I finally discovered the blessing called "braid"! 2024
jb_adams reply :
Yep, I finally tried braided line. MAN what a difference! 
All this time, I was affraid to use it because I felt it would backlash more, harder to undo backlashes, and too heavy of a line and easily seen. I was so far from the truth it's amazing.
I like fishing finesse jigs in 5/16oz to 7/16oz on a small 6ft rod with 10lb test. I swapped out my Yo-Zuri (great stuff) with Suffix Pro Braid(?) in 10lb test in 6lb mono diam. That stuff is amazing! I could hear the rattles on my jig with the jig over 40 ft away. I was so shocked to hear my jig rattles. The sensitivity is great, no doubt if you get a bite now!
I also tried 20lb test in the Spiderwire braid. Only reason I tried it was because it had a small dia. and was cheap! It works pretty well too. I have it on my crankbait rod and I can't believe how much more you can feel with the crankbait and braided line.
SO I feel like I have switched from an old Zebco 33 to a Shimano Citica or something. I just can't believe that I've missed out all this time.
So, is braided line bad for your rod guides? I have alconite guides on my St. Croix Avid rods and I have Fuji guides on my Falcon rods. Is this OK or will it cut into my rod guides? :-?
Hawg Fan reply :
So is braid the most sensitive line type?
jb_adams reply :
QuoteSo is braid the most sensitive line type?
I wouldn't put it like that. Braid has no stretch or give to it so you get better feedback than flourocarbon which has stretch and monofiliament that has slight amount of stretch before it breaks. Braid (if ever) simply breaks.
I know I will loose much fewer baits with braid. I've set the hook on many a good baits only to have my line snap. Some of which I know I had a fish. Braid won't allow that to happen anymore! Even the 10lb test braid that looks like sewing thread it's so small, is plenty strong. I snagged my jig a few times today and I hauled in some really big limbs because they braid wouldn't snap under pressure like the Yo-Zuri does. Yo-Zuri is a copolymer which is kind of a half mono-half flouro I believe.
I'm thinking about putting braid on just about 80% of my rods now.
islandbass reply :
QuoteYep, I finally tried braided line. MAN what a difference!All this time, I was affraid to use it because I felt it would backlash more, harder to undo backlashes, and too heavy of a line and easily seen. I was so far from the truth it's amazing.
I like fishing finesse jigs in 5/16oz to 7/16oz on a small 6ft rod with 10lb test. I swapped out my Yo-Zuri (great stuff) with Suffix Pro Braid(?) in 10lb test in 6lb mono diam. That stuff is amazing! I could hear the rattles on my jig with the jig over 40 ft away. I was so shocked to hear my jig rattles. The sensitivity is great, no doubt if you get a bite now!
I also tried 20lb test in the Spiderwire braid. Only reason I tried it was because it had a small dia. and was cheap!
It works pretty well too. I have it on my crankbait rod and I can't believe how much more you can feel with the crankbait and braided line.
SO I feel like I have switched from an old Zebco 33 to a Shimano Citica or something. I just can't believe that I've missed out all this time.
So, is braided line bad for your rod guides? I have alconite guides on my St. Croix Avid rods and I have Fuji guides on my Falcon rods. Is this OK or will it cut into my rod guides? :-?
Alconite are more than a match for braid. Matter of fact modern rods with good guides, even aluminum oxide, can stand up to braid without any trouble.
The good thing about braid is that it can almost make an ugly stik feel like a loomis. Just be mindful of your drag setting, especially when fishing with crankbaits or when you're freeing snags. Rods can snap with as little as 2lbs of force. With braid's nero zero stretch you can place a lot of stress on your rod yanking lures free. That is a recipe to snap a rod.
Good to see you've find braid.
RoLo reply :
QuoteAlconite is more than a match for braid. Matter of fact modern rods with good guides, even aluminum oxide, can stand up to braid without any trouble
Good advice.
Short-lived "braided kevlar" was what gave braid a bad name, because it eroded every guide material
except titanium nitride and silicon carbide. However, aluminum oxide guides will last forever under braided polyethylene (PowerPro).
Roger
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Just remember that if using braid on a crank or topwater rod, you want to make sure the rod has an extra bit of flex in it. If I were to buy a rod specifically for cranking with braid, I'd make sure it were softer than if I were using a line with stretch.
