I just got my first casting combo for christmas and was wondering what my fellow members recommend for line choices.  I will be fishing mostly for pike and bass, and the body of water I fish has quite a lot of flooded timber.  I'm debating between low stretch mono and braid, or maybe a superline like Spiderwire.

If you are going to be fishing in heavy cover a braid or fused line would probably be a better choice. The small diameter allows you to use a higher test line which is a big advantage when dealing with slop or timber. Tom

I agree, but make sure that the combo that you are going to be using is suitable for braided line, so that the line doesn't cut the guides or the spool.

Posted By apbaseballmaniac on 02 Jan 2011 01:56 PM
I just got my first casting combo for christmas and was wondering what my fellow members recommend for line choices.  I will be fishing mostly for pike and bass, and the body of water I fish has quite a lot of flooded timber.  I'm debating between low stretch mono and braid, or maybe a superline like Spiderwire.

What did you get for a combo?  I'm considering getting a medium or medium-heavy bait casting rig myself and have been looking at different brands and models.  There are lots to consider.

If this is your first baitcaster, I wouldn't rush into braid or fused. It's not the easiest stuff to cast, especially if you're just learning. It's expensive and can get costly if you have to cut out a few backlashes as most beginners do. I'd start with a good medium priced mono like Stren or Trilene until you get the hang of it. Something in the 14-17 lb test range would be good in the timber and also cast well. Good luck.

Posted By wmiket on 02 Jan 2011 09:27 PM
If this is your first baitcaster, I wouldn't rush into braid or fused. It's not the easiest stuff to cast, especially if you're just learning. It's expensive and can get costly if you have to cut out a few backlashes as most beginners do. I'd start with a good medium priced mono like Stren or Trilene until you get the hang of it. Something in the 14-17 lb test range would be good in the timber and also cast well. Good luck.

I just started using Bait Casters in 2010. I bought a couple $70 combos from Dicks. I got pretty frustrated with the birds nest but they cast awesome. I was ready to switch back to my spinners until a Bait  Shop gave me a real good deal on a Diawa Zillion Caster. Retails for about $300. Put it on a Med/Fast Mojo Rod and I haven't looked back since.

There is a huge difference between Store Combo's and Higher End Casters. It's like night and day.

Don't get frustrated and give up on the caster. Watch some videos on balancing and tuning the reel.

I have been using baitcasters for more years than I'd like to count. One thing I have learned is, the cheaper the reel the harder it is to cast. They just don't have the inner workings of the upper end reels and only last a year or two. I understand that in these times money can be a little tight, and this is where the old saying comes into play YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
I know 2 or 3 hundred dollars for a reel is alot of money but, it will save you in the long run by not having to replace that cheap reel every other year. As far as line goes I only use one brand Bass Pro Shops Excel mono. It's inexpensive but a high quality line. It is a very easy casting line. I have never lost a fish on it weather it be a pike or a bass.

I fish lots of places like that involving both chain pickerel and bass, so we're talking toothy and woody. I keep one baitcaster spooled with somewhat stretchy Yo-Zuri hybrid line in 17 pound test for that. The trees don't scrape the line like they do to braid, and the line is more forgiving when there's a branch or two between me and a fish. That line stretches more than braid or superline, but less than mono. For me the stiffer the line the more likely a bass is going to pop a hook out of its mouth around wood. I save the lighter, more stretchy mono lines for open water, especially using crankbaits and swim baits.

Jim

ramseyetcs, the rod/reel combo i got was the Cabelas Gold Label combo, you can find it on the cabelas website.

Go with plain old trilene for starters. It's cheap and easy to cast and will work in about any situation. Tie on a heavier lure to begin with, you'll have less trouble.

Different lines for different purposes. Here's a little more rule of thumb. Line stretch? You don't want stretchy line fishing a long way out. Even stiff line stretches if given enough length. But when a big fish is caught close in you will need line stretch combined with adequate rod action to keep the line from snapping. Stiff line has an advantage over stretchy line in sensitivity and hooksetting.

Choice of lure should match the line. Select thin limber line for light weight lures. I want just enough lure weight to challenge the line to fly straight. A little lure on the end of a heavy line will result in more bird's nests. A big lure tied on a light line will likely result in line breakage.

Topwater lures almost demand mono line that "floats" to some degree. A super thin dense super line will sink almost like wire, while mono will let a topwater perform as intended.

I grew up using braid and don't remember having trouble casting it. You just learn it like any other line. I probably still use it a lot due to the pounds of test available not readily present in other types of line. 80 pounds of test comes in handy when coaxing a bass out of tough hydrilla weeds, paired with a heavy/Xheavy rod. I don't use it in clean water with no interference.

You can read up on every kind of line. Keep reading about line characteristics until one sounds best for your typical fishing scenario. When I got my fist Sears card long ago I maxed it out buying a new tool every week. I didn't bother to shop for tools based on a need to to a particular job. I mostly ended up just being a good Sears customer. As a result of such thinking I have line, rods, etc. I've never used, many of them too alike, too general in purpose, basically backups stowed in the garage. Match line to rod and lure, then select the right reel.

But now you are trying to reverse engineer the best selections. Try to make that combo a special-use one by selecting one line that covers most bases on the water. Next time you buy, determine what other special use combo you need, considering lure, line, rod and fishing conditions. Maybe now you have a middle of the road rig for average situations, but might find you want a heavy rig for thick water, and maybe add an ultra light rig.