Mono Or Braided Line? Or Both?

[CountBassula]

Wanted to ask what most of you guys use on your spinning reels vs casting reels. I use 10lbs braided line with 2-3ft of 8lbs mono leader. This however get's to be a pain in the buns, because after changing hooks couple of times the leader becomes to short, and I have to retie it. Now, I haven't seen a single person on this forum post a pic or even mention braided line, nor do I ever see it when watching Fishing TV, so I wonder if it's just some gimmick invented to part a fool such as my self with his money?!?

 

Should I not bother with braided and just use mono all the way? Though the reason I picked braided was because I've heard that it has no memory, can stay on a spool longer without becoming a mess, and apparently you feel strikes better and hook sets are better because the braided line does not give (which is why you see me sweating about harder rods and not harming the fish in every other post that I make around here). All those things sound great to me, but I wonder what more experienced anglers have to say about it.

 

Please advise!

[CountBassula]

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/braided_mono.html

 

LOL, ok let me read that first. But I still would like to hear YOUR opinion!

[LgMouthGambler]

On my spinning rig I use 30# braid with a 12# YoZuri leader. I make the leader about 12-15". Retie is no issue, only takes a minute.

[Dwight Hottle]

I use braid all the time. Here in Florida there are many moving baits techniques that allow to use straight braid. If the water is tannic or cloudy you can use strait braid as well. For clear water I use braid & a mono leader but I tie longer leaders up to  the length of the rod keeping the knot just off of the spool

[MCS]

I use 8 and 10 pound mono on my two main rods and I have an extra spool with 20# braid with a 5' - 10# mono leader. I am contemplating getting another braid spool going for my main rod because of all the "benefits" you mentioned and trying to go no or a short leader. But I agree with you on short leaders suck but I also think straight braid sucks at least in my experience. But I think this time I will step it up to some higher quality like the 832. But mono works, it gets the job done at the end of the day.

 

How long is too long of a leader before the sensitivity and hook set/stretch of the mono negate any gained from the braid?

[Teal]

I use 10 and 30 # braid with 6 and 8 fluoro. I use about 5 ft of leader tho. (a goal is to keep the knot out of the reel) the time it takes to retie some times is worth the sensitivity, low stretch, and abrasion resisitance that you gain from braid.

[Darren.]

10lb braid on spinning gear, leaders of varying composition (copoly, fluoro) in varying pound test and varying lengths.

 

Sky's the limit when you add a leader. The braid (I use yellow Power Pro) is great to watch as it lays on the surface while your worm sinks. I can see the slightest twitches and reel down and set the hook. Braid adds to sensitivity for certain. I love it.

 

Braid is better for managing line on a spinning reel. No memory to speak of, while fluoro, mono, copoly can often retain memory of the spool and coil off. Line spray will help that, but there's no need with braid.

 

Regarding retying hooks, leaders, once you get proficient at tying new leaders on, you will not mind it so much. Might I suggest you learn the reverse Albright (or variant thereof) and practice it. It is quick to tie, a super tiny knot that doesn't hang up in the guides, and it's strong.

 

Whether you spool with mono or other, you'll still have to retie hooks and eventually eat away at your spool, meaning you have to respool more often. Changing out a leader is more cost effective, IMO.

 

You can also pre-tie leaders/hooks and put them in zip-lock bags. Sharpie the line/test and hook/size on the bag. This can save some time, too.

[LgMouthGambler]

I use braid all the time. Here in Florida there are many moving baits techniques that allow to use straight braid. If the water is tannic or cloudy you can use strait braid as well. For clear water I use braid & a mono leader but I tie longer leaders up to  the length of the rod keeping the knot just off of the spool

Here in Florida? Are you having an out of body experience? Lol.

[new2BC4bass]

Here in Florida? Are you having an out of body experience? Lol.

 

Dwight is about 2 months younger than me.  Maybe he took an early retirement, and hasn't changed his profile yet.  Luck dog if so. 

[new2BC4bass]

As far as braid and mono, I have braid on 2 of my spinning outfits.  30# on a MH per suggestions here, and 10# 832 on a Light.  Other 2 spinning reels carry 8# mono.  I haven't as yet used a leader with either of these, but after reading about the effects of braid on a crankbait, I may have to try a mono leader on the 10# rod.