You're gonna love all the new sensitivity you get with braid and the more you use it, the better you are at "feeling" (what's on the bottom)
hawgchaser reply :
QuoteSo is braid the most sensitive line type?
Yes there is a noticeble difference. I really like the stuff but I fish a lot of clear water so I throw more flouro and copolymer. I use braid for stained water and all of my crankbait and rat l traps.
BassinBoy reply :
I love it for its no stretch ability which helps on hooksets.
JT Bagwell reply :
I use PowerPro for all of my braided line applications.
Keep your drag set a little bit loose too. Since braid doesn't
stretch, it can put a lot of pressure on your rod when you
have a hard hookset when using jigs and plastics.
Try the Hi-Vis Yellow PowerPro braid when fishing baits like
Yamamoto Senkos and Jigs. Sometimes you can actually see
the line twitch before you ever feel anything.
JT Bagwell
dodgeguy reply :
QuoteSo is braid the most sensitive line type?
without a doubt it is!!!
Jake P reply :
what is braid best used with? what applications? I am clueless when it comes to braid, i figured ide just use mono for everything but i want to try all types of line before i make a decision like that.
.dsaavedra. reply :
i cant believe nobody mentioned one of the very reasons why i feel braid is superior...NO MEMORY WHATSOEVER!!!!!!
im so sick of having mono tangle to hell with just the slightest bit of slack in my line.
braid doesnt do that .
but the main reason i love braid is for the sensativity. it is definitley the most sensative line out there.
its also got no stretch like everone else said, so its got some good hooksetting power.
these three reasons (no memory, sensative, strong) are why i consider it to be a superior worm and jig line. worms and jigs often involve slack line, so no memory is great here. you also need to be able to feel for light bites and bottom contact, so sensativity is great here. the zero stretch strength is great for slamming the steel home!
i use yo-zuri hybrid on my crankbait rod only because of its stretch. but i hate how coily it gets.... :-/
Pond Hopper reply :
Quotei cant believe nobody mentioned one of the very reasons why i feel braid is superior...NO MEMORY WHATSOEVER!!!!!!im so sick of having mono tangle to hell with just the slightest bit of slack in my line.
braid doesnt do that
but the main reason i love braid is for the sensativity. it is definitley the most sensative line out there.
its also got no stretch like everone else said, so its got some good hooksetting power.
these three reasons (no memory, sensative, strong) are why i consider it to be a superior worm and jig line. worms and jigs often involve slack line, so no memory is great here. you also need to be able to feel for light bites and bottom contact, so sensativity is great here. the zero stretch strength is great for slamming the steel home!
i use yo-zuri hybrid on my crankbait rod only because of its stretch. but i hate how coily it gets.... :-/
And this is coming from a braid lover, braid tangles with slack or during the cast. It is so limp that it often creates the mysterious 'braid knot or loop'. It is something I am willing to deal with though.
That said, no stretch, incredible sensitivity, and no memory. When I fish mono, even on cranks, I feel like I am fishing with a slinky as line. That and I feel it handles better on casting equipment as it is easier to pick out an overrun and does not kink like mono/copolymers.
Stringjam reply :
I love braid!!!!
I personally see no advantage to using a stretchy line in any situation - ESPECIALLY crankbaits (what I fish 90% of the time).
The line should be a transmitter of exactly what the bait is doing at all times - which is CRITICAL when deep cranking or cranking in heavy cover - it should not a source of mush and stretch.......even if you use mono, you should use the LOWEST STRETCH mono you can find (ask David Fritts - he knows a bit about cranking.. )
bronzeback01 reply :
how often do you have to change braided line ?
does the color fade after a while ?
and is there any difference in tying a not ?
skunked_again reply :
ive tried braid a few times and the problem i have is one little backlash and i end up cutting all the line off. im just not good enough to use the braid.
THEbassmaster reply :
Quotehow often do you have to change braided line ?does the color fade after a while ?
and is there any difference in tying a not ?
i use it all year, unless i get a little less.
yes, turns whiteish, atleast green power pro does
yes. im not sure what knot i usually use is but palomer works, ill look up what one i use, its a good one.
burleytog reply :
I do not understand the braid hype. More sensitive? Than what, anchor rope?
