I'm not a perfect angler but I just don't get it. 2024
dodgeguy reply :
O.K. I'm not perfect. I'm not even close. But I am 60 years old and have been fishing since I was 7. That's 53 years so I think I know something. As many of you know me I love braided line. I've used it since 1993. I've used a bunch of different brands and numerous products within those brands. I've read many reviews on braids and many posts about braids. I've read about braid snapping when casting. I've read about wind knots.Ive read about tip wrap. One guy will say a braid is to limp. The next guy will say it's to stiff.It seems a lot of people have horrendous issues with braids. Knots seem to be one of them. I use a Palomar knot all the time and have never had it slip with any brand of braid.I am completely convinced that 99 percent of peoples problems with braid are user error. Yes some braids are better than others.But the problems you read about are amazing. In all the years I have fished braid I have never snapped it on a cast. Even with a 1.5 oz spoon and having a backlash stop the cast. Granted I used 50 lb test with it. If your throwing big lures on light line what would you think might happen. I would never throw that on light braid. Another complaint is that braid is hard to remove a backlash from. No it's not. It's really easy and the line doesn't Get damaged. I've maybe had to cut out 5 backlashes with braid since 1993. The good old Bill Dance jam your thumb on the spool and reel technique works for me. Like I said guys I'm not a perfect angler and many here could probably outfish me but when it comes to braid and the problems people have I just don't get it.
Bird reply :
I'm 58 and totally agree.
dodgeguy reply :
https://images.app.goo.gl/LmFYtQ4SxbutKyNs6
Spankey reply :
I can’t talk the braid game with you. Basically been a mono guy my whole life. I’m only using it on one setup. 35# braid on a MH 7’1” Frog setup.
But like you I’m far from perfect. I’m 60 years old also and to started fishing when I was about 7 or 8 years old.
Good luck, have fun.
dodgeguy reply :
I've grew up on mono. Used it for years. Every once in a while I spool some up but wind up going back to braid. Have tried flouro also. I always wind up back to braid. You would think I'd learn and stick with what I like.Your frog setup probably works well . If it ever digs in use thicker braid. Tight lines buddy.
hwright38 reply :
Exactly my thoughts. Braid mishaps are almost always user error. I also like that I can really dig at a back lash and not have to worry about kinking the line or flat out breaking it off.
I have broke off mid-cast one time, and it was casting a 1oz spoon with 40lb braid. I'm pretty sure that spool was a lemon from the factory, as I had been experiencing a lot of breaks with that specific spool. Once I switched back to my main brand I don't think I've broken off braid since.
Junger reply :
I've had Daiwa J-Braidx4 snap on me once and only once. I use braid a lot, on most of my rods. It was on a rod that I fished a lot of slop on. I think the friction from the guides/slop created a weak point and it snapped the x4.
Spankey reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 6:58 AM, dodgeguy said:I've grew up on mono. Used it for years. Every once in a while I spool some up but wind up going back to braid. Have tried flouro also. I always wind up back to braid. You would think I'd learn and stick with what I like.Your frog setup probably works well . If it ever digs in use thicker braid. Tight lines buddy.
I have noticed that. That situation comes and goes at random.
WRB reply :
"I use 50# braid" eliminates 90% of braid line issues. Try casting 6 oz lures into the wind over 60 yards and wind over or pick out a backlash.
Single Palomar knot slips using Teflon or polyuerathane coated braid regardless how well it's tied.
Most braid issues are related to 20# and under on spinning tackle and wind knots, tip wraps and abrasion issues become more of an issue.
Like everything in fishing we each have our own opinions, likes and dislikes. If braid is a panacea line then everyone would be using it.
I have been using braid when it was Dacron in the 50's and only use modern super braids when nessesary in heavy cover.
The op has been using braid since 1993, I have been using the same spool of FINS original 60# braid since 1993.
Tom
jimmyjoe reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 6:38 AM, dodgeguy said:....when it comes to braid and the problems people have I just don't get it.
I don't think you have to get it. I don't think I have to get it, either. I won't fish braid. I hate it so much it ain't funny. But you can like it, you can use it, and you can do real well with it in ways that I can't. No problem. No one really has to understand the source of other peoples' problems. I mean, it would be real nice, sure. But not necessary. As long as I can use what I like and you can use what you like, the world keeps goin' round and we all keep catching fish.
Maybe 90% of the problem is people trying to MAKE themselves like something or use something that they don't really need. Kind of a fashion thing.
