Buffdaddy54 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 So in a previous post I stated that I am just getting back into Bass fishing and needed some insight into which baitcaster to buy out of the two I was looking at. I got a lot of good suggestions and insights but one in particular really got me thinking. Zell_pop1 had suggested I buy both, so after thinking about it for sometime I decided he was right and I bought both. Not only did I buy both, a few days later I bought another one, why, I don’t know. Now I have 3 Baitcasters and have no idea what type of line to spool them with. Two of them are 6:2:1 gear ratios while the third is an 8:3:1. As I stated in my previous post I am a bank angler, hoping to get a kayak sometime late summer, early fall. I would greatly appreciate any advice on what I type of line I should spool them with. I will be throwing mostly soft plastics, crank baits, spinner baits, and spoons. I have Yo-Zuri hybrid spooled on one but am willing to go in a different direction altogether, I’m not married to one type of line at this point. Help please! ( I still don’t know what I was thinking buying 3!!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted February 10 Super User Share Posted February 10 It would help to know what techniques you were going to use the reels for. Note: I use Yo-Zuri for shallow/mid-depth cranks, spinners, chatters, spooks, ploppers, and weighted soft swimbaits/flukes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User new2BC4bass Posted February 10 Super User Share Posted February 10 First of all let me say that 3 is only the starting point. The Bait Monkey has no remorse. I grew up using mono and still prefer it or a co-polymer. However, braid has its place. For me that is fishing in weeds/lily pads. What power are the rods the reels will be going on? What kind of cover do you fish? Since you mention spoons, I am going to assume you know how to use them. I very seldom used one in my youth. A few years ago I spent several hours casting one in brackish water catching several flounders with it. Braid line tied direct. At the end of the day I had to throw that spool of line away due to line twist. Luckily I already had several years of use out of that line. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipzLipz Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Without knowing your rod ratings, etc., I’d consider fluorocarbon on the high speed reel for the soft plastics, particularly t-rigs & jigs, should you use those in the future. I’m not a braid user except frogging & punching but I have more than 3 rods. With that said, if I were in your shoes I would also consider braid with fluorocarbon leader on the high speed reel so to be able to clip off the fluoro leader & frog or punch if necessary. Should you go the braid route with leader, study up on connection knots. The other 2, again, if it were me, would be 1 fluoro & 1 mono, with the mono being for lighter weight topwater (non-frogging) or any lure where some stretch is desired. The fluoro would be for everything else. Can also go all one or the other & use fly line dressing from lure to 3-4’ up the line to float the line (fluoro will sink & cause issues with topwater). I feel you get what you pay for with line/braid so I wouldn’t go cheap if possible. Seaguar, Sunline & a few other brands are well liked for fluoro. I stick with Seaguar for braid (Smackdown) but Power Pro & some others are well liked. Me, I’m fine with original Stren clear/blue fluorescent but others will also have their personal preferences, as with most tackle. Get some good line cutters & if you end up with braid, make sure the cutters state they’ll cut braid. I like the Boomerangs (cheaper model) as they’re small & have a clip on them & can be kept anywhere to stay out of the way - also no points to worry over if in a pocket. As stated above, you’ve been introduced to the bait monkey. Just wait until you go shopping for lures. Tackle Warehouse is having a 25% off spring sale until the 21st on select items if that helps you get stocked up. Bait monkey will be observing & "financially advising" as usual. Welcome back to bass fishing! Catch a big one! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidwestBassAttack Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 My suggestion…now keep in mind this is geared towards a bank banger. Toss out throwing any treble hooked baits. Will save you a ton of aggravation of getting snagged. Also, toss out any spinning setups. Spinning setups for me are geared toward more vertical techniques. From the bank, you are fishing more horizontal techniques. You only need two setups for the bank. A setup for braid (frogging) and a setup for Texas rigs with fluorocarbon. Neither get snagged easily because of their weedless nature. These two setups will allow you to cover topwater and shallow-mid depth waters. Gear ratio would be personal preference. I would go with the 6 speeds for both techniques due to better torque around cover and frankly, make you fish slower. Rods go 7-7’3” medium heavy to heavy (depending on cover). Need something with nice tip because your range of motion will be limited on making casts at times. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User king fisher Posted February 10 Super User Share Posted February 10 If I had posted a recommendation before you purchased your reels. I would have recommended you buy one bait casting rod and reel combo and spool the reel with 12 pound Big Game. This would have allowed you to catch plenty of bass, and helped avoid the first step down a never ending road. Because you have obviously already met the Bait Monkey, I recommend you buy braid, mono, and floro carbon line. Try them all in many different pound tests, then buy different brands, and colors and try all of them. You may find a favorite line, or you will most likely continue to use all three, while never being completely satisfied with any of them. 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted February 10 Super User Share Posted February 10 Learn to cast using 12# Trilene Big Game mono line, it’s is inexpensive premium line. You didn’t identify the rods or reels so can’t help in that regard. If the reel is a 100 to 150 size and the rod is somewhere between 6’6” to 7’ Medium or Medium Heavy Fast or moderate action start with the 6.2:1. Treble hook lures lures are OK for surface and shallow diving lures fished from shore. Weedless (Texas) rigged worms with a 3/16oz sliding bullet weight is a good lure/rig to learn with. Look at Glenn’s tutorial video’s for good presentation tips. Tom 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User casts_by_fly Posted February 10 Super User Share Posted February 10 I’ll also recommend 12 lb big game. Put it on one of the reels and leave the other two empty u til you fish the first one a half dozen times. After that, come here, say what you did and didn’t like about it, and get a recco from there. For me, I’d have one braid and two mono setups for what you’re talking but ymmv. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffdaddy54 Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 Thanks for the replies. Right now I have 1 rod and it’s a 7’ MhF I will be throwing mainly soft plastics,senkos, brush hogs, creature hogs, and assorted worms, that sort of thing. I will also throw on occasion crank baits and have never fished a jig but would like to give that a go. Any suggestions on rod power? Buying 1 tomorrow and the third in a week or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 10 Super User Share Posted February 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted February 10 Super User Share Posted February 10 Rod power varies greatly between mfr’s. St Croix power ratings are about 1/2 power greater then Dobyns for example Generally power 3 is Medium, power 4 is Medium Heavy and power 5 is heavy being the majorly of bait casting rods for bass. Spinning 2 power being Medium light and 3 power Medium for most applications. Action is how the rod bend under nominal load when casting lures. Moderate the rod bends about 1/3 the length, Fast about 1/4 the length and Extra fast about 1/8 the length. More rod bend is easier to cast lures like crank baits and Fast is better to feel lure moments. The “average” bass rod is 4 power or MH and action F for Fast for bait casting reels. 3 power or M nad F fast action for spinning. Those 2 combos are good to start with. Mono or Copolymer lines is easiest to cast followed by Fluorocarbon the braid being more difficult. Tom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Hands Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 16 hours ago, WRB said: Learn to cast using 12# Trilene Big Game mono line, it’s is inexpensive premium line. ^^ This ^^ You'll have plenty of time to obsess over line once you learn to adjust your reels and use them properly without birdnesting. Trilene Big Game has pretty good manners, and (unlike expensive line) won't hurt your feelings when you trash a spool of line. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Catt Posted February 11 Super User Share Posted February 11 Berkley Big Game 15# on all three & been done with it. I use Big Game for everything but frogging & punching. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRiver Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 7 minutes ago, Catt said: Berkley Big Game 15# on all three & been done with it. I use Big Game for everything but frogging & punching. Same here big game on everything but my dock rig and my pitching and flipping rig. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.