Will Braid Damage Rod And Reel? 2025
Tim Hu reply :
First, thanks to everyone on the forum for creating such an invaluable resource for new fisherman.
I recent bought a nice Dobyns Champion 734C and a Lew's BB1. It is my most expensive set up and I wanted to use braid (50# power pro) as the main line. I've never used braid before and during my first trip I felt like the braid was doing some serious damage to the eyes on the rod and the line guide on the reel. I also backlashed once and oh boy was it tough to untangle. I just don't want my 300+ dollar set up to be destroyed by a line! Are my concerns valid or am I just over thinking it? Thanks for the help!
Also any tips for braid would be much appreciated.
-Tim
Fireguyfrank58 reply :
Braid is alot louder through your guides then mono or fluoro. It will sound very weird for a while till you get used to it. Check the specs on the eyes for you rod. Most of the new rods have guide inserts that prevent any damage.
00 mod reply :
You are fine. No problems with braid on any of the current rods or reels. Welcome to BR!
Jeff
moguy1973 reply :
Usually braid is much easier to get a backlash out. Mono and fluourocarbon are almost impossible sometimes...With braid you just keep tugging on the line as you free some of the tangle and it'll start slipping on itself and work its way out.
dodgeguy reply :
throw out the powerpro and get powerpro super slick or sufix 832.you'll get a lot less noise.braid is easier to untangle a backlash.jam your thumb on the spool and rell the line in.this flips the loops.then release the thumb bar and pul out the backlash.any reel r rod that gets damaged by braid is garbage.
Tim Hu reply :
Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm use to flouro and mono which are pretty smooth going through the guides but that grind from the braid had me very concerned.
Tim Hu reply :
On 7/27/2013 at 11:01 PM, dodgeguy said:...any reel r rod that gets damaged by braid is garbage.
Never thought of that. I guess, for the money I'm spending and warranty from Lews and Dobyns, in the unlikely event that I get some serious damage I should be covered?
WRB reply :
Any questions you have regarding your Dobyn's rod, you can ask Gary Dobyn's directly and he will respond!On 7/27/2013 at 11:02 PM, Tim Hu said:Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm use to flouro and mono which are pretty smooth going through the guides but that grind from the braid had me very concerned.
Good luck with your bass fishing.
Capt.Bob reply :
You'll never get to use that warranty by using braid, it is harmless, your just going to have to do something silly to cash in on those warranties!! 
iabass8 reply :
i fish quite a few dobyns rods from savvy to champ extreme.i use braid on a couple set ups with no issues in grooving. you are fine it's just noisy. enjoy the rod, it's a nice one.
BadContrakt reply :
You could call up Dobyns and give them your specific rod an ask them if the eyelets will get damaged or not. I'd say calling them directly would probably be your BEST bet for a surefire answer.
I use Spiderwire Stealth 30lb Braid and I did notice this "new noise" coming from my eyelets and it does sound weird at first.
Trust me, you're gonna love braid. It doesn't matter what you get snagged up on... Just pull some slack, wrap the line around a sweatshirt sleeve and pull it out no problem. I'm yet to have a snag steal one of my lures since using braid. Also, the knot I use for braid has never let me down. It looks confusing at first but when you get the hang of the knot you can tie a new lure on in seconds. Indestructible line, indestructible knot, snagproof, basically invisible in the waters I fish (I don't fish clear clear clear water so I'm not sure how the fish would react to it in those clear lakes)
Switching to braid was the best thing I ever did yo. I highly recommend the Spiderwire Stealth (green) that stuff is silky smooth, tough as nails, and has nothing but good reviews from what I've heard/read. I almost bought PowerPro but I got talked into Spiderwire and I don't regret it.
Tim Hu reply :
It is a pretty sweet set up that is for sure! I actually like the noise the braid makes when I cast, sounds to me kind of like reving a car lol. I'm definitely more comfortable throwing the braid now. The power pro was actually pretty amazing with zero memory, super sensative, and my 1 oz weight lifted right out between rocks.
On 7/27/2013 at 11:14 PM, WRB said:Any questions you have regarding your Dobyn's rod, you can ask Gary Dobyn's directly and he will respond!
Good luck with your bass fishing.
On 7/27/2013 at 11:19 PM, Capt.Bob said:You'll never get to use that warranty by using braid, it is harmless, your just going to have to do something silly to cash in on those warranties!!
You never know when you'll need them. I do fine my self kind of clumsy after a few brewskis
Tim Hu reply :
On 7/27/2013 at 11:31 PM, BadContrakt said:....., the knot I use for braid has never let me down. It looks confusing at first but when you get the hang of the knot you can tie a new lure on in seconds. ....
Where can I learn to tie that knot? I'm only using Palomar at the moment.
Bladesmith, reply :
I have been using Power Pro since it came out 10 or 12 years ago. I use 30 or 50 lb on spinning and casting rigs. In all that time I've had no detectable damage from the line. I tried Spyderwire stealth and it's good line also except in colder weather. It holds water and will freeze up the rod guides. I haven't tried Power Pro Slick yet. As far as knots are concerned, a palomar knot works but if I have time I use one of the knots on the insert that comes in the box of line. I believe it's called an albright knot (I could be mistaken on that name).
