Line weight question

Bassgeek54 · 11-18-10, 01:53 PM

I am new here (first post) and I am a beginner fisherman. So I have been trying to read and watch videos to learn as much as I can. I see KVD talking about using 17 to 25# test on his baitcasting reels. All of the reels I look at say something like 12/125 (so 125 yards of 12# line, right?). Can you put heavier line on those reels but less of it without causing a problem?

I am sure this a really lame question but I don't know who else to ask. Thank you in advance.

pro reel · 11-18-10, 02:01 PM

The line recomendations on reels are just a guide to let you know what the size of the spool is in comparison to other reels. The sizes are based on an average diameter of monofilament line. You can put heavier or lighter line on and you will just use less or more yds. Now, there is a point that if you went above say 20 to 25 lb mono, on a small reel, it would be more difficlut to cast. If you need to use a heavy line on a smaller reel, it would be best to use braided super lines which have a much smaller diameter to strength ratio.

Bassgeek54 · 11-18-10, 02:07 PM

Thank you so much...that is what I needed to know. Some of those reels are quite expensive and I didn't want to risk damaging it.

Tavery5 · 11-18-10, 06:27 PM

Welcome Bassgeek54, you have found your way to a great source for fishing information. Never be worried about the questions that you have, we all started at the same place and have probably at one time or another had the same or a very similar question ourselves. You are surrounded by extremely nice, and knowledgeable people who like nothing better than helping someone else out. So relax and enjoy yourself.

Jrob78 · 11-18-10, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tavery5

Welcome Bassgeek54, you have found your way to a great source for fishing information. Never be worried about the questions that you have, we all started at the same place and have probably at one time or another had the same or a very similar question ourselves. You are surrounded by extremely nice, and knowledgeable people who like nothing better than helping someone else out. So relax and enjoy yourself.

X2

Welcome Bassgeek!

BigBassin144 · 11-18-10, 07:26 PM

Like has been said, you can use heavier line.

But don't do what KVD does just because KVD does it. I don't have single baitcaster with higher than 15lb test on it (besides rods with braid) and I do fine. I think reel manufacturers use 12lb test ratings as a standard because it is a good all around line weight. I use 12lb on a couple of my rods without any problems. I don't see the need to use 20 to 25lb test, unless you're punching really nasty cover, then braid should probably be your choice in line. Also, bumping up go a 17-25lb test line is really going to effect your casting.

BB

Bassgeek54 · 11-18-10, 10:21 PM

Thanks JRob and BB. I know readin and watchin ain't like doing so I was really happy to find this place where I can talk to guys who really do know. I appreciate the advice. I was under the impression that if I am fishing in pretty heavy cover that I would want the heavier line. It sounds like you are saying I do but not as heavy as I thought so that is good to know. Right now the only thing I know for sure is that I would fish everyday if I could...even not catching anything...it is still great to be out on the water casting and enjoying the peace. Thank you again.

bamabassman · 11-18-10, 11:12 PM

WELCOME TO THE BEST FISHING SITE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB PARTNER! As oyu have already seen and read, there are some very helpful folks here. Kick off yer choes, loosen up yer belt and be careful where you put yer drink cuz ya might be spilling it from laughing so hard. Ask ANY question you want, no stupid questions here my friend, no matter how many times we get the same one......we will answer yours like it was the first one asked. bigbassin is a good advisor for you as well as others here. Have fun pal!

Bassgeek54 · 11-19-10, 12:13 AM

Thanks bamabassman. I hope that I can learn enough that some day I can help someone else. Everyone here has been very helpful and friendly.

BigBassin144 · 11-19-10, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassgeek54

Thanks JRob and BB. I know readin and watchin ain't like doing so I was really happy to find this place where I can talk to guys who really do know. I appreciate the advice. I was under the impression that if I am fishing in pretty heavy cover that I would want the heavier line. It sounds like you are saying I do but not as heavy as I thought so that is good to know. Right now the only thing I know for sure is that I would fish everyday if I could...even not catching anything...it is still great to be out on the water casting and enjoying the peace. Thank you again.

