What line is everyone spooling up with this year?

[ec30_06]

I am debating what line I should buy for all my cat rods this year. In the past I have used 80# power pro for flats and 25# mono for channels. I might just put power pro on all the rods this year. Is it worth spooling up with 65# power pro, or is it best to stick with 80#. Any advantage to using mono? Thanks in advance.

[hanson]

I vote for a big NO, NO, NO on the 65lb for flathead cats. Just stick with the 80lb.

Mono? I don't use it. Some guys do like it though. A line with some stretch has advantages when running circle hooks.

Other than that, most if not all of my experience is with 80lb PP. It works, I have confidence in it, thats what I'll be sticking with this year.

[DTro]

Well, I've had good luck with my 65lb. I haven't "broke off" in two years and it's a little easier to cast and also to break when you get hung up.

I think either will work fine.

Just my .02

[harvey lee]

I have both 65 & 80 spooled on 5 rods. I haven't had a problem with either. I will agree that the 65# PP is easier to work with if you need to break free of a snag.

[jtk15]

I also use both 65 and 80 generally. I tend to prefer the 65. Never broken off uninentionally. Easier to break when snaged and easier to cast as indicated, but it also "cuts current" better, or less drag if your not fishing straight down current-which is over 50% of the time from boat, over 90% of the time from shore.

80 or higher is much easier to get knots out though.

Power pro for sure though either way.

jk

[ChemE]

Several of my fishing aquaintances use PP line but do not thread the whole spool with it. I'm wondering if someone would care to share the ins and outs of using a "backing" line with a superline. Also, what is the procedure for installing it, recommended lengths of the backing and superline etc.

Thank you for sharing!

[slipperybob]

Quote:

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Several of my fishing aquaintances use PP line but do not thread the whole spool with it. I'm wondering if someone would care to share the ins and outs of using a "backing" line with a superline. Also, what is the procedure for installing it, recommended lengths of the backing and superline etc.

Thank you for sharing!

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What happens when there's no backing on the spool is that the entire line slips/slide when there's too much pull. Your drag wouldn't even get a chance to kick in.

I normally spool mono of equivalent diameter or go one larger. I.E. 30/06 braid, I use 8 lb mono; uni to uni knot. I spool enough mono so that it's smooth and I don't see any of the spool anymore. It's been years since I've any need for new braids as I still have my old Whiplash 50lb on.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I generally decide how much braid I want (100 yards give or take). I then spool this on the reel. Once the 100 yards of braid is on, I spool till the reel is full with mono of similar diameter. This way, I know exactly how much backing I need to use to have a full spool (full spools cast much better). Then, I pull it all off, tightly spool on the mono backing, connect the braid to the mono (I use a back-to-back uni knot), then finish spooling on the braid. This will leave you with a perfectly spooled reel.

[cjac]

Looking at venturing into the "dark side" for the first time this year, just picked up a couple cat rods.

I'll be swapping over my muskie Abu C3s to do this, mostly 80lb test on them. I use Power Pro, but started using Suffix last year. Really a good line, you may want to take a stab at it. I don't have any experience with it's ability to withstand any abrasion, other than a little bit from last fall on muskies, but a good line to consider. Seems to be a bit smoother on the spool.

Spooling: I probably put 150 yards on, and turn it around every year. So, I get a good two years out of 150 yards. You don't realize how far 150 yards is until you walk it down the driveway, around the mailbox post, back up, etc! That bottom 75 yards really has never seen the light of day. All personal preference, and come to think of it, it's probably a $$$ push in cost. Just the way I do it. I have a big spool of 20 mono I use for backing, so my uni knot is similar in diameter.

$.02 from a guy who is after his first flattie, so take it as you wish. Hope to see a few of you on the river!

Chris

Chris

[hanson]

Wish I could get more than 1 year out of 150 yards of PP. After breaking off and breaking off and breaking off in snags, I ended up with just enough PP left to make one heck of a long cast that brought me to my backing. Guess the river likes to eat line too.

[cjac]

You just proved my point, I'm a cattin' rookie!!

So my $.02 is really more like $.000000002! Boy, do I have a lot to learn!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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Wish I could get more than 1 year out of 150 yards of PP.

After breaking off and breaking off and breaking off in snags, I ended up with just enough PP left to make one heck of a long cast that brought me to my backing. Guess the river likes to eat line too.

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I think you lost 75 yards of PP on that tugboat last May!!!

You probably break off more than anyone I should buy stock in PP simply because of you

[slipperybob]

Quote:

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I generally decide how much braid I want (100 yards give or take). I then spool this on the reel. Once the 100 yards of braid is on, I spool till the reel is full with mono of similar diameter. This way, I know exactly how much backing I need to use to have a full spool (full spools cast much better). Then, I pull it all off,

tightly

spool on the mono backing, connect the braid to the mono (I use a back-to-back uni knot), then finish spooling on the braid. This will leave you with a perfectly spooled reel.

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That's a "reel" professional job! I did that once, but I've gotten lazy...then again I had to learn it through trial and error.