I might be wrong, but I doubt that bass fishing is the place for "fashion". Just keep using what works. jj
dodgeguy reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 7:29 AM, WRB said:"I use 50# braid" eliminates 90% of braid line issues. Try casting 6 oz lures into the wind over 60 yards and wind over or pick out a backlash.
Single Palomar knot slips using Teflon or polyuerathane coated braid regardless how well it's tied.
Most braid issues are related to 20# and under on spinning tackle and wind knots, tip wraps and abrasion issues become more of an issue.
Like everything in fishing we each have our own opinions, likes and dislikes. If braid is a panacea line then everyone would be using it.
I have been using braid when it was Dacron in the 50's and only use modern super braids when nessesary in heavy cover.
Tom
I agree on the heavier line gives less issues. I have been using 20 and 30 on my baitcasters this year in an attempt to lighten up. Using Sufix 832 on Lews reels. It does dig a little sometimes but hasn't been bad. I fish Ned rigs on 20 lb braid on a 7 ft medium fast rod. I don't use spinning rods anymore.
On 9/20/2019 at 7:33 AM, jimmyjoe said:I don't think you have to get it. I don't think I have to get it, either. I won't fish braid. I hate it so much it ain't funny. But you can like it, you can use it, and you can do real well with it in ways that I can't. No problem. No one really has to understand the source of other peoples' problems. I mean, it would be real nice, sure. But not necessary. As long as I can use what I like and you can use what you like, the world keeps goin' round and we all keep catching fish.
Maybe 90% of the problem is people trying to MAKE themselves like something or use something that they don't really need. Kind of a fashion thing.
I might be wrong, but I doubt that bass fishing is the place for "fashion". Just keep using what works. jj
I feel the way you feel about braid when I use flouro. LOL !!!
Dens228 reply :
I use braid down to 20 lb test. The ONLY issue I have, and it's mainly with the 20 lb stuff is line wrap. Not enough to make me switch to something else though.
Bird reply :
I use braid almost exclusively and do have front treble wrap but will trade that for casting, hook set and bait action.
I've yet to experience any line dig in many years of use with braid.
Team9nine reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 6:38 AM, dodgeguy said:O.K. I'm not perfect. I'm not even close. But I am 60 years old and have been fishing since I was 7. That's 53 years so I think I know something. As many of you know me I love
braidedfluorocarbon line. I've used it since 1993. I've used a bunch of different brands and numerous products within those brands. I've read many reviews onbraidsfluorocarbons and many posts aboutbraidsfluorocarbons. I've read aboutbraidfluorocarbon snapping when casting. I've read about wind knots. I’ve read about tip wrap. One guy will say abraidfluorocarbon is too limp. The next guy will say it's too stiff. It seems a lot of people have horrendous issues withbraidsfluorocarbon. Knots seem to be one of them. I use a Palomar knot all the time and have never had it slip with any brand ofbraidfluorocarbon. I am completely convinced that 99 percent of people’s problems withbraidfluorocarbon are user error. Yes somebraidsfluorocarbons are better than others. But the problems you read about are amazing. In all the years I have fishedbraidfluorocarbon I have never snapped it on a cast. Even with a 1.5 oz spoon and having a backlash stop the cast. Granted I used 50 lb test with it. If you’re throwing big lures on light line what would you think might happen. I would never throw that on lightbraidfluorocarbon. Another complaint is thatbraidfluorocarbon is hard to remove a backlash from. No it's not. Like I said guys, I'm not a perfect angler and many here could probably outfish me, but when it comes tobraidfluorocarbon and the problems people have, I just don't get it.
OK - I fixed your post and couldn't agree more with you 
king fisher reply :
I Make my living big game fishing on the Pacific coast of Mexico. When the super braids came out it completely changed the game. I couldn't even imagine ever going back to mono as a main line. All my rods are braid with floro leaders, or mono top shots. I can correctly tie almost any knot used with braid, direct to lure, braid to floro, braid to mono, hollow splice and more. I only give this back ground because I want to make it clear, I do know how and do tie all my gear correctly. When I started bass fishing again a few years ago after many years away from the sport, I naturally thought I should use braid for everything. It worked and I caught lots of bass. I have gone back to using mostly mono for my bass fishing, because in many situations, I don't see a great advantage to braid. I do feel that tangles are more difficult to deal with,and I don't like having to fool with leaders if I don't have to. I have done many knot tests with a crane and scales and will tell you that all the popular knots I tested with braid will broke at 75% or less. The break is usually about 1/8 inch above the knot on most knots. I realize that doesn't really mater if you are using 50 pound line. Even at 50% break strength 25 pound is more than enough to land any bass. Even with lighter braid there isn't a problem because most peoples leaders are significantly lighter than the braid. You can get over 90% strength with hollow braid splices but that is not applicable for most bass fishing. My point being that braid is great line, it is by far the best line in many situations,(punching, frogging, many others) lasts forever, doesn't stretch, very strong for diameter, and is the line preferred by many great bass fishermen. However I personally believe in many situations, mono works as well with less hassle. I also believe mono holds knots better than both braid and floro. That does not mean that your knots with braid are going to break. I'm sure many people here have landed way more bass than me without knot failure. I just don't get why more people don't use mono more, and braid as a specialty line.