It may be a good idea to post your location to your account (accessed through the "User CP" button near the top left of the screen), or at least let us know what lakes you fish, what kind of cover you'll be fishing, etc. That way, we can help you decide what a good line would be for certain applications.

BB

Bassgeek54 · 11-19-10, 09:26 AM

HA! -- Dumb me, I guess that would be helpful. I have added some of the stuff now. So I live near Harrisburg PA and mostly I fish Pincho, Lake Redman and Little Buffalo. We have the Susquehanna river too but I can't afford a outboard for my boat yet so I mostly go to those lakes and use my trolling motor. I have a Pfluger rod and spinning reel I got from Bass Pro and I just recently got another Pfluger rod and a Bass Pro Extreme baitcasting reel that I am practicing with. I am trying to do a lot of reading here and elsewhere to learn more so I can actually catch fish instead of just drowning bait.

BigBassin144 · 11-19-10, 11:01 AM

Ok, being in PA, I doubt the cover you'd be fishing will be much different than what I am. underwater vegetation, lily pads, laydowns, and not a lot of thick matted weeds on the surface. You should be perfectly fine with lines 15lb and under.

The techniques you're fishing can also dictate your line weight as well. For example, if I'm going to be throwing really shallow cranks around timber, rip rap, etc and I don't want them to dive too deep, I'll throw them on a rod with 15lb test. If I'm throwing deeper cranks in open water and want them to dive deeper, I'll throw them on 10lb test.

As for braid, I generally use 30lb when I use it.

Check out the Line Guide on this site for some good recommendations for different techniques. I normally use the lowest line listed on the guide, or sometimes lower.

BB

lilmule · 11-19-10, 11:02 PM

Those Susquehanna smallmouth will like about 8 pd test,or smaller than what one uses for largemouth,smaller baits as well.A spinning outfit would do double duty on yellow britches.

Bassgeek54 · 11-20-10, 12:02 AM

BB - Thank you very much.That is a lot of good information and thanks for the link. I am already learning more here in a few weeks than the months of trying to learn on my own.

lilmule - I was using my spinning outfit on the Yellow Breeches this past summer...didn't know what the heck I was doing but I did like being out there trying. Thanks for the info on the smallies. I am learning a lot from you guys.

11-18-10, 01:53 PM	#1
Bassgeek54 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Cumberland, PA Posts: 6	Line weight question I am new here (first post) and I am a beginner fisherman. So I have been trying to read and watch videos to learn as much as I can. I see KVD talking about using 17 to 25# test on his baitcasting reels. All of the reels I look at say something like 12/125 (so 125 yards of 12# line, right?). Can you put heavier line on those reels but less of it without causing a problem? I am sure this a really lame question but I don't know who else to ask. Thank you in advance.

11-18-10, 07:26 PM	#6
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	Like has been said, you can use heavier line. But don't do what KVD does just because KVD does it. I don't have single baitcaster with higher than 15lb test on it (besides rods with braid) and I do fine. I think reel manufacturers use 12lb test ratings as a standard because it is a good all around line weight. I use 12lb on a couple of my rods without any problems. I don't see the need to use 20 to 25lb test, unless you're punching really nasty cover, then braid should probably be your choice in line. Also, bumping up go a 17-25lb test line is really going to effect your casting. BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

11-18-10, 11:12 PM	#8
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	WELCOME TO THE BEST FISHING SITE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB PARTNER! As oyu have already seen and read, there are some very helpful folks here. Kick off yer choes, loosen up yer belt and be careful where you put yer drink cuz ya might be spilling it from laughing so hard. Ask ANY question you want, no stupid questions here my friend, no matter how many times we get the same one......we will answer yours like it was the first one asked. bigbassin is a good advisor for you as well as others here. Have fun pal! __________________ so many lures, so little time.

