I have no clue as to which type of line i should use for my new abu 6500 cs mag elite. THe spool is only rated for 190 yards of regular 17 lb. mono. I want to use a heaver lb. test and have more line. I have heard bad things about products like fireline. I also dont want to spend a fortune. Does anybody know what I should use? any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

you can use whatever you want ! 12-15-or 20lb test will all work fine on that reel.

Both of my 6500CS M-Es are spooled with 20# Berkely Big Game (green). Some people use braids to increase strength and capacity but unless you are fishing the Ditch or seriously long-tossing baits, do you need the capacity??? Maybe Saltheart can chime in as he uses several braids on his 6500 class reels...

Good luck, that is a very sweet reel - wait until it's broken in <img src="/Images/biggrin.gif"><!--e7-->

Well I have 2 Mag-elites and have spooled various things on them. I have 17# mono on one right now and Fireline 20# on the other. I have been happy with the mono (well as happy as i can be with mono) I just put the firelineon this past weekend, but I landed some nice size sharkes on it no problem. I have also used 50# whiplash, I ma not a big whiplash fan, it tends to dmaage itself in a backlash <img src="/Images/Sad.gif"><!--e2--> and when you cast like me thats an issue <img src="/Images/Happy_Face.gif"><!--e1--> I have also used Gedebrod 45# fly backing on it. That worked out very well but it expensive. The idea of using the braid is that you increase the capacity of the reel. THe reel is not designed to fish 50# braid to the limit. If you use Braids fish them and apply pressure the same as mono, its the cpacity your after.......

I have a 6500UltraCast that is spooled with 35# Cortland Spectron. I am told the line is thicker than wiplash and fireline, but it is easy to fish and doesn't get damaged when you backlash <img src="/Images/Happy_Face.gif"><!--e1-->). I like the sensitivity the braid gives over mono and I like to know I've got something there when I get around the rocks.

I like the Cortland Spectron Braid. Its the thickest of the braids which hurts in the capacity dept but helps a lot in the toughness department. On a 6500 size reel , I have to determine what the application will be. On my BG6500CL , I use 50 LB Cortland Spectron. That reel is on a Sabre 1089 that is built (by Mike T at capecodtackle.com) with a relatively long butt. That is a stiff jetty stick. I use it for areas with fast currents such as the breachways , the rivers , the Canal. In all these areas I'm only casting about 50 yards. Since the reel holds about 180 yards of the 50 LB , I still have 130 yards or so to fight the fish once I hook up. If I were to use the 50 LB on my Breakaway 11'9" rod (Rocket Launcher)where a typical cast is about 130 yards , I'd have little left to fight a fish. Therefore on the 6500 size reels on my long casting rods , I use 35 LB Cortland Spectron.
I got to agree with Fishpart and John M that the Whiplash is prone to damage by overruns. It will actually just blow apart on the next cast at a kink caused by the previous overrun. I never have that problem with the much thicker spectron.
A typical 6500 size reel will hold 290 yards of 35 LB Spectron. It will outcast mono at even half the LB test and its much more sensitive than mono do to the lack of stretch. Don't be fooled by other lines that use spectra fiber. The Cortland Spectron is the only one with the coarse weave like old dacron line. Its simply meatier and therefore better for the type of fishing I do and the areas I do it in. Cortland makes a Micron line from spectra to be used as flyline backing. I didn't like that on a conventional reel but its probably great fly line backing. In all honesty if the Cortland Spectron wasn't available , I wouldn't use braid , I'd stick with mono.
I have heard that heavy test Spiderwire is nice but I think you'd have to go to 120 LB to get any meat to it. Its strong but simply too thin. Its also out of control price wise.
300 yards of Cortland Spectron is about $22. Its a lot compared to mono but its not too bad as braids go. I believe the same amount of Spiderwire would be close to $45. The spectra braids last many seasons. This year to start the season , all I did was peel off any of the spectra that had faded from green to white (it all fades some but the part that actually goes to a yellow white has seen the most action) and then I used it. Next year I'll turn the line around so the inside of the spool is on the outside. I'll use it turned around 2 more years and then thats it. 4 years on a plugging rod is a lot of casts. Mono might not even last one season (or one month if its an active one) If you figure in the long life you get from the braids , the cost is actually very reasonable.
Lots of people do like Whiplash and Spiderwire etc. I just don't. Fireline is different and I have heard that its a pretty good line for a spinner. I wouldn't use it on a conventional but then again I'd never use my favorite conventional line (Cortland Spectron 50 LB) on a spinner.