For the new guys...

[flbassman]

Just a message to all you new guys that complain about breaking ten and twenty pound test, first off, buy good line. Shakespeare does not cut it, I prefer ANDE, but Stren and some others work. Tie a knot in your line, and pull as hard as you can. If the line snaps like thread, it's crap. It's harder to break 8 pound ande than 30 pound shakespeare. Now that you have a good line, spool up and set your drag. When it says 8 pound test, this means that you can handle an eight pound dead weight (actually it's usually about ten to twelve). So, this means that you could effectively, with a good knot, wrap some good eight pound line around something and just pull a ten pound bass in. Luckily, your rod and your drag both help to lessen the pressure. Use your rod as a lever, and your drag as a let off.

Never reel through the drag. Bass don't run real long, so when they run, let 'em go. When they jump, bow, and give them slack. With good line, good technique, and a well set drag, you can go lighter with spinning gear, which means more bites. My philosophy on heavy line is, "You can't lose a fish until you hook one." Of course, different lines are for different purposes. You can't flip with eight pound mono, and it's hard to fish clear water with braid. You can't put 80 pound superline on a spinning combo, just as it's difficult to load a castaic with four pound test. Now that you have the right line, drag and fighting technique, you need a rod and reel.

For beggining, you probably want a spinning combo. Spinning is easier to cast, lighter, and easier to work. When you go to buy a reel, look at the side. IT willl have line test andcapacity ratings. If you load it with line that is too heavy, it will jump off the spool. If your line is too light, it will give you a birds nest that you won't believe. For baitcasting, look more at the line diamater. You can load a baitcaster set up for 12 pound mono with 40 pound braid with no problems if you have a good rod. Once you have your reel picked out, look at the rod.

If you intend to fill your reel with braid, make sure to get a heavier duty rod. If you match a light rod to a medium reel full of 50 pound braid, you will break the rod. Braid has no stretch, meaning it doesn't give. When you hook a log, tighten the drag down, reel up the slack, and do a set the hook motion, a cheap rod is liable to snap right in half. Even with a nicer rod, it is safer to wrap the line around some pliers and pull till your lure comes free. Hope some of this information will help somebody, and I apoligize for being slightly ADD in my writing style.