Brian Needham reply :
On 7/27/2013 at 11:01 PM, dodgeguy said:.braid is easier to untangle a backlash
I am not so sure about that, even using the thumb trick, more than 50% of the time if I backlash braid I have to get the scissors.
WRB reply :
The easiest way I know to reduce deep backlashes is the tape method; pull off about 50-60 yards of braid from the spool, tape over the balance of spooled line with plumbers Teflon tape with a few wraps, then wind the braid back on the reel. When you backlash and you will as we all do it, the loops will be only surface, not deep and easy to pull out. Like mentioned earlier, don't start pulling out the backlash, put your thumb on the spool and reel the casted, line back on, then slowly pull offk the line until you reach where they isn't any more loops, with the tape it will not be very deep!
Be aware of tip wrapping your rod with braid, the line cut the rod tip off!
Tom
PS; Gary is very involved with his riod business and likes to help out new bass anglers. Note: eyes are called guides and today quality rods use ceramic guide rings.
Loop_Dad reply :
On 7/27/2013 at 10:50 PM, Fireguyfrank58 said:Braid is alot louder through your guides then mono or fluoro. It will sound very weird for a while till you get used to it. Check the specs on the eyes for you rod. Most of the new rods have guide inserts that prevent any damage.
In other words, older one might not have the insert? I never knew about this. I just checked my vintage Shimano rod (20+ years old). It does have gray colored insert. I started using braid last year on this and it passed the q-tip test.
I also find braid much easier to untangle after backlash. Make sure to peel the mess before yanking or reeling any more. I'm on braid for a bit over year, I don't even remember if there was a time I have to cut the line because of backlash. I use Power Pro also.
I did break my rod with braid thou. That was the line was wrapped around the tip and when I did full swing, the tip broke off. But that's really a user error. 
Tim Hu reply :
Avoiding line wrap around the tip is definitely a good tip. I just realized I've been dealing with backlashes wrong the whole time. So most of you guys reel the line back in to the reel before you start pulling?
Thanks for the tip on the eye = guide thing. I my buddy always called the guides on the rod eyes to differentiate them from the line guide on the reel. I must have picked up that habit without realizing lol
dodgeguy reply :
On 7/28/2013 at 1:08 AM, Brian Needham said:I am not so sure about that, even using the thumb trick, more than 50% of the time if I backlash braid I have to get the scissors.
i haven't had to cut a backlash out with braid in over 15 years.you are definately doing something wrong.and i've removed some really horrendous backlashes.
dodgeguy reply :
On 7/28/2013 at 12:34 AM, Bladesmith, said:I have been using Power Pro since it came out 10 or 12 years ago. I use 30 or 50 lb on spinning and casting rigs. In all that time I've had no detectable damage from the line. I tried Spyderwire stealth and it's good line also except in colder weather. It holds water and will freeze up the rod guides. I haven't tried Power Pro Slick yet. As far as knots are concerned, a palomar knot works but if I have time I use one of the knots on the insert that comes in the box of line. I believe it's called an albright knot (I could be mistaken on that name).
"In 1997, Innovative Textiles introduced PowerPro microfilament braided line made with Spectra fiber."
dodgeguy reply :
On 7/27/2013 at 11:41 PM, Tim Hu said:Where can I learn to tie that knot? I'm only using Palomar at the moment.
stick with the palomar.i have not had one fail in 20 years of using it.i glue the tag end of braid with super glue to stop it from fraying.some guys use a special burning tool to singe it together.other guys just leave it.
dodgeguy reply :
On 7/28/2013 at 3:48 AM, Tim Hu said:Avoiding line wrap around the tip is definitely a good tip. I just realized I've been dealing with backlashes wrong the whole time. So most of you guys reel the line back in to the reel before you start pulling?
Thanks for the tip on the eye = guide thing. I my buddy always called the guides on the rod eyes to differentiate them from the line guide on the reel. I must have picked up that habit without realizing lol
super slick and sufix 832 wind knot and tip wrap far less than other braids.
tomustang reply :
Line tangled on the end of the rod when casting or setting the hook are the only concerns
GeorgiaBassBros reply :
On 7/27/2013 at 11:38 PM, Tim Hu said:It is a pretty sweet set up that is for sure! I actually like the noise the braid makes when I cast, sounds to me kind of like reving a car lol. I'm definitely more comfortable throwing the braid now. The power pro was actually pretty amazing with zero memory, super sensative, and my 1 oz weight lifted right out between rocks.
we definitely dont drive the same kind of vehicles lol but i love braid, use it on all my rods
Khong reply :
On 7/27/2013 at 11:41 PM, Tim Hu said:Where can I learn to tie that knot? I'm only using Palomar at the moment.
Palomar is the best, don't switch your knot.
SirSnookalot reply :
I use an improved clinch on my braid, for saltwater I give it a second wrap and it holds like weld. They do make singeing tools but a any disposable lighter puts the same bead on it, it's S.O P. for me, works well on mono lines too.
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