Line choice for medium heavy set up.

[yukonjasper]

Howdy,

I'm finally getting around to replacing my Spider Wire - circa 1990?. Wondering what a modern replacement would look like.

Here's the set up:

-St Croix Medium Heavy Rod - 7'

-Abu Garcia Ambassador bait cast reel - i forget the size

I bought it for my initial forray into Muskie fishing and haven't used it much.

I would like to use it for Catfish, Muskie and larger Carp.

Wondering if you can school me in the line choices that work best.

Thanks in advance.

[Nick Kuhn]

Casting for muskies a 65lb superbraid is a minimum unless you want to watch $20 baits go flying on a backlash.

For carp and catfish a heavy mono or 50lb superbraid would work.

[ec30_06]

I second 65 lb braid. Sufix is my favorite.

[Musky_Madness]

I would stick with the Spiderwire. Spiderwire seems to repel water which helps out tremendously when the water and air cools because it is less likely to freeze like some other lines will do when the water soaks into the line.

[Muddog]

You should use another rod for Carp. Unless you are fishing river current your bait size will require spinning gear. Carp in lakes require small hooks, size 6-8 for corn and maybe a 1/4oz sinker. Not the type of thing a Abu Garcia Ambassador bait cast reel casts well. There are setups that use 2-3ozs of lead but if you are fishing from a boat it is not necessary.

Carp have soft mouths. So if you horse a large Carp you will most likely just pull the hook loose. Never weigh a large Carp by the mouth, you will end up just weighing the mouth because they will come off the fish!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I agree with muddie on this.. What you have is not a carp rod..Dont really think its a cat rod either... Pike/bass, light muskie.. sure go ahead.. If your going 65 lb braid, thats fine.. I prefer Power Pro.. If you want to go mono, which I would not suggest, go 17lb at the lightest, but probably not more than 20 because it will be hard to cast.

[yukonjasper]

Thanks for your help. I do have a medium set up that I'll convert for my Carp needs and then go to the heavy braid for Muskie/Pike and Catfish. I really don't do much Muskie or Catfishing, but have access to some good Carp locations (like those are hard to find), so I should have a set up for that alone. I appreciate the help. I'll take both reels into Gander and have them set up.

As for the existing Spider Wire, one of you suggest I keep it - I'm assuming that they have come a long way from that original waxy - hard to tie stuff- if I'm wrong, I will keep it. I just figured it was obsolete.

Thanks again for your assistance.