Todd2 reply :
I don't really have the problems with braid that the OP mentions...but everytime I try braid, I usually go back to mono. Not sure why, braid's just not my thing.
CrankFate reply :
I fish up to 3.5oz lures on 10lb braid. I usually don’t have any problem with it. But, yes, I have casted the lure right off a few times. I’m sure those lures made it a good thousand feet 
Mike L reply :
OP
On this board mono is King. Other than for 2 braid presentations I use 100% flouro and gave up trying to "get it".
Your braid experiences are mine with both.
Mike
Catt reply :
Well I guess we're telling our ages, I'm 68. ????
I've fished braided Cotton, Dacron, Micron, Suture Material (Silk), Micro Dyneema®, Kevlar, & Spectra.
Do I experience tip wrap with braid, yes but I experience it with mono & fluoro.
Backlashes are definitely easier to remove with braid!
Digging in on itself might happen once or twice a day.
Never had any type of braided line snap on hookset or casting.
Palomar knot is all I use on braid, mono, or fluoro with zero issues.
The only real issue I have with braid is when you get hung up you have to cut it leaving to much line in the water.
Note: I only use 50 or 65#
new2BC4bass reply :
I've only snapped off one lure on a cast. 1/2 oz. jig, 30# braid, MH spinning rod. Yes it was user error. Line wrapped around tip and I didn't notice it.
I use braid on a few reels, but much prefer a Co-Polymer or mono.
EDIT: I'm 71 and started fishing at 5. However, I haven't been fishing for 66 years. I quit for 23 years after moving to this area because fishing is so bad here. Only been out twice so far this year. I would probably quit for another 23 years (or until I can retire to another area) if I didn't have several thousand dollars worth of fishing gear. Criminal not to use it occasionally.
BassWhole! reply :
So the guy who has been fishing for over half a century doesn't have issues, but the guys who have been fishing for a few months or years and chase the InterWeb advice do? I don't see a problem, I see a lesson.... (Says the guy who's been fishing for 52 years)
Choporoz reply :
What are the issues?
OkobojiEagle reply :
Well Dodge, what I don't get is bass anglers handicapping themselves with 50 lb test PE lines.
oe
jmz313 reply :
I love braid. 10-20 LB on spinning rods to leader is what i love to fish inshore.
When i started freshwater and set up braid on a baitcaster i did struggle for a little bit. What i found was i has to short the spool a little with braid. Knocking like 10-15 yards off of what i would spool with mono was the magic ticket for me. Otherwise i'd have to make sure my line guide was centered before casting to have a good chance for a smoooth cast.
It could be specific to the cheaper Abu reels i use (ultramax, pro max, revo X).
dodgeguy reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 8:52 PM, OkobojiEagle said:Well Dodge, what I don't get is bass anglers handicapping themselves with 50 lb test PE lines.
oe
Some of us don't do any better when the bite is tough using flouro. I'm down to 20 lb. Fish love it on a Ned rig. I really have my doubts about line visibility being important.
Anyway my original post was about guys having all kinds of problems with braid. If you like mono and flouro that's great. Keep using them. Post is not about if braid is better than mono or flouro.
craww reply :
I’ve caught myself wondering the same things. Braid certainly isn't the end all be all for everything, I don't use it for a lot of things due to certain characteristics.
However.... Ive just never seen all these weird issues folks seem to have with breaking it off randomly, knots slipping (A lot of Blue Cats up to 75lbs on the polamer), uncalled for fraying, etc.
I’ll even go so far as to say after using maybe 18 brands- if you use the right diameter- braid is braid generally speaking. Even the cheap amazon off brand stuff has been fine for me.
