I saved my butt off and bought an Islander Steelheader reel. The guy at the fishing store paired it with a G Loomis GL2 medium fast action with an 8-12 lb line recommendation . Here's the question, the guy spooled my reel with 20 lb mono and said that should be fine. Is that true ? Would love to take it for a spin, but if the line is too heavy , I'd rather return the rod un-used.
Am I reading this right? You'd return the
rod if you weren't happy with the staff's choice of mono mainline? Wouldn't it be more pragmatic to just replace the 20lb with a lighter mainline, such as 15lb or whatever?
As others have said it is 100% fine to use a line that is stronger than the rod's line rating. In this case 20lb on a rod with 8-12 line rating. If you snag up just make sure to snap it off with your rod straight, as if you overload the rod trying to break it off you may instead break the rod.
I fish 20lb mainline on my pin reel and most of my baitcasters, and most of my float rods are in the 8-12, 8-17 line rating. I like the heavier mainline as if it gets a little nick or abrasion on it, it should still be fine not to bust off when I hook a big salmon/steelhead. I typically run 12lb leader and just don't feel confidant with 15lb mainline and only 3lbs diff between the 2 lines. It really sucks when your leader gets hung up, you go to break it off, and your mainline breaks! I had this happen the odd time with 15 mainline, but pretty much never with the 20.
This being said I do have a baitcaster that I run 15lb mainline on, and another with 12. These are smaller 200 series reels that do not hold a lot of line. The lighter mainline is nice as I can still get a decent amount of line of these reels. I typically use these reel on light rods for pinks and coho. Leader is typically 6 or 8lb. For bigger salmon and steelhead I prefer heavier gear and line.
Lastly, you will notice that when trying to keep your line off the water during your drift it is easier with the lighter mainline. Heavier line has more "sag." In the end mono is cheap, so try the 20lb for a while, then cut it off and try some 15, or even 12. You'll eventually settle on what you like and what works for how you like to fish. Just keep in mind that generally it I recommended to have min of 5lb diff between mainline and leader.
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Topic: Center pin help . (Read 3182 times)