Braid, Why So Heavy? 2024
gulfcaptain reply :
Okay, I'm sure I'm gonna get lots of different opinions about this topic. I've been fishing braid for the last 8yrs. It started out with fishing just saltwater off of the S.Cal coast and then just progressed to all my rods which now have some form of braid although most are fished with topshots of either mono or flouro. Now over the years I have used everything from 10lb to 100lb braid and on all my bass rods with the exceptions of my 2 swimbait rods, one which has 40lb braid and 25 mono and the other has 65lb braid with 25 flouro I can't see a reason to fish anything more then 30lb. Mainly fish 20 with the exception of my flipping/punching set ups, 1 hvy which doubles as a frog/pitching rod, and my umbrella rig which all have 30lb. I can not see any reason for 50 or 65lb braid to fish bass with. Sorry, I've played tug a war with 50+ pound amberjacks, horsed in 25+ pound jack crevelles, and winched a few 30-50lb groupers off the bottom and away from oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. If I can do that with 65lb braid to those fish there is no reason other then overkill to fish bass with it. So my question to those who do is why? The picture attached is of a 100+ pound amber jack that I managed on 80lb. So again why other then you can.
jbsoonerfan reply :
IMHO, 40 or 50 lb braid handles better than any other that I have tried.
atpns1234 reply :
I use 50lb when the cover gets thick. Not so much for the fish but for what I may have to pull him out of.
Crappiebasser reply :
On 4/14/2014 at 8:58 AM, jbsoonerfan said:IMHO, 40 or 50 lb braid handles better than any other that I have tried.
X2 smaller braid tends to dig into the spool and cause issues.
Mainebass1984 reply :
I use 50 lb braid. I fish super heavy cover. If I hook a huge bass and it gets wrapped on a log, I want to pull the log in too.
A-Jay reply :
For me, braid use is less about the lines breaking strength and more about no stretch & manageability.
The line strength ends up being a beneficial by-product. 10 & 20 works for me on spinning gear and 30 seems to be my favorite for casting gear. I have 50 on my frog rod as the extra strength and weed cutting properties come in very handy.
I do use mono quite a bit for treble hook baits. If someone came out with a mono that could match braids long distance hook up abilities, I'd use it.
A-Jay
everythingthatswims reply :
I have always heard anything smaller than 30lb braid digs in on baitcasters, and since braid is usually 15$/spool minimum, I don't plan on trying it out. At this point I'm sticking with fluoro and mono because I don't fish much heavy cover. Although if I could go as light as 15 or 20 on a baitcaster, I might try it and use fluoro leaders
Dwight Hottle reply :
The guys that fish heavy abrasive cover like the big O like heavy braid 50-65 lb for the nasty stuff. I totally understand your thought process as 30 lb braid breaks at 40-50 lbs. But nasty cover requires heavier braid to stand up to the nasty thorn bushes & other nasty cover.
gulfcaptain reply :
okay, let me be the first to say, I started fishing 15lb braid on baitcasters, just moved up to 20 because of my topshots. I have never had braid dig in. Used 10lb by accident(thought I picked up a heavier spool) and it didn't dig in just was too light. As long as it's put on tight, has some sort of backing to grip(I would suggest some mono) then it won't dig in. It will become a mess if one of your friends that's not used to fishing braid tries and backlashes if they don't understand how to pick it out and go to cutting. But never had a problem with lighter braid digging in.
Darren. reply :
I agree with you, I don't see the need for heavy braid - the heaviest I have on a reel is (I believe) 30lb test, but I don't use that for much of anything.
My spinning gear is fitted with 10 lb test PowerPro, and my casting gear is 20 lb test PowerPro. I've winched some pretty nice fish with these setups. I use a leader on all of them, anywhere from 6-15lb test.
Teal reply :
On 4/14/2014 at 9:05 AM, A-Jay said:For me, braid use is less about the lines breaking strength and more about no stretch & manageability.
The line strength ends up being a beneficial by-product. 10 & 20 works for me on spinning gear and 30 seems to be my favorite for casting gear. I have 50 on my frog rod as the extra strength and weed cutting properties come in very handy.
I do use mono quite a bit for treble hook baits. If someone came out with a mono that could match braids long distance hook up abilities, I'd use it.
