Finesse Fishing And Braided Line

[jay-b]

So I keep reading articles on fineness fishing since its that time of the year (winter) and articles keep saying to use fluorocarbon my question is why not just use braided line?

[BrianinMD]

Line visibility if finesse fishing in clearer water is an issue with straight braid. A lot of guys will use braid with a fluro leader. I prefer just straight fluro myself.

[Rumslo]

My choice of line, or line and leader, depends on the cover I'm fishing. Though I prefer fluoro alone, I will use braid w/fluoro leader in heavy cover.

[Arv]

I go straigth FC as well. I've heard of a lot of guys using braid + leader though. If you can, try out both and see which you prefer.

[kickerfish1]

Good quality floro only. No braid for finesse fishing for this guy.

[Darren.]

Not sure braid-only is an issue in muddy water; however, I always use a leader where I fish, which is in greenish-clear-ish water.

I have fluoro, but prefer using either P-Line Floroclear or Yo-Zuri Hybrid leaders with braid as a mainline for management issues. I'm currently downsizing leader size to 6 lb for my spinning gear. Throwing 10lb on my baitcasting gear, but likely downsizing to 8 there.

Just find the downsizing lends to a better fall/winter bite for me. Your mileage may vary...

[Raul]

Braided line isn´t the "Jack of all trades" many think, the thinner you go the more fragile it gets, braided doesn´t resist well when rubbed against sharp objects like chunk rock. So finnesing with braided line is a very tricky business. Let me putr you this example, there´s a lake about 4 hour drive from my home called Zimapán, beautiful place to fish, bass are abundant, the lake has earned a reputation between anglers to the point where guys from Mexico´s northern states come down here to give it a try, here they come armed with what´s normal gear for the lakes they fish: pool cue hard fishing rods, BC gear with the drag tightened all the way down and rope wide braided line just to find out that it can´t take being rubbed against the chunk rock bottom that forms the lake, and what comes more like a surprise to them is that we guys who frequently fish the lake use 6-8 lb FC or copoly.

As in everything in this sport, you adapt your gear to what works better in the conditions of cover ( density & type ) and bottom composition.

[NitroZ9]

I finesse fish a lot in clear water and have been using braid w/ a flouro. leader for quite a few years. I use it for shakey head and dropshot. The main reason I use braid is because it solves the manageability issues of using straight flouro., mono, etc. As you know, when using a spinning reel, you get a lot of line twist, coiling, etc. You don't have that with braid. I would never go back to straight flouro. or mono. If you do decide to use straight flouro., I would highly recommend keeping it coated with KVD Line & Lure Conditioner. It really helps to soften the line and eliminate the manageability issues. I use it with my braid/flouro. combo because it helps soften the braid, too.

[Silas]

Since I do 95% of my fishing, regular or finesse, with baitcasting gear, I haven't really had line twist issues with any line.

I started using braid a couple of years ago: Power Pro, Spiderwire, Seaguar, Berkely Fireline, Sufix 832....and a few more. Used it with some kind of leader, mostly flouro or Yozuri. Had good luck with it casting regular sized baits with medium and medium heavy rods along with a bunch of pretty good reels: Calcutta 100, 200GTB, Lews, Pflueger, Shimano Curado 200s, Worked very well.

But....when I started using light, medium light, and medium rods paired with Curado 50E, Daiwa Sol, Pixies, Scorpion, Curado 100D......well, all those set ups seemed to be "not quite as efficent" in casting as with the straight fluoro. I wanted to really like the Daiwa Sol spooled with the Fireline Tracer Braid plus fluoro leader.....but after I respooled it with straight fluoro (Biwako 8# Prof. Guide) I found that I cast more accurately and had fewer "issues."

For me, for finesse bait casting, I find I much prefer the flurocarbon or Yozuri than the braid. And....I don't fish clear water.....no clear, deep lakes...just semi muddy bayous with lots of snags and hang ups. The cost is I've lost a few baits, when I got hung up.....but....I've lost the same few when the fluoro leader broke. Not enough to be really concerned.

I'm still going to experiment. I have NOT used 100% braid on my finesse reels. Perhaps I should try that.....on a crankbait or spinner bait set up. THAT might work very well. But as I do a lot of plastic fishing, I prefer the sensitivity of the line on those bites.

Maybe I just haven't found the correct "formula. My latest "experiment" will be with the Tasline 12# from Australia.....stuff was $44 for a 200 yard spool. Gonna put that on a DVT upgraded Red Airy Pixy that Mike is sending me (thanks, Mike!) and see if that one is the "magic braid" I've been looking for.

So far, with braid (with finesse).....lots of sizzle, and not quite enough "steak".

[jay-b]

thanks all for the info, i thought braid would be stronger against abrasive stuff like rocks? looks like i mite have to get another rod and reel with fluorocarbon, will cheap rod and reel combos do? like the ones the bass pro shops house combo for $39.99

[kickerfish1]

A combo for $40 is exactly that. It is not going to be good for a quality fishing outfit. It would get you by for general fishing but not as a finesse fishing outfit. The amount of feel will be very poor and the components used in the rod and reel more than likely will not last very long... maybe just a season. If you don't have a huge budget for one I would suggest buying used or waiting for good deals around the holidays.

[alexczarn]

Braid with a flouro leader.

[fishking247]

I use mono for all finesse tactics. i find no reason for braid plust most of my finesse techniques are in cold weather/water and braid does not handle freezing temps well

[The Next KVD]

My issue with braid for any type of typical "Deep" water fishing is the line floats whereas the flouro sinks and has less of bow in the water from the surface of the water to the lure itself. This easily means I'll feel more subtle bites. Braid may be the king of sensititivy but not when there is a bow or any slack in the line.

As far as a setup, I'd go with something atleast midgrade wise in that $80-100 rod range and just about any spinning reel over $50 if you don't plan on fishing finesse stuff alot. A spool of 8lb P-Line 100% fluoro and your ready to go.

[bassguytom]

I use mono for all finesse tactics. i find no reason for braid plust most of my finesse techniques are in cold weather/water and braid does not handle freezing temps well

I use braid/floro combo until the temps are freezing then go to straight flourocarbon. I like the feel of braid when drop shotting.