What is a good fishing line for a baitcasting reel?

That puffing up of your line is referred to as a "birds nest" or a "backlash". Although some lines have less memory and are less prone to these birds nests as others, I think the main problem with your reel is that you don't know the basics of using a baitcasting reel. Check out this video it shows you everything you need to know about using a baitcasting reel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ojGnmWU8wI

I like to use a good, strong mono. I prefer to use something not very very limp but nothing too stiff. I find this "happy medium" to be Stren. Stren has good strength with good casting ability to back it up. Suffix, Trilene XT, Maxima, and Stren would be my top picks for mono for a baitcasting reel. It's also always a good thing to start out with heavier line, 12lb, 14lb, or 15lb, because lighter pound line (8lb or lighter) will birds nest much easier than thicker line.

I've noticed that you're using a braid, which I don't use. I use mono all the time for all techniques of fishing.

Best Casting Reel

Best Line For Baitcaster

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avB1q

The Pinnacle reels have a great reputation in my area for durability and value. It's a good buy. Put some P-Line on it in fluorocarbon in 12-14 lb test since you are going to have some very hard hook sets when using the frog

I started out with a shakespeare baitcaster also, it was good to learn the basics, I like to use berkely big game 14lb... you get alot of it and its pretty cheap and tough for what I do(bass n striper),,, I keep it in a black plastic bag to keep the sun off it when I store it,,, FYI there are no parts for your reel so once that one goes its time to get a new one,,, when you upgrade to a better reel make sure there are parts and service available for most of them, most med to upper end brands do... I used mine for a couple years so good luck and happy fishing.

Look up HOW TO CAST A BAITCASTER on YouTube... it will show you how to adjust your reel so you dont get those backlashes and it will show you how to clear them also,,, its pretty cool

Like Rob got at, it's not so much your line but just a lack of knowledge on how to adjust and cast. Baitcasters can be a little difficult to get used to but once you get it down you'll love them. They're much more precise, more versatile, and more comfortable to use in my opinion. Generally you want to set your tension knob to 0 then adjust your brake to where your bait falls slowly to the ground. You don't want it dropping like a rock or extremely slow, just somwhere in the middle. After that is set you can adjust your tension to where it's not spitting out too much line. Always keep your thumb lightly on the line when casting also. As for the lines I've never used the Sonic Braid stuff. I tend to stick to either the monofilament 12 pound Stren for fishing my plastics, spinnerbaits, and jerkbaits or 14 pound Braided for my deeper baits like jigs, crankbaits, and swimbaits. For me, the heavier the line is the harder it gets to cast. I would stick to the 12 pound stuff and alter between braided, monofilament, and flourocarbon.

The baitcaster I did have (it was a shakespeare, piece of junk, I sold it) was spooled with 14lb stren extra strength that my step brother gave to me. I replaced all of my reels recently (except three) with 12lb stren original. The ones without 12lb stren original have 4lb trilene xl or 12lb berkley big game on them.

Stick with Stren if you have confidence in it, but I like to use Spider-wire Braided line, it doesn't get puffed up and it cast the best for me and is the easiest to tie knots with.

If Stren worked well for you and you liked it the solution would be to go back to it. What I or anyone else like doesn't really matter, it's what you like, and you already stated you liked Stren.

This is great