Line to lite or to heavy....

DBake · 04-30-06, 10:05 PM

How do you know if you are useing to lite (my guess is that it breaks when you have a fish on) or when the line is to heavy?

Rebbasser · 04-30-06, 10:56 PM

The easiest way is to see what the reel is rated for-120 yards of 12 lb mono, etc. Stick with the reel rating and you will be fine.

islandbass · 05-01-06, 03:19 AM

Check your rod. There will be a spot on it near the handle that will say something like 4-12 lb test. Whatever is the range of line weight, that is the range the rod can safely handle and protect.

Let's take my Lamiglas which is rated for 8-20 lb test. If I slap on some 6# test, I should not be surprised if the line breaks on the hookset with a large fish. My rod will most likely NOT protect so light a line. If I use 25# test, I run the risk of breaking my rod on a big fish or a hard snag because the line in this scenario will most likely not snap before the rod.

I will admit I do use 30# braid with that set up but I have my reel's drag set lighter to hopefully compensate a bit.

Other reason line breaks with a fish on are numerous, ranging from a bad knot to nicks, or abrasion, or line twist, or simply a bad batch of line. It can be a puzzle at times to decipher the true reason why a line breaks.

betursweetbass · 05-01-06, 10:08 AM

This is just me, but my rule of thumb goes like this:

Spinning - 6 or 8 pound test. Usually 8 pound Silver Thread or P-Line
Baitcaster - 8 up to 15 pound test. Usually 12 pound P-Line

All my rods are either Medium power to Medium/Heavy, and are about 6'6" in length.

DBake · 05-01-06, 11:12 AM

Good information, but I should have explained more, my question is more about lure action when do you know if its is to lite or heavy?

Set-The-Hook · 05-01-06, 01:47 PM

lighter the line the better the action of the lure. Cover/water clearity should determine line size. I go as big as possible. With a spinnerbait Why use a light line for example.

bass kicker · 05-01-06, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandbass

Check your rod. There will be a spot on it near the handle that will say something like 4-12 lb test. Whatever is the range of line weight, that is the range the rod can safely handle and protect.

Let's take my Lamiglas which is rated for 8-20 lb test. If I slap on some 6# test, I should not be surprised if the line breaks on the hookset with a large fish. My rod will most likely NOT protect so light a line. If I use 25# test, I run the risk of breaking my rod on a big fish or a hard snag because the line in this scenario will most likely not snap before the rod.

I will admit I do use 30# braid with that set up but I have my reel's drag set lighter to hopefully compensate a bit.

Other reason line breaks with a fish on are numerous, ranging from a bad knot to nicks, or abrasion, or line twist, or simply a bad batch of line. It can be a puzzle at times to decipher the true reason why a line breaks.

island bass basicly sumerized it up for you right here

pig n jig · 05-02-06, 10:24 PM

Tie your girlfriend up in the morning before going to work and if she anit still tied up when you get home, The line anit heavy enough for th' big basses in your lakes.If shes packed and gone when you get home, look for a woman thats got more teeth than the jack O lanterns you carve during Halloween.

I like a heavy line , I got 12 lb on spinning, and up to 80 lb braid on baitcasters, even in gin clear water, not water Zooker calls clear.

P N J

flfireman · 05-02-06, 10:31 PM

Kinda go w/ PNJ. I use 30# power pro on everything, some as high as 45-50#. May not be in gin clear water, but have fished some pretty clear water. Have noticed some lures act differently w/ my heavier braid, but for the most part it's not drastic. Ive also used open looped knots on some lures that need that extra play. I believe Rapala recommends this on some of their lures.

Rebbasser · 05-02-06, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBake

Good information, but I should have explained more, my question is more about lure action when do you know if its is to lite or heavy?

Hadn't really thought about that. I think if you stick with the line that is rated for the rod/reel you are using you shouldn't have a problem. Probably the more accurate question is what rod/reel to use with a bait. A 4" wacky rigged finesse worm probably isn't a good choice to fish on a heavy action flipping stick anymore than a throwing a DD22 on a UL spinning reel isn't a good choice. Match the weight of the bait with the rod/reel and you will be good to go.

KenDammit · 05-03-06, 05:23 PM

its not a very simple answer because there are several factors that come into play.

How clear is the water?
What kind of cover or structure are you fishing?
What type(s) of lure(s) are you fishing?
Do you know the general size of fish where you are?
What type of action does the lure have?

You obviously have to stay within the line specs of your rod and reel for it to be most advantageous, but you also have to factor in the other things. You wouldn't use 50lb braid on a finesse worm in gin clear water and you most certainly wouldn't use 6lb mono on a spinnerbait or a jig. So, you just have to look at all the conditions and decide from there..it'll lead you to the right answer...of which there isn't just one specific lb test you'll use.

skeeter944 · 05-03-06, 05:44 PM

these guys pretty much have covered it all. my rule of thumb is to err on the heavy side when fishing heavy cover or stained water and err on the light side when fishing clear and open water.

rrw4258 · 05-03-06, 08:57 PM

lmao, reb
"A dd22 on an ultralight", but hey im sure someones tried it... as for the original question...
i use 10-14lb. on my baitcasters and
8-10 and sometimes 12 on my spinning rod and of course
power pro... usualy a 20 to 30lb. power pro will enable you to horse those big lunkers out of some cover!

