reading the above comment about walking in the line, I now see that it could be a lot tighter. Is this necessary with mono line? I also have enough line on the spool that my longest cast will never go the 100 yards or so worth of the filament I have on there. Is this really an issue? Never had a problem on my spinning reel, so I am in the dark on my new baitcaster.

No problem, I'll explain. Let's say you hook into a big fish. As your fighting him he's putting a lot of tension on your line which can cause your line to dig into the spool really deep. Especially if the line wasn't on there nice and tight. Next you go to make a cast but now your line is stuck inside itself. I've seen people have this problem where the line gets so stuck and dug in that they can't get it out. You can snap off your lures as well on a cast where the line is dug in. They key is to install the line as tight as possible on the spool.

I wouldn't worry about it right now if your using mono right now on your first baitcaster to get used to it. If at some point you do spool up with braid I would walk the line out and get that braid on there real tight. Holding the line between your thumb and index finger won't cut it when it comes do braid in my opinion. You can do that initially to get the the line on the spool then take out and tie it up, walk it out and re-spool it nice and tight. You'll get smother casts as well.

Hope that helps.

[Mike Z]

So when you say "digging in" what you are referring to is the line sort of embedding itself between the other wraps? Ok, because when I first read the OPs post I was thinking the braid would wear/cut into my aluminum spool.

Thanks for clearing that up.

And now that I think about it, I remember when my dad got his first baitcaster all those years ago. He took it to the park, tied the end around the pavillion post and then walked away and reeled himself in. Now I understand why.

<edit>

Since you don't have that much tension on the line durig normal fishing, is it a good idea to do this after every few fishing trips?

[htbass]

So when you say "digging in" what you are referring to is the line sort of embedding itself between the other wraps? Ok, because when I first read the OPs post I was thinking the braid would wear/cut into my aluminum spool.

Thanks for clearing that up.

And now that I think about it, I remember when my dad got his first baitcaster all those years ago. He took it to the park, tied the end around the pavillion post and then walked away and reeled himself in. Now I understand why.

<edit>

Since you don't have that much tension on the line durig normal fishing, is it a good idea to do this after every few fishing trips?

That's exactly what digging in is. The line gets embedded in itself between the the wraps. When you tighten up the line the way your dad did the line gets evenly wrapped around the spool one wrap next to each other. Pretty cool. When you reel in, it should feel as if your reeling yourself in as you walk. That's how tight I get it. My baitcasters cast so smooth after doing this. My wife and neighbors think I'm nuts though, "There he goes again tying up his fishing pole to the tree again".

You only have do it once. The length of line that is used for casting will be loose but underneath that will be rock hard and will come off the spool easily when it is needed.

[RandySBreth]

Quote

RandySBreth, no reel mfg recommends any size line, they only state the capacity of a certain size line. The reel will hold more of a smaller diameter and less of a larger diameter .

The last time I asked, the Shimano Rep said the line capacity you see at their web site and on their packaging is their recommendation. It's not like you have to use that, but it's a starting point.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I've got 30# Power Pro on one of my reels and have no issues with line digging.  40# on another and no digging issues.

[Senkoman12]

i like fireline better than regular braid fireline is thicker than standard braid i have 30# on my flipping rod its the same diameter as 12# mono

[iceintheveins]

Yes I have 12 pound diameter on, so it should be easier.

[iceintheveins]

So when you say "digging in" what you are referring to is the line sort of embedding itself between the other wraps? Ok, because when I first read the OPs post I was thinking the braid would wear/cut into my aluminum spool.

Thanks for clearing that up.

And now that I think about it, I remember when my dad got his first baitcaster all those years ago. He took it to the park, tied the end around the pavillion post and then walked away and reeled himself in. Now I understand why.

<edit>

Since you don't have that much tension on the line durig normal fishing, is it a good idea to do this after every few fishing trips?

That's exactly what digging in is. The line gets embedded in itself between the the wraps. When you tighten up the line the way your dad did the line gets evenly wrapped around the spool one wrap next to each other. Pretty cool. When you reel in, it should feel as if your reeling yourself in as you walk. That's how tight I get it. My baitcasters cast so smooth after doing this. My wife and neighbors think I'm nuts though, "There he goes again tying up his fishing pole to the tree again".

You only have do it once. The length of line that is used for casting will be loose but underneath that will be rock hard and will come off the spool easily when it is needed.

I do that too and the neighbors give me funny looks! ;D

[islandbass]

So when you say "digging in" what you are referring to is the line sort of embedding itself between the other wraps? Ok, because when I first read the OPs post I was thinking the braid would wear/cut into my aluminum spool.

Thanks for clearing that up.

And now that I think about it, I remember when my dad got his first baitcaster all those years ago. He took it to the park, tied the end around the pavillion post and then walked away and reeled himself in. Now I understand why.

<edit>

Since you don't have that much tension on the line durig normal fishing, is it a good idea to do this after every few fishing trips?

As far as my experience has shown me, this line dig only occurs when using braid. It has never ever occurred to me when using any other line type. You have no worries, until you use a braid with a very thin D.

[looking4structure]

I have Power Pro 50lb on one of my flipping sticks and can boat flip 2 pounders all day without it digging in.Ive never tried any of the smaller stuff.