What Features Should A Reel Have To Use Braid

[I-wanna-fish-now]

I'm looking for a new reel to use braid on so

I can use for froggin heavy pads and grass I've only used braid on one of my bass set-ups before and the braid wore a groove in my guide (I don't have this reel anymore) what should I look for when choosing a reel to use braid on

[John G]

An aluminum frame and a titanium line guide. Just my 2cents

[LgMouthGambler]

Pretty much most of the newer reels that are priced over $100 are able to handle braid. Stay away from cheap reels. Most reels now come with a titanium or alum oxide guide, aluminum spool, and metal frames.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

^^^ Any of the mid range quality reels will handle braid. All you need is a quality reel, nothing special.

[SirSnookalot]

Any reel I have ever owned, cheap and expensive have handled braid with never a problem.

[.ghoti.]

Were I to design a reel specifically for braid, the first thing I would specify would be a higher speed worm gear, designed to lay the line on the spool so it crossed over itself instead of laying on in parallel. This would prevent line digging, a common problem when using small diameter braid on a baitcaster.

I know Daiwa makes, or made, a PE Special Zillion that does just this. It's a Japanese market only reel and is ridiculously over-priced. Their discontinued TD-X also had a higher speed worm gear.

There may be others I'm unaware of. I don't use braid, and haven't spent any time looking for a reel with this characteristic.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

When Spider Wire was really catching on they sold a reel with something similar. I think they called X-wrap or some such thing. With the rounder, smoother braid now days digging is much less of a problem. Modern braid is also much less abrasive than its predecessors.

[LgMouthGambler]

Also, if you use a thicker diameter braid, it helps with control and it doesnt dig as much. For instance, 65# Spiderwire is a 12# dia, vs 30# which is 6# dia. Thicker is easier to manage. If your gonna fish 6# dia, might as well use a spinning rod. And for DVT, it was Cross Web Technology, I have an original Mitchell sc30 Spidercast, loved them back in the day.