Every brand of braid I've tried has been disappointing. I keep listening to the hype from threads like this one. Each time I come away ticked off that I spent $20 on a spool of line that was used for three or four trips.
bighed reply :
IMO, a few of the downsides: not abrasion resistant, backlashes can be terminal, can damage the reel/break the rod trying to recover hung up lures, very visible in clear water, can cut fingers/hands, expensive. Braid, like most tackle, has it's place but may not always be the best choice. I like it for flipping heavy vegetation. It's also great for saltwater fishing where reel capacity is a concern. big
Stringjam reply :
QuoteI do not understand the braid hype. More sensitive? Than what, anchor rope?Every brand of braid I've tried has been disappointing. I keep listening to the hype from threads like this one. Each time I come away ticked off that I spent $20 on a spool of line that was used for three or four trips.
What characteristics of braid have disappointed you?
I assure you, there is no "hype" - - I wouldn't have used it almost exclusively for the past 12 years were that the case.....but like all things, it isn't for everybody.
I find most of the things that people list as negatives are easily overcome or are a result of improper use or handling.
You obviously don't put on 80 lb. braid and try to use your rod and reel to bust it loose......it isn't the braid's fault it's strong, it's the user's fault for not utilizing a little common sense - - you wouldn't pull that kind of stuff with 80 lb. mono either....something's gonna break.
Both the abrasion problem and clear water problem are both solved with the use of leaders......you still retain the benefits of braid, and get the stealth and abrasion resistance of mono.
As far as being expensive - no way......I've saved hundreds by switching to braid. I have some reels that haven't been respooled for over 2 years.
David P reply :
I have several cuts in my finger from keeping my finger on the line when I set the hook. Sometimes things happen so quickly, there's no time to take my finger off the line.
Braid also has a terrible tendency to dig into itself. Sometimes you'll go to cast, and it won't go because the line has dug into the spool too much.
It's highly visible, although this is one thing I'd be willing to give up if the other 2 weren't such a problem.
RoLo reply :
Quotewhat is braid best used with? what applications? I am clueless when it comes to braid, i figured ide just use mono for everything but i want to try all types of line before i make a decision like that.
I've used monofilament line for over 40 years (nylon, copolymer & fluoro).
Since I switched from mono to braid I've never given mono a second thought, and now use braided line for every task at hand.
Roger
RoLo reply :
QuoteBraid also has a terrible tendency to dig into itself.
That is true, but it's easy to avoid.
"Line-burrowing" is generally not an issue unless at least one of two conditions exist (usually both conditions exist):
1) When casting a lightweight lure (the line will spool loosely on the arbor)
2) After heavy pressure has been placed on the line (e.g. pulling on a snagged lure).
When casting a lightweight lure (spinning> 1/8 oz or less), the line doesn't wrap as firmly around the arbor,
leaving a spongy base. In this condition, if heavy pressure is applied to the line (e.g. yanking on a fouled lure)
the last wrap of super-thin braid may burrow into the loose wraps below.
To prevent line-burrowing after heavy pressure has been applied to the line, simply pull a few yards of line off the spool
to undo the burrow. If you can't remember to do this or you just can't be bothered (like me),
spooling-up with 30 lb braid (or higher) will virtually eliminate all line-burrowing, even when the above conditions exist.
BTW: 30-lb PowerPro is only 0.011" in diameter, equal to 8-lb Triline XL.
Roger
PondHunter reply :
I have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters. Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.
SimonSays reply :
I love braid, I started off using braid from the beginning on my Baitcasters and didn't think anything of it...until I tried using mono...wow...what a difference, it's alot harder using mono...with mono my hooksets have to be much harder and the feeling is a bit muted, more like pressure than taps.
Grey Wolf reply :
Nothing but braid for me.
skunked_again reply :
QuoteI have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters. Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.
thats what i need to learn. one backlash and that rod/reel is done for the day. maybe some day ill take the time to learn instead of just fishing with what i know, sort of like picking up a baitcaster for the first time.
bighed reply :
If it's so great why don't the pro's use it full time?