Ryan

04-30-06, 10:05 PM	#1
DBake BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Warrensburg, MO Posts: 24	Line to lite or to heavy.... How do you know if you are useing to lite (my guess is that it breaks when you have a fish on) or when the line is to heavy?

04-30-06, 10:56 PM	#2
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,141	The easiest way is to see what the reel is rated for-120 yards of 12 lb mono, etc. Stick with the reel rating and you will be fine. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

05-01-06, 03:19 AM	#3
islandbass BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: WA State Posts: 1,783	Check your rod. There will be a spot on it near the handle that will say something like 4-12 lb test. Whatever is the range of line weight, that is the range the rod can safely handle and protect. Let's take my Lamiglas which is rated for 8-20 lb test. If I slap on some 6# test, I should not be surprised if the line breaks on the hookset with a large fish. My rod will most likely NOT protect so light a line. If I use 25# test, I run the risk of breaking my rod on a big fish or a hard snag because the line in this scenario will most likely not snap before the rod. I will admit I do use 30# braid with that set up but I have my reel's drag set lighter to hopefully compensate a bit. Other reason line breaks with a fish on are numerous, ranging from a bad knot to nicks, or abrasion, or line twist, or simply a bad batch of line. It can be a puzzle at times to decipher the true reason why a line breaks. __________________ ARX "If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." Doug Larson (Shimano 2005 Reel Catalog)

05-02-06, 10:31 PM	#9
flfireman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Palm Bay, Fl Posts: 2,751	Kinda go w/ PNJ. I use 30# power pro on everything, some as high as 45-50#. May not be in gin clear water, but have fished some pretty clear water. Have noticed some lures act differently w/ my heavier braid, but for the most part it's not drastic. Ive also used open looped knots on some lures that need that extra play. I believe Rapala recommends this on some of their lures. __________________ In the Lord all things are possible.

05-03-06, 08:57 PM	#13
rrw4258 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bellevue, Ohio Posts: 2,338	lmao, reb "A dd22 on an ultralight", but hey im sure someones tried it... as for the original question... i use 10-14lb. on my baitcasters and 8-10 and sometimes 12 on my spinning rod and of course power pro... usualy a 20 to 30lb. power pro will enable you to horse those big lunkers out of some cover! Ryan __________________ Never Give Up!

05-01-06, 10:08 AM	#4
betursweetbass BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 646	This is just me, but my rule of thumb goes like this: Spinning - 6 or 8 pound test. Usually 8 pound Silver Thread or P-Line Baitcaster - 8 up to 15 pound test. Usually 12 pound P-Line All my rods are either Medium power to Medium/Heavy, and are about 6'6" in length.

05-01-06, 11:12 AM	#5
DBake BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Warrensburg, MO Posts: 24	Good information, but I should have explained more, my question is more about lure action when do you know if its is to lite or heavy?

05-01-06, 01:47 PM	#6
Set-The-Hook BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 17	lighter the line the better the action of the lure. Cover/water clearity should determine line size. I go as big as possible. With a spinnerbait Why use a light line for example.

05-02-06, 10:24 PM	#8
pig n jig BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Avoca, NY Posts: 3,508	Tie your girlfriend up in the morning before going to work and if she anit still tied up when you get home, The line anit heavy enough for th' big basses in your lakes.If shes packed and gone when you get home, look for a woman thats got more teeth than the jack O lanterns you carve during Halloween. I like a heavy line , I got 12 lb on spinning, and up to 80 lb braid on baitcasters, even in gin clear water, not water Zooker calls clear. P N J

05-03-06, 05:23 PM	#11
KenDammit BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Richmond, KY Posts: 691	its not a very simple answer because there are several factors that come into play. How clear is the water? What kind of cover or structure are you fishing? What type(s) of lure(s) are you fishing? Do you know the general size of fish where you are? What type of action does the lure have? You obviously have to stay within the line specs of your rod and reel for it to be most advantageous, but you also have to factor in the other things. You wouldn't use 50lb braid on a finesse worm in gin clear water and you most certainly wouldn't use 6lb mono on a spinnerbait or a jig. So, you just have to look at all the conditions and decide from there..it'll lead you to the right answer...of which there isn't just one specific lb test you'll use.

05-03-06, 05:44 PM	#12
skeeter944 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Somewhere in South Carolina Posts: 2,377	these guys pretty much have covered it all. my rule of thumb is to err on the heavy side when fishing heavy cover or stained water and err on the light side when fishing clear and open water.

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