spinner line, whats good?

[bb1]

I'm not a spinner guy, but I traded*a friend for a light saltwater spinner setup and need line for the spare spool.

It had Ande Premium 20lb. on it....it didn't cast very well. I think it was worse in the cold air lately.

Whats a good spinner mono....good in the spring and 'cold' fall?

[albacized]

I've always like a line from Cortland called 'Camoflage'. It's a monofilament line that is multi-colored and supposedly blends in with the water. But the real reason I like it is because it's soft/supple yet still durable. It was my go-to line before I switched to using braid. I also believe it's cold weather friendly. Only downside is that it's kinda hard to locate. I usually see it not too from me at the Natick Outdoor store, Roaches in Cambridge and the Kittery Trading Post. I used to see it at Walmart...but they stopped carrying it.

[pkw1689]

Are you committed to mono rather than braid? If not, I'd suggest at least trying braid before "settling" for mono. There are pros & cons for each, but I sure prefer braid.

[ToddMan]

I've used Stren Clear blue for years and am happy with the overall performance.

[ember]

The size might be as much a problem as the brand.20 is really heavy for a plugging rod.Drop down to 14 or even 12 with an 18 inch 20lb floro leader and she'll go better.With a lite rod and reel you cant put enough drag on to justify 20 pound running line anyway.Tie a good knot,and keep a good eye on your line for nicks is all.If your going to chafe Mr Whiskers off on the rocks I cant image 20lb is going to save anything.Berkely Big Game 12lb in clear,because its what they had...

[finningred]

I switched to Fireline a couple of years ago and never looked back. Great strength to diameter ratio, casts well, never had a tangle.

[tmillerzzz]

For Mono, Plain ole Stren blue....

What weight plugs are you throwing and what weight line are the rod and reel rated for?

[bb1]

This is a 8', 3/4 - 2 1/2oz. lure, 12 - 25lb. line IM6 custom graphite rod, w/ a new Cabela's (Daiwa) 'Protige' 4500 spinning reel, 230yd. 17lb.

I use all sorts of lures with it, 4-5" rubba' fish, 1-2oz. bucktails etc., but it really shines casting 1 1/4oz. Smack-It plugs to schoolies.

I am going to use it mostly around slack tide in the canal, so I want fairly heavy line. I have 2 other (heavier) rods w/ braid. I was thinking 17lb. mono for the spare spool (which is identical to the other spool w/ these reels)....I just want something that casts better, and less noisy than the Ande. It really makes a lot of noise in cold weather....off the reel spool, and through the guides.

Does anyone here use Ande premium on a spinner?

And I was wondering if any of those new mono lines (Gamma, Sufix 'Siege', Yo Zuri 'Hy Bird' ULTRA SOFT, florocarbon's etc. are good w/ S/W spinners?

I may replace that 20lb. Ande w/ braid someday.


p.s. My old spinner had Fireline on one spool....it was IMPOSSIBLE to cast. The line would cut right into your finger, just winding up to cast!

[bdowning]

Trilene Big Game is the best all-around mono out there in my opinion. And Big Game braid is good too. Just don't fill the spool all the way to the rim with braid, underfill it a bit, or you WILL get tangles. I've found that is true of braids on all except the highest end long casting spinning reels.

I like Ande for leader material, but I find it kind of stiff in the thicker gauges for casting line. Big Game is slightly more supple and nearly as abrasion resistant as Ande.

-bd

[JR13]

been using the yozuri hybrid all summer (10, 12, and 20lb) and its been fantastic. I think i found it on sale at sports authority.

[plugman]

Look at BassPro Shop's Camo line for mono.... Very thin, very abrasion resistant. As far as braid cutting your fingers when casting, I went down to Walmart and picked up some of those $7.00 goatskin (NOT deer or cowhide!) gardening gloves and wear them. They are as durable as all get out. You can really lean into your cast if you want to and never need to worry about cuts. Makes taking hooks out of fishy mouths less stressful too, as it provides some protection for your hands from wandering treble hooks.

Cheers,
Plugman

[striperman13]

If you are stuck on mono, go with the Trilene Big Game (green only) I used it for fifteen years before switching to braid. I have 1lb spools of 10, 15, and 30 and smaller 1/4lb spools of 25 and 50. The stuff is great, soft enough for casting but tough and long lasting too. Caught plenty of 20-30 lb stripers on the 15, I would go with the 15 for that rod, It will cast great. Available in 1/4 lb spools for 7-8 bucks

[danor]

I have a quick question for any one who would know the answer.Do you really need to have the bait shop spool up your reel with the machine? Could someone share some tips for doing it yourself?
Thank you
Dan

[pkw1689]

It is quite easy to do it by yourself. Run the line through your rod's guides and then tie it snugly to the empty spool. Then apply resistance by pinching the line with the thumb and finger of one hand while you crank it onto the reel with the other hand. As has been noted earlier, be careful not to overload the spool.

