We are planning an early June trip to the lakes north of Sarah targeting large trout. I typically troll with a 6’6” medium spinning rod with braid and a titanium leader and have a second 6’6” medium light with 6# mono for jigs, etc. I’m thinking of adding a 3rd rod this year for trolling for the big girls.

I have a 7’ bait caster with a 5500 c3 reel. I’m thinking of using ~15# braid with a flouro leader, no titanium leader. I’m looking for general advice on spinning vs. bait casting setups for trout, how long and heavy should the leader be, and the best knot for the braid to flouro connection. Thanks!

I think you would like the stiffness of the baitcaster for trolling, but it is a single function rod I think. Perhaps a medium heavy spinning rod would work for your trolling needs as well as spinning??
Regarding leaders, my advice = none. I mostly use flutter spoons and don't want any leader weight affecting bait action.

I prefer using a bait caster when targeting larger Trout. It’s the only time I ever use one. It is teamed with a medium heavy 7 foot rod. more on the heavy side. My reel of choice is a Shimano Calcutta 400 . I just use 12 pound clear trilene. Never used a leader, just a swivel . I do take a similar spinning outfit, but for me the bait caster is more comfortable, and I can get better leverage on big trout, although a spinning outfit will do the job also.

Just to clarify, I am proposing a length of flouro for the leader, not a titanium leader.

That 5500C3 should be about perfect, same with your rod.

I use KastKing Rover series round baitcasters on 7 ft MH Cabelas Tourney Trail rod. They're an Abu knockoff, traditional level-wind style reel with a clicker and a really great drag for the price. I use 25 lb braid with about a rod's length of 14 foot flouro leader, connected with a double uni knot. At the terminal end is just a snap.

bobbernumber3 suggests this is a "single function" setup, but I disagree. I use the smaller sized round baitcasters and they cast great as well as long as you have an appropriate size/weight lure tied on. Spoons cast a mile. A little original floating rapala, not so much.

One thing to note, if you're less experienced with a baitcaster, is that the act of reeling in a fish is different. Whereas on spinning gear you use the power of the rod -- repeatedly lifting the rod up, and then reeling in the slack while letting the rod back down -- with a baitcaster you just get that rod tip set up at about a 45 degree angle to keep your line tight, and then use the reel to winch your fish in. Slow and steady, use just enough drag.

Don’t know a thing about baitcasters. But love a good knot! After trying 3 or 4 different knots for Braid to Flouro connections, this is my go to. Pretty easy to tie, and makes a super slim knot that will pass easily through eyelets. Modified Albright

Your baitcaster setup will be just fine. I will often take an Abu 5500 line counter if I will be trolling lots, but depends on the trip that year. For a braid to fluorocarbon knot, I like the double uni.

The only thing I would do differently is up your pound test on your braid to 30lb. It’s still super thin, but I like heavier line on baitcasters just because I am using heavier lures with them and possibly catching bigger fish. I also think a bit thicker line (30lb braid vs 15lb braid) handles better on baitcast reels. Not that 15lb won’t be strong enough, but if your set up doubles as a bigger pike/muskie rod, you will like the heavier line.

Moonman

I use a 7'6'' medium heavy rod with a baitcaster as well -- much, much better for trolling heavy/deep-diving lures. It's also a great set up for casting large lures for trout or pike. I use uni-to-uni knots, as others have mentioned.

I usually start with a long leader -- 20+ feet. That might be overkill, but it also might make a different in the really clear lakes. I dunno. What I do know is it ensures the knot is on the reel when fighting fish closer to the boat, and I don't have to retie leaders as often. Just my .02.

One other trick: IF you plan to use the rod for casting lures, too, a linecounter reel might not work too well. So I put two bobber stops 100 ft and 150 ft up my line. Cinch them down real tight so they don't move, and then you'll be able to replicate how far back the lure was.

Oh, and if trolling with two lines, it can be very helpful to have both lures about the same distance back -- otherwise, you can get nasty tangles if you turn at all sharply or get a big fish. Still just my .02.

A medium heavy baitcaster is perfect for bigger fish, not a one trick pony by any means. I would recommend 30-40lb braid for 2 main reasons.

1) It will mate better with 12-15lb fluoro/mono leader line diameter should you choose to use one over a metal leader (go with a 15lb leader IMO).

2) It won't dig into the spool as bad if you get a big fish on that starts pulling hard. Ideally your drag is set such that the line won't dig into the spool and the fish can take out line, but with almost-sewing-thread braid, it'll dig into itself and cause problems with line coming off the spool, possibly increasing your chances of backlashes, and weaken the line as well.

I use the Double Uni knot for my leaders and it works pretty well. Make sure you thoroughly wet the knot as you cinch it down, especially for the fluoro/mono, as the cinching can burn/weaken it if you don't. Wetting also helps you get a tighter knot.

For my leader material, I have been using 14lb Sunline Sniper fluoro, but this year if I end up getting to go to the BWCA, I think I will be using 12lb Sunline Assassin fluoro, for the main reason that it will be the main line on one of my baitcasters, and I want spare line (will have extra braid for my other baitcaster), but I don't want to carry braid, fluoro, and leader material. It's a lot of extra stuff that I hopefully won't need, so I intend to just use the 12lb fluoro as a leader to simplify things. I am going to be using Sunline 16lb FC100 leader for heavier applications this year when fishing around home, mostly for flipping and light swimbait fishing. I have some 25lb FC100 for larger swimbait action. If you don't mind carrying a small spool of dedicated leader material, I'd point you toward the 16lb FC100.

As for the length of the leader, I usually have an 8-15ft leader, depending on the length of the rod. It is nice to to have a shorter leader around 6-7ft so the knot doesn't have to pass through the line guide when casting, but it is also nice to have a longer leader so you don't mind re-tying more often and so the knot stays on the reel when you have the fish close to the boat, and because it keeps the visible line even further away from the fish.

Best of luck with the big lakers! I've got them on my mind as well...

What jdoutdoors was saying, I have had Abu Garcia 5500 and 6500 and love them. Braids do seem to dig even when the line is spooled on pretty tight. We are talking lake trout and braid is a bit overkill and very visible material for trout. I could understand braids for fishing muskie and pike casting in heavy cabbage but long lining in bdub you are fine with a fresh mono or polymer.