Ky_Lake_Dude reply :
Yea man I absolutely love Spiderwire Stealth in either 50 or 65 pound test for my flippin stick
dodgeguy reply :
QuoteQuoteI have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters. Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.thats what i need to learn. one backlash and that rod/reel is done for the day. maybe some day ill take the time to learn instead of just fishing with what i know, sort of like picking up a baitcaster for the first time.
that's what i don't get.braid is the easiest to remove a backlash from.put your thumb on the spool and reel in some line.release the spool and pull out some line.repeat as needed.99.9% of all backlashes come right out this way.
Grey Wolf reply :
QuoteIf it's so great why don't the pro's use it full time?
Every one uses what they feel comfortable with and get the best results with. If you don't like don't use it.
jb_adams reply :
QuoteQuoteI have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters. Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.thats what i need to learn. one backlash and that rod/reel is done for the day. maybe some day ill take the time to learn instead of just fishing with what i know, sort of like picking up a baitcaster for the first time.
If you can fish out a backlash from mono or fluorocarbon in a baitcaster, you should be able to do the same for braid. I've only backlased once so far with braid and it was nothing to dig out. I think it was due to line burrowing like Rolo stated.
I will occasionally get a really bad backlash because of some strange circumstance with both mono or fluorocarbon. Like when I flipped my jig wrong and it hits the water abruptly or when I just really over cast and try to fling a bait too far out there. When you get a real rats nest of line, it can take you 10-15mins to dig out because when the line already has a curl due to line memory, it will jump off the spool. Braid doesn't seem to do that at all.
Braid is not for everyone but I really recommend you try lighter weight braids like a 10lb or 12lb with a 4-6lb mono diameter. They are much less intimidating and look more like tiny sewing thread so you feel more like you are using mono than braided line. I used 10lb Suffix on my BPS Prolite baitcaster because it's a finesse baitcaster and 10lb is the max. line size. For finesse jigs (1/4oz-1/2oz), it's an awesome setup. I was able to flip back into a waterfall that was over 40ft away and that little jig just settled down nicely. I can feel the rattles, hear the rattles (braid has more audible feedback), feel the difference between a rock, stick, grass, and I swear I can even feel the grub trailer wagging it's legs if I swim it.
One thing about braid that I don't like.
Since I can hear my jig rattles easily, that means the fish can hear me talking to my buddy or any other topside noise if the line is pulled tight with no slack in the line. If you ever took two coffee cans or soup cans and strung a taught string between them as kids to make a play telephone, this theory explains what I mean. If I can hear the jig rattles, then the fish can hear my conversation in the boat. Maybe not as well as I can hear the rattles but it still transfers some vibration below the water to the bait.
jb_adams reply :
QuoteQuoteIf it's so great why don't the pro's use it full time?Every one uses what they feel comfortable with and get the best results with. If you don't like don't use it.
Agreed.
I know lots of pros that use Fireline Crystal and still use fluorocarbon too. Each has there application for certain presentations. Braid is highly visible in clear water so using it for a wacky rig is not as good as fluorocarbon but it's great for crankbaits, etc.
Tokyo Tony reply :
QuoteOne thing about braid that I don't like.
Since I can hear my jig rattles easily, that means the fish can hear me talking to my buddy or any other topside noise if the line is pulled tight with no slack in the line.
That's my favorite thing about braid - I can talk the fish into biting
- "Come on Larry, you may not be hungry, but just have a bite and try it out - it's delicious, trust me!"
Seriously though, I don't think you're hearing the jig rattling from far away...it must be something else.
jb_adams reply :
QuoteQuoteOne thing about braid that I don't like.
Since I can hear my jig rattles easily, that means the fish can hear me talking to my buddy or any other topside noise if the line is pulled tight with no slack in the line.
That's my favorite thing about braid - I can talk the fish into biting
- "Come on Larry, you may not be hungry, but just have a bite and try it out - it's delicious, trust me!"
Seriously though, I don't think you're hearing the jig rattling from far away...it must be something else.
Nope, I promise it's the rattles.
I use the cheap Renegade rattles from Wal-Mart with two rattles per jig. It was quiet, the wind died down, I was slowly twitching the jig and I kept hearing a ticking noise. As I focused on the sound a bit more, I realized it was my jig rattles. So, I placed the baitcaster to my ear for a closer listen, sure enough it was the jig rattles. I could distinctly hear the little shot rattling inside the plastic sleeve and hitting the metal end. You could hear a tick, tick tick.
