Mostly I am very cheap!! and nothing is cheaper to use!! FACT!
I have seen a lot of people use superlines like mono, and get upset with it's performance, and not know why they are having trouble and others aren't. So after 20 or so years of using it, I am going to try to state how and why I use NOTHING ELSE. I am trying to give some idea of what to start with if you are new to SUPERLINES. I am not posting this for those who have experience with these lines and understand the differences, but there are a lot of post that show many new users to Braid and Synthetics try and match or compare 8 Lbs. tes mono to 8 Lbs. test Braid. and that is not reasonable. it is far beter to compare each using the same diameter of both for a better understanding with less problems.
First I will explain I have used Fireline since it was introduced, I was a guide on Lake Erie running my own Charter for the past 20 years. I now prefer Power Pro or the new Fireline Braid and these are all I use now, I have tried some others but I prefer these for all my fishing needs.
The first thing I have seen some new users to Braid and other synthetic superlines do is tie it directly to the spool. You have to put a few rap's of mono or Fluoro on the spool and then tie to that, with the Synthetics, if you don't, you will probably have a problem with the whole spool of line slipping on your spool, when applying pressure, this will be more noticeable with the lesser amount of line you have on the spool. The Mono will allow it to grip to the spool and let your drag determine how much pressure you can apply and still reel in line.
Then I have seen the use of "to light of line being used" to light of line will cause wind knots, and winding problems, just like using to thin of mono on different reels. If you are spooling a Baitcaster with 8 Lbs. test mono, you need to use a line with a diameter that is the same as you would have to use with mono. If you use 30 Lbs. test Braid with 8 Lbs test mono diameter, you wont have the casting problems and the line digging into itself like small diameter mono does, but you will have better handling line that doesn't dig into your Bass size baitcaster, it won't give the wind knots the thinner braid will, and will be longer casting and better handling than mono and fluoro of the same diameter, because it won't absorb water, it won't have a memory causing those annoying coils, it will not strech like a rubber band, and will give you better feel than any other single component in your outfit.
I think you would have as much of an increase in feel, using a cheap rod with Braid as you would a Croix Legend and mono, or very close and for 100's of dollars less. On spinning gear you can get by with much lighter line, but if 2 or 4 Lbs. test mono is hard to control in the wind for you, so will 6 or 10 pound test Braid, because it as small in diameter and even limper in body. So I go with 6 Lbs. test on my 1000 size ultra lights which is 2 Lbs. diameter and can be frustrating in the wind, just like 2 Lbs. test mono, and 15 Lbs. test on my 2500 size Bass and Walleye spinning rig's as limp as 6 Lbs. test or limper. I use leaders to determine the style of attack I will go with, (I will explain in a moment).
The other big thing I here others say is they don't like the way it will spook fish, I DON"T EITHER. Myself and others who have refined the use of these lines and always use a leader. I have seen many use a swivel to the mainline and then tie a short Fluor or mono leader on, and use it that way, I don't like this, it will work for a Carolina Rig, but I prefer a 10 to 12 foot leader, joined to the mainline with a blood knot. I will use up to 12 or 15 Lbs test mono, on my bass rigs and never break my Braid. The Braid does not have the weakening at the knot that the Mono and Fluorocarbon does. So now I have the ability to change 10 or 12 foot of line and match the tactic I am going to use. I can put a 12 foot Fluoro leader of 6 Lbs. test and work the slowest fineness rigs in the clearest water, or 12 lbs. test 12 foot leader, and Carolina rig around light cover. On my baitcaster I can go from 8 Lbs to 25 Lbs test Fluoro or mono leaders for different tactics, and fish Texas rigs in light cover with the 8 Lbs test. and then fish crankbaits to Flipping heavy cover and timber with the same 30 Lbs test mainline, but have the dexterity that 8 Lbs test mono has or lighter but use the 12 to 25 Lbs. test Mono or Fluoro leaders for the heavier cover and areas with timber! And so much more feel and sensitivity that it can't be explained, you have to feel it.
