line size requirements on rods?

[acm95301]

I'm converting a couple of my rods to braid. And it seems that the strength to diameter superiority of braid allows for some very small diameter line.

What I was wondering was, when you have a rod or reels rated for 6lb to 12lb line....but your using braid equivalent to 2 lb diameter line....what will be the problems associated with that?

Also if you exceed the rod/reel specification for line size, what will be the draw backs?

[Robert F]

Sounds like 10 pound PowerPro? I have used it for over a year now on my spinning outfits. I back with old mono and load about 60-70 yards. I use the tiny number 10? 8? 35 pound test Spro swivel to attach my leader of about three feet. I do this for a couple of reasons.
1. The swivel keeps the twist out.
2. The short leader keeps the connection out of the rod tip for butter smooth casting.
3. When the leader needs to be changed the connection is retied on both ends reducing the chance of failure from fatigue of the braid knot.
4. Tying two palomars is much easier than a Uni.

When I make the connection I first tie the leader to the swivel with a palomar. Then I tie the swivel/leader to the braid with a palomar. The lure or hook is attached to the line with a palomar and the three foot leader will allow you a couple of reties before you need to make a new leader. I do use rods with Titanium recoil guides. It may make a difference as constant braid use may damage ceramic inserts.
You will love the braid main line. I have all the confidence in the world with this system. Plus it has saved me a bundle in fancy Japanese Flouro purchases.
Before the braid I would change the flouro after each tournament. Fish 10 or 15 of those a year and somebody in the line biz is getting rich. If you do not change the flouro you will be risking failure from a nick, fighting line twist or loose casting distance from coating loss. Braid is a winner.

[Jeff C.]

What I was wondering was, when you have a rod or reels rated for 6lb to 12lb line....but your using braid equivalent to 2 lb diameter line....what will be the problems associated with that?

I used to wonder about that question myself and here is what I was told. The rod specs for line size are based on the breaking point of the line, because it relates to the lure size necessary to load up the rod when casting without breaking the line. In other words, a stiffer rod will have a higher lure weight rating because it takes a larger lure to load up the rod during the cast. Hence, the line will need to have a higher breaking point to not snap during the cast. If this is true, then the diameter of the line won't make any difference, all that matters is the line breaking strength.

This is how it was explained to me, I'm all ears if anyone else has any ideas on the subject.

Jeff C.

[Phil]

also years ago I was taught the max strength line listed on a rod, say its rated 2 to 10lb. If you use hevier line on the rod, it is subject to breakage on hook set or jerking loose from a snag. I have broke a Fenwick or two using hevier rated line than was listed for the rod.

Just my .02

[Tin Can]

Sounds like 10 pound PowerPro? I have used it for over a year now on my spinning outfits. I back with old mono and load about 60-70 yards. I use the tiny number 10? 8? 35 pound test Spro swivel to attach my leader of about three feet.

Are you using a flouro leader?

I've been avoiding braid forever, I'm about ready to make the switch, flouro is too expensive and needs to be respooled to often IMO.

For the guys who use braid on spinning rods with flouro leaders, how long of a leader are you using in clear water? The main thing I am concerned about is the visiblity of the braid. Is it really something I should be worried about? Does anyone tie direct with braid for finesse techniques? How line shy are bass really?

[acm95301]

Great question...Its seems how line shy the bass are supposed to relates to a million variables....in the early fall I was catching bass by the ton on flukes, others catch them on punkers etc....Bass can't be line shy there....so we are mostly talking about neutral or inactive bass....and we've all decided that small, less obtrusive is they way to go. 20 years ago mono caught fish fine, at least until furocarbon caught more. I think anything can catch an active bass.

I just spooled a trout rod, a drop shot rod, and two jig rods with braid and I'm using 8ft leaders of flurocarbon....

1. Power pro has really impressed me on my punker/frog rod
2. no line memory and easy casting
3. sensitivity maxium


so far I havn't broken off a braid line or had the braid destroy my gear in any way, and I've only had one backlash, and it wasnt that bad. I remember fireline lashed on my first cast..had to cut it all off.


FYI... spool a few yards of mono on the spool as a backing to prevent a drag failure like event. I forgot to do this...so far it hasn't been a problem...we will see.

