So based off of a post on here, I switched over to braided line. I put 20lb braided on my Calcutta and Ambassador reels, which is supposed to be like 6-8lb mono. My reels feel like they are struggling with this line. Is it that different of a feel? I can't say that I like it and this stuff isn't cheap.

I have always used Power Pro braided line on my baitcaster reels. Right now I have 50# Power Pro on my Abu Garcia Beast reel. Power Pro casts good, reels good. I really like it.

Savage Voyageur: "I have always used Power Pro braided line on my baitcaster reels. Right now I have 50# Power Pro on my Abu Garcia Beast reel. Power Pro casts good, reels good. I really like it. "

I have an honest question, no snark intended. What is the thinking behind spooling 50 lb test line? I have used 8 lb test Fireline for years, and assuming I've tied a good knot, i have a hard time tearing the line if I have an unforgiving snag. I can't imagine what I'd do with 20 lb, let alone 50 lb. All that comes to mind is cutting the line and that would leave excess line in the water which I try to avoid.

I'd also note that with 8 lb test FireLine I've landed one 44 inch and one 45 inch pike (in open waters, in Canada) on the 8 lb line and felt the battle didn't last an unreasonable time so as to harm the fish. (included in the rig was 12 lb Knot-2-Kinky- titanium leader). Of course if I were fishing in heavy/woody cover, it would be another story.

So given my experience, I'm trying to understand the advantage of the heavier line. Thanks for your perspectives.

I have eight or ten pound fire line on several reels but always run a six pound XT leader unless Specifically targeting Pike then a titanium leader. Unless you are tying direct to your lure, your line is only as strong as the leader and if fishing for walleye or bass I’m sure your not using a 20 or 50 pound leader, so why the big bucks for the heavy braid?

I also landed a 44” Musky with 8# line on my spinning rod, purely by accident. I like using #50 pound braided line on my Musky/Pike reels. I tie on a Titanium leader to the braided line. When, not if I get hung up on a rock I can just pull it up and out most of the time. I wrap the line around the butt of the rod a few times and pull it free. Do not try to pull a stuck lure out with braided line with your bare hands, because it will slice into your finger. Also do not try to force it out with your rod, might break
the rod. Most serious musky/Pike guys use at least #50 or more line. Some guys use #100 line for musky. With the high speed powerful reels and stiff rods made today you can crank them to boat pretty fast. The reel I just got has a one handed power crank option that I’m getting. Once they get to the surface you just crank them in with zero worries an out your line breaking. Most huge fish caught are boated in under a minute, lifted up and released in about 90 seconds. The mortality rate is much higher than playing them for 10 min on mono. I’ve also pulled some pretty big branches off the bottom. No way could I ever have done this with mono. As you know the lakes up in Canada are filled with sharp rocks underwater and this braid is good for that too. Big Pike/Musky don’t care one bit about seeing braided line, they just want that lure in their mouth. Yes you could go with 20#-30#-40#, but I like the benefit of bigger line poundage without gaining that much on line size.

Side note, I run 8lbs Trilene mono for walleyes.

So originally, I started this quest because my Significant others line was getting twisted around the tip of her pole every single cast. I just wanted to fix this issue. Then in reading a thread on here and talking with a "fishing expert" at a store I decided that I should switch everything over to braided. The 20 lb braided I use is supposed to be the same size as 8 lb mono, but I don't know.

I'm just reaching out to everyone here because I'm not happy with the braided I put on.

bombinbrian: "So originally, I started this quest because my Significant others line was getting twisted around the tip of her pole every single cast. I just wanted to fix this issue. Then in reading a thread on here and talking with a "fishing expert" at a store I decided that I should switch everything over to braided. The 20 lb braided I use is supposed to be the same size as 8 lb mono, but I don't know.


I'm just reaching out to everyone here because I'm not happy with the braided I put on."

Please tell us what brand braid you are using. They all preform different.

Savage Voyageur: "

bombinbrian: "So originally, I started this quest because my Significant others line was getting twisted around the tip of her pole every single cast. I just wanted to fix this issue. Then in reading a thread on here and talking with a "fishing expert" at a store I decided that I should switch everything over to braided. The 20 lb braided I use is supposed to be the same size as 8 lb mono, but I don't know.



I'm just reaching out to everyone here because I'm not happy with the braided I put on."

Please tell us what brand braid you are using. They all preform different. "

Here's from the other post on here, that I posted
So I switched all of our reels over to braided, mostly because of the recommendation here. I put on Sufix Performance Braid. I put 30lb, 8lb mono equivalent on the SO Zebco 33 Platinum and 20lb, 6lb mono equivalent on my Ambassador and Calcutta reels. Seems like the reels are really working to reel them in. I am not a fan right now, this is my first experience with braided line. Am I doing something wrong or is it just that much different?

When you say you feel like your reels are "struggling" with the line, what do you mean? Thin braid on baitcasters can sometimes dig into itself when fighting a fish with tight drag or when trying to free a snagged lure. It is also more sensitive to wind and might wrap on the guides more often. I started with 40lb 8-carrier braid (Sufix 832) and had no issues with digging and almost no guide wraps.

