Baitcaster With Braid Help Please 2025

Chevydriver2123 reply :

Ok so I started picking up bass fishing again this year. I forgot how much fun it was. But anyways I bought my first baitcaster reel shimano canean. I am current looking to upgrade to the curado 200 g or the chronarch for next year. I want to use braid but I am a little hesitant. I don't backlash to much but I still do sometimes. a lot of it has to do with I only fish from shore and I'm always trying to get places people don't fish but their is always a lot of trees and brush in the way. When I fish from the dock and have nothing in my way I am fine. So should I try braid or just stick with mono. Also do I need to learn any special knots for braid. Thanks everyone

iabass8 reply :

palomar knot for braid is all you need. go for it.

John G reply :

I haven't found braid (when I used it) to be any harder to fix than mono if you backlash. I was also hesitant at first but it's no problem.

I use a Uni Knot for everything.

fishguy613 reply :

I love braided line, I use the improved clinch knot which is the knot I use for braid mono and fluoro without issue so far

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

If you do backlash with braid just don't tug on it and you'll be fine. A Palomar knot on the terminal end and Albright for connecting leaders are good to know.

Long Mike reply :

The great thing about braid is that it's almost impossible to damage the line, even with a severe backlash. All it takes is patience and one of those knitting needle things.

LMB ANGLER reply :

set your pin VBS system up and palomar knot. one other tip, if theirs trees and bushes around you can do the underhand cast instead of the overhead cast. good luck

daiwaguy reply :

If the ares you are fishing are full of submerged rocks and brush then go for it. You will like the abrasion resistance, and if you are getting hung up in the overhanging trees you will respect the ability to get that lure down. What type of lures are you throwing most of the time? That will be a big factor in deciding what type of line to use! I always keep a couple of rods spooled with PP when I am out on the water my F/P rod and a work rod if I am working brush.

new2BC4bass reply :

On 11/5/2013 at 10:12 AM, John G said:

I haven't found braid (when I used it) to be any harder to fix than mono if you backlash. I was also hesitant at first but it's no problem.

I use a Uni Knot for everything.

On 11/5/2013 at 11:29 AM, Long Mike said:
The great thing about braid is that it's almost impossible to damage the line, even with a severe backlash. All it takes is patience and one of those knitting needle things.

As long as that severe backlash doesn't stop the lure too quickly. Easy to lose a lure then.

On 11/6/2013 at 12:26 AM, daiwaguy said:
If the ares you are fishing are full of submerged rocks and brush then go for it. You will like the abrasion resistance, and if you are getting hung up in the overhanging trees you will respect the ability to get that lure down. What type of lures are you throwing most of the time? That will be a big factor in deciding what type of line to use! I always keep a couple of rods spooled with PP when I am out on the water my F/P rod and a work rod if I am working brush.

I thought the abrasion resistance of braid stank. The video I watched of the guy dragging braid across a stone sure made it look like braid's abrasion resistance is very poor. Seems to be the accepted opinion around here as well.

new2BC4bass reply :

As LMB stated, the underhand cast is best if fishing around overhanging branches. No help at all if standing next to bushes. If standing next to bushes and with overhanging branches try using a pitch cast.

Chevydriver2123 reply :

I throw a lot of spinner baits and crank baits

Smokinal reply :

I have braid on every rig I own and wouldn't change a thing. I found I backlash a ton less with braid too. I also use the improved clinch and it's never slipped.

Check out this vid on how to get out backlashes.

And there are many more good vids on the same technique.

new2BC4bass reply :

On 11/6/2013 at 5:16 AM, Chevydriver2123 said:
I throw a lot of spinner baits and crank baits

So do I. Braid and crankbaits together is going to require a softer tip because braid has zero stretch. I like braid okay, but the majority of my reels have mono. I fish both these lures with mono. Braid I use for throwing into the slop, although jig fishing with braid ain't bad either.

jignfule reply :

I find braid is MUCH easier to work with as far as back-lash is concern.

boostr reply :

Try using a shorter rod when you are shore fishing with obstructions. I use an 6ft rod when I'm near bushes and trees, and an 7ftr when I'm in the open. That 1ft makes a difference. I use braid on both of them, and just change different leaders if needed.

Arv reply :

Go ahead and give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.

michang5 reply :

I'm slowly inching my way to braid on my new (and first) baitcasting setup. On a recommendation, I started with 15lb. CXX. That stuff is THICK! And while I only had a two backlashes bad enough to require the crank trick and one awful one that required cutting, I wasn't liking the line.

So last night I spooled up some 12lb. Invizx that I had laying around. The line is much nicer and manageable, but I had two UNBELIEVABLE backlashes today. Each time I hit some branches ~13 feet above my head with overhand cast. First one took 20 minutes to pick out. Second one took 5. Sheepishly, I switched to my 6'6" spinning setup after.

Today's experience has me seriously doubting I am ready for braid...

new2BC4bass reply :

On 11/12/2013 at 7:20 AM, michang5 said:

I'm slowly inching my way to braid on my new (and first) baitcasting setup. On a recommendation, I started with 15lb. CXX. That stuff is THICK! And while I only had a two backlashes bad enough to require the crank trick and one awful one that required cutting, I wasn't liking the line.

So last night I spooled up some 12lb. Invizx that I had laying around. The line is much nicer and manageable, but I had two UNBELIEVABLE backlashes today. Each time I hit some branches ~13 feet above my head with overhand cast. First one took 20 minutes to pick out. Second one took 5. Sheepishly, I switched to my 6'6" spinning setup after.

Today's experience has me seriously doubting I am ready for braid...

Stop using an overhand cast. Use side arm, or better yet, an underhand cast. Both will pass under overhanging branches. The roll cast wil help eliminate backlashes you may be getting from not-so-smooth rod reversals. I much prefer the roll cast even when no overhead objects are near.

