FS Digest

i have a daiwa fuego i was mainly targeting bass/saugeye and 8lb test worked just fine. well lately ive been fishing a pond and doing some catfishing i first caught a few nice channel cats. this is where the crazy stuff happened this guy my dad and i took ended up hooking a fish he said 'oh its a nice one' it was like 12am so it was kinda hard to see and he was quite a way down from where i was fishing. well next thing his line busted we almost couldn't believe a fish big enough in that pond to snap his 10lb test like it was nothing? we only thought channel cats were in there. next night my dad had his pole sitting in a 5 gallon bucket he hooked a fish that ripped his pole out of the bucket and began dragging it into the water he grabbed his pole and started to reel for a split second and line snapped. my dad has done a lot of flathead river fishing and has caught a 40 lb fish he said it felt exactly like them fish it just lays on the bottom and can break even heavy line let alone light tackel he estimated that fish was at least 30 lbs.

we found out a 30lb flathead had been caught out there we had no idea fish were even that big in our area but this pond has a few monster catfish. so here's my question after all that is on my daiwa i don't think i can put much more then 15lb test i think i need a level wind reel like an abu ambassador or a similar type of baitcaster that is designed to spool heavier line. am i mistaken? or can i put 20lb + test line on the daiwa fuego? i did when i first got it put 10lb and it felt almost too much the spool is so small and casting it didnt feel right. 8lb test line seemed to be the perfect for it and it was good for targeting bass/saugeye/crappie but if i hook the pond monster i know i won't be able to get him on that i have a small chance to set the drag right and wear him out but im pretty sure he'd just snap the line. 3 lines have been snapped due to this fish in our area channel cats are primarily but i think someone put a bunch of flatheads in this pond and they got massive the people that fish there don't realize there are 20lb + flatheads.

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by spacerat67

FS Digest

I keep 30lb braid in my baitcaster, don't seem to slow it down at all, in fact I think it casts vastly better then the 10lb mono that came on it.

I fish a lot of salt/brackish

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by xxXICONXxx

FS Digest

okay so braid is a lot thinner then regular line but as strong? maybe that is what i can do instead of getting a level wind reel.

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by spacerat67

FS Digest

I say it's stronger on the straight pull, by a noticable amount.

Downfalls are it's ability to knot like a mofo, because it lighter it is more susceptible to "oh screw it just cut that bit" knots lol I seem to find that mostly right by a lure though not in reel. Once in a while certain fish like gar and sharks can get so wrapped up in it I decide to just cut the line rather then deal with the knots.

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by xxXICONXxx

FS Digest

You'll want to go braid if you're going to go heavier than the reals specs are telling you.

May also want to go to a heavier rod. I don't know the US market, but Walmart I would assume should have something suitable? May even be worth getting a heavy combo, and fish big baits targeting those big cats.

A proper rod bank rod holder might be a good investment too

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by after_hours_chef

Eyecrosser Loc: Camdenton Mo. Lake of Ozarks.

The Fuego 100 bait caster is rated for up to 16 lb monon or fluorocarbon line and 40 or 50 lb braid.
Braid is very strong. I use 50 lb on my bait caster when I am flipping into the center of bushes. Works great.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Yeah spacerat,modern baitcasters are designed for braid. If you tried to put 20 or 30lb mono on your Diawa, A you would only fit 40 or 50 yards on it, and B it would cast and reel like crap. I use 30,40,and 50lb test on mine and still get over 100yds on all of them,due to the smaller diameter of braid. Just be careful when handling large fish because braid will cut into your skin,the same way it cuts through heavy weeds. Good luck with the big cats!

bobgin

If you do not like braid use 15 lb mono and use your drag and fight your fish not just haul it in. A lot of 25-35 lb fish brought to the boat or shore on 14-18 lb mono.

Mister twister Loc: Foxworth,Ms.

ABU Garcia 6000 or 6500 spooled with Trilene 17# Xt 7’ ugly stick. Set the drag!!! Nuf said.

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

If you routinely hook 25-30 pound fish you may need a tougher / stronger pole, I have a ugly stik "catfish" casting rod, 7 foot medium heavy thats rated for 15- 30 pound line, short money and it's very stout !! I put on some 25 pound braid and set the drag so it can lift a gallon of water.( that's just about 1/3 line test weight)I use it for saltwater stripers and blues . Don't forget that if you fight a fish that pulls off a mile of line, you need to slack off on the drag cause there's more leverage as the spool size gets smaller. 8 pounds on the end of a 7 foot pole is A LOT !!!

Mister twister Loc: Foxworth,Ms.

A 6000 will do the job. That reel is in a class of its on. It’s just different as far as spool capacity balance drag it’s a feel of power. If you load it up with say trilene big game 20# your reday.

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

http://www.tackledirect.com/fin-nor-lethal-star-drag-reels.html 450 yards of 50 pound and 25 pounds of drag, will pull those fish in... or pull the lips off them :) That's my shark reel !