pflueger summit 10 bearings

[northern basser]

I would go w/ 40# braid at the lightest. Some people get away w/ 30, but the small line diameter can cause it to dig into the spool when under load.

I started w/ 30# when I was new to braid and quickly changed to 50#. I'm using power pro so I'm not sure what the diameters of other braids are off the top of my head.

Unless your in really clear water,  a leader is not nec. IMO.

p.s. your going to love that reel!

[ICU812]

haha thanks man!!

with the recent cold front I want to get out there so bad right now cuz I'm thinking the bite should be on but it's gonna be hard to make it work today, maybe some quick practice casts from shore lol I know a spot where I can catch a few 18"ers pretty quick from shore on a good day.

So I saw the "braid knot" on a web page, I was assuming I'd just use the same knots as I would for mono but do I have to tie diff knots for braid?

[curls00]

Go with 50# braid or higher (Samurai Braid is my preferred braid!).

Use the Palomar knot. It's dead simple and extremely effetive with braid.

Don't bother with a leader unless you know your uni-uni or Alberto knot well, and you're fishing gin-clear water.  Even then... I was fishing 30+ foot visibility water for smallmouth bass a few weeks ago and had a fluoro leader for wacky rigs and tubes. I was OUTFISHED by my partner who had straight 50# braid in that rediculously clear of water.  Leaders = useless, IMO.  (On the other hand, sight-fishing in 30+ feet of water = incredibly fun!! The only thing better was topwater poppers in the same water and seeing a bronze missile come up from the bottom and get airborne on it!).

[ICU812]

The Palomar knot is easy enough but the thing about it, to me, is if I have larger lures I'm trying to tie then at times it becomes awkward having to put a loop around the whole lure if you know what I mean.

It's not that big a deal but ideally I'd like to use a quicker knot.

As far as leaders, I messed around a little with the uni uni knot and didn't find it that hard, but to me it makes since that a leader probably isn't really needed so I'll start with no leader for now. Just gotta start somewhere and go from there.

[new2BC4bass]

I'm new this year to BC reels. I have 40 lb. Sufix Performance on one reel (Brand selected because of TT's review of 3 braided lines). According to the package, it is equivalent to 10 lb. mono (.013 dia.) I can attest to the fact that light lines (referring to mono) backlash easier than heavier lines. Also can attest to the fact that a light lure is much harder to throw than a heavier one. Can verify that it is easier to backlash a light lure than a heavy one. No doubt because I usually throw it harder. Can verify that throwing for the moon will cause more backlashes. :) ;D ;D

So based on my experience, I would suggest using a heavier line with a lure weight on the heavy side of the rod's lure rating to start off with. Don't muscle the rod at first. Braid is easier to cast without backlashing than other forms. It is also easier to pick out backlashes. So I've read. Haven't gotten a bird's nest with the braid yet, but I'm sure that is because I haven't used that rod/reel combo enough. 40 lb. is a bit overkill for where I have been fishing. Braid is also a lot more expensive. Because of this it has been suggested that a beginner start with a cost effective heavy mono. I've only had to cut some line off once. It was 8 lb. mono. Probably wouldn't have been necessary to cut it if it had been my reel that is spooled with 12 lb. mono. I've been told that 15-17 lb. is even better to start with. Plus it is the size line you may need if fishing in heavier cover than what I am fishing. One reason for my using 8 lb. line is because the water is relatively free of heavy cover.

[ICU812]

All very good info - thanks man, good to hear the perspective of someone else who is new to the world of baitcasting