By then, I was giggling like a little schoo-girl and raving how much I loved braid!
skunked_again reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteI have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters. Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.thats what i need to learn. one backlash and that rod/reel is done for the day. maybe some day ill take the time to learn instead of just fishing with what i know, sort of like picking up a baitcaster for the first time.
that's what i don't get.braid is the easiest to remove a backlash from.put your thumb on the spool and reel in some line.release the spool and pull out some line.repeat as needed.99.9% of all backlashes come right out this way.
i need to spool a rod with braid again knowing it will bever see water and go out in the back yard and learn to use it. i think id like my jig rod to have braid...i think.
jb_adams reply :
The backyard isn't the same as the water believe me. It's a good start for practice though. Try starting off with something like Suffix 10lb braid. It's cheap and 6lb diam. so it feels more like mono. Not near as intimidating as 50lb "rope"! (haha)
After trying braid again, I'm very glad I did. I feel like I just dropped a blown V8 in a muscle car. I've got good quality rods, now I just added the horsepower & feel to make them perform better.
Give braid a shot on the water after playing with it in the backyard and see if you like it better. Just remember to try these things:
- don't overcast with braid (don't cast too hard)
- always try to unspool extra line after your cast so the line on the spool is even with the line guide on the reel so when you start your retrieve, the line is re-spooling where it left off. This keeps your line straighter on the spool and helps prevent backlashes (both braid & mono)
- try finding that just right adjustment with your adj. knob till the line is flying off the spool without backlashing
- strive for easy gentle casts until you get a rythm going.
I think you will find you like it after you get past the noise difference braid makes and how it feels. It's still a bit "weird" but I have confidence in it and the "weirdness" goes away.
Good luck! ;D
dodgeguy reply :
the new 8 strand braids such as diawa,saltiga and spiderwire ultracast are now even smoother than sufix and make almost no noise.this year on my braid rods i'm trying spiderwire ultracast invisbraid with the last 10 feet colored black.the white color makes it so i can see it and the black makes it harder for the fish to see.it is definately not translucent.i like the smoothness and the way it handles.
Bushwacker reply :
I am on the opposite side of the spectrum from most of you. I have been using braid almost exclusively for about 10 years now and in the past year I have been going to fluorocarbon and co-polymers. I still use braid quite a bit for certain techniques, but I really think braid was actually costing me fish. One of the biggest pros of braid is the no-stretch, but it is also one of its biggest cons too. With cranks and other treble hooked lures, the no stretch was costing me fish. With fluoro the line gives a little as well as the rod so it is not as easy for the fish to shake off. I personally put fluoro in front of braid for sensativity too. If you are totally tight lining a fish braid is very sensative, but then a fish can also feel you easier. If you have any slack in the line fluoro seems to give me a lot more transmitted feeling. I still love braid, I prefer PowerPro for baitcasting setups and Fireline for spinning reels, but I definitely think braid has its place. Some techniques are hurt by using braid.
Georgia Jeff reply :
I bought some PowerPro 20lb line last week. I fished it this weekend and so far I am loving it. It is so much more sensitive and it throws great.
I used it several years ago but was having problems with dig-in. I would throw the lure and suddenly it would stop in mid air and die. The line had dug in to the rest of the line on the spool about 30 feet into the spool.
So far I am not having this problem with the PowerPro. If it keeps performing like this I will be hooked. Ha! I had a couple of rods that are a little flemsy and was having a problem setting the hook on far cast with mono. The braid stops this. Loving it.
Micro reply :
I just discovered the blessing of not using braid. I'm back on mono for everything (except for Yo-Zuri for plastics). For me, mono's sensitive enough, cheaper, allows me to respool more frequently, and doesn't create backlashes that can't be picked out.
A love affair with braid is like a love affair with bacon.
jb_adams reply :
It doesn't take much to get someone hooked on braid. I've had line dig only one time and that was probably my fault.
I tried a new technique for fishing jigs this weekend and I loved it. I could feel every size rock, stick, bite, etc. It was amazing what I've been missing. After using braid, fishing anything slow with mono or fluoro feels mushy and like I'm using a slinky. Braid has totally ruined me! ;D
Glad it's working for ya Jeff and thanks for the feedback! 8-)
related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
previous topic
most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.