Fishing line question

[treestandjunky]

I love to wade fish for trout and I have always just used trileen big game mono fishing line, but I'm thinking of making the switch over to braided line.

My only fear is that it will damage my reels. What do you think?
I have curado's and calcuttas.

What braided line (brand and size) do you recommend?
Should I put some mono on first to protect the reel and then switch to braid on the second half of the spool?
If so, how do you tie them together?

Thank you for the help!

[SLICE & DICE]

reels will be fine. mono first.
I join the mono to braid with a triple surgeon knot

[Jon-Paul]

I used Power Pro Slick 20Lb and 30LB(fishing reefs). I do not back it with mono, just straight to the spool. I then tie on a 20LB mono leader.

I have heard go things about AFINS windtamer as well

To tie braid to mono I use a crazy alberto or uni to uni

[Saltyag15]

I have all my inshore rigs set up with 30lb. power pro and a 30lb. flurocarbon leader. I have my reels backed with a couple of wraps of lighter mono, but I'm not real sure its necessary.

[Coastal-Mike]

Switching from mono to braid can be nerve racking. I did so 4 years ago and braid is the only thing that goes onto my inshore reels. Try and stay with the highend braid as the other cheaper brands have a tendency to become suspicious looking after several uses. I may be repeating the others but generally a 20-30 lbs rating is all you'll need for inshore fishing with about an 18" inch flurocarbon leader tied onto the braid with a surgeons knot. Some packaged braids come with a written tutorial of what knots to use and how to tie them. Good luck!

[BowTech2010]

I only use FINS WINDTAMER and have had great luck with it.

[simsknives]

If you have holes thru the spool to tie to, backing the spool with mono isn't nesasary. If you are just tying around the spool you HAVE to back it with mono. Just wrap it until the bottom of the spool is covered and you should be good to go.

[doubleplay43]

I used Power Pro Slick 20Lb and 30LB(fishing reefs). I do not back it with mono, just straight to the spool. I then tie on a 20LB mono leader.

I have heard go things about AFINS windtamer as well

To tie braid to mono I use a crazy alberto or uni to uni

This except I am using Suffix 832. I tie it with uni to unit knot straight to my mono and have had no problems.

[dbrock63]

I have tried braided line several times and always go back to mono.
With mono I have never.....
broke off because the trout or slot red was too big (a few because of oysters and rocks)
been spooled
had a problem casting far
With braided line....
I have birds nest that will never come out
I have a very hard time changing out new lures
I suc a knot tying with braided line

[Philip-TX]

I just watch the Bassmasters Classic and run out and buy what ever the winner was using.

[ABroussard]

I use 12lbs P Line mono on all my inshore rigs. Ive seen what it can handle and have never had any issue with it. Caught some very large fish on it without it breaking.

[Muddy Bud]

I tried braid and keep one of my spinning rods I usually keep rigged for bait with 20 lb power pro. But I usually stick with artificials and I don't like pulling the occasional knots out that are constantly showing up when working some the slower baits like top waters and jerk baits. But if you are using bait and fishing heavy structure you can't beat it. I just braid a 20 lb flouro carbon liter to it. Extremely sensitive, it will make a perch hit feel like redfish slamming a top water. But for the most part 90 percent of my rigs stayed spooled up with 12 lb. Berkeley XL.

[BURTONboy]

For all my inshore setups I use Find Windtamer and throw artificial pretty much exclusively (tops and texas trout killer 1's).

If using braid, always back it with a few wraps of mono (maybe 5' of line or so) as it will protect your spool better if you get spooled (mono will break much easier than braid). I used FINS Windtamer with either 20# or 30# and I tie a full rod length of fluorocarbon in whatever weight my braid is. Reason I use a full rod length, is when it comes time to changing out lures, you have plenty fluorocarbon to tie whatever knot you want and to change your lure plenty of times throughout the weekend. I use to lose a lot of trout with mono, but braid has cut down on that tremendously (doesn't stretch as much and those trout love to shake their heads). If you have your reels set right you won't have a problem with getting bad backlashes and not being able to get them out, but sometimes they do go pretty deep with braid.

I tie all the lines together with an Albright knot and it is plenty small to reel through the eyes of my rod and onto the reel as well. Hope all this helps.

[CastAndBlast]

I am scared to make the transition to braid on my bait casters, but have considered it. I have it on my one spin cast reel, but nothing else. The thought of a birdnest with braid makes me quiver. Also, I really don't have a reason to switch.

Good luck, and keep us posted with your results and what you switch to.

[aggieland]

I only use FINS WINDTAMER and have had great luck with it.

X2!!!