[Slappy]

How many conventional guys use ande? It really is the best line for casting conventionals, but the same property that make it fly off a conventional (stiffness) creates too much drag off a spinner. You want a softer, limper mono for that. I am a life long ande user, but I don't use it on spinners.

Or better yet, as others have suggested, go to braid. It is made for spinners and casts extremely well off spinners and it doesn't get wind knots like mono. (at least not without angler error.)

[wasabi]

It is quite easy to do it by yourself. Run the line through your rod's guides and then tie it snugly to the empty spool. Then apply resistance by pinching the line with the thumb and finger of one hand while you crank it onto the reel with the other hand. As has been noted earlier, be careful not to overload the spool.

To decrease twisting, keep the spool on the floor so the line feeds into the spin reel in the direction it was held in the spool. For a casting reel, have somebody stick a screw driver in the spool so that it "spins" out.

[Ditch Jigger]

Big Game has been my go-to mono ever since it first came out. Couple things to keep in mind with all monos, on spinning reels---don't overfill your spool, and wind it on tight. If after you fill your spool, you can compress the line easily, it's on too loose and you're asking for tangles. It's just as important to get mono tight as it is braid.

I hear good things about Ande Backcountry, too, but have only tried it on a conventional. Supposedly, a little softer, but every bit as abrasion resistant, as Ande pink. It comes in a smoke blue color.

[notime]

I have a quick question for any one who would know the answer.Do you really need to have the bait shop spool up your reel with the machine? Could someone share some tips for doing it yourself?
Thank you
Dan


What the other guys have said but I put the spool of line in a 5 gallon bucket to minimize it bouncing all over the place.

[Rhumbline]

I switched from mono to fireline two years ago. Best decision ever.

The line casts like a dream.

I use all PENN SS reels and fireline comes off the spool without issue - unlike powerpro where I have been plagued by wind knots (#$119) .

All my plugging reels are loaded with 14lb yellow fireline.

To save $$ I'll put 100 yards of mono as backing and then a couple hundred hards off fireline on top.

Your first day using fireline with heavy plugs/jigs etc. is painful, but once your finger toughens up a bit, the benefits of the smaller diameter line along with the zero stretch for feel is unbeatable.

The zero stretch allows you to feel the most slight bump of the line - I think this this can directly increase the number of hookups you can have.

You will have to learn new knots (all I tied previously was an improved cinch). I now have a complete quiver of knots to use for fireline.

Good luck.

Cheers.

[Soundking]

Just to echo a few points. I agree with the berkeley big game if you are going to go mono...just rock the 12lb. There really is no need for more, bass are bass, Liberache is lb/lb stronger. If you go over 12lb mono you really begin to compromise the casting capabilities of the line.

To another point, wet pack it. Fill up your sink with luke-warm water and just reel it on with a slight ammount of pressure added from your thumb and index finger. The wet pack really seems to reduce the ammount of coiling in the mono...but then again I haven't fished mono on a spinner for about three years now.

Cheers,

J

[bb1]

I also used Big Game mono (green) on my Newell's and Abu reels before going to braid for jigging, and it doesn't get stiff in the cold....but it doesn't come in 17lb. for some reason. Do you guys really use 12-15lb mono in the canal?

I also use Big Game 'Supreme' on one of my lighter rods (the steel grey color looks just like the water in the canal in the fall)....it sure looks like there old 'in shore' line, but the 20lb is really 25lb diamater.

My spinner has the Daiwa ABS spools that says you can fill it right to the rim....I keep it pretty close.

JR13....was that the 'new' Yozuri hibrid ULTRA SOFT you use? I have heard (very) bad things about the old/regular hibrid line on the internet.

I was thinking of good old Stren clear/blue florecent....the blue florecent actualy 'attracts' fresh water bass! I guess they think its bait fish?

Thanks all....

[Onshore]

I have a quick question for any one who would know the answer.Do you really need to have the bait shop spool up your reel with the machine? Could someone share some tips for doing it yourself?
Thank you
Dan

Why not have a shop spool your reel? It doesn't cost any more. The shops I frequent do not charge to do it - only the cost of the line and their machine can put the line on much more uniformly than a person can.

[bdowning]

I think you'd be pushing your luck with 12-15 lb mono in the Canal. I wouldn't go any lower than 20, personally, and even that seems low. For me the point is moot, because I use 30-50 lb braid in the Ditch with a heavy mono leader (at least 50 lb Ande and at least 3 feet long). Works great for jigging, not so great for plugging because the fast action of the braid seems to make the plug act unnaturally no matter how much you try to slow it down. If I ever decide to get serious about plugging in the Canal, I'm going to have to get a new rod and reel (probably go to a conventional or long casting spinner) and go with mono. But I say that every year and never follow through on it :rolleyes: .

