Power Pro Size Question

[Seth Clarkson]

I am planning to pick up some Power Pro to spool up on my new Shimano SLX for throwing mainly topwater walking baits. My plan is to use a braid to avoid the stretch of mono on those long casts with a mono leader and to hopefully last longer, but I am not sure what size of braid to use. I figured I would go with 15lb mono for the stiffness of it to keep the hooks away from the braid, but for the braid should I go with 40lbs? My initial thought was 20lb, mainly because I would also use that on my spinning setups and I don't plan to use this set up around heavy cover at all, but I read that lower diameter braid can dig into itself easier on a baitcaster. Also looking at the specs for the SLX it lists 12lb and 14lb mono for the spool rating capacity. If I followed suit on that for the 12lbs it would be 40lb power pro. Will the 40lb have less casting distance than a 20lb, but be less apt to birdsnest? I want to make sure to set this up to make it as smooth as I can. 

Thanks

[Blll]

Hello! I too use power pro on my spinning reels. But, it is super limp and I've found something I like better for throwing topwater. Berkley makes a braid called Tracer. It is not as easy to find as some other lines but it's out there.It is sort of a camo finish with alternating black and lime colors. What I like about it the slightly more stiffness to it. I use 30# and can cast typical topwater, spooks & ploppers a mile. With a 15# mono leader, I never get hook tangles unless I make a sloppy cast. JMO

[Seth Clarkson]

5 minutes ago, Blll said:

Hello! I too use power pro on my spinning reels. But, it is super limp and I've found something I like better for throwing topwater. Berkley makes a braid called Tracer. It is not as easy to find as some other lines but it's out there.It is sort of a camo finish with alternating black and lime colors. What I like about it the slightly more stiffness to it. I use 30# and can cast typical topwater, spooks & ploppers a mile. With a 15# mono leader, I never get hook tangles unless I make a sloppy cast. JMO

Thanks Bill, Bass pro has the power pro on sale right now, so that along with the fact that I have had good luck with power pro is why I figured I would go that route. In general the larger diameter/weight the more stiff the line will be right? So if you like the 30lb Tracer because it is stiffer I may go ahead with the 40lb.

What reel do you throw your topwaters on? 

[rps]

If you go with Power Pro (a very good line) do not go over 20# If you do, you will find it difficult to break off.

If you want the best I have found, check out this: https://finatictackle.com/

[Seth Clarkson]

2 minutes ago, rps said:

If you go with Power Pro (a very good line) do not go over 20# If you do, you will find it difficult to break off.

If you want the best I have found, check out this: https://finatictackle.com/

I have never heard of that line but I will look into it. 

 

I don't plan on having to break it off since I will almost always be using it for topwater so I'm not so worried about that as I am the way the size of the line affects my casts. Will the 20lb perform as well as a stiffer line on a smaller baitcaster like the SLX?

[evilcatfish]

I like 30# PP for walking topwaters usually with as 15# mono leader, but I know guys who use anywhere from 15 to 50 with good results

[Bill Babler]

Why in the Holy Name of BeJeezers are you all putting a mono leader on a topwater outfit.  If your going to do that just throw mono.  I throw 20 lb. power pro on both spinning and casting with NO LEADER everyday and myself and my clients have thrown it for thousands of hours and never a single time that a hook got caught in the line, not once.  I have had the braid slip thru the slot of the split ring.  As far as the mono stretching, or a treble hooked bait, that is not a bad thing.  On the braid you can have mouth tear outs if you don't have your drag set correctly.  If your drag is set with the braid you are ready to go, just tie it to a speed clip or a split ring and go fishing.

[Seth Clarkson]

1 minute ago, Bill Babler said:

Why in the Holy Name of BeJeezers are you all putting a mono leader on a topwater outfit.  If your going to do that just throw mono.  I throw 20 lb. power pro on both spinning and casting with NO LEADER everyday and myself and my clients have thrown it for thousands of hours and never a single time that a hook got caught in the line, not once.  I have had the braid slip thru the slot of the split ring.  As far as the mono stretching, or a treble hooked bait, that is not a bad thing.  On the braid you can have mouth tear outs if you don't have your drag set correctly.  If your drag is set with the braid you are ready to go, just tie it to a speed clip or a split ring and go fishing.

I have had issues before when working a spook out of kayak for sure (may be the angles i was working the rod not sure). At the time i didn't understand why and eventually after attempting to figure it out I attributed it to not using a stiffer line to keep it out of the trebles. There are a lot of people who use braid with a mono leader seems like, is that just to give it some stretch, rather none with straight braid?

 

What is the benefit in using the 20lb vs a higher strength?

[Bill Babler]

If your only using a short piece of mono as a leader the stretch you would get would be minimal.  You also will have to knot it to the braid and hear that horrible sound of it blasting thru the guides.  As far as the 20#, its cast ability.  You can throw 20 a mile and 30 only a half mile.

As I mentioned neither myself or anyone that has fished with me in my boat has ever ran a hook thru braided line on top water and thats using a spook, fin, yellow magic, wake shad or any other top water.  If your repeatedly hooking the braid I don't quite under stand that.  I can tell you to stop the bait as it decends toward the water rather than throwing it and letting the line fall and puddle all around it.  That would be my only guess.

[Royal Blue]

I throw straight braid on topwaters or straight mono.  Never a leader.  I might be in the minority here though that I always throw 50lb braid.  Never anything lighter than that unless it's a spinning reel.