Can Somebody Help me with this question?

[DE82]

Okay so here's the deal. I recently got 50 dollars in gift cards for bass pro shops from my neighbor. LUCKY ME!!!! Anyways I'd like to get a bulk spool of line with it and I'm looking at Maxima lines. Now it would likely be ultra green because it's the softer of the two I like, the other being chameleon. My question is 4lb test or 6lb test?

Now I ask this for a few reasons. One being, I've never fished with 4lb a whole lot before. I've always pretty much stuck with 6lb in any line I've bought so I'd like to know just how strong Maxima's 4lb is?

I know their 6lb is strong as can be. This past fall at Croton while trout fishing I hooked up with a beautiful 24inch 4.14lb rainbow trout

(an actual rainbow too, NOT a steelhead, this was a true trout trust me on this, I know your probably thinking I'm full of it but you'll just have to trust me. In any event that's not what this thread is about :lol: )

Now my line(maxima chameleon 6lb) Was already nicked up and tore up because of the zebra muscles there but all I was catching was small 6-10inch fish so thought nothing of it to retie and then that nice trout hit and the fight was on. I was able to land him and the line never broke at all. That right there made me a believe on maxima lines.

Now my reel will only hold about 100 yards of 6lb and I'd like more line than that being the more I fish the bigger the fish I'm hitting with my small jigs and raps. I fish the St.Clair river and other places with trout and I know some of the fish in those waters are huge and I want as much line as I can get. I'd prefer to go down to 4lb if I'm not sacrificing much as far as abrasion resistance and strength goes because it's less visible as well as I can fit about 25 more yard on my reel.

Most of my fishing is casting small jigs for trout/bass and panfish in small streams as well as walking the seawall of the St.Clair river for walleye and bass. I also cast at Metro early in the year too with small raps and jigs. The line will be going on a shimano sedona 750 spinning reel and 5' ugly stick if that helps. The baits I'm throwing are jigs 1/32-1/16 oz in streams and sometimes walking 1/4 oz. Jigs in St.Clair and the raps I'm using are F3-F7 raps, sometimes adding a split shot when walking the seawall if that helps too.

I've also noticed that the 6lb can be a bit stiff, not bad but a bit and I think 4lb. would be softer so that's another reason I'd like to down size if it wouldn't cost me much. What I'm wanting to know most are these things: Will the 4lb. ultra green be able to pull a fish out of weeds and cover(obviously if I take my time) or am I pretty much screwed? I know the 6lb will do this no problem. Will the 4lb. be strong enough to take on a 5lb smallie or walleye? Will it be able to tackle a trout toping 4lbs and a pike over 6lbs? Is it as abrasion resistant as the 6lb? Does it cast better and do you think it would all in all be a much better choice for what I'm doing?

Thanks for reading my long question/story and thanks for any help I get on this and of course I hope everybody is having a GREAT Holiday :) -Bryon

[stinger63]

Bryon you remember how much luck I have had with high seas quatro.Good stuff my man get it you wont be sorry.

[DE82]

Bryon you remember how much luck I have had with high seas quatro.Good stuff my man get it you wont be sorry.I'm picking some of that up for my wall rods Aaron, that's a cabelas brand line BTW so I can't get it at Bass Pro anyways - Bryon

[quest32a]

Welcome back Troutangler86! Go with the 6lb.

I might also suggest purchasing a longer rod and a larger spooled reel. Something in the 7 foot range and a 2000 series spool.

[DE82]

Welcome back Troutangler86! Go with the 6lb.

I might also suggest purchasing a longer rod and a larger spooled reel. Something in the 7 foot range and a 2000 series spool.I had a 1500 series and the line didn't lay right when I spooled it but after I took it out back and casted it for about an hour it all laid right on the spool. This was a 1500 Shimano Sedona, are all of the shimano's that are bigger that way?

[stinger63]

Okay so here's the deal. I recently got 50 dollars in gift cards for bass pro shops from my neighbor. LUCKY ME!!!! Anyways I'd like to get a bulk spool of line with it and I'm looking at Maxima lines. Now it would likely be ultra green because it's the softer of the two I like, the other being chameleon. My question is 4lb test or 6lb test?

Now I ask this for a few reasons. One being, I've never fished with 4lb a whole lot before. I've always pretty much stuck with 6lb in any line I've bought so I'd like to know just how strong Maxima's 4lb is?

