3 Things You Must Know Before Selecting Braided Fishing Line
- By: Capt. Peter Deeks
- on
Don’t all braided fishing lines work well with all spinning reels?
Not exactly.
Check this out!!
Things You Must Know Before Selecting Braided Fishing Line [VIDEO]
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It is absolutely critical to keep these things in mind when selecting a braided line for your spinning reel.
The first is castability and how far you need to cast.
The second is taking into account structure and if there are any sharp objects around the areas you mainly like to fish.
The last thing to keep in mind is the size of the fish you are targeting.
Although, the size of the fish can be ignored in some cases because braided line is very strong and can vary depending on specific cases.
My Plan Of Attack
No matter the fishing scenario or target species, I only always carry 4 fishing rod outfits with me at a given time.
Whether I am targeting 100-lb tarpon or tiny trout, these are the four rod/reel combinations I take with me.
Inshore Fishing Scenarios
To start, I use a small, lightweight setup for fun inshore settings.
On this outfit, I prefer a 2500-size reel paired with 15-lb braided line.
I prefer 15-lb braid because I’ve found that 10-lb braid does not cast that much further and it gives you no room for error.
You risk losing a big fish if 10-lb braid slightly frays or comes into contact with sharp, foreign objects.
Although 10-lb braid does allow you to cast slightly farther and with more accuracy, it is not that important in the long run.
Also, 10-lb test is just light line in general that won’t be able to stack up against larger predatory fish.
15-lb braid is slightly heavier than 10-lb but it is much stronger.
Additionally, 15-lb braid will last longer than 10-lb braid will.
Need A Super Far Cast
If I need to cast very far and I’m live bait fishing on the open flats without any structure, I’m going to use a larger spinning reel with a lighter braided line.
I prefer a 4000-size spinning reel paired with 15-lb braided line.
The combination of a large diameter spool on the reel and light 15-lb braided line cuts back on friction allowing you to launch your bait out.
You could even jump up to 20-lb line with minimal difference.
Just keep in mind that you do not want to fish with this outfit around heavy or intrusive structure.
All Day, Every Day Setup
My go-to, every day setup consists of a 3500-size spinning reel with 50-lb braided line.
This obviously cuts back on your casting distance and inhibits you from being able to launch baits out very far.
Instead, this setup allows you to fish heavy structure and have just as much fun as you would on lighter tackle.
You don’t want to have to use a giant 6000-size spinning reel around big rocks and structure.
The solution to this is using a smaller reel with a heavier braided line.
Keep in mind not to lock down on the drag too much because smaller reels are not specifically designed for heavy line.
If you plan on fishing close to mangroves or docks for big snook or redfish, this is an ideal setup.
I would recommend using anywhere between 30 and 50-lb braided line on a 3500-size spinning reel.
Big Inshore Setup
For targeting big snook around docks and giant inshore tarpon, I prefer to use a heavier outfit.
On this outfit, I pair a 5500-size spinning reel with 65-lb braided line.
As with the outfit mentioned above, this reel is not designed for heavier line so you should not lock down on the drag.
This outfit gives you enough strength and power to reel big fish in while also giving you the line capacity you need for the long runs.
When you are using heavy line on smaller reels, you can’t aim to use these setups on fish that will dump out 200-300 yards of line.
You want to really only use setups with heavy line on smaller reels in situations around heavy structure where you are just pulling the fish right out and to the boat.
Try to think of the scenarios you commonly find yourself in and how you can maximize your gear to assist you in your objectives.
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Hello I just bought a kuma 8000k reel for sur fishing what would be the best line to use on the longcaster
What should i hope carching for a 5000 reel size shimano nasci?
Hey Munir,
With a 5,000 reel you can catch just about everything. You’ll want to choose the right line based on what you’re targeting.
50lb braid for big snook, big snapper, redfish, tarpon, drum, sharks…etc. and 30lb braid for mid size redfish, drum, snook…etc.
A 5000 size reel is a little too big for a lot of smaller fish like trout, but you can catch them – it’s just the fight and fishing won’t be as fun.
Hope this answers your questions!
Thanks,
– Peter
Is braided line a good choice for a Carolina rig in saltwater?
Hey Robert! I use braided line on all of my reels…but I also run at least a couple feet of fluorocarbon from my braid to my hook/weight/lure. If using a carina rig, use 3 feet of fluorocarbon in dirty water and up to 15’ in gin clear water. I find tying braid directly to the hook or swivel will spook fish from biting.
I use 40 lb braid on a 7000 reel for big inshore fishing and always works out
I’m looking into buying a general purpose reel. Going after trout, mangrove snapper, redfish, snook, sheepshead, and other small to medium inshore species. Would a penn slammer 2500 or 3500 be a better option?
I have a Penn fierce 3 with a 4000 reel. I keep 20lb braid on it all the time and use 15lb leader. Never had any problem with it yet. Is this the wrong setup?
Hey Anthony,
That is a great set up for long casts and fishing in areas with little to no structure. 👍
I’ve just been using 30lb braid for everything. No wind knots, and if the drag is set correctly, no break offs. I use a mono leader of around 2 foot, attached to a swivel. It prevents line twist, and because I can tie a trilene knot on the mono and the braid to the swivel, the knot strength is the strongest possible. I use it on 2500 series reels, to 8000 series. The size of the reel determines my leader line strength, but it’s usually 40lb. So instead of having to purchase 10 different types of line, I can purchase just a couple in very large rolls and save money.
With 6’ of leader, do you cast with the 6’ of leader out, or do you just reel the leader into the guides and not worry about knot wear? And what knot do you use, fg, uni to uni or something else?
Hey Ted,
I use an FG knot if I’m tying lighter braid to heavier fluorocarbon and if the diameters are similar in size I will tie a blood knot. Both will cast out of the guides really well.
What long cast reel are you using and are there other specific long cast reels you would consider?
Hey Art,
I really like using the Penn Slammer reels…but any reel will work as long as the spool is wide…the wider the spool the longer the cast. For inshore fish, a 3500-4500 will work great with lighter braid (15-20lb braid) and for larger fish I will use a 6500-8500 size reels (50-65lb braid).
thanks for the perspective on different line weights. How many times something larger than imagined hit the gig and headed for deeper unknowns that we couldn’t turn. That’s still what I’m trying to figure out. Does this happen to other not so professional fishermen too?
Hey Jan,
I like to prepare for the big fish even when I’m expecting small fish…. if fishing from a kayak or a boat, any of these combos will allow you to catch just about anything that swims inshore. If a mega tarpon or snook…etc head out…all you need to do is follow them for a little.
If fishing from shore, I go a little overkill and use heavier set ups that hold at least 300 yards of line if there’s potential for the giant snook or jack…etc.
Thanks,
-Peter