I feel that a large diameter, thick and stiff mono will backlash easier than a smaller diameter, softer mono because the line wants to uncoil. (I realize Invizx isn't a mono, but from what I read, it is soft.)

Any line will backlash horribly when hitting an object near the beginning of the cast. Type of line has nothing to do with it.

Smokinal reply :

You will backlash far, far less, if ever, with braid. I'm tellin ya, you will never look back.

michang5 reply :

Thanks for the suggestions. I definitely need to learn other casting techniques and get better at my sidearm.

From the bank spot I was at, I had the tree limb above, a tree trunk 9 feet to my right, and more trees to my left. The casting window was quite small and I needed to reach some submerged trees at the very end if my casting range.

On 11/12/2013 at 7:41 AM, new2BC4bass said:

Stop using an overhand cast. Use side arm, or better yet, an underhand cast. Both will pass under overhanging branches. The roll cast wil help eliminate backlashes you may be getting from not-so-smooth rod reversals. I much prefer the roll cast even when no overhead objects are near.

I feel that a large diameter, thick and stiff mono will backlash easier than a smaller diameter, softer mono because the line wants to uncoil. (I realize Invizx isn't a mono, but from what I read, it is soft.)

Any line will backlash horribly when hitting an object near the beginning of the cast. Type of line has nothing to do with it.

michang5 reply :

And forgot to mention that I'm sure I'll backlash with any line, but I'm guessing braid will be the hardest to detangle.

Smokinal reply :

It's actually much easier...from my experiences anyway. Get yourself some Power Pro Super Slick in 12-15 lb, put a 1/2 trap on the end and go practice. Those things fly well and will give you confidence in your baitcaster. Learn to lightly feather the spool right off the bat and you'll be fine.

michang5 reply :

Thanks. I'm very familiar with 10 and 20 lb Super Slick, having used it on my spinning gear. When I bought my setup I actually had a box of PPSS 50 lb. Returned it for the CXX based on recommendation.

I had read that it was better to have thicker braid to avoid the line digging into itself.

Not true?

On 11/12/2013 at 8:44 AM, Smokinal said:
It's actually much easier...from my experiences anyway. Get yourself some Power Pro Super Slick in 12-15 lb, put a 1/2 trap on the end and go practice. Those things fly well and will give you confidence in your baitcaster. Learn to lightly feather the spool right off the bat and you'll be fine.

Long Mike reply :

One of the advantages of using braid is that, in the event of a severe backlash, it's almost impossible to damage the line while removing a backlash. I've had backlashes so severe that I had to wait until I got home to try to remove them. More than once it has taken me over an hour to remove the birds nest, but then, I'm patient, and a real cheapskate when it comes to buying line.

michang5 reply :

Thanks, Mike!

Any more thoughts on "best" braid test weight/diameter for making things easier for a new baitcaster user — to minimize line digging, backlashes and/or backlash removal? I was standing in Academy last night with a 50lb PowerPro Super Slick box in my hand, but didn't buy it.

RoachDad reply :

On 11/5/2013 at 9:41 AM, Chevydriver2123 said:
. So should I try braid or just stick with mono. Also do I need to learn any special knots for braid. Thanks everyone

Unlike some of the other posters, I do think braid backlashes are harder to get out than mono. However, the benefits still far outweigh the bad. Braid is limper than mono and to make it makes backlashes harder to deal with IMHO. But just don't backlash

No special knots. Palomar is the only knot I use on any line.

new2BC4bass reply :

On 11/12/2013 at 8:36 AM, michang5 said:

Thanks for the suggestions. I definitely need to learn other casting techniques and get better at my sidearm.

From the bank spot I was at, I had the tree limb above, a tree trunk 9 feet to my right, and more trees to my left. The casting window was quite small and I needed to reach some submerged trees at the very end if my casting range.

This is the perfect spot for an underhand (roll) cast as long as you have about 2-3 feet clearance behind the rod tip. I sometimes fish along a local river. Tree branches overhang a lot of it. The underhand cast can keep the lure a few feet above the water if done right. Distance won't be quite as much. I'd rather fall a couple feet short than lose a $10 lure to a tree. I don't know the bottom makeup well enough to know if there was an underwater structure I needed to reach. Unless I got snagged.

On 11/12/2013 at 8:38 AM, michang5 said:
And forgot to mention that I'm sure I'll backlash with any line, but I'm guessing braid will be the hardest to detangle.

It is the rare person who can say they never backlash. I can backlash any line, and it isn't all that hard to do either. I've had plenty of practice doing it. Braid normally is easier to remove a backlash. Just don't pull it too tight. You do know the old adage, "Patience is a virtue.", don't you?

new2BC4bass reply :

On 11/13/2013 at 11:16 PM, michang5 said:

Thanks, Mike!

Any more thoughts on "best" braid test weight/diameter for making things easier for a new baitcaster user — to minimize line digging, backlashes and/or backlash removal? I was standing in Academy last night with a 50lb PowerPro Super Slick box in my hand, but didn't buy it.

50# is a good size. My first braid was 40# Sufix Performance. Been on the reel 5 summers. No digging in that I remember, except when it backlashed...which has occurred a few times. Had to reverse ends this year due to line twist from throwing a spoon for several hours. It had been tied direct...no swivel or other item to help eliminate the line twist on retrieval.

Bk4 reply :

Berkley braid knot for everything. Knot wars say its the strongest knot to tie and also very easy to tie.

AMAC reply :

Is there a particular reason you prefer braid? Try tying a short leader w/an albright knot using braid and fluorocarbon. For upgrading rods check out Denali on Tackle Warehouse. They got some sales going on.

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Baitcaster With Braid Help Please 2025

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