What line?

[joeT]

I'm looking to shop for some new line and just wondering what brands people go for. Looking for line about 8-10lb, and some 15lb as well.

Cheers

[AaronF]

What are you planning to fish for? If you are a bit more specific then people will probably be inclined to answer you. Fresh, salt, overhead, spinning, sidecast reel? That sort of thing.

[joeT]

ooops, my newbieness is showing already ;D

Saltwater, spinning reels. Fish? whatever I can catch... bream, trevally, squire, flathead, and a few other random species.

[AaronF]

There are literally hundreds of lines out there and most of them are at least OK. Budget dependent of course the braided or gelspun lines are great. Bionic Braid is a great line and really most of the other braids are pretty good now. Probably better for lure fishing if that's your thing. Mono is my pref for bait fishing in this class anyway for estuary species. Penn 10X is as good as anything I've used and not too expensive. Platypus makes some nice lines but I'd stay away from the Pink stuff as I find it not that great. (others probably disagree). Buy something Australian if you can as for mine it's as good as anything else out there. If not then the Japanese or German stuff is pretty good too.

[Bashir]

Spool your reels up with Hawk line. I prefer the pink colour. Its a very light pink and looks almost clear. Great line, I use it on all my reels from bream to marlin.

[joeT]

I'm not even sure how much I want to spend on line. I want to get good quality, but I don't want to spend an absolute bomb. Perhaps $30 to spool up a reel? (perhaps less? ???)

[lordy]

I like fireline on my spinning reels and bionic on my baitcasters. Bionic stuff lasts longer in my opinion but the fireline has a better stiffness for spinning reels. I've got some Bionic on a baitcaster from way back when Harro just started making/selling the stuff (how long is that 6 or 7 years I suppose?). Still going great while the fireline I had around then went ragged and got replaced.

I know some people who are using the Jarvis Walker stuff that kmart sells on their spinnig reels and they are fairly happy with it. I've got some on my spin gear to try, but haven't used it in anger yet.

Don't use mono much.

[joeT]

I've never used braid, what are the advantages of braid?

[AaronF]

Braid won't stretch at all unlike mono. I doubt you'll spool your reeel for less than $30 though. Braid has advantages and disadvantages. The good is it doesn't stretch so that even little bites are felt and it's more sensitive, thinner diameter for the same breaking strain as mono, thought to have better abrasion resistance as well (I'm not convinced of this yet) The bad - really painful when you get a tangle to undo, need to tie different knots with more twists, expensive, usually requires a mono leader anyway or something like a knotted dog to stop pulling hooks from soft mouthed fish. That's the basics anyway.

[klyons]

JoeT
If your using mono, and at $30 you will be, I've got to agree with AaronF, go with the Penn 10x. Strong,tough and no dearer than most other good monos. Available from kmart at a good price normally though it always pays to check your local tackle store.

Kev

[Fordo]

Hi Joe T,
If your Bait fishing, depending on how serious, look at mono's and if your real serious there are a Fluorocarbon's available now which are invisible in water and extremely abrasion resistant. Some for Moonlight fishng now as well.
For Lure Fishing you need to really look at Braid. For those Species you've listed don't need to fill your reel with Braid, Top Shot it with 100 yds or so. Lasts forever vs a couple of years for Mono.
You'll stay near your budget either way
Fordo

[joeT]

Is braid more invisible than mono? And why is braid necessary for lure fishing?

I've fished for many years but always used whatever mono I came across that looked ok. I don't mind spending a bit more if its worth it and will result in better fishing ;D

[Fordo]

Hi Joe,
Braid is not invisible by any means, It can be brightly coloured or a solid colour. This is so you can see the line. A Leader is used with it which can be mono or Fluorocarbon, This is the invisible connection to the Lure or Hook.
Braid has very little stretch and smaller diameters compared to Mono and you can feel everything which is happening on the line and it will run depper or be less effected by current. You can also feel the the fish or line rubbing on a submerged tree branch or banging into the bottom.
The Leader either mono or Fluorocarbon has a second purpose and that is to add a little shock absorbing into the line when the fish is on.
Hope that helps , Kev