-bd

I also used Big Game mono (green) on my Newell's and Abu reels before going to braid for jigging, and it doesn't get stiff in the cold....but it doesn't come in 17lb. for some reason. Do you guys really use 12-15lb mono in the canal?

....

[albacized]

I think you'd be pushing your luck with 12-15 lb mono in the Canal. I wouldn't go any lower than 20, personally, and even that seems low. For me the point is moot, because I use 30-50 lb braid in the Ditch with a heavy mono leader (at least 50 lb Ande and at least 3 feet long). Works great for jigging, not so great for plugging because the fast action of the braid seems to make the plug act unnaturally no matter how much you try to slow it down. If I ever decide to get serious about plugging in the Canal, I'm going to have to get a new rod and reel (probably go to a conventional or long casting spinner) and go with mono. But I say that every year and never follow through on it :rolleyes: .

-bd

Just extend the length of your leader to 6 to 8 feet. I've been plugging a lot over the course of the past two weeks in the canal and the action seems to be OK for me. But I'm using 30 lb braid (Stealth) and a 6 ft piece of 25 lb test flourocarbon (although I think the flouro part may be overkill on my part).

[ember]

Seems to be a fair amount of apples to oranges here. The original post mentioned a light spinning set up. All of sudden we are tossing big rubber and 2 1/2 ounce plugs into the ditch for large with 4 knots of current...........

[G-Man]

I'll second the Fireline on light spin gear.

It's not a right or wrong thing ...personal preference...I tried a few monos and braids, and the Fireline seems to have the fewest tangles for a braid and none of the memory issues the mono has.

I could never go a whole season with mono or Powerpro, but I can go 2 with Fireline. Good stuff.

Mono does work pretty good for leaders tho. ;)

[JimK]

For the canal I have been using 25 lb. Green Big Game for years with a 40 lb 2' leader. I haven't had any problems with this set-up.
I've tried 15 lb. in the canal years ago and it didn't hold up to the fish and the current.

For general plugging from a beach I use 15 lb. Big Game Mono.

Every year I tell myself that I'm going to try braid but never get to it for some reason.

[bb1]

JimK....25lb Big Game is what I used for years in the canal for plugging....but I sold my plugging rod, not enough breaking fish there for me.

YES....I'm talking about a 'light' spinner (slack tide fishing)....I have heavy & medium braid conventionals for jigging the canal. And I end up using them for heavy plugging there also....I just can't cast them as far as mono.

[rockfisherman]

I have a quick question for any one who would know the answer.Do you really need to have the bait shop spool up your reel with the machine? Could someone share some tips for doing it yourself?
Thank you
Dan
Put a phone book on the floor and run the line thru it and lay the spool on the floor flat. The phone book provides tension for spooling and the spool won't jump all over the place. I'd still use some finger tension above the reel.

[flynny]

For all my LT reels, I have had Yozuri Hybrid which I have been very happy with. This past year, i switched a couple reels to Power pro braid (green) and absolutely love it. I'll be switching most of my reels for next season over to PP. Not only is it extremely durable, but just so smooth, and you can cast a lot further. And of course with the lack of stretch, it is especially great for LT since you feel everything.

[ember]

YES....I'm talking about a 'light' spinner (slack tide fishing)....I have heavy & medium braid conventionals for jigging the canal. And I end up using them for heavy plugging there also....I just can't cast them as far as mono. All righty then.Although the rod and reel specs given are a little more stout than my preference, if we are indeed talking light rod,small lures I will stand by the 12-15 test line I previously espoused.There has not been a bass made up to ,what,say 20-25 pounds that cant be stopped reliably with quality 12, a smooth drag and a cool demeanor.. but it really shines casting 1 1/4oz. Smack-It plugs to schoolies. Schoolies at slack tide,using 25 or 30 pound test,you could probably stop the seal that hits it on the way in.:eek:JUST KIDDING!

[albacized]

I'd still say that if we're talking about the canal, 'light line' should be looked at in relative terms. You can only go so light in the canal although I've used as light as 12 (or perhaps even 10) back when I took this 'line shy' thing too serious when chasing albies around the canal. I would still stick with at least 20 and consider that 'light line/light tackle' by canal standards.

[catspaw]

Momoi's new Illusion #1 - Ande Backcountry #2

[JoeA]

For my penn 750 I use jikai 30 pound it has a thinner diameter than most thirty pound mono lines. For my penn 650 I use big game 15# pound green. both are rigged with a bimini twist about five to six feet long and them a two to three foot piece of 40 pound mono ande or big game or whatever I have around. the Jinkai line is a little pricey but lasts a long time.

[bb1]

I used to use Jinkai and Momoi for tuna fishing (9/0, 50W).

And I used 25, 30lb Big Game for heavy plugging (3-3 1/2oz).

I was just wondering if there was a real slick, new mono line that worked real well on light (for the canal) spinning reels?

p.s. I'm thinking of going to 30lb. 'pink' Fireline on my med. conventional (AG 6500 'Rocket') rod.