A-Jay
Exactly. I agree with everything! I even use the same line sizes
primetime reply :
I rarely use heavier than 15lb braid on spinning, and most of my casting reels have 10-17lb mono on them, but I find for baitcasting reels, I like a line with a diameter of at least 8lb test since I have been throwing 10-20 lb my entire life, and if I try a thin braid I just seem to have some issues I never have with a #40-65 and I find that I need less line with a 65-12 or 50-10, can get away with 50-75 yards with backing, casting distance is the same, never digs or have over runs, so I just stick with it. Plus, here in Florida I often need 2 ounces to punch through mats and I can flip with more confidence and accuracy with a line in the diameter near 10lb test.
and I have caught 50lb plus tarpon on 25 lb test mono, 20lb braid, but in saltwater I prefer Spinning gear since it is usually more windy, and I agree that #50 is overkill, but it makes more sense for me since I am only flipping 20-30 feet and distance on flipping or even frogging gear is not important as I can chuck a frog a mile on 50 braid, and the confidence of being able to handle the worst stuff just makes me feel good.
I also think it depends on the type of braid and how you have your drag set, but many times I can't afford to let a big bass in the 10b range to take more than a few inches of line or I am not getting him out of the mats. When Possible, I try to flip with 15lb hybrid, or 20lb big game as I feel I get more strikes with a mono or copoly then with braid even in dirty water. I guess to sum up my point....I can use a heavier braid better and flip more precisely, so I don't see the need to change. Maybe braids are better this year than last, I don't know and have not tried the best stuff in lighter tests yet.
1234567 reply :
20-30# braid will handle any bass on this planet with ease.....the problem, it will not handle heavy rods and big hook sets. Itll pop like a zit either at the knot or in the main line. Ive done it with 50# but never on 65# at least not yet.
Catt reply :
All I can tell y'all is come on down to Texas & y'all will change your mind!
I grew up working on a Charter Boat in the Gulf of Mexico & once move a fish away from the rig it's clear sailing.
Now hook an 8# plus in standing timber, buck brush, or mesquite; ya move em off one hangup & his got 50 more to wrap.
Ya every play with Pick Up Sticks?
That's what the bottom of Toledo looks like!
FishinDaddy reply :
I broke 30 lb PP twice today getting 2 pounders out of the slop. I normally punch with 65 lb but I broke that rod yesterday.
Pitch a 1 oz tungsten into some florida maidencane mixed with coontail and hydrilla with a few dollar pads just for fun and see how far you get with 20 lb anything.
Fishing_Cory reply :
I use 80lb braid on my flipping and froggin rod. I've snapped 65lb just from a backlash so I like the extra strength and performance wise is pretty dang close. Lose a little casting distance.
mjseverson24 reply :
I only use braid when it is absolutely necessary, and when I do it is typically 50-65 lb for casting and 10-15 for spinning... I typically only see braid dig in when it is on a set up that i pitch with, a cast and retrieve type set up typically doesn't dig in, at least not in my experience...
Mitch
Raul reply :
You come to my everyday lake and pretty soon you will find out why you need 50 - 60 lb braid. Her first name is Prosopis and last name glandulosa. Catt knows her very well too.
gulfcaptain reply :
Okay, for those who gave me an honest answer without trying to call me out thank you. I've seen the pattern in the responses that heavier is easier for most to handle, gives them the assurance that they have the gear in case they need it, and some believe the smaller line sizes will cause problems. Great reasons and I thank you. For those who wish to try and tell me to try using 20lb or how they have broke 30lb punching. I do punch and frog fish with 30lb, use smaller frogs with 20lb, and pulled fish out of trees and bushes as well as a few yellowtail, white seabass, and countless calico's out of S. Cal coastal kelp beds, so been there done that. And I haven't broke any of my rods from user error or overloading my equipment. My swimbait rods that I fish heavy on, well they are designed for musky fishing. If I'm gonna throw a 4-6oz bait, I'm gonna fish the tackle to handle it but again even though it's 40 and 65lb braid, I fish 25lb mono and flouro. Your equipment is only as good as its weakest part....rod, reel, line, hook, and knot. The weakest point will fail whatever it is. I do believe using the lighter braid does make me have to check for frays, weak and worn points in my line, and my knots more often then if it were 50-65lb. But that's a choice I have to be willing to make to continue to be successful. So thank you all for answering and giving me your reasons on why fish so heavy.
SirSnookalot reply :
I totally agree with Gulfcaptain. I'm not a b/c user but if I were and lighter braid did dig in that would be all the more reason for me to be a spinning user. I do fish Florida, I don't use anything heavy than 15# on a medium spinning rod, lines don't break and lures don't go flying. One of the nice things about braid is that you don't have to over do a hook set.