11-19-10, 11:01 AM	#12
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	Ok, being in PA, I doubt the cover you'd be fishing will be much different than what I am. underwater vegetation, lily pads, laydowns, and not a lot of thick matted weeds on the surface. You should be perfectly fine with lines 15lb and under. The techniques you're fishing can also dictate your line weight as well. For example, if I'm going to be throwing really shallow cranks around timber, rip rap, etc and I don't want them to dive too deep, I'll throw them on a rod with 15lb test. If I'm throwing deeper cranks in open water and want them to dive deeper, I'll throw them on 10lb test. As for braid, I generally use 30lb when I use it. Check out the Line Guide on this site for some good recommendations for different techniques. I normally use the lowest line listed on the guide, or sometimes lower. BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

11-18-10, 02:01 PM	#2
pro reel BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 761	The line recomendations on reels are just a guide to let you know what the size of the spool is in comparison to other reels. The sizes are based on an average diameter of monofilament line. You can put heavier or lighter line on and you will just use less or more yds. Now, there is a point that if you went above say 20 to 25 lb mono, on a small reel, it would be more difficlut to cast. If you need to use a heavy line on a smaller reel, it would be best to use braided super lines which have a much smaller diameter to strength ratio.

11-18-10, 02:07 PM	#3
Bassgeek54 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Cumberland, PA Posts: 6	Thank you so much...that is what I needed to know. Some of those reels are quite expensive and I didn't want to risk damaging it.

11-18-10, 06:27 PM	#4
Tavery5 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,427	Welcome Bassgeek54, you have found your way to a great source for fishing information. Never be worried about the questions that you have, we all started at the same place and have probably at one time or another had the same or a very similar question ourselves. You are surrounded by extremely nice, and knowledgeable people who like nothing better than helping someone else out. So relax and enjoy yourself.

11-18-10, 10:21 PM	#7
Bassgeek54 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Cumberland, PA Posts: 6	Thanks JRob and BB. I know readin and watchin ain't like doing so I was really happy to find this place where I can talk to guys who really do know. I appreciate the advice. I was under the impression that if I am fishing in pretty heavy cover that I would want the heavier line. It sounds like you are saying I do but not as heavy as I thought so that is good to know. Right now the only thing I know for sure is that I would fish everyday if I could...even not catching anything...it is still great to be out on the water casting and enjoying the peace. Thank you again.

11-19-10, 12:13 AM	#9
Bassgeek54 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Cumberland, PA Posts: 6	Thanks bamabassman. I hope that I can learn enough that some day I can help someone else. Everyone here has been very helpful and friendly.

11-19-10, 09:26 AM	#11
Bassgeek54 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Cumberland, PA Posts: 6	HA! -- Dumb me, I guess that would be helpful. I have added some of the stuff now. So I live near Harrisburg PA and mostly I fish Pincho, Lake Redman and Little Buffalo. We have the Susquehanna river too but I can't afford a outboard for my boat yet so I mostly go to those lakes and use my trolling motor. I have a Pfluger rod and spinning reel I got from Bass Pro and I just recently got another Pfluger rod and a Bass Pro Extreme baitcasting reel that I am practicing with. I am trying to do a lot of reading here and elsewhere to learn more so I can actually catch fish instead of just drowning bait.

11-19-10, 11:02 PM	#13
lilmule BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Buchanan,Tn Posts: 2,685	Those Susquehanna smallmouth will like about 8 pd test,or smaller than what one uses for largemouth,smaller baits as well.A spinning outfit would do double duty on yellow britches.

11-20-10, 12:02 AM	#14
Bassgeek54 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Cumberland, PA Posts: 6	BB - Thank you very much.That is a lot of good information and thanks for the link. I am already learning more here in a few weeks than the months of trying to learn on my own. lilmule - I was using my spinning outfit on the Yellow Breeches this past summer...didn't know what the heck I was doing but I did like being out there trying. Thanks for the info on the smallies. I am learning a lot from you guys.

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