Some things I have heard non believers of Braid say are, it will cut my valuable guides? it has no streach, I need forgiveness? I have used this stuff like I said for nearly 20 years, BPS. Extreme rods and Bionic Blade rods were what I supplied to my clients, and with 14 Lbs. test fireline Chrystal, 4 years was the average life span of the line once put on one of those reels, and the rods were used for over 15 years on all of them unless a client did something to break it, I never had an eye cut with line, I had eyes broke from hitting some thing or another kind of impact, but never cut from line. I personally own and fish no less than 7 Avids and 6 Legends, I have never had one eye damaged or replaced using fused or braided line.
My answer to no stretch, THANK GOD!! I love the ability to take instant control of any situation. I like others want a little forgiveness when throwing cranks and spinners, I have found that using one power lighter (M, instead of MH, or MH, instead of H) and going to a moderate action will give me a better hookup ratio than the hookup ratio I had in the years past with mono.
Probably the single biggest gain using Braid in any situation would be in the river. I fish the largest tributary to Lake Erie a lot. The Maumee River, it is very rocky from cracks in flat limestone bottom to boulders and rocky spawning areas. I went back to a rod with mono and was not at all happy. I found in the fast water and rocky boulder littered bottom, when you felt a snag or catch, by the time you jerked far enough to get the stretch and bow out of the line the hook or lure was dug in and now it usually meant breaking off, loosing your line and wasting time retying. With the Braids a simple flip of the wrist is all it takes to clear the obstruction and allowing the lure to continue down stream in the current, most of the time. There are still times you will loose a lure, but they are drastically reduced, and very seldom, if you watch the condition of your leader, will you loose a lure or break off.
So hear is what I do. I use 6 wraps or more of mono to terminate to my spool. I then tie my Braid ( or synthetic line ) directly to the mono with a blood knot and fill to full cappacity.
I use the same diameter line in Braid to match the same diameter I would use if using mono. If you like 8 Lbs. test mono on your spinning reel, use 20 pound test Braid, if you normally use 12 Lbs. test mono on your level wind reel, when using Braid I would use 30 or 45 Lbs. test. In other words match the diameter of the mono you are use to using, by buying the same diameter in Braid, the braid will be much higher Lbs. test, but will be as limp and cut the water very closely to what you are use to with the same diameter mono you have used for years, but will last 10's of time longer and give unbelievable response and sensitivity.
Now where savings really mount up. When I used Mono a lot of my reels would not make a full season on a full spool of line. I would either loose to much on snags break offs and reties. Sometimes the line was just weathered out and not up to the task anymore or to much memory and coils made it a hassle to use. None of these things pertain to Braid and Synthetics, they have no memory, and stay limp for life. reties are done with the leader many times on one leader, there is no weather condition to deteriorate Synthetics, even UV doesn't efect there chemistry. So now I have to maybe cut a little off from time to time when it gets a little ragged, I usually can get by with adding a little backing the first year, and then after two years I turn it around on the spool and I add the backing requiered to have a full spool when finished even if I add 40 yards of backing after 2 years my lews with 20 lbs. test power pro super slick will have over 100 yards of Braid on it and at least 150 feet that is virgin. Know since there is no memory it is Brand new and acts just like brand new line so for about $5.00 a year I have the best line available, and all I am doing is changing a leader now and then.
There will always be those that disagree, but this is the system I have developed for the past 15 or twenty years and it has served me and my clients well. Like I say I am a Tight @xx (cheap), and this is the cut I have made in my fishing cost with terminal tackle, you simply can't fish mono or the new expensive Fluorocarbons any cheaper. and I feel by using my leader system, I am as stealthy as the users of Fluoro, and gain even more benefits from the best of both of these types of line. the one thing I didn't mention is the leader It cast thru the rod without issue and I can retie many times on the 10 or 12 foot leader before I need to cut it and start with a new one. I let water clarity determine how long it has to be to stay stealthy, if I think it is going to be to short and spook fish. It is time for a new one.