 

Currently only 2 of my baitcasters carry braid.  Both are used for throwing into slop.  Otherwise mono carries the day.  Have fluorocarbon on just one rod at the moment.  Oops, forgot one of my latest acquisitions last year.  Will be trying 20# braid on it instead of the 65# that came on it since it is designed for braid.

[deep]

First off, why are you tying such a short leader if the length becomes an issue later in the day? I have a 7-8 feet leader (depending on the length of the rod). I want the leader to be as long as possible, without the connecting knot getting into the reel.

 

 

**Now, I haven't seen a single person on this forum post a pic or even mention braided line, nor do I ever see it when watching Fishing TV,**

 

I'd look one more time...

 

**Though the reason I picked braided was because I've heard that it has no memory, can stay on a spool longer without becoming a mess, and apparently you feel strikes better and hook sets are better because the braided line does not give**

 

You are indeed correct!

[Dwight Hottle]

Here in Florida? Are you having an out of body experience? Lol.

 

 

Out of body experience, could be. Just because I call Erie PA my home doesn't mean I can't have a home in Fl too. Best of both worlds if your wife hates the cold & snow.

[LgMouthGambler]

Out of body experience, could be. Just because I call Erie PA my home doesn't mean I can't have a home in Fl too. Best of both worlds if your wife hates the cold & snow.

Nice. Where at?

[ClackerBuzz]

x2's deep.  you have the right set up but you need a longer leader. i don't mind my connection knot going into my reel as long as its small to medium=20-30lb braid to 15lb or less mono/fluro is fine. (65lb braid to 17lb fluoro connection= sucks coming thru ur guides let alone worm hole).

tons of guys on here are braid to leader (spinning and bc).  i went from all mono bc to braid/leader a few years ago and have never been happier.  skipped 100% fluoro b/c braid lasts longer, is cheaper, and holds up much better in a backlash.  2yrs ago i went from a braid/mono leader to a braid/fluoro leader.  this season i'm switching back to a braid/mono and/or braid/hybrid leader (yo zuri).  reason being i had 4-6lb fluoro  break at my palamor knot a few times while small stream fishing.   ive been tying knots for years and am very meticulous.  tying knots with light fluoro line exposed its weakness to me....its too brittle. i don't want that kind of weak link in my system. luckily i haven't lost any big fish to a braid/fluoro connection or fluoro terminal knot but i don't want too. (mono or hybrid connection knots are much easier to cinch down and they don't 'burn' near as easily).  braid to fluoro has a tendency to slip in a bloodknot. an alberto connection knot works much better for braid/fluoro.  either knot works well for braid to mono/hybrid connection). i'm looking forward to tying a jig on the end of mono or hybrid again with all the sensitivity, strength and non-stretch of braid behind it. 

another great benefits of braid to leader is that you can put a much lighter or heaver leader on depending on the circumstance ie cover (just try to stay within ur rods recommended power).  it allows me to turn 6 rods into 12+.  if i move from the lily pads to deep open water...i just tie on a lighter lb leader.  let us know how you make out

[Dwight Hottle]

Nice. Where at?

 

Palm Beach Gardens.

[B@ssCrzy]

I agree with pretty much what everyone else has said.  Love braid on my spinning reels and bait-casters.  Use a mono leader on both and make it as long as I can without the knot getting onto the reel.  Although I still like straight mono on my bait-caster for my treble hook baits because of the added stretch. 

[SirSnookalot]

I only fish spinning and braid with a leader (with a couple of exceptions that don't apply).  10-15# in fresh water with a slightly heavier leader so I can hoist them from hi banked canals, about 20" and I'll use a duolock, no retieing. Swivel or knot, your choice, I don't like a knot going thru my guides.

[SudburyBasser]

Braid on spinning gear all the time and no leader. Never noticed a difference in hook-up when I did use leaders so now I save myself the aggravation.

[nascar2428]

Using straight braid on topwater, braid with 3ft flouro leader for the rest of my limited setups. Using less drag on reels and one step down on rod recommendations gives me the stretch affect of mono or co-poly with the added savings of using braid for more than one season.

[hatrix]

The only lines I really use a power pro and yo-zuri. It depends on the application but the braid gets the most action. Usually with a leader on the braid 6' or longer depending on the rod. You should get many re ties before you need a new leader.