I was wondering if I could put 30 lb test big cat fishing line on my catfish pro reel if it'd only rated for 20 lb or will it cause alot if casting problems?

IMHO

It should cast fine , just be sure drag is set appropriately

MO

The listed line strength is for the best casting distance if matched to same rated rod and cast weight. It's the tuning range they recommend for best performance. Think of a rod and reel being tuned like a recurve archery bow. Everything needs to work in harmony.


You can put 100# test on if you wanted. But casting performance isn't going to be there.

30lb is all I had that's why I asked and when ahead and changed it out

A lot of the line strength deals with shock strength. How hard you set the hook and the weight of the fish as it's stationary.

Being pulled through open water is less stress.

It's the shock when setting the hook.

There's not much difference between 20 and 30. Unless you're a big'um. Setting the hook with the fish flying out the water.

I use 12 lb test for flatheads, 8lb for surf fishing, and 4lb for hybrids and striper in heavy current. You don’t need heavy line to catch big fish.

Thirty should work fine on that reel.

I put 30lb Power Pro on little crappie reels and 65lb Power Pro on everything else. I don't care what its rated for, It's cheaper to replace a hook on a lure then replacing the lure.

I'm not 100% sure but I don't believe that reels are rated for a certain strength line. Other than to call out how much line the reel will hold. As long as the drag is properly set the line strength shouldn't matter.

Exactly

That line rating on a reel is kind of like a stop sign to most people......It's just a suggestion!

You might go 30 pound braid with a 50-100' 30 pound mono topshot.

You can put 100lb line on an ultra light reel and it will work just fine. You just won't get as much line on the reel as you would with 5 lbs line, but it won't hurt the reel.
Personally, I don't use over 14 lbs mono on my heaviest reels. Most of my striper rigs are ABU 6500 reels and I have 14 lbs mono on those. I also have the same 14 lbs mono on my ultra light reels. Set the drag correctly and you will never lose a fish. My customers have landed fish much heavier than 14 lbs, and I have never had a big fish break the line. The fish in this photo was caught on 14 lbs mono, and it weighed 45 lbs.