Switching back to braid? Worth the investment? 2024

TriStateBassin106 reply :

Hey Bassresource!

This past season I had 17lb straight flurocarbon on my designated texas rig and jig combo, a 7'3 Lews Laser paired with a Pfluger President XT, I had much success with this combo this past summer and fall but I had braid on this same setup earlier in the spring of 2019, it was 20lb power pro and I disliked it heavily.

I was loosing every lure I casted with it. The braid digging into itself was too much to handle and I switched back to Flourocarbon, but I'm willing to give braid a second chance, I keep hearing stories of the success of anglers using this type of line for well...texas rigs and jigs. The sensitivity, the extra casting distance etc.

If I was to get back into using braid on baitcasters what would be a good lb to start off with? Maybe also some advice on what leader line to use again that can handle baits being dragged and hopped along the bottom?

Thanks BR and I look foward to the responses!

Fish on.

Team9nine reply :

My recommendation is don’t go back ???? ...but if you do, an 8-carrier softer braid like Sufix 832 might be worth a try.

Dwight Hottle reply :

Talk to the Florida guys & they advocate heavier braid like 50 lb minimum. The reason is because it digs in much less than lighter lb tests. The larger diameter handles better & is less likely to snap when backlashed. Be aware that holding down the spool to free a snag also causes braid to dig in. Use something like a wooden dowel rod to wrap the braid around for pulling snags free.
you can use whatever mono or fluoro line for your leaders that you want. Probably you want 15-20 lb test leader.

jimmyjoe reply :

I hate braid. I don't use it on baitcasters anymore at all.

Now that we've got that out of the way let's continue. I had much the same luck as you. On the advice of a friend, I kept trying different brands and diameters. I finally found Berkley Fireline Ultra8 in 20 lb. test. I had it on a Curado 70, and it seemed that that particular combination was successful.

I've moved on to different things, and left that behind. But I'd recommend that line for baitcasters in the blink of an eye.

Also pay attention to your particular rod's energy storage and your casting acceleration. That might reduce your breakoffs to nil. jj

TriStateBassin106 reply :

On 2/17/2020 at 8:49 AM, Team9nine said:

My recommendation is don’t go back ???? ...but if you do, an 8-carrier softer braid like Sufix 832 might be worth a try.

How so? Bad experiences?

On 2/17/2020 at 8:55 AM, jimmyjoe said:

   I hate braid. I don't use it on baitcasters anymore at all.

   Now that we've got that out of the way let's continue. I had much the same luck as you. On the advice of a friend, I kept trying different brands and diameters. I finally found Berkley Fireline Ultra8 in 20 lb. test. I had it on a Curado 70, and it seemed that that particular combination was successful.

   I've moved on to different things, and left that behind. But I'd recommend that line for baitcasters in the blink of an eye.

   Also pay attention to your particular rod's energy storage and your casting acceleration. That might reduce your breakoffs to nil.        jj

Is it even worth using on Finesse setups though? I currently have 10lb power pro moss colored for that setup//

jimmyjoe reply :

On 2/17/2020 at 8:56 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:

Is it even worth using on Finesse setups though? I currently have 10lb power pro moss colored for that setup//

Not in my opinion, no. But you need to remember that I'm very biased. If you finally find the right combination of line diameter and reel setting, you may think it's the best thing since sliced bread.

OTOH, I have a spinning setup with 10 lb. braid that's killer for consistency and reliability. Go figure. jj

Chief250 reply :

Smackdown in 40lb or power pro maxcuatro or super slick in 40lb, imo going below 40 on those braids will make it susceptible to dig in. I've been fishing straight braid and braid to leader for years. This past fall I gave flouro a try. I ran a bantam mgl and aldebaran with 12 lb tatsu and to me it fishes like a rubber band, I can't stand it and will likely switch those setups back. I personally enjoy the hard thud of a bite on braid or braid to leader, it leaves little to the unknown of what's happening on the end of your line

Dens228 reply :

I use braid on everything which varies from 20 lb up to 65 pound. I use PowerPro and now the Sufix 832.

I usually go by line diameter rather than lb test. I'd never go below 20.

Pogues2300 reply :

I really like 30lb suffix832 advanced superline. Casts awesome and ive personally never had an issue with 30lb or higher digging in.

dodgeguy reply :

Sufix 832 in at least 50 lb.

Team9nine reply :

On 2/17/2020 at 8:56 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:

How so? Bad experiences?

Just one of those people that believes braid doesn’t belong on a baitcaster except for the few instances it does ????

LCG reply :

I really enjoy using braid on both spinning and casting set ups. But I use 10-20lb on spinning rods and 30-50lb on casting rods. I recommend that you try 40lb suffix 832. Good line and won't dig in.

Michigander reply :

On 2/17/2020 at 8:49 AM, Team9nine said:

My recommendation is don’t go back ???? ...but if you do, an 8-carrier softer braid like Sufix 832 might be worth a try.

