Shimano recommends tying the Waxwing lure straight to red Powerpro.  The lure swims best with the thin, supple line but braid is difficult to manage on a bait caster.  Braid cuts through the wet fingers that attempt to pack line tight on the spool, and wind knots seem inevitable on windy days.  I tried to fish the 0.5 oz Baby Waxwing in the wind again, and created hangman loops in my line.  When I did manage to cast the Waxwing out a ways, nothing bit.

I cut the lure off and asked Kris to try it on his light spinning rig with 20lb Powerpro.  He was able to cast in the wind, and after a few practice retrieves he caught a small white papio.  I wanted to get a feel for casting the light Waxwing on a spinner so I made a few awkward casts.  No wind knots but I didn’t quite like the wobble a spinner makes as the rotor rotates to pick up line.  It’ll definitely take some getting used to, to go from the straight retrieving bait casting reel to the rotating spinning reel.

Small papio or baracuda boiled on the Waxwing as I reeled it in, and the boils and hits continued as Kris resumed fishing the Waxwing.  Waxwings tied directly to light braid are definitely easier to manage on a spinner than a bait caster.   But, before I invest in a spinning rod & reel just to throw small Waxwings, I’ll try a top shot of castable fluorocarbon on the Curado 300EJ.  The fluorocarbon won’t cast as well as braid but it won’t cut my fingers or dig deep on itself and produce wind knots as easily.