In fairness saltwater fishing is different, we don't lock down a drag and tail drag a 5# fish in. We use our drags, the key is not the strength of the line or rod but how much line we have. It's all about technique here, even at my age (68) I'm still handling these fish with spinning tackle lighter lines. I don't top shot (braid as backing with 50-100 yd mono shock) as I'm using offshore spinning tackle, 6000-8000 reels with 30# braid no backing. Catch many aj.s sails, kingfish on that kind of a set up. One of my more recent catches, the one in my avatar was caught inshore on one of my heavier set ups, 7'6 mh rod 4000 reel and 20# braid. Some of the younger guys next to me were using med spinning with smaller reels. You will not find too many fish that will fight harder than a jack crevalle.
In the intracoastal where this fish was caught it't like fishing a river. There is current, vegetation, cement pylons, docks, crab pots, rocks and all kinds of things for fish to get wrapped around.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I'm another one that just likes how 50-65lb braid handles. Not so much for the strength, it just casts and fishes better on baitcasters for me is all. My spinning rods I use braid on have 20lb and I've never had the braid break when it shouldn't have.
Catt reply :
20# test would be your first choice? 
Catt reply :
Oh yea I forgot the standing timber over those boys shoulder is usually 2-3' under water & where I fish this point. Notice the white pole with a green top? That's a buoy marking the boat lane! Ya know the place where we run our boats @ 70 mph+
Preytorien reply :
Mark another one up for manageability. I've used all the way down to 20# and I just simply like the 50-65lb braid's handling better. I get better distance and far fewer backlashes. I did notice when I used the 20lb on my casting reel it dug in pretty bad, especially with significantly coated braids.
I guess for me it also comes down to confidence. I've got more confidence in a heavier line, therefore I'll be more likely to pitch it to a spot where I'm more confident I can pull it (hung lure or fish) in out without running a risk of breaking the line. I know, I know.....the true breaking strength is higher so I could theoretically downsize.....but I think it's just a mentality thing for me.
ww2farmer reply :
On 4/14/2014 at 9:05 AM, A-Jay said:For me, braid use is less about the lines breaking strength and more about no stretch & manageability.
The line strength ends up being a beneficial by-product. 10 & 20 works for me on spinning gear and 30 seems to be my favorite for casting gear. I have 50 on my frog rod as the extra strength and weed cutting properties come in very handy.
Pretty much the same way of thinking here.
Jar11591 reply :
The strength of the braid isn't for the fish, it's for what you might have to pull the fish out of. That being said, I personally have no reason to go over 30 lb braid. It still allows me to throw in the really thick cover and rip it out. I won't go over 30lb braid unless I am given a reason too. (Musky fishing maybe).
Drewski73 reply :
I moved from SoCal to South East Texas two years ago. I grew up fishing offshore in socal, and have a few hundred days long ranging under my belt. Ive fished the waters you fish, and now I fish here. I had 30 lb braid on all my rods when I started. Now I have 30lb on two rods (flukes/senkos and light T-rigs), and 50-65lb on everything else. The reason, I have to! These arent Calico in kelp, where 30lb braid cuts the kelp really well. These are hardwood trees! You need a chainsaw to cut them. I lost a few really nice fish in the trees, due to frayed braid and that was that.
The picture that Catt posted above is what our lakes look like. Can you land fish with 20lb braid, sure. Will you lose more with 20lb than 65lb, absolutely. So for me, its a matter losing as few fish as possible.
Catt reply :
I've fished for bass from San Antonio, TX to Inverness, FL and from the gulf coast to north central Ohio. I've fished the Gulf of Mexico from Brownsville, TX to Tampa, FL, out 200 miles, and all the coastal marshes in between. I know what y'all fish for, in what types of cover, in both fresh and salt.
The bass are spawning in the shallow buck brush/mesquite, schools open, y'all come on down!
boostr reply :
On 4/14/2014 at 6:51 PM, Catt said:Oh yea I forgot the standing timber over those boys shoulder is usually 2-3' under water & where I fish this point. Notice the white pole with a green top? That's a buoy marking the boat lane! Ya know the place where we run our boats @ 70 mph+
So you are trying to tell me it's low tide.
