So I’ve decided to spool up my Shimano Sahara 2500 with braid. I’ve used braid in many situations before with various professional guides and friends’ setups, but I’ve never used it on any of my own personal gear before. I’ll be using it for inshore saltwater and freshwater bass fishing, and I was wondering what # test and what brand I should spool on…I’m currently leaning toward 20# Sufix. What do y’all use?
CSG Sportfishing 2012
My choice is 10# Powerpro in Green
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.sswaonline.com
I use 30# Power Pro in yellow. Might not need 30#, but I need that size and color so I an see to tie knots and help me see it when fishing it.
I’ve been pretty happy to have the 30# when a big red decides to mow some marsh grass down after being hooked though.
I use 8 lb. test PowerPro on my Magic Wand. It’s green and therefor hard to see, but apparently 8 lb. test PowerPro is only available in green.
Wish I had 30 this past weekend haha … something large snapped me, but that was probably my knot
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
I have a rod with 10 # test and one with 50 # test power pro one in yellow and one in green. The color is more a choice of what you want because for your inshore you will be putting a leader on it and you also have to think about the pole you are putting it on. Don’t put a high # test on a rod that does not have the backbone to handle it. As for freshwater it will depend on if you are fishing a
lot of cover or more open water. I would suggest going to Charleston Angler or Haddrell’s Point they can lead you in the right direction.
Here is something to ponder. I am a convert after fishing with Ralph Phillips for a while. Use 10# power pro green, and no leader. Set your drag appropriately.
I have personally witnessed many, many trout being caught with this setup in the Fall with clear water. The 10# PP is so thin its hard to see, for fish too…
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.sswaonline.com
well said O,
…but, that 10 lb on a 7’ rod will tangle a mofo if you sling it hard.
On a baitcaster? I haven’t had a problem with a 7’ on spinning. My bait cast setups are all 6 ft.
Also worth mentioning… I have caught a 33" red with 10# braid no problem. However, I think you would be SOL if you were soaking bait under a dock, hook a biggun and he ran for cover - with this setup.
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.sswaonline.com
Straight power pro green, Opti? Ya been sandbagging? Got that on my trout rod but have been tying leaders. We gotta talk! : ).
I’ve been doing 20# power pro with a 15# fluoro leader on my 2500 and above reels. Usually about a 3’ leader so as not to keep tying uni’s. I’ve seen it outfish non-leadered on reds.
But of course, it was me fishing the leaders…just sayin. Could have been floss or coax, results would have been the same. I’m ninja that way.
pummel at will
Vinman
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2011 Carolina Skiff 178DLV
90 HP Honda
See ya tonite
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.sswaonline.com
I work at a camp as a fishing counselor on the Neuse River in NC, which is brackish, so I’ll be using it to haul some reds literally straight out from under the huge dock we have. However, I still need to cast a long way to reach trout busting bait 30 yards off the pier in the mornings. Hence my dilemma.
I like my powerpro to be at least 20 lbs so I don’t cut fingers when I tie knots.
I love ten pound FINS windtamer
Let’s all pummel him!
quote:
Originally posted by dhpeekI like my powerpro to be at least 20 lbs so I don’t cut fingers when I tie knots.
I agree, I think any braid smaller than 20 is like razor wire when tying knots. Harder to cinch down without cutting your fingers imo.
All my inshore spinners are loaded with 20# spiderwire ultracast invisabraid
It only comes in white and if I’m not using popping cork I’ll Albright a couple feed of 20# flourocarbon on for leader
Tried powerpro to stiff and suffix wind knotted all the time
You don’t need anything more than 20# inshore that stuffs superstrong and you can still hit 30 yd casts
I compromised with 15# powerpro. First time out today and it casts like a dream, seems like the best decision I’ve made in a long time, but we’ll see how well it performs after a few months of use
“Never do today what can be put off until tomorrow. Delay may shed light on what is best to be done.” -Aaron Burr
I highly suggest daiwa samurai braid in any # test. I’ve used it since it came out, and absolutely love it. Really strong and thin/supple. I don’t use anything else when it comes to braid.
It is expensive however, but I’ve never been disappointed at all. Well worth the $$.
I’ve used suffix pro, spider invisibraid, and a few others. Nothing comes close to it.
I switched my combos over from Power Pro to FINS. The FINS XS is an 8 strand braid and is much more round and smooth than PP. It doesn’t sing coming through the guides when I have a fish on.
Who’s Ready for a Sleigh Ride? www.KayakFishSC.com
