need some line advice

[EricD]

I thought I might try some northern fishing this summer. I've always been a panfishing kind of guy with a little bass on the side. So I bought an Abu Garcia Pro Max baitcaster and a medium heavy Abu Garcia rod to get me started. I could use little advice on what line to put on the reel - weight and material. Choice are a little bewildering at this end of the spectrum. Thanks for any thoughts.

[jigginjerk]

I use 20-30# spiderwire braid on mine. So I would say any superline or braid in that range would be a safe bet.

[traveler]

I go with 65 lb (or bigger) power pro or spectra, or 20 lb mono. The smaller lb. spectras are pretty thin, and tend to bury themselves in the spool on baitcasters, Untangling birdsnests is no fun with it either. Handling is just much easier with the heavier stuff, and it's a thing of beauty casting in slop...you can "rip" weeds off the line nicely with spectra:)

But good old 20-30 lb mono works OK too.

[slipperybob]

I would line it up with anything between 30-50# braids. The bigger braids will do better at preventing line dig'n but the lighter braids will casts lures further.

[nsnutter]

If you do go the superline route, which I would advise, G. Mt. has spools of the new suffix 832 for 20 bucks - I like the stuff so far. I mainly fish the river for cats, and I can attest to the strength of braid over mono. Pulling in large tree limbs etc when you get snagged up is not out of the question. I can only imagine how nice it would be on a weedy lake!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I too will say a higher braid.. 65 is a good choice.. 50 would work.. the reason you need such a high pound test is so that when(notice I did not say if) when you backlash it will not cut its self.

[Craigums]

Im actually going to go a differant direction than most. I would say 17lb+ Mono or Flouro, at the very least as a leader. northern teeth cut right through braid like it was butter

[slipperybob]

I usually run a leader line of something like 30# mono or flouro. If not a steel leader of some sort.

[EricD]

Thanks, Everyone! I might try the braid. The super high test numbers surprised me but I can see the point. Thanks for the advice.