I know their 6lb is strong as can be. This past fall at Croton while trout fishing I hooked up with a beautiful 24inch 4.14lb rainbow trout

(an actual rainbow too, NOT a steelhead, this was a true trout trust me on this, I know your probably thinking I'm full of it but you'll just have to trust me. In any event that's not what this thread is about :lol: )

Now my line(maxima chameleon 6lb) Was already nicked up and tore up because of the zebra muscles there but all I was catching was small 6-10inch fish so thought nothing of it to retie and then that nice trout hit and the fight was on. I was able to land him and the line never broke at all. That right there made me a believe on maxima lines.

Now my reel will only hold about 100 yards of 6lb and I'd like more line than that being the more I fish the bigger the fish I'm hitting with my small jigs and raps. I fish the St.Clair river and other places with trout and I know some of the fish in those waters are huge and I want as much line as I can get. I'd prefer to go down to 4lb if I'm not sacrificing much as far as abrasion resistance and strength goes because it's less visible as well as I can fit about 25 more yard on my reel.

Most of my fishing is casting small jigs for trout/bass and panfish in small streams as well as walking the seawall of the St.Clair river for walleye and bass. I also cast at Metro early in the year too with small raps and jigs. The line will be going on a shimano sedona 750 spinning reel and 5' ugly stick if that helps. The baits I'm throwing are jigs 1/32-1/16 oz in streams and sometimes walking 1/4 oz. Jigs in St.Clair and the raps I'm using are F3-F7 raps, sometimes adding a split shot when walking the seawall if that helps too.

I've also noticed that the 6lb can be a bit stiff, not bad but a bit and I think 4lb. would be softer so that's another reason I'd like to down size if it wouldn't cost me much. What I'm wanting to know most are these things: Will the 4lb. ultra green be able to pull a fish out of weeds and cover(obviously if I take my time) or am I pretty much screwed? I know the 6lb will do this no problem. Will the 4lb. be strong enough to take on a 5lb smallie or walleye? Will it be able to tackle a trout toping 4lbs and a pike over 6lbs? Is it as abrasion resistant as the 6lb? Does it cast better and do you think it would all in all be a much better choice for what I'm doing?

Thanks for reading my long question/story and thanks for any help I get on this and of course I hope everybody is having a GREAT Holiday :) -Bryon

Bryon maybe you want to try suffix for softer line and better castability

[quest32a]

I had a 1500 series and the line didn't lay right when I spooled it but after I took it out back and casted it for about an hour it all laid right on the spool. This was a 1500 Shimano Sedona, are all of the shimano's that are bigger that way?

It was probably the way you spooled it. All line has memory and when you spool a reel if you don't put the line on correctly(and many times even if you do) you will still have problems with the line looping, or coming off when you don't want it.

Some lines are worse than others, and Maxima is about as bad as it comes. Don't get me wrong, I like Maxima and use it but I always have problems immediatly after I spool it.

There are things you can do to make it better. The 1st being putting your line on the spool correctly. Another thing, once you spool a reel take the spool off and soak it is water overnight. That seems to help quite a bit.

But honestly for the fishing you are doing you should probably be using a bigger reel.... and heavier line.

[DE82]

Bryon maybe you want to try suffix for softer line and better castabilityYou know Dave has been trying to sell me on that stuff as well. He said he loves it. I might have to give that a try.


It was probably the way you spooled it. All line has memory and when you spool a reel if you don't put the line on correctly(and many times even if you do) you will still have problems with the line looping, or coming off when you don't want it.

Some lines are worse than others, and Maxima is about as bad as it comes. Don't get me wrong, I like Maxima and use it but I always have problems immediatly after I spool it.

There are things you can do to make it better. The 1st being putting your line on the spool correctly. Another thing, once you spool a reel take the spool off and soak it is water overnight. That seems to help quite a bit.

But honestly for the fishing you are doing you should probably be using a bigger reel.... and heavier line.Now if I soak the spool in water will that remove any oils from it in the drag system?

This is kind of why I was using 5lb. power pro but I recently got worried about visibility with it in streams. Adding a leader is a possibility but I find it harder to cast with a knot in the line, the guides don't like knots :lol: I like the strength of the power pro but I swear it looks like rope in these streams I fish, I've still hit some big bass and trout with it but I've seen some follow my bait and then shy away, it gets me wondering if they are line shy or what the deal is.....

[stinger63]

You know Dave has been trying to sell me on that stuff as well. He said he loves it. I might have to give that a try.


Now if I soak the spool in water will that remove any oils from it in the drag system?

