im new to fishing and i  purchesed a G. Loomis rod and it has line specs of 8-15 pounds. 

what line weight would the rod have optimum performance?

 

i assume that these numbers are  for mono. if i decide to use braided lines, would i need to follow test weight or line diameter? better if you can give examples.

thanks hope to hear back from you soon. 
 

Are you using a spinning rod? 

With spinning I use anywhere from 15 to 20 pound.

With casting the lightest I go is 30. 

 

 

Btw. Welcome to the forum. You'll get a lot of answers to your questions here. 

56 minutes ago, Poolshark said:

Are you using a spinning rod? 

With spinning I use anywhere from 15 to 20 pound.

With casting the lightest I go is 30. 

 

 

Btw. Welcome to the forum. You'll get a lot of answers to your questions here. 

 

thanks for your warm welcome sir, 

i have both a casting reel n a spinning reel. 

is it safe to assume that the lines you gave me are for braid?

Yes that is what I use in general too (braid).  Please note though when you have snag DO NOT use the rod to snap the line.  You're asking for trouble.  Use the line to snap a snag.  That is the main thing about using higher rated lines, in general I don't even do that on light line either.  A rod is usually more valuable than Line.?

For a light weight spinning set up anything over 10 lb braid for bass is over kill.  That said, I run 20 lb for my open water setups which are heavier 

 

34 minutes ago, lmbfisherman said:

Yes that is what I use in general too (braid).  Please note though when you have snag DO NOT use the rod to snap the line.  You're asking for trouble.  Use the line to snap a snag.  That is the main thing about using higher rated lines, in general I don't even do that on light line either.  A rod is usually more valuable than Line.?

i want to understand what you mean by using the line to snag and not the rod.

so a snag is when i gets caught on the weds or other structures.. and should not be confused with a strike. am i right?

1 hour ago, S-T-R-I-K-E-R said:

i want to understand what you mean by using the line to snag and not the rod.

so a snag is when i gets caught on the weds or other structures.. and should not be confused with a strike. am i right?

What I'm trying to say is the danger of using a heavier rated line vs the rods recommendation.  If you have 50 lb test on a ml/xf and you get snagged on a tree, don't use the rod to try and free it with your rod.  Use the line!  Of course I hope no one uses 50 lb braid on a light stick, I just wanted to make my point clear.  Using line that is heavier than the rod rating. 

1 hour ago, S-T-R-I-K-E-R said:

i want to understand what you mean by using the line to snag and not the rod.

so a snag is when i gets caught on the weds or other structures.. and should not be confused with a strike. am i right?

 

    Yes.  Correct.  Hopefully you are never trying to "snag" anything...with either the line or the rod.  

 

What lmbfisherman is saying is to use a direct pull with the line to break the line when snagged.  Do not bend the rod like when reeling in a fish to break the line.  Any heavy line...no matter what kind...should be pulled this way when trying to break free from a snag.  Do yourself a favor.  Pick up a short piece of a wood dowel about 6-8 inches long and around 1 inch diameter.  Wrap with electricians tape or glue something on that will keep the line from slipping.  Wrap the line around the rod a few times and use it to pull on the line.  Using a bare hand to break any kind of line over 8-10 pounds can cause some cuts to your hand.  Not fun.  Do not use the reel to break the line.  You can damage the spool.    The dowel is much cheaper to replace.

 

The designated line-test range refers to nylon monofilament,

whereas braided polyethylene is a whole other ballgame.

 

The ideal line-test for performance depends on the goal you have in mind.

If maximal casting distance is your goal then you'd opt for the light side of the designated range. 

If you want to tax the full flex range of a parabolic rod (heavy cover / big fish)

than you would favor the high end. When there's no specific goal in mind,

one rule of thumb adds the line-test limits then multiplies the sum by 0.66

 

Roger

thanks so much guys for the answers. seems to me that fishing is more technical than i perceived it to be. i know its simply hooking a fish but i find the technical part so entertaining and loving this area of fishing as well. 

2 minutes ago, S-T-R-I-K-E-R said:

thanks so much guys for the answers. seems to me that fishing is more technical than i perceived it to be. i know its simply hooking a fish but i find the technical part so entertaining and loving this area of fishing as well. 

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Some good answers above. But fishing can be as 

complicated as you want to make it. I knew some

elderly gents who sat at the end of a dock and used

nothing but long poles (no reels) and bottom baits.

They caught every type of fish... I even have a 

number of setups like them and have done the same.

 

That said, I prefer simple approaches as I enjoy the

sport for recreation, not competition. So I try to keep

things to what works. It did take time for me to find

much of what works, and I'm still looking for new

stuff (like the Ned Rig) to test out.

 

Being new to the sport, one can be enamored by TV

pros who hawk this or that product. But what is best

is for you to learn your waters, the structure therein,

the depth, and so forth...

 

Good luck!

10 hours ago, S-T-R-I-K-E-R said:

 

thanks for your warm welcome sir, 

i have both a casting reel n a spinning reel. 

is it safe to assume that the lines you gave me are for braid?

 

Yes. They are for braid. I find those comfortable lines for my rods and reels. I've been using a 15 pound power pro on my spinning reels with a leader most of the time and 40 pound in my casting reels with a 12 to 15 pound leader depending on where I'm I am fishing. 

I'll use 50 pound straight braid when I'm fishing very heavy cover. 

I've had good success this way. I don't look at much at the rods line guidelines as so much as I look at my reels. Less than 30 on a casting reel tends to dig on me. 

More than 15 to 20 on a 3000 sized spinning reel and ......you can use less if you'd like. But I don't and do just fine. 

be careful to use your drag and never stress your rods beyond their capabilities and you'll be fine. 

Pounds are pounds whether braid or mono or spider webs.

2 hours ago, Darren. said:

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Some good answers above. But fishing can be as 

complicated as you want to make it. I knew some

elderly gents who sat at the end of a dock and used

nothing but long poles (no reels) and bottom baits.

They caught every type of fish... I even have a 

number of setups like them and have done the same.

 

That said, I prefer simple approaches as I enjoy the

sport for recreation, not competition. So I try to keep

things to what works. It did take time for me to find

much of what works, and I'm still looking for new

stuff (like the Ned Rig) to test out.

 

Being new to the sport, one can be enamored by TV

pros who hawk this or that product. But what is best

is for you to learn your waters, the structure therein,

the depth, and so forth...

 

Good luck!

 

well said sir! 

 

just curious was a Ned Rig is.

1 minute ago, S-T-R-I-K-E-R said:

 

well said sir! 

 

just curious was a Ned Rig is.

 

There are a number of topics in the forums

even now on the rig, so a loaded question  

 

Here's a search to get you started:

 

https://www.google.com/#safe=active&q=bassresource.com:+ned+rig&*