Raul reply :
Hey Catt, them trees don´t have branches, the ones at my lake do ! and add to something that looks like that picture the huizache and cat nail brush on the bottom plus potreros ( piled rock walls ).
gulfcaptain reply :
I thank you all for the replies. If some of you have not figured out my screen name I do work in the South. I know what lakes in Tx and La look like. I work there, so yes I know about the stumps, the trees, the timber. You run a bass boat down there, I run a crewboat down some bayous and river channels that I really don't believe a 170ft boat belongs in and would rather have a bass boat on the back deck to take off into some of the cuts and creeks. Lived in Okla and fished there before moving back out to S.Cal so I have fished timber and mainly everything back then was 15-20lb mono. Now would I fish 20lb in the stumps you showed, yep. Would I use it for flipping, nope. I would up grade to 30lb. If I new there were big fish, I'd throw a 10" swimbait at them and hope for the best. Yes, I would do that in the south without blinking. I'm glad I have gotten many responses. And I do enjoy full contact fishing where you go into the worse looking cover you can. Now would I flip 30lb into flooded timber at Choke Canyon or Falcon when they are at full pool and full of flooded brush, probably not. I would go up to 50lb. I do see a case for the heavy line, and like I said before, it looks as most choose to fish heavier braid for the simple reasons that they like the handling of the thicker line as well as have more confidence in it.
Catt reply :
On 4/14/2014 at 11:24 PM, boostr said:So you are trying to tell me it's low tide.
Nah, they dropped the lake level for repairs in the dam!
Bass_Fanatic reply :
On 4/14/2014 at 6:27 PM, Catt said:
20# test would be your first choice?
Maghee Flats??
BigMoneyGrip reply :
I used to use 50lbs when I fished from the bank. If I got snagged on something, it was either coming to me or the hooks would straighten out. I was able to save a lot of lures this way.
Catt reply :
Dude you know better!On 4/15/2014 at 1:28 AM, Bass_Fanatic said:Maghee Flats??
South bank Housen' Bayou looking toward 944 & Ashmore Branch.
boostr reply :
On 4/15/2014 at 1:18 AM, Catt said:Nah, they dropped the lake level for repairs in the dam!
Gotcha
bflp3 reply :
Is there a reason not to throw the big line? Seems the fish will see the braid either way, I'd rather have the extra strength to prevent a break off when around heavy cover.
TorqueConverter reply :
I used #30 regularly. I love the power, the way it handles and the long casts it affords me over mono. I don't know why so many people are experiencing knot failures with #30 braid. They must be using the wrong knots and making the most ridiculous hooksets imaginable.
SirSnookalot reply :
Not every one fishes heavy timber like that, the pic does not indicate whether the 2 fisherman are fishing a more clear area or what's displayed in the background. The intent of the original post IMO was more of a general statement about the usage of braided lines for bass fishing, not a specific area. Where I fish in Florida I'm not contending with an underwater forest, for my heavy slop and vegetation 15# or maybe 20# works just fine for me.
Catt reply :
Snook, the kids are standing on the end of a point that is usually 12-14' deep. They are casting towards the same timber in front of them you see over their shoulder. Where they are standing is usually covered with Hydrilla & Lily pads. What you see in the back ground is not an isolated case, it is what the entire 190,000 acres looks like.
The OP is Braid, Why so Heavy? I gave my answer of why!
carlm01 reply :
I have 30lb power pro braid on my reel that Ive had problems with , halfway thru a cast it stops and I end up with a nice birds nest and was starting to think it was because of it's dia" ? I put it on as tight as I could ,so im not sure if I'm doing something wrong or should move up to a larger line dia" ?
gulfcaptain reply :
My intentions and reason for posting was I wanted honest answers of why some choose to use such heavy line. Not to bash one another nor to call me out, which I have defended myself very respectfully. If Catt wanted to fish sometime and see if I could fish my way in his area, I'm only down the river in Cameron where I work and would be excited to. I would just need some heads up to bring some gear with me when I went to work and. Snookalot, your opinion is valued as well but I wanted individual reasons and they did give them. Now with that said, carlm01, does your reel stop in the same place each time? How heavy of a lure to break/spool tension do you have your reel set at? Is this the first time using braid on one of your reels? Just trying to get some helpful info as to possibly be able to solve the problem your having.
