Line question?

[BYRD]

Probably a basic question that is beneath some of ya'll but here goes.

I'm getting two TLD 30II's in March. They've already been ordered, just waiting for them. I plan on spooling them with 40 lb mono, as I've always been a straight mono guy when it comes to my offshore stuff. But, I've been reading and hearing alot about loading it up with braid and then top shotting the last 100 or so yards with mono.

Other than line capacity, what is the advantage of braid and a top shot, vs just running straight mono?

[gottaflylee]

Bird, I use Penn 975s. I get about 300 yards of 30 braid and about 150 to 200 of mono. I change the topshot often when in the work mode. It is nice to know that you have the yardage when you hook into a big one. I put the topshot on about 99 I think and have never changed it.

[calebw]

Spectra is expensive the first time you spool up but it is cheaper in the long run. Mono should be replaced every year where as if you spool up with spectra then all you have to replace yearly is that short top shot of mono vs the whole spool. You can leave spectra on your reels for 4 or 5 years without changing it out....

[pitch bait]

Byrd,
Im not big into it if you are using them for white marlin or sailfish. The reason is when you hook the fish you are supposed to put the boat into a circle and try to get more bites stretching out that first, second, or what ever number fish. With mono you can back the drag off and let the belly in the line keep the fish tight. Im not sure with the thin diameter of the braid if that will work the same way. Second that mono having so much stretch helps alot against pulled hook when fish come up jumping off in the distance. I just dont see the need to have all that line unless you get eaten by a blue marlin or big tuna. In that case with the light leader it is probley going to be see ya later bye any way. The only time I see the need to back a reel is for big fish when you are fishing 50, 80 or 130lb gear. Alot of guys say well then I only have to replace the topshot. Well you can do the same with mono to mono. We do it all the time with a bimini to bimini loop to loop connection. Also it is quite expensive to fill a reel with braid. Hope this helps.

The above post states you can leave spectra on a reel for 4 to 5 years. I wouldnt leave anything on a reel for 4 to 5 years not even stainless cable. Salt is going to get into the bottom of the spool some how, and so is soap and what ever else we spray on our reels.

[N2theBlue]

braid is most useful when you want to fish your reels "up" a class, especially stand up. For me its a lot more fun to have lighter gear, and with todays new reels able to pack so much drag into such a small package, you can fish 30, 20 and even 16 and 12 size reels up several line classes, and by using braid you still get the line capacity.

Example:
An Avet LX will hold 600yds of 20 lb line but will do 15lbs at strike and 20lbs at full straight out of the box. Once they are broken in or with a little modification you can get even more. So these reels can effectively be fished with 50lb line. However, with 50 you can only get 250 yards or so on there. Thats where the braid and topshot come in. Throw in a GS bracket for harness lugs if you want and you've got a setup that will catch 90% of the dolphin, schoolie tunas and small to medium wahoos out there, as well as sails and white marlin. That setup will do everything a TLD 25 will do, and if you get the two speed it will do everything a TLD 30II will do.

Since you are getting TLD 30II's and planning on 40lb line, braid isn't really an advantage. However, if you wanted to fish them "up" a class as 50-70lb outfits, you could put braid on and not lose your capacity.

[N2theBlue]

The above post states you can leave spectra on a reel for 4 to 5 years. I wouldnt leave anything on a reel for 4 to 5 years not even stainless cable. Salt is going to get into the bottom of the spool some how, and so is soap and what ever else we spray on our reels.

Some of the West coast guys, and even some east coasters have left it on over 10 yrs. A secret is to put some car wax on the spool first. I know some people who "wet pack" their reels and I would not advise doing this in saltwater and then leaving the line on for several years. But you can always reverse it onto another reel every other year. Braid does not go bad like mono does.

[ifish42na]

It's a good idea to spool it off and repack every year, check your spools and coat with Boeshield, re-splice your end loop. Spectra lasts a long time but that doesn't mean you should leave it on your reels. Saltwater will get in there and corrode your spool just like it will with mono.

[BYRD]

Thanks for responses. Having read all your replies, I guess I'll stick to the 40lb mono. My set up will be used mostly as flat lines for yft. Possibly an occasional white, and maybe as a live bait rig for amberjacks. Thanks again for the help.

[BTH284]

You can tell spring is around the corner. The "good threads" are coming to the surface here in the WORLD!

[WAHOONBOX]

IF YOU CHOOSE TO ADD A BRAID TO THESE REELS....ALLOW YOURSELF THE ROOM TO ADD COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS OF HI-VIS 40 LB ON TOP


THIS WAY YOU CAN CHANGE OUT THE 200YD MUCH CHEAPER THAN A FULL REEL....AND THE BRAID WILL USUALLY LAST FOR YEARS

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRAID AND MONO:
1. BRAID IS LESS DRAG IN THE WATER
2. MONO IS MORE FORGIVING THAN BRAID
3. BRAID IS MORE RESISTANT TO ABRASION THAN MONO
4. BRAID WILL LAST MUCH LONGER AS A SPOOL FILLER WITH A TOP SHOT OF MONO CHANGED OUT REGULARLY
5. MONO IS LESS DANGEROUS TO ANGLERS THAN BRAID

THERE ARE MORE I'M SURE


BUT YOU BE THE JUDGE