WRB reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 8:50 AM, king fisher said:I Make my living big game fishing on the Pacific coast of Mexico. When the super braids came out it completely changed the game. I couldn't even imagine ever going back to mono as a main line. All my rods are braid with floro leaders, or mono top shots. I can correctly tie almost any knot used with braid, direct to lure, braid to floro, braid to mono, hollow splice and more. I only give this back ground because I want to make it clear, I do know how and do tie all my gear correctly. When I started bass fishing again a few years ago after many years away from the sport, I naturally thought I should use braid for everything. It worked and I caught lots of bass. I have gone back to using mostly mono for my bass fishing, because in many situations, I don't see a great advantage to braid. I do feel that tangles are more difficult to deal with,and I don't like having to fool with leaders if I don't have to. I have done many knot tests with a crane and scales and will tell you that all the popular knots I tested with braid will broke at 75% or less. The break is usually about 1/8 inch above the knot on most knots. I realize that doesn't really mater if you are using 50 pound line. Even at 50% break strength 25 pound is more than enough to land any bass. Even with lighter braid there isn't a problem because most peoples leaders are significantly lighter than the braid. You can get over 90% strength with hollow braid splices but that is not applicable for most bass fishing. My point being that braid is great line, it is by far the best line in many situations,(punching, frogging, many others) lasts forever, doesn't stretch, very strong for diameter, and is the line preferred by many great bass fishermen. However I personally believe in many situations, mono works as well with less hassle. I also believe mono holds knots better than both braid and floro. That does not mean that your knots with braid are going to break. I'm sure many people here have landed way more bass than me without knot failure. I just don't get why more people don't use mono more, and braid as a specialty line.
Totally agree, in fact sounds like I wrote this reply but never made my living off shore big game fishing. 35 years recreational and tournament fishing Baja Pacific coast and understand the advantages of using small diameter braid for increased line capacity on 2 speed conventional reels.
I understand using braid where it is an advantage and do so.
Tom
Spankey reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 6:45 AM, dodgeguy said:https://images.app.goo.gl/LmFYtQ4SxbutKyNs6
I’d like to think in my 60 years I’ve been receptive of change. Changes are constant in the manufacturing work world, family life and experiences and fishing plays a big part of my life.
Family has told me that I’m not all that receptive of change and I’m a creature of habit. They don’t see much change. They are right.
I’m afraid of braid. That solo frog setup I have with 35# braid on it I’m still out to lunch on. Had been using Big Game but at a lesser test.
I’ve started a slush fund mad money stash for next season all ready. I want to pick up a new ML Xfast stick and go all out and buy the new version Stradic. From the get go I think I’ll do the braid and fluoro leader. You guys (+ the pros) would not fish like that if the negatives out weighed the positives. My favorite spinning plastics set up now is a SC Med. Xfast 6’3” Avid w/ the white old school 2500 Stradic. I fish a SC 6’8” and a 5’9” M Xfast also with the old
Symetreys.
Tennessee Boy reply :
I’m intimidated by the level of experience in this thread. I’m only 56 so I don’t think I have anything I can contribute.
OkobojiEagle reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 10:42 PM, dodgeguy said:Post is not about if braid is better than mono or flouro.
...neither is my response.
oe
Buckeye Ron reply :
I’ll soon be 65 and have fished for about 58 of those years, so like the OP I know a thing or two about fishing, or at least I tell myself that I do. Personally I was late to the ‘braid game’, believing that if it ain’t broke, why mess with it?
I started experimenting with braid when I moved to Florida three years go, and I’ll just say it has its place, no more no less. What I have found to be true in my case is that braid brings with it its own complications. Learning complicated knots, joining braid to mono or flouro leaders, all are things I never had to deal with as a strictly monofilament line fisherman.
Fortunately for me, 95% of my fishing is bass fishing and I have little need for braid at this time. For me, that works.
Big Rick reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 6:24 PM, Catt said:Palomar knot is all I use on braid, mono, or fluoro with zero issues.
Here's a hearty and resounding AMEN!!!
Shimano_1 reply :
That's the problem with listening to other people give their opinions. Basically everything I use is trash in a lot of guys eyes. I agree completely that most problems people have with most types of line are user error. I'm not a huge fan of braid for most things but I keep 2 rods spooled with it year round and have never had any issues using old junky spiderwire braid that most will say is awful. I've learned to just try what I am curious about and figure it out for myself. Of course there are things I think are garbage that a lotta people love. Guess that's why there's such a variety
evilcatfish reply :
On 9/21/2019 at 3:53 AM, Big Rick said:Here's a hearty and resounding AMEN!!!
Same here, I don’t care if it’s a Ned rig or 5oz swimbait. People look at me crazy when I tell them the only knots I need are a palomar and surgeons knot.
Hammer 4 reply :
I use braid where it's applicable..i.e. frog's, flipping and punching. Most everything else is mono, cept for my finesse spinning which is fluro, and that may change..
