1 hour ago, Grim_Reaver said:

Okey dokey. Just wondering cause I've heard ppl say that can happen. I'm guessing they chipped their guides banging their rods around and blamed the braid?

If they chipped their guides the sharp edges would cut their line.  Grooving of modern guides by braid is a myth.  Grooving of modern tiptops is not a myth, which is why I always use premium ring tiptops, like SIC.

Alrighty, I've been convinced to consider some Maxcuatro for my combos. Was looking at my 50lb Spiderwire this morning and the diameter is no bueno because I want more casting distance. That leads me to my last question:

 

If you had to pick an all around size for baitcasters that can do everything (from small paddletails/light texas rigs on a M rod to light flipping/frogging on a MH), would you go 40 or 50? (edited)

What is wrong with the Spiderwire?

I use 50# for most any braid applications.

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

What is wrong with the Spiderwire?

I use 50# for most any braid applications.

There's nothing "wrong" with it. Let me reformulate that last post because it is a jumbled mess. Check it now @J Francho

I don't recommend going less than 50# braid (10-12# mono diameter) for any baitcaster.  I don't think brand matters that much.  You develop a preference for them over time, and they all seem to "break in" a bit.  Braid is over engineered, and stronger by diameter than you need for most bass fishing.

Honestly I could get away with 65 lbs maxcuatro for all my setups but if i was strictly bass fishing I would just use 50. Generally I use 30 for cranks to get extra depth, 30 for jerkbaits and other finesse tactics for extra distance with generally light weights. 40 or 50 for my medium heavy all use sticks. 65 for my frog/punch/ light swimbait rods I use for pike and small musky baits and 80lbs for my musky rods, 100lbs if I’m using baits over 10 oz. don’t overthink it, just make sure if your frogging or punching your using 50 minimum I like 65

 

also make sure you spool your braid on super tight. I like to fill my spool, go out on the water and tie on a double 10 musky bucktail, cast it out and then drive the boat out until I have almost all my braid off the spool and then burn the bait back to the boat. The really high resistance of the giant blades will pack the line on super tight which helps with it not back lashing and makes it so the line won’t dig in on itself

Alrighty, welp that answers about every question I have. I'm gonna trial run the Spiderwire with my other set ups. If I feel like my casting distance is unsatisfactory, I'll try out some Maxcuatro. Thanks for the help.

1.  Those are 2 different rods.

 

Med/Heavy Fast or better yet Mod-Fast for Spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits.

Med/Heavy or better yet Medium Moderate for treble hook lures.

Either way, straight graphite for the rod/rods.

 

2.

No need to use a leader for Spinnerbaits or Chatterbaits.  I stopped using leaders for them (just straight braid) a while ago and haven't looked back.   Treble hook lures,  yeah, use a leader for sure. 

 

A properly tied leader knot will last a very, very long time.  Passing through the guides over and over should not appreciably weaken the knot.   I am a fan boy of the FG knot and will put my FG knot toe to toe with any other knot.   It takes practice to tie it with absolute confidence,  but they last many, many fishing trips. 

 

3.

I don't understand people's preoccupations with bending out hooks.  Firstly, I can't recall for certain if I've ever bent out a hook on a largemouth bass, and I've caught some pretty hard fighting bass.  

 

If you insist on worrying about it though, 50 lb braid will not make you any more likely to bend a hook than 20 lb.  You will not be putting 20 lb of force on a fish, much less 50 lb.  Heavier braid doesn't make you put more force on the rod, or the fish fight any harder.

 

On a side note, if you are running straight braid, you'll rarely lose a lure to getting snagged.