Heavier braid will limit casting distance with lighter lures, sure, but it offers more abrasion resistance against rocks and metal. Since a lot of the BWCA is rocky, I think that resistance is desirable. Additionally, the actual diameter of the line will mate better with 8-15lb mono/FC (40lb braid is typically the same diameter as 12-15lb depending on brand) though it will of course produce a larger connection knot which can be sometimes be fussy with micro guides. That being said, 40lb Super8SlickV2 to 14lb Sunline Sniper FC (double uni knot) goes through my micro guides without an issue other than occasionally getting stuck on the tip when reeling past the knot to cast again (which just requires you to turn the handle a little extra hard).

For frogging I switched to 65lb PowerPro MaxCuatro which is 25% thinner than regular braid, so it's as thick as 50lb PowerPro. It is also 4-carrier so it makes more noise on the guides but it cuts through vegetation better than 8-carrier braid, which is otherwise smoother and quieter. The high breaking strength is really because around the Twin Cities, I throw frogs around clusters of lily pads and heavy vegetation and I horse the fish through it all with a 7'3" extra heavy rod and I want some heavy line to go with it.

For general use, I think 40lb braid is fine. 30lb may be fine as well, but I've not had enough issues with 40lb to downsize.

bombinbrian: "

Savage Voyageur: "

bombinbrian: "So originally, I started this quest because my Significant others line was getting twisted around the tip of her pole every single cast. I just wanted to fix this issue. Then in reading a thread on here and talking with a "fishing expert" at a store I decided that I should switch everything over to braided. The 20 lb braided I use is supposed to be the same size as 8 lb mono, but I don't know.



I'm just reaching out to everyone here because I'm not happy with the braided I put on."

Please tell us what brand braid you are using. They all preform different. "

Here's from the other post on here, that I posted
So I switched all of our reels over to braided, mostly because of the recommendation here. I put on Sufix Performance Braid. I put 30lb, 8lb mono equivalent on the SO Zebco 33 Platinum and 20lb, 6lb mono equivalent on my Ambassador and Calcutta reels. Seems like the reels are really working to reel them in. I am not a fan right now, this is my first experience with braided line. Am I doing something wrong or is it just that much different?
"

Not sure what you mean by the reels are working, but sometimes when somebody first uses braid they don’t use a backing or tape the line to the spool. If it’s not on a backing or taped it will spin on the spool so will seem to be having trouble reeling in.

I have the line on the reels. It just seems too heavy I guess.

I have 2 thoughts:
1) How old is your Calcutta? Some of the older reels had brass line guides. These are too soft and braid will cut into them, causing drag.
2) Are you sure the wound line isn't spinning on the spool?

For spinning reels the 20 pound braid should be fine. Not sure why you would have problems. Braid offers many advantages especially with a fluorocarbon leader. On your baitcasters I would say it is too thin. I like 30lb braid on size 100 baitcaster reels, larger reels get 40-50, muskie reels get 80. I just find the larger diameter of the 30-50 pound braid ‘handles’ better on the reel, nicer to thumb the spool etc. etc. the braid overall is still very thin but 40lb is just that much thicker than 20lb to make it handle better on a baitcaster. If I were you I would grab a spool if 40lb power pro and try casting in your back yard. I bet you will see a difference. If it works for you then you can change out on your other baitcasters and keep the 20lb you bought for spinning reels.

Moonman.

I have 30lb Suffix 832 on my Shimano SLX DC and it seems fine.

bombinbrian: "So originally, I started this quest because my Significant others line was getting twisted around the tip of her pole every single cast. I just wanted to fix this issue. Then in reading a thread on here and talking with a "fishing expert" at a store I decided that I should switch everything over to braided. The 20 lb braided I use is supposed to be the same size as 8 lb mono, but I don't know.


I'm just reaching out to everyone here because I'm not happy with the braided I put on."

It seems odd your braid isn't working im sorry to hear that. I had the exact same issue with not wanting to mess around with my wife's Mono. Still use Mono on slip bobbers but im really picky about using it.

Moonman: "For spinning reels the 20 pound braid should be fine. Not sure why you would have problems. Braid offers many advantages especially with a fluorocarbon leader. On your baitcasters I would say it is too thin. I like 30lb braid on size 100 baitcaster reels, larger reels get 40-50, muskie reels get 80. I just find the larger diameter of the 30-50 pound braid ‘handles’ better on the reel, nicer to thumb the spool etc. etc. the braid overall is still very thin but 40lb is just that much thicker than 20lb to make it handle better on a baitcaster. If I were you I would grab a spool if 40lb power pro and try casting in your back yard. I bet you will see a difference. If it works for you then you can change out on your other baitcasters and keep the 20lb you bought for spinning reels.


Moonman."

I agree with Moonman. 20lb seems a little skinny on a baitcaster. I'd hike it up to 30lb...maybe you could reel the 20lb onto a spinning reel if you have one in need of new line so it's not a total loss. I put 20lb braid on all my spinning reels and absolutely love it (typically tie on a FC leader). Either PP Slick 8 or Suffix 832.

Braided line is very slick. It is spinning on your spool instead of gripping it. Wind it off the reel, tie mono on the bare spool and wind on about 20-30 ft, next attach the mono from the spool to the braid via a uni-to -uni knot. Wind on the braid until full. You will have a 100% different experience. I would also suggest you teach your wife to use a spinning reel, those zebco 33s don't hold up well.