I usually use 20lb test line, but I hear many guys using 30 or even up to 60lb test. How does this fit on today's reels that seem to be getting smaller? Do you just put less on? Does it cast comparably to 20lb diameters? I have been thinking about upsizing because losing a fish to timber or force has been a concern (I wish). I'm not a braid or spider wire guy. Tried it and it just didn't work out. Interested in hearing what your using and how it works for you.

25 is about as big mono or fluro guys. higher than that is generally braid

I'll flip with 25lb Fluoro sometimes, but for casting I'm not using anything more than 20. Some guys will use 30lb mono for big swimbaits but they are also using 300-400 sized reels. I wouldn't put anything more than 20 lb on a 200 or smaller sized reel for general casting purposes.

So, you are speaking of mono, and limited to it?

The heavier the line:

1) the less far it will cast;
2) and, the object being cast must be heavier as larger lines don't work well with very light lures.

This is similar to the spinning versus bait caster argument. Spinning tackle is often better suited for finesse, baitcasters are often better for brute force.

You'll hear the great finesse guys talk about using 6 lbs. test, sometimes 8, but they'll mention that 10 is too heavy so they encourage you to stay light.

But, you don't need all that much casting distance typically for heavy cover presentations so I wonder if what you are looking for, like most of us with limited gear, is sort of the "jack of all trades, master of none" selection?

If so, I'd guess for a mono that "over 10 and less than 20" would be in the sweet spot where you could then use it for throwing plastics, lighter spinner and buzz baits and lures, and still be effective getting most fish out of modestly heavy cover. You'd dial in the actual size depending on your typical fishing patterns.

If you are fishing that really heavy cover most of the time, I'd try to figure out what isn't working for you with braid. It would seem you'd need to segue over to braid main line with a fluorocarbon leader where you get the power, the abrasion resistance and you need that immediate feedback to yank those fish out of the cover before they wrap you up. If they pull you into the cover, it won't matter much at all what kind or size of line you use.

Brad

Heavy line and I use braid. What kind of problems did you have with braid? Things have improved with it recently. Unless i am trying to cast a light line in windy conditions, I can't tell a difference between braid and other lines on my rod generally

good general situation

What line are you using? The largest I have used for big heavy swim baits is 25# McCoys mean green.

If you are fishing heavy cover try P-Line CXX in 17 or 20# test if you are throwing standard baits.

Thanks for the responses guys. I failed to mention that I use quality mono and fluorocarbon- but ya'll figured it out. My issue with braid and spider wire is that the one time I used it, I kept breaking off about mid spool. I hear backlashes (which I am really good at) can cause kinks that are weak spots. Mono and fluoro will kink, but I have never had one bad enough to break off mid spool. Plus, though I have been fishing all my life, I don't get to fish enough o keep my thumb sensitive to the spool, which ends up in backlash until I monkey with the magnest and tension enough to stop it. Did I mention that I can backlash toilet paper?

This may be the year I experiment with other types of line as I plan to fish more- come hell or high water.

i have 25# Mono on my flipping stick. its good stuff. the reel and Rod i use is super heavy!!! compared to my other bait caster setups and will wear you out after flipping bushes or matted grass all day.