Braided line question: So i usually use 30# braided line when fishing rivers for salmon/steelhead and i wonder if that's what i needed when i lost this huge fish.... I decided to...

FS Digest

So i usually use 30# braided line when fishing rivers for salmon/steelhead and i wonder if that's what i needed when i lost this huge fish....

I decided to switch down to 15# braided line thinking that 30# was a little bit too much overkill (i wanted to have more fun 🙄) and i lost a huge chinook the other day.

Does sticking to 30# braid make it easier to fight the fish? I see bass fisherman use it all the time for fish weighing less than 10 lbs. I thought 15# braid would be good enough to handle salmon/steelhead and it has been fun up until i lost that huge fish.... The one that got away...

I don't want that to happen anymore lol

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by Yebivore3354

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Bass and catfish fishermen often use heavy braided line because they have to deal with brush and heavy cover, not because of the size of the fish. 15 pound test will work just fine for most salmon, but as you found out, the really big ones - like 35 pounds or more - require heavier line or a super, super good drag. It's a toss up. I use lighter gear all around for salmon, and I just deal with the fact that if I hook a really big one I'm probably not gonna be able to land it. I'll cut my line before I'll let one spool me.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

"Spot on" agree with spirit's reply...nothing to add!

fishinphil

think you need to check your equipment for any damage that can translate onto your line, or knots arent being done correctly.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

One other consideration that I do not see discussed when talking about braided lines. You must consider the line diameter because it will be a factor in your casting. Braid is about 1/3 the diameter of the same pound test monofilament line. If you considered 30 lb braid, let's say, it would be equivalent to a 10 lb test, or possibly even smaller mono. I find that line that is angel hair-thin to be too small for my casting and will cause too many bird nests, which I don't have time to fiddle with while fishing.

Instead of dealing with too small of a diameter, I use a 40 lb braid, and then ti on a longer leader of flurorcarbon, san 6 to 10 feet. This gives the appearance of flouro, and the benefit of a sturdy, non-strength braid. If I get hung up and need to break off it is as easy as the flourocarbon leader. Just Sayin...RJ

Chuck56 Loc: Texas

FS Digest wrote:

So i usually use 30# braided line when fishing riv... (show quote)

Um, I have fished the Texas lakes, Louisiana lakes, and Florida lakes for bass for years, using 30# and 50# power pro . With the nature of bass fishing in the south, 30# braid is a minimum. You can’t intentionally fish for bass “ less than 10# “ unless you are standing on a dock throwing Vienna sausage chunks at the little dinks using a cane pole . Now the north guys might use something lighter due to generally smaller size of bass I guess , but they will usually have the same type issues to a certain extent that we have. Rocky areas, submerged trees, logs, etc. can wear on your braid. So, in my mind, since you mentioned bass fishermen, the answer to your question would be yes, the 30# braid would make it easier to fight fish due to heavier braid durability.

GLA Loc: WA State

Based on the line diameter of braid, I see no downside to using 30 lb braid when big fish are a possibility. I use 30 or 40 when targeting Salmon in the Columbia River

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

I used to use 12 pound mono on all my spinning gear except the salt water stuff. I now use 30 pound braid with similar fishability and a lot fewer lost lures. I also use the 30 pound braid on most of my casting gear. If pitching or fishing heavy vegetation, a technique I am new at, I go up to 60 pound with no leader. In salt water I use much more variation, but 30 lb. braid is my standard in Puget Sound. If using cut bait or Gulp I use 20 lb. mono leader. in the sound I switch to heavier 80 lb. line during the short ling season to reduce lost lures in the rocks and kelp.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Haven't a lot of you guys on the Stage say that you shouldn't go beyond the line recommendation of the rod manufacturer. Yet theres the contradictions right here so which way is correct?

Fishing Fool Loc: redding, ca

I use way heavier poundage in braid as the diameter is so much less than mono but does help to protect against rock abrasions in the river and then add 10-15 feet of fluorocarbon and let my drag do the work for large fish.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

The line weight reflects line diameter. My 30 pound braid is close to the 12 pound mono in diameter and works fine, common sense tells me to set the drag for 12 pound test. If snagged, I point the rod strait at the snag and pull the line by rapping it around a pliers handle. This eliminates all stress on the rod and reel. I hope this helps.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

bapabear wrote:

The line weight reflects line diameter. My 30 pound braid is close to the 12 pound mono in diameter and works fine, common sense tells me to set the drag for 12 pound test. If snagged, I point the rod strait at the snag and pull the line by rapping it around a pliers handle. This eliminates all stress on the rod and reel. I hope this helps.

bapabear I do the same I questioned some of the other Stagers saying that they use only line that the rod recommends for fear of breaking their rods myself on my baitcasters I'll use 15 to 30lb braid with anywhere between 6 and 10lb mono leader on my spinning I'll use 10lb braid and 10lb mono leader and just straght mono ( freshwater setups only)

Captain Lahti Loc: Kennewick, WA

HenryG wrote:

Haven't a lot of you guys on the Stage say that you shouldn't go beyond the line recommendation of the rod manufacturer. Yet theres the contradictions right here so which way is correct?

As I recall my comments on using heavier lines on rods calling for a lighter top number I tried to make the point that you need to adjust your drag accordingly. Regardless of the line weight you need to let the fish run even though you could tighten the drag to a point the fish can’t move. I use 30lb braid for steelhead that could go 25lbs if I got lucky but I treat my drag as though the line is rated at 10lbs. And I usually have a section of flouro leader about 10 lbs so I’m really not fishing 30 lbs.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Captain Lahti wrote:

As I recall my comments on using heavier lines on ... (show quote)

I run my gear roughly the same way only a fisherman that panics and forgets what he's doing will end up foolishly breaking his rod while fighting a fish. TIGHT LINES 🐟🐟🎣😀👍

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Captain Lahti wrote:

As I recall my comments on using heavier lines on ... (show quote)

You recall right. I don't think your answer was in question. Lots of different opinions. It appears some people don't know what a drag is. Everyone has a learning curve.