Braid On Spinning Gear?

[jiggz125]

I have virtually zero experince with braided line. I have 1 baitcaster and the rest of my rigs are spinning units. I plan on using my 7' MH Vendetta/Lew's Speed Spinning reel for frogging and other bass fishing. I have really only used Berkley XT 10/12 test in the past.

 

I am wondering if braid will work for my set up; if so what lb test would you suggest and what brand? I would like to use this rig with senkos/texas rigging as well. What are the drawbacks with using braid?

 

Thanks

[new2BC4bass]

I've got 30# braid on my MH rod for worms and jigs. I don't think SirSnookalot uses anything heavier than 20# braid, and he fishes saltwater as well. I spooled 30# based on recommendations I received from people on this site.

I think you will like braid on your spinning reel a lot. Braid can still get line twist depending on the lures you are using, but it is much less likely to occur than with mono or fluoro as long as you stay away from those lures that cause bad line twist.

EDIT: I still use mono on the majority of my reels as I prefer it to braid in most instances. I can remove line twist when necessary with mono. Line twist in braid is something else. I wound up reversing my line after a day of throwing a 3/4 oz. saltwater spoon on my STX. Line twist was bad.

[5dollarsplash]

^{30#, you can go heavier, but I don't see a need.  Personally, with spinning gear I lean towards the lightest I can use without worrying about it.} 

 

^{On my own MH spinning outfit for t-rigs I use 20#, but I don't frog with it.  Brand is up to you, Power Pro or Suffix are what I use.}

[SirSnookalot]

I do have 30# braid on 3 spinning outfits, 2 used strictly offshore and 1 inshore.  I normally do use 15 and 20# but the capacity of the reel (280 yds of 30) seemed like a better fit.  In freshwater I'm using 10# and 12# braid, forget the name of the line we got free and I haven't taken it off yet, when I do I'll go with 15#.

 

I don't own a spinning reel without line twist on the braid, flukes rotate and spoons can spin too, my leaders all have bb swivels and many of spoons I've added a swivel as well.  Don't ever troll with braid and a spoon, I wasted 300 yds in about 5 minutes once using a drone spoon, lol.  I'm not using spoons quite as much as I've gone to using a jig fish aka sling jig, butterfly type, jigging spoon and dozen other names for the same basic thing.  A slender but heavy for it's length with 1 treble on the rear, they wobble back and forth and really help in reduction of line twist, have yet to use a lure that comes close to them in casting distance, and fish love them, albeit I've never used one in freshwater.

[Felix77]

I use 10lb PowerPro on all my spinning gear.  I add a FC leader.  I find this combo works best for all my spinning needs.

[jiggz125]

I use 10lb PowerPro on all my spinning gear.  I add a FC leader.  I find this combo works best for all my spinning needs.

How exactly does the flourocarbon leader work and why is it necessary? In reading other threads on briad I see alot of people use the FC leaders. Again, I am a novice to all of this, recently switched from pan fishing to bass fishing this summer.

[jiggz125]

On a side note, my Lew's came with a braid spool; would I need to use a mono backing? Its rated for 20/30/40 lb test.

[AK-Jax86]

I use 30# power pro on my spinning Pfleuger Patriarch and on my Abu Garcia Orra works just fine. My only problem with the Abu is the spool is shallow so if I happen to get snagged and need to cut I soon have to replace the braid because it's too short.

One time I didn't realize that it was that low I was using a Bass Pro boss shad and I casted it out hard and the line flew off the spool lol

[jignfule]

People use f/c leader because it is believed to be less visible to the fish, Mono backing is used as a filler. That way you use less of the more expensive braid. IMO the # test of the mono filler matters little as I have never come close to reaching the mono when I cast.

[new2BC4bass]

 

On a side note, my Lew's came with a braid spool; would I need to use a mono backing? Its rated for 20/30/40 lb test.

 

No.

[new2BC4bass]

On a side note, my Lew's came with a braid spool; would I need to use a mono backing? Its rated for 20/30/40 lb test.

No.

[Arv]

10-30# braid. I like power pro and suffix 832. Imo there aren't any major drawbacks. You have the option of tying on a leader, which I like, but not everyone does.

[michang5]

I use 20# PowerPro Super 8 Slick (yellow) on my Shimano Sedona 2500 spinning reel. I back it with some cheap mono I just had sitting around the house. Only reason I did this was so I could stretch one box of PP to last multiple spoolings.

I use the 20# so I could match it with a 12# Invizx fluoro leader. It's a tiny bit better match in line diameter.

Definitely use a quality swivel for flukes and inline spinners. I use Spro brand in a medium size (80# I think). I used a tiny, low quality one awhile back and it didn't really do anything to miminize twist.

This setup has served me very well. Good luck!

[skeletor6]

I have virtually zero experince with braided line. I have 1 baitcaster and the rest of my rigs are spinning units. I plan on using my 7' MH Vendetta/Lew's Speed Spinning reel for frogging and other bass fishing. I have really only used Berkley XT 10/12 test in the past.

 

I am wondering if braid will work for my set up; if so what lb test would you suggest and what brand? I would like to use this rig with senkos/texas rigging as well. What are the drawbacks with using braid?

 

Thanks

 

Visibility, Wind Knots, Wind Blowing the Line Around, Drag under water affecting bouyancy and action of certain baits, Belly causing slack line and lack of slack line sensitivity. Senko and Texas rig presentations are prone to slack line, and often are bit during these times. I prefer a quality Fluorocarbon for the purpose. 

