Got a deal this weekend on a Quantum Throttle reel and a Daiwa MH rod. Curious what line I should start with, understanding this is my first ever casting reel and I'll be using it as an all-around bank fishing setup.

Also: I use all braid with my spinning setups, and use mono line as backing for the braid. Can I do that with a casting reel as well?

12# yo zuri hybrid, great all around line and dirt cheap so you can burn through a bunch while learning.

I would start with an inexpensive mono in 10-12#.

10-12 lb big game is nice when learning bc it won’t break the bank when you inevitably blow up your reel. Hopefully you’re better than I was when I first learned, but cheap line saved me a lot of $ when learning. I also started to just put 30-40 yards on at a time until I got the hang of it.

I fish braid/leader on most of my setups, it's just a preference thing. If you fish mostly bottom contact though (no topwater) I'd probably roll with heavier fluorocarbon like 17lb.

Big Game is not just for beginners. I'd get 12 or 15 lb test. depending on what you are going to use with it.

I agree with 12lb big game mono to start. Functional and affordable so you can sling away, pick away and cut away at will until you feel good with it. Get it...

I have 15 pound Big Game on my casting rods. Some of the ponds I fish have a lot of vegetation growing just below the surface, and it can be hard to see when I'm fishing from the bank.

I would try 10 or 12lb Sufix Elite or Seige. Elite being the softer of the two. It's good line for the money and easy to cast.

1 hour ago, BahnzoBass said:

Got a deal this weekend on a Quantum Throttle reel and a Daiwa MH rod. Curious what line I should start with, understanding this is my first ever casting reel and I'll be using it as an all-around bank fishing setup.

Also: I use all braid with my spinning setups, and use mono line as backing for the braid. Can I do that with a casting reel as well?

You can spool the reel the same as your spinning reels. However, it isn't a bad idea to learn with mono or co-polymer. Much cheaper. A 12# is plenty strong enough. Heavier the line gets, the stiffer it is likely to be. Siege Elite and Sunline Super Natural are two softer lines that I can recommend. (I see Fish Tank posted while I was typing. 🙂 ) Mean Green isn't bad either.

Thanks all, seems like a 12# mono or copolymer is what I'll get. I mostly plan on using it for chatter baits and jigs, so seems like that'll work just fine as I learn.

Here's to my first bird's nest!