Amusingly, Sufix 832 is my least favorite braid because it performs rather poorly for me.

On 2/17/2020 at 8:37 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:

If I was to get back into using braid on baitcasters what would be a good lb to start off with?

I would say start with black Fireline; it is far from a "perfect" line but it is very user friendly. Also, you have to find the balance for your line diameter. Heavier line is less likely to dig in and do weird stuff but it also decreases casting distance. Finding that sweet spot is what it is all about. As far as leader line, I would just keep using the FC you currently are if it was working.

JediAmoeba reply :

All I use on my baitcasters is braid. People talk of digging but I run 15# braid on some of mine without trouble. The most common size I use is 30# to 40#...

MN Fisher reply :

I don't have any issues with dig-in using braid on my BCs - and I'm using Power Pro 4 carrier...50#on my flip/pitch/punch rig and 20# on my spinner/chatter/buzz/jig rig. You just have to make sure you lay it on properly and at the right tightness when spooling up. I also pull-off and re-lay it after every trip - not replacing the line, just re-tensioning it on the reel.

fishwizzard reply :

On 2/17/2020 at 9:34 AM, Team9nine said:

Just one of those people that believes braid doesn’t belong on a baitcaster except for the few instances it does ????

Agreed 100%. I only resort to braid when I have tried and failed with other lines, it’s always my last choice.

Angry John reply :

Braid is a tool and I only like the tool in a few places. I have one spinning setup that I run 15. I always run a leader on that rod normally at least 6' or longer. My heavy rod for frigging and punching is the other. 50 or 65 works great.

NittyGrittyBoy reply :

No lower than 30# on my casting gear. Just plain ole Power Pro green moss braid. 65# for flipping.

Always been good to me.

islandbass reply :

Your bad first experience with braid is a result of using 20 lb braid. That is a no no for most blokes. Step up to 30# braid and line dig will be greatly reduced. Step up to 40 or 50 and it is practically going to be non existent.

I tend to lean on if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Why don’t you just set up another rig with braid? Whoever said you had to use one or the other? Strong bait monkey vibes I feel.

Mike L reply :

Your line is the most critical part of what you have in your hand.
It your direct path to the fish.

Braid is a specialty tool to be used in those situations that give you best chance of success.
I use 50# and 80# for those presentations.

I never was a fan of change just for the sake of change.

Mike

OkobojiEagle reply :

Braided PE line is as different from nylon or fluoro line as a Freightliner is from a Toyota. You need to abide by different rules from spooling, to drag setting, to casting, to hook setting, to landing...

galyonj reply :

On 2/17/2020 at 9:28 AM, Pogues2300 said:

I really like 30lb suffix832 advanced superline. Casts awesome and ive personally never had an issue with 30lb or higher digging in.

About two weeks ago stripped a spool's worth of 30lb Sufix off and threw it in the trash where, in my opinion, it belongs.

Needless to say, I don't use braid anymore.

Dens228 reply :

The beauty of having so many choices!

Tizi reply :

I only use braid for 3 techniques: frogging, flipping and pitching. Everything else is co-poly and flouro.

Hook2Jaw reply :

I like braid to mono for topwater. I love the casting distance. 30# Kastking Mega8 to 12# Berkley Big Game. I've found I really, really prefer higher carrier braid. It's so much smoother and more manageable.

I use straight fluorocarbon for crankbaits, jerkbaits, paddletails, etc. Moving baits.

I use braid to leader on my spinning rods. The same Kastking Super8 to fluorocarbon leaders for weightless worming, fluking, shakeyheading, Neko, dropshot, etc.

I use braid to leader for bottom contact. I'm on a budget and don't have the most sensitive rods, and braid to leader truly helps me feel more bites.

swhit140 reply :

I have braid on everything except a couple crankbait setups. For braid I use 30/40#

Mr.C in Texas reply :

I’m on my 4th season with 30lb. 832 and wouldn’t go back. No backlash issues plus I can chose what kind of leader or not to use depending on the presentation/conditions.

suzuki2903 reply :

16 rod and reel setups, all using braid. power pro and sufix 832. never a issue! definitely dont go below 30# on a baitcaster! some times i will use mono for a leader but mostly on lures with treble hooks, so the hooks dont get tangles as easy on the line.

Preytorien reply :

I use braid on every setup. If I need the abrasion resistance or a clear line application I tie on a leader. Upsize your braid and the issues you're having will cease.

Braid lasts longer, good braid is stronger, large braid is easy to pick out backlashes, and strong braid gives you a good level of confidence -ie I've had more than a few instances where I was glad I switched that 6lb fluoro spool out for the 15lb braid on a spinning rod, and I'm constantly fishing in heavy cover where mono or fluoro lines on my casting reel wouldn't give me the warm and fuzzies if I happened to hook into my PB.

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Switching back to braid? Worth the investment? 2024

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