I recently purchased a Abu Garcia 6500 c3 for an all-purpose bass and catfish reel.  I figured on tossing it out with cut bait for catfish while I'm bass fishing on the other side of the boat.  After trying it out with some bass lures, I'm a little worried I won't be able to reel in any fish of size.  Let me explain.  I rigged it with 30 lbs. braid.  I cast it in the yard and noticed it would reel, but with any pressure on the other end, it would just slip and the spool wouldn't spin.  I tightened down the drag as far as it would go and still the same problem.  Then, whenever I put it in the car, I noticed the line would slip loose every time something touched it and my lure would come unhooked from the pole.  I figured maybe something was wrong with the way I tied it to the spool at this point.  I took all the line out and re-tied it tighter with a better knot and it seemed better at first, but now I'm still having the same problem.  One thing I noticed when I took the line out is that the spool is much smoother than other spools with no holes or rough spots in it.  It doesn't appear to have anything to do with the drag, the spool itself is spinning underneath while the line just stays in place.  

Is this a common problem?

Do I need to switch lines and go with something other than braid?  Will different line fix this problem?

If i can't fix this, I will be looking for a different reel for this setup soon.  

Common issue. Wind some cheap monofilament onto the spool first, then connect the braid (I use a uni to uni knot) and fill the spool up. It won't spin on you anymore.

Some people will put electric tape on the spool to give the braid something to bite into (and forgo the mono).

I agree with the above. Just using the electric tape would be faster and easier than connecting the braided line to mono.

Specs for that reel call for 320/12.  30# braid is thinner than 12# mono.  Personally I'd be putting some cheap mono backing on first.

Thanks guys, I feel better about this already.  Glad I didn't get a faulty reel.  

you're in good hands here

Yup agreed, On all my bait casters, I either run a mono backer, tape, or I can tie it through a spool hole...

4 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Specs for that reel call for 320/12.  30# braid is thinner than 12# mono.  Personally I'd be putting some cheap mono backing on first.

this right here....  will stop the slipping and save you from putting as much braid on there which in turn saves you some dough!