Can you Use Lead Core Line on a Spinning Reel?
- BY David Chavez
- April 2, 2022
Table of Contents
The simple answer is no, you cannot use lead core line on a spinning reel. The main reason for this is that lead core line is very heavy and would cause the spinning reel to become unbalanced. In addition, lead core line is also quite stiff, which would make it difficult to wind onto the spool of a spinning reel. If you are looking for a heavy-duty fishing line, you may want to consider using braided line or steel leader instead.
The problem with using a lead core line on a spinning reel is that it wouldn’t handle the twisting and sharp angles with a spinning reel.
What Other Anglers Say
Some anglers say it was decent using a lead core line on a spinning reel, but using it for a long time will damage your lead core.
Other anglers say that it’s not worth the risk because you’ll end up with a lot of line wrapped around the reel, and it’s just too much work.
Do You Need a Special Reel for Lead Core Line?
No, you don’t need a special reel for lead core line. Any good-quality baitcasting or spinning reel will work just fine. Just be sure to spool the reel with enough line so that the lead core doesn’t come into contact with the reel’s drag system.
Also, be mindful of the line’s breaking strength when choosing a leader material. Lead core line is very strong, but it can be brittle, so a leader that’s too large in diameter could cause the line to break at the knot.
Alternatives
Instead, you can look for Penn 209 reels. These are cheap and make great leadcore rigs. You can set this up with 150 yards of 50# power pro backing. This will give you a lot of line capacity and the drag on these reels can handle leadcore. You can have up to 6-colors of leadcore on this rig before it becomes too heavy to cast.
One thing to think about with the Penn 209 is that the retrieve ratio is a bit slow at 4.7:1, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when choosing your lure. If you’re using a fast-moving lure, you may want to go with a different reel. But if you’re fishing with a slower presentation, the Penn 209 will work great.
Another option is buying depthmaster 2 line counting reels from Cabelas. These are great because they have a fast 6.3:1 retrieve ratio, so you can fish with lures that require a faster presentation. They also have a large line capacity, so you can spool them with plenty of leadcore. It’s also cheap, so you’re not breaking the bank to get a good quality reel.
Final Thoughts on Can You Use Lead Core Line on a Spinning Reel
Using a lead core line on a spinning reel is not recommended. The main reason for this is that lead core line is very heavy and would cause the spinning reel to become unbalanced. In addition, lead core line is also quite stiff, which would make it difficult to wind onto the spool of a spinning reel.
If you are looking for a heavy-duty fishing line, you may want to consider using braided line or steel leader instead.
David Chavez
I love blogging anything and everything related to fishing!. Much of my background comes from Freshwater fishing, but I'm also pretty decent when out in the ocean. My goal is to help other anglers better their skill-sets with proper guides, and just have fun doing so.
