Braid. PE 1.0 is a decent diameter for learning baitcasting. Lower memory allows easier bird nest untying.

Thank you all for your thoughts and opinions! 

On 12/31/2022 at 3:25 PM, clemsondds said:

Got my 10 year old his first reel...tatula 103 sv. Putting it on a 6'6 expride M.

Just a word of advice for this particular reel on that rod; Definitely start him out with mono.

 

Backlashes from an overloaded cast with braid tend to happen fast when a loop wraps around the spool causing a hard stop. This hard-stop doesn't happen with mono. Here, as you know, the spool will typically fluff up and slow-stop, and the mono stretches where braid doesn't. A new user will probably overload a medium rod a number of times in the beginning. Regardless of how braked this reel is, on lower brake settings as well as higher settings it can be touchy and sensitive when using a lighter rod with braid when throwing a bait near the rod's upper limit. This is common for a M rod.

 

A weakness in this reel is where the SV inductor ramp is dogged into the spool by two small 1/8" plastic lugs. Hard stop backlashes with braid can shear them off. This happened on mine, but it was 35 degrees at the time and the bait was on the heavy side, so those two elements of cold and extra shock combined to do the trick. But this also happened on two other reels from guys in my circle under less extreme circumstances. The remedy is a new spool for $50 as Daiwa doesn't sell the ramp parts separately for this spool, or at least they didn't at the time I needed them. Not a common issue, but it happens, and enough so that The Tackle Trap gave me the same info instantly over the phone. While you may be able to rustle them up from an overseas source, there's still a process involved.

 

I'm not looking to sour you on the reel at all. It's really good. Just saying to stick with mono until he finds his swing, then make the switch to braid if you like.

On 12/31/2022 at 5:31 PM, wasabi_VA said:

Mono. More forgiving. Easier to learn and tie knots.

Plus, a lot easier on the budget. 

Thanks everyone. Got mono spooled up…came down to not having to mess with leader lines for right now. We fish some very clear water so I would rather not have to think about line at this point. Plus…isnt it kind of a rite of passage as an angler to start out with mono? Ha.
 I’m sure it will be just fine…and who knows…may end up switching to braid. But for now just going to keep it simple with mono. Thank you everyone for the help!