Right line, line test for a spinning reel




Braid or fluorocarbon between 8 to 12 pounds was the choice of most anglers.

Additional tips to help in line control:

1. When spooling a spinning reel make sure the line goes onto the spool in a counter clock-wise manner.
2. Do not over fill your spinning reel. Leave at least an eighth of an inch from the top of the line to the top of the spool's rim. A little more space won't hurt but try not to exceed that eighth of an inch. The more line you have the easier it will get twisted and you will have to cut it out. Being under-spooled can result sometimes in the line catching on the edge of the top of the spool when trying to make a long cast.
3. When spooling, spray five or six shots of the Kevin Van Dam Lure and Line Conditioner on the line you have just spooled onto the reel. Do this as you spool the line and then give it a big dose after the line is on the reel. You want to do this at least 24 hours before you use the reel and then during the day as you use the reel.
4. Read the line parameters on the spinning reel and do not exceed them.
5. Read the rod's parameters and make sure your line test and bait weights are within the rod's range for best performance.
6. Be ready for line twist. It comes with spinning rigs. It's the law. When you get line twist you do not open the spinning reel’s bail; keep it shut. Loosen the drag and pull the line off the spool. If you open the bail, line will blast off the spinning reel.
7. Bring at least one additional spinning reel with you so you can change out spinning reels when you run out of line or you get a bad twisting situation.

Professional anglers use 8 pound test braid on their spinning reels to avoid line twist; get better feedback as to what is on the bottom via the braid/finger contact; using the same fluorocarbon line test diameter for their leader when finesse fishing; and cutting their line twist problems down to almost zero.

Fluorocarbon line is a "heavy" line and it can be difficult to control on a spinning rig if you go higher than 8 pound test.

 




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Toledo Bend Lake Current Weather Alerts

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Toledo Bend Lake Weather Forecast

Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 86

Wednesday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 68

Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 87

Thursday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 71

Friday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 86

Friday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 73

Saturday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 89

Saturday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 77


Toledo Bend Lake Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 5/21: 171.79 (-0.21)



Toledo Bend Lake

Fishing Report from TPWD (May 21)

SLOW. Water stained; 78 degrees; 0.13 feet above pool. Shallow bass bite is good with frogs, topwaters and swimbaits around the flooded bushes and hay grass. Bass are showing up in 12-18 feet on Texas and Carolina rigged big worms, with a few coming on crankbaits. This has been slow fishing at best. Crappie are fair in 10-16 feet of water on standing timber or brush. High winds kept angels off the main lake ridges. Most of all the crappie are out of creeks and off the grass. Report by Stephen Johnston, Johnston Fishing. As we enjoy a weekend of fishing we salute and honor our Nation’s heroes this Memorial Day. Anticipate increased recreational boater traffic this weekend.

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