FishTank reply :
On 9/21/2019 at 5:31 AM, Hammer 4 said:I use braid where it's applicable..i.e. frog's, flipping and punching. Most everything else is mono, cept for my finesse spinning which is fluro, and that may change..
I would agree.
Braid is just another tool. I use it for top water and in thick coverage. I use some mono but 12lb FC is my go to line.
DanielG reply :
I've always used mono. Recently I spooled up some fluorocarbon. It was okay but I just didn't like it. It was like mono but with a bad feel to it. I put some braided super pro slick on my spinning reel, #30 and immediately loved it. A couple of weeks ago I've put some braided, #40, on my caster and I equally love it. I'm not using leaders but feel like I probably should. Not looking forward to that. I guess I can use up what's left of the fluorocarbon for that next season.
BTW, on another note. I have a Curado DC reel. It was great with mono and fluoro as far as nesting was concerned. Didn't happen much, or bad. Since I've spooled up the braided I find it's very difficult to get it to tangle. If I use it along with a little thumb, I expect I may never have to pick out a nest. Watch that statement make me a liar tomorrow!
Tony johnson reply :
I started using braid in west coast big fish fishing. when i recently started fresh water fishing again i spooled up 6 rods with floro and mono then month later the line is all coils and just a hassle to deal with... so now all my stuff is full of braid and i fish straight 30lb or 50lb braid on all my baitcasters. hardly ever use a leader unless its drop shot spinning rig. If i feel i need to try a leader it takes me all of 20 secs to tie braid to leader... only time i have done it is if i am noticing abrasion marks from the quaga mussels
Wizzlebiz reply :
On 9/20/2019 at 6:38 AM, dodgeguy said:O.K. I'm not perfect. I'm not even close. But I am 60 years old and have been fishing since I was 7. That's 53 years so I think I know something. As many of you know me I love braided line. I've used it since 1993. I've used a bunch of different brands and numerous products within those brands. I've read many reviews on braids and many posts about braids. I've read about braid snapping when casting. I've read about wind knots.Ive read about tip wrap. One guy will say a braid is to limp. The next guy will say it's to stiff.It seems a lot of people have horrendous issues with braids. Knots seem to be one of them. I use a Palomar knot all the time and have never had it slip with any brand of braid.I am completely convinced that 99 percent of peoples problems with braid are user error. Yes some braids are better than others.But the problems you read about are amazing. In all the years I have fished braid I have never snapped it on a cast. Even with a 1.5 oz spoon and having a backlash stop the cast. Granted I used 50 lb test with it. If your throwing big lures on light line what would you think might happen. I would never throw that on light braid. Another complaint is that braid is hard to remove a backlash from. No it's not. It's really easy and the line doesn't Get damaged. I've maybe had to cut out 5 backlashes with braid since 1993. The good old Bill Dance jam your thumb on the spool and reel technique works for me. Like I said guys I'm not a perfect angler and many here could probably outfish me but when it comes to braid and the problems people have I just don't get it.
I love braid. But I also havent used anything below 30lb test. I hear it can become an issue with the lower test. I also dont see any real reason to use lower than 30lb so I guess it really is not an issue.
DanielG reply :
I'm a recent convert to braid from a lifetime of mono and brief bout with fluoro. I use 30 on spinning and 40 on casting. I don't think I'll go back. Definitely not to fluoro. I'm still toying with the need for a clear leader though. I like not having one but still wonder if it's necessary or not. Verdict out for me on this.
Ratherbfishing reply :
Meh, braid is good but it isn't the be all or end all for all fishing applications. If you know and honor its strengths and limitations, it is a good tool.
Bird reply :
This must be an old guy thread.....good I feel at home.
Maybe I'm simply comparing braid to substandard mono but the difference is substantial, give me braid.
MUCH better hook set, MUCH further cast , MUCH better sensitivity and better bait action. Polamar knot.
My only complaint is the need " maybe peer pressure " for a floro leader in clear water which now gives you a weak link with the prevalent downfalls of floro....STRETCH.
PourMyOwn reply :
Since this is an old guy thread, I'll say that I'm 42 but have used braid since 1993. Here in NH we have a lot of shallow ponds filled with lily pads and heavy grass. I've used 40-60 pound braid for all applications in those ponds-all using Palomar knots. I watched many a friend lose fish in the pads to mono.
As others have said, brand isn't overly important. I went through miles of Fireline, now I use power pro.
On most of my spinning rods I do braid to leader on all but my dropshot outfit, which is 8lb Silver thread.
All of my other baitcasters have mono or copoly. There's a place for all if it.
Yumeya reply :
All I use is braid to leader, on every setup even ice fishing...
I love the stuff
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