FrankW reply :
Hi carlm01,
I use 30lb braid on several bait casters with no problems of dig in. There are times that it digs in but that is after a hook-up or snag. If you catch a fish or snag you have to pull off the line past the dig in and rewind. Winding on tight helps with a solid base but once you cast a few times the line you are using is no longer packed like before. If you hook a snag and straighten out a hook, then you have a dig in and must remove it before you cast again.
Frank
carlm01 reply :
Thanks for the help guys , I have several reels with braid, a curado 200e and a *** the concept is new and is the one I had the snaggs on so I'll take a good look at it before I use it again ....
ColdSVT reply :
I know ive boated 100+ lb tarpon on 30lb braid
Yet i have 40lb for certain bass apps lolol
Diggy reply :
Depending on the area...I'll get lures stuck in trees or on other structure and get them back with 50-65, sometimes that will even break off if bad enough but I usually get them back 98% of the time.
TorqueConverter reply :
On 4/15/2014 at 10:41 PM, carlm01 said:I have 30lb power pro braid on my reel that Ive had problems with , halfway thru a cast it stops and I end up with a nice birds nest and was starting to think it was because of it's dia" ? I put it on as tight as I could ,so im not sure if I'm doing something wrong or should move up to a larger line dia" ?
How worn is the line? When braid becomes "broken in" from use it becomes softer and more flexible. It eventually breaks in to a point where it is too soft and flexible. It'll start to do two things that can result in the problem you have described.
1. It looses it roundness over time and begins to flatten
2. It won't lay on the spool right and will develop loops in the spool
Some braids live longer than others. I really like Sufix 832 because to retains it roundness and manageability longer than other braids I have fished.
primetime reply :
I also feel that thicker braids, especially 8 strands are more abrasion resistant and that also helps me with confidence when fishing in phosphate pits and strip mines that have some sharp objects that cause abrasions, and I am not good when it checking my line as often as I should.
If Power pro is a 4 strand spectra weave, then I feel more confident that the plus which is an 8 strand weave will give me 8 fibers which will possibly allow me to land a fish even if 6 fibers are frayed. I have not idea if this is true or not, I also like the feel and handling of 8 strands like Plus, Samaurai, 832, and some of the new lines that are adding graphite, teflon, and other fibers to increase the abrasion resistance. I like the fact that 832 adds some gore, but I am a believer in the confidence factor......If you believe it to be true, and think using a heavier line while flipping is going to help you boat more fish, then it will allow me to fish without worries. Maybe I am not the best when it comes to casting thin braids on a casting reel, but I can cast 50-80 until all the color is gone, have the tension knob spinning free, and I just don't have any digging issues or failure for whatever reason....
I still prefer to fish with heavy Mono like Big Game 25lb, or Hybrid in #15-20 and when it comes to spinning gear I am always comfortable with 10-20lb test, usually 15, but I also feel good using 6-12lb Trilene in certain cases. I never have issues with braid breaking regardless of pound test. I do fine with 10, 15, 20, even 8 on spinning gear, and I take my time tying knots. I am getting into big swimbaits, and I find throwing them on 25lb big game allows me to get more strikes or at least I believe it does, and I trust that line from years of use, so it is good for what I do....I guess that is all that matters....Guys Like Patrick Sebile enjoy the thrill of trying to land trophy fish on very light line, and I can respect the skill involved, in fact, I just read a woman landed a 33lb redfish on 4lb test out in the gulf....I am impressed even if it was a hybrid line with 6-7lb breaking strength. That takes skill.
Hattrick7 reply :
For me it's all about line diameter. I just started using braid and I know I'll never really need it where I fish but putting 20# braid on my BC being equal to about 8# test or whatever diameter just isn't gonna work for me.
I spooled up 50# because 12# diameter is the lowest I feel comfortable with.
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
I have 1 set up with 50lb power pro on it. I fish fields of pads all the time with a 7'3 xh. Im stepping up this year to a 7'9 xh for frogging the thick,stuff. I,will still use 50lb theres no reason for me to go higher. I have 3 set ups with 30lb braid 1 frog rod/ punch, a spin rod and my all around rod 7,2 mh for fishing by nasty stuff or brush. I tie fluro or mono leader on there. Depending on what im fishing
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
On my other 4 rods are 1 spin with light fluro no backing. A topwater/treble rod mobo , jig n worm rod one with 20 pound fluro 1 with 12 lb. And my swiwbait rod 25lb mono. Which im considering changeing to braid as well. Then my spin with 10lb fluro, thats a light finesse jig/plastic small shallow crank and topwater
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