Also Setting the drag is more important..some use a scale to pull against to set it below the breaking point of the weakest component.

[TonyL]

Im swithchin my stuff over , got about half the rods with braid so far , I keep some spools of different line size mono , and flouro , on a rack in the boat , leaders can be applied if necessary , also this totally extends your (my) arsenal , as that 1 rod can now be used for top water,jig , crank bait etc.,etc. etc. just change the leader.This is a major plus for me.I 'm holdin my breath on the guide thing though , man i hope I don't start havin damage , if so would that be a warranty thing ? As far as stealth , I dont have the opportunity to fish as much as i'd like , so far I can't say if the braid/no leader is visible , or if bass care , so I use short enough leaders , that wont force a knot thru the guides .

[tunaman]

FYI... spool a few yards of mono on the spool as a backing to prevent a drag failure like event. I forgot to do this...so far it hasn't been a problem...we will see.

Or use some electical tape on the spool, and/or maybe a wrap of electrical tape wound on over the first wrap of braid... That will prevent slippage.

If you didn't do something, I'd suggest that you find the time to unwind and redo your setup, as it will fail at the worse possible moment if you don't... know this first-hand, as when I first started using the braid setup over three years ago I tied direct to the spool without any backing or tape, and finally had the entire spool of braid start to slip when I was on a big fish, and had a heck of a time trying to get the line wound back on while fighting the fish! That's when I first started incorporating tape into my process, and haven't had a failure since.

Roger

[tunaman]

Oh, and I've got braid on the majority of my day-to-day stuff now, from light spinning through my swimbait reels (and of course Line One on nearly all my saltwater reels including the Internationals and Saltists).

Roger

[Oldschool]

Regarding the line size question; set you drag no higher than 8 lbs, most fresh water rods, with the possible exception of heavy flipping/pitching and big swimbait rods. Your standard size fresh water bass reel drag is designed for 8 lbs max, and that is a lot force.
In regards to lure weight, don't exceed the maximum listed on the rod, you can break the rod casting heavier lures than the rod is designed to handle.
Bass are not usually line shy under low light, off color water or when fishing weedy cover. If a leader makes you feel better, use it. If the bass are extrememy line shy, use smaller diameter low visible line.
Definately use tape to prevent braid from turning on the spool core. You can also wrap teflon plumbers tape about 150' down into the spool to prevent the braid from blowing up during casting.
I use braid as a filler for salt water reels, rarely use it bass fishing anymore unless fishing weedy cover. Good luck.
Tom

[Robert F]

Sounds like 10 pound PowerPro? I have used it for over a year now on my spinning outfits. I back with old mono and load about 60-70 yards. I use the tiny number 10? 8? 35 pound test Spro swivel to attach my leader of about three feet.

Are you using a flouro leader?

I've been avoiding braid forever, I'm about ready to make the switch, flouro is too expensive and needs to be respooled to often IMO.

For the guys who use braid on spinning rods with flouro leaders, how long of a leader are you using in clear water? The main thing I am concerned about is the visiblity of the braid. Is it really something I should be worried about? Does anyone tie direct with braid for finesse techniques? How line shy are bass really?

I explained the leader but to answer again, yes. One huge part of the system IMO is that Spro swivel. The 35 pound test swivel is tiny. It is not much bigger than a Uni knot. It is very easy to tie and saves the braid from inevitable line twist as you do not change the main line like you do straight flouro. One of the reasons you have to change spinning rod line is that the line twist from drag slippage or just the spinning of your worm when you reel it in. That is gone with the swivel. The three foot length is manageable to cast with the swivel outside the rod tip. The braid is tiny and black, the swivel is tiny and black. I do not think they are a visibility factor. But using light line is not primarily a visibility issue anyway. It is more about allowing the bait action to be controlled by the fisherman. You lose touch with the bait action and movement is stifled with heavy line. Especially with small baits.

[tunaman]

One of the reasons you have to change spinning rod line is that the line twist from drag slippage or just the spinning of your worm when you reel it in. That is gone with the swivel.

It's gone without the swivel as well... braid doesn't suffer the effects of line twist. I used the swivels myself for a short time, but ended up preferring to just use the uni-to-uni knot instead... works for me (GREAT!) and to each their own.

Roger