Baitcaster-braid or mono?

[kidkillsaplenty]

I'm sure this question will surface all sorts of opinions, but need everyone's sage advice. What type of line should I use for an Abu Garcia Black Max baitcaster? Here's the situation:

- I'm a beginner. Got the reel as a gift from my sister so want to make sure I try to learn how to use it.
- Just want to use it for freshwater and want it to be versatile. Shad at bonneville, bottom feeders in the Columbia, carp in Vancouver Lake, stocked trout wherever people stock trout
- just bank fishing

What line (mono, flouro, braid) and test would you recommend to reduce backlash or make the inevitable bird's nest less infuriating? What test (for example, heard that you should never use anything lighter than 10# for a baitcaster) to make casting easier? Do you have tricks to make this easier (ex, putting a mono backing on first then following with braid)?

Thanks and may your kindness in answering be repaid in the karma of tangle free fishing.

 

[pinstriper]

You know the way to Carnegie Hall ?

 

[TheKnigit]

For me the biggest thing that has helped.... and I am by no means even close to an expert....is lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of practice casting a weight into a bucket. That and I actually sat down and read the little book/manual that my reel came with. That helped me to figure out what all of the adjustments and knobs were on my bait caster. I normally run just strait 6 lb. mono out of the reel. However I am only using it to chase trout and bass.

 

[kidkillsaplenty]

sure, practice. But, wouldn't it still be helpful to know what an instrument does? Like, if you're buying a guitar, don't you want some sense of whether you should go electric or acoustic, steel strings or nylon, low profile and fret buzz? The tools still make a difference to what you're trying to accomplish and there are better tools for different applications. Especially if you're in a place to make a choice, why not be educated in the options first instead of blindly picking one without information?

 

[kidkillsaplenty]

Thanks for the suggestion, TheKnigit! Bucket idea sounds like a good way to sharpen the skills in the off season.

 

[iairj84]

Thanks for the suggestion, TheKnigit! Bucket idea sounds like a good way to sharpen the skills in the off season.

I would say before you take it out on the water practice. Baitcaster reels are a different animal and nothing can ruin a nice day on the water more than fighting with backlashes for hours. If you do decide to learn on the water then bring a separate rod and reel as well... Just my $.02

 

[Hooked Up]

I would say before you take it out on the water practice. Baitcaster reels are a different animal and nothing can ruin a nice day on the water more than fighting with backlashes for hours. If you do decide to learn on the water then bring a separate rod and reel as well... Just my $.02

Good advice on the 2nd rod.

 

[jamisonace]

Tough question. I learned on mono but I've since switched to braid. I think you need to play with both and figure out what you like best.

 

[hobster]

With a baitcaster I always go mono, just my preference. Unless you get a thick braid it can bury into your reel when you give it tension. Braid can be tough to learn with, it will wrap around your rod tip when setting the hook...etc. Plus you don't need braid unless you are dealing with big fish or harsh conditions (coastal fishing)

 

[DonF]

With a baitcaster I always go mono, just my preference. Unless you get a thick braid it can bury into your reel when you give it tension. Braid can be tough to learn with, it will wrap around your rod tip when setting the hook...etc. Plus you don't need braid unless you are dealing with big fish or harsh conditions (coastal fishing)

I recently found out about braid hanging up in a casting reel. Tried it and early on it was great casting, better than mono. Then it started digging in and hanging up! But I'm gonna start letting a lot out and hopefully dry it and it might help. In mono it's memory that mess's me up now and then. Little secrete to learning to cast a bait caster, learn to use your thumb to control the line going out. I learned on a direct drive years ago and all there was to control the cast and for drag was the thumb! I've read where guy's used to put a leather patch on back of the reel to protect their thumb. I have tried thoise adjustment's and find I must not understand them as even with the reel adjusted I still use my thumb to control the spool. Want to start practice? Put a weight on the line and drop it straight down to the floor, stop it as it hits the floor! Get good at that and go outside and make short cast'ds, just gently toss the weight till you get good at thumbing the spool! Get that down and start putting more power in the cast's!

 

[DonF]

I'm sure this question will surface all sorts of opinions, but need everyone's sage advice. What type of line should I use for an Abu Garcia Black Max baitcaster? Here's the situation:

- I'm a beginner. Got the reel as a gift from my sister so want to make sure I try to learn how to use it.
- Just want to use it for freshwater and want it to be versatile. Shad at bonneville, bottom feeders in the Columbia, carp in Vancouver Lake, stocked trout wherever people stock trout
- just bank fishing

What line (mono, flouro, braid) and test would you recommend to reduce backlash or make the inevitable bird's nest less infuriating? What test (for example, heard that you should never use anything lighter than 10# for a baitcaster) to make casting easier? Do you have tricks to make this easier (ex, putting a mono backing on first then following with braid)?

Thanks and may your kindness in answering be repaid in the karma of tangle free fishing.

I learned to bait cast with a Zebco Direct Drive reel in the late 1960's. You controlled backlash with your thumb. Used that reel years later on trout with 4# line. hardest part for me was casting to lite of baits, they seem to slow down to quick. I still use my thumb today, not a clue how to adjust the modern reel so I don't need my thumb. have three low profiles reels set up with 6# line just for small mouth bass and bullhead cats. I can toss 1/4oz weight easily and have had luck with 1/8 os but 1/ oz can cause me some trouble if I'm not careful.

The idea of never using anything lighter than 10# is baloney. I've used 6 and 8 pound line a good deal on my bait caster's. On my round reels I use for bigger channel cats and in the ocean, but rarely in the ocean, I generally use 10 to 15# line. But then I'm thinking larger fish also. Have got one salmon at 30# on 15# line while living in Alaska. Control the spool with your thumb! Take's practice!

 

[kemfish]

I'd use mono for a bit mainly because it's cheaper. If/when you goober it up it'll be less painful on the wallet to replace.
I think you'll find an equal number of opinions on both sides. Plenty of successful users of both. I think long term you may find braid a bit more versatile because you can put a heavier test on for bigger fish and still have a nice thin diameter to handle things like trout fishing. You will need to learn a braid to leader knot that you can tie easily in different conditions. FG, Alberto, back to back uni, Albright. All work just find one you can tie well.

 

[DonF]

Just thought about it. Direct Drive Zebco I got new about 1965 came spooled with braid line. Been using that line a long time and it's still on the reel!

 

[Senkosam]

I use braid (8# test) on baitcast, spincast and spinning reels. It cast 1/16 oz jigs + soft plastic lures a nice distance and allows good bite detection and hook sets at that distance.
As with any line, pike and pickerel slice through it like it wasn't even there and now I use a very thin 4" wire leader with 6# test diameter and duo-lock snap to attach lures. The leader didn't bother the bass or crappie and this pick could not slice the line with its razor sharp teeth:

I haven't lost pickerel since.