This is kind of why I was using 5lb. power pro but I recently got worried about visibility with it in streams. Adding a leading is a possibility but I find it harder to cast with a knot in the line, the guides don't like knots :lol: I like the strength of the power pro but I swear it looks like rope in these streams I fish, I've still hit some big bass and trout with it but I've seen some follow my bait and then shy away, it gets me wondering if they are line shy or what the deal is.....


I have used the suffix line personaly and I like the performance of it for castibility, as for strength of the line well better make sure you use that drag.As for another quality line that I and Dave would highly recogemend would Ande :whistle:

[DE82]

I have used the suffix line personaly and I like the performance of it for castibility, as for strength of the line well better make sure you use that drag.As for another quality line that I and Dave would highly recogemend would Ande :whistle:That's right I forgot about Ande :lol: and How could I really? :lol: That's some pretty cheep stuff that's probably what's kept me from using it. Dave and you both seam to like it though, maybe I'll grab some of that as well...I think I can get that at Bass Pro.

Quest, I wish I had the extra money for a new combo right now but sadly I don't :(

EDIT - No Ande at Bass Pro :( Damn, why couldn't it be cabelas gift cards :lol:

EDIT Part 2 - Okay found Ande on Bass Pro's site but it's not under line....go figure

[stinger63]

Quest, I wish I had the extra money for a new combo right now but sadly I don't :(

Manyou need another combo like I need a bigger bald spot :lol:

[DE82]

Manyou need another combo like I need a bigger bald spot :lol::lol: Hey I don't have much really :lol: Two wall Rod combos, two St.Clair wall rod combos, my ultra lite, my trout rod, noodling pole and that's it :lol:

[DE82]

I think I'm going to try 4lb. Ande and 6lb. Ande line with this order. I'd like to hear others opinions as well. I won't be ordering until the end of the week :) - Bryon

[waterfoul]

Byron, not sure why you think you need to run "only" 6 lb off the wall?? We over here troll for eyes with heavier line than that... ask SFW or Steinfishski what lines they are using.

As for Maxima... hate the stuff. Never found a more stiff line. There are better lines out there for sure (suffix is limp... but I've found it to break quite easily). Never used Ande but have heard pretty good things about it.

My advice? Don't be afraid to try new things. Experimentation and a few lost jigs and such are how we all have found our favorite lines and such.

[DE82]

Byron, not sure why you think you need to run "only" 6 lb off the wall?? We over here troll for eyes with heavier line than that... ask SFW or Steinfishski what lines they are using.

As for Maxima... hate the stuff. Never found a more stiff line. There are better lines out there for sure (suffix is limp... but I've found it to break quite easily). Never used Ande but have heard pretty good things about it.

My advice? Don't be afraid to try new things. Experimentation and a few lost jigs and such are how we all have found our favorite lines and such.Thanks Mike, I've always ran 6lb walking the wall because really the walleye I get are mostly 1-3lbs. When I still fish off the wall I run 20lb-30lb line though. I've found lighter line can be a HUGE help when those walleye are finicky in the early season and during the summer when fishing pressure is high. I think Aaron might back me up on that but for some reason those walleye in the st.clair seam to get pretty line shy at times.

I do want to get another wall walking combo where I can go a little heavier so I can use some bigger cranks and heavier jigs if I want to, it's just a matter of having the money. Thanks for the help Mike, I really appreciate it. I'm still thinking what to buy, luckily I have 50 to spend so I can get a few different kinds of line. - Bryon

[DE82]

Mike I'd like to ask if you think visibility would be a problem in clear streams if I'm using 5lb power pro?

[waterfoul]

Mike I'd like to ask if you think visibility would be a problem in clear streams if I'm using 5lb power pro?

Again Byron, experiment. Most reels come with two spools. Sting one with PP, the other with another line you want to try. Fish them back to back and see what happens. You could also try coloring the PP with a marker... red.. black... etc... Heck, they make PP in red now.

I am not a big proponent of braided line in streams though... just not my thing.

[DE82]

Again Byron, experiment. Most reels come with two spools. Sting one with PP, the other with another line you want to try. Fish them back to back and see what happens. You could also try coloring the PP with a marker... red.. black... etc... Heck, they make PP in red now.

I am not a big proponent of braided line in streams though... just not my thing.Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try that. I just got a Shimano Sahara 750 from my Sister for my B-day and it has two spools so I can most certainly try that. May I ask what Mono you like to use for finesse fishing? - Bryon