[jiggz125]

Visibility, Wind Knots, Wind Blowing the Line Around, Drag under water affecting bouyancy and action of certain baits, Belly causing slack line and lack of slack line sensitivity. Senko and Texas rig presentations are prone to slack line, and often are bit during these times. I prefer a quality Fluorocarbon for the purpose. 

I am assuming Flouro is stronger than Mono yet weaker than braid? Upsides of flouro over mono?

[MCS]

I am assuming Flouro is stronger than Mono yet weaker than braid? Upsides of flouro over mono?

 

I used mono 95% of the time, my first experiences with braid were bad. I finally got some good like and I respect it. It is not anything more special than mono, there are pros and cons in defferent areas to each line. I still tend to favor mono, because it is cheap and forgiving, spooling up a couple times a year is no biggy to me. Flouro on spinning tends to have a lot of memory and coils.....If it were me, I might look into a hybrid co polymer type line like yozuri. It is sorta the best of mono and flouro.....low vis, low stretch,improved strength but managable on a spinning reel

[olegs]

I use 10-15 lb. braid PP or Sufix with FC leader on my spinning rods.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Each line type has applications where it shines over the others. Fluoro isn't necessarily stronger than mono. Fluoro is intended to be less visible but there is not 100% agreement on the importance of that. I like it as a leader for abrasion resistance. Zebra mussel beds can shred braid quickly. As for visibility to fish I don't pay it much mind and tie direct unless the water is gin clear. Even then line diameter gets downsized before changing material. I might use a mono leader for a top water bait as it floats as does braid but it's stiffer and not as likely to foul the hooks. I like 20# Hi-Vis braid so I can see it with a leader in certain circumstances. You don't need backing on a braid ready spool for it to work, but backing and two casts worth of main line is more economical.

[Smokinal]

Drawbacks to braid? I guess I can think of a few...you cut your hands testing your knot because it doesn't break, it lasts for years and years so you don't have that fun of replacing your line every 3 months, when you hook a bass in grass it cuts the grass instead of tangling in it so you may leave floating vegetation, it has zero memory so you will not have those cute coils draping down from your rod tip, because of this no memory thing it floats off the spool and through the guides increasing casting distance so you may hit trees every now and then, you will no longer have that heart pumping fear of a breakoff when fighting a bass...geeze, there has to be more, I'm just tired from a long day.

OK, that's enough. Seriously though, there are only 2 drawback (real ones now) that I can think of and one is its visibility and the other is it has no abrasion resistance to rock or shell. And a fluoro leader takes care of both of those. You may have guessed I'm a huge fan of braid, have tried many and my favorite is Power Pro Super Slick. Stuff is amazing.

And I use a blood knot to connect.

found here:

http://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php?Categ=home&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

[skeletor6]

I am assuming Flouro is stronger than Mono yet weaker than braid? Upsides of flouro over mono?

It depends on the FC being used. A line like Seaguar Tatsu is smaller and more consistent in line diameters in lines with similar breaking strength rating. Also, its stated value is a few pounds under its actual breaking.

I don't feel there is a real advantage over mono if using a cheap FC. However, quality FC is high in density, more abrasion resistance. Does not absorb water. Very belly resistant for more natural presentations. Is undoubtedly more sensitive and slack line sensitivity is the best of all line types. Furthermore, its refractive index is close to water making its visibility lower. Its high density also leads to less drag in the water.

Mono is more cost effective and great for topwater presentations and also good for jerkbaits. That or a lower density resin FC that some pros are switching to. Basically, for the jerkbait to suspend.

[Darren.]

Braid is, IMHO, by far the best line I've ever used on spinning gear. It simply manages better through and through.

 

I always tie on a leader, here's why:

 

1) Saves cutting braid mainline for retying lures (I cut and retie until I need a new leader, so that's quite a few times before cutting a portion of the braid).

 

2) See number 1

 

3) It can help with certain lure presentations if you need some shock/stretchiness/abrasion resistance from mono/copoly/fluoro

 

4) See 1-3

 

I don't mean to be snarky, I just think using braid has immensely helped my spinning setups. Problems, as stated before, there can be wind knots, and other inexplicable knots that defy logic, physics, and all science. But for me, the pros far outweigh the cons.

 

Now as to how heavy you need to go: ALL my spinning gear has 10 pound Power Pro which is 2 pound diameter equiv of mono. 10 pound braid is VERY strong. I caught my PB of 7.5 lbs in thick salad on 10 lb braid + a 10 lb copoly leader (though baitcast). The 6.6 lber in my avatar was on a spinning setup with 10lb PP + 10lb leader in sunken stumps and bushes.

 

Braid + leader can be super-versatile and cost saving. Just my humble .02.

[SirSnookalot]

I like braid and for me the positives outweigh the negatives.  I fish for some of the most line shy fish around, I do not catch anymore with a f/c leader (I always use a leader) than I do with a mono leader.  Been stated many times people catching bass with braid using no leader.  I don't need to see my line and do a lot of fishing in the dark where I couldn't see it anyway.  Braid is the equalizer when it comes to sensitivity, even when I have a bow in my line, keeping your rod lower to the water is going to reduce the bow.

[LMB ANGLER]

you can use any pound line on your spinning reel, i have 65 pound braid and 80 pound braid on my frog and flippin spinning rod.

[Jolly Green]

I use 20# Power Pro on my spinning reel tied with an Alberto knot to a fluoro leader for abrasion resistance.  Wind knots do happen but they can be undone and I find that overall line management on spinning gear is easiest with braid. I fish flukes and and the like with this setup and while it's true that using all fluoro will give you better sensitivity, especially in a slack line, I think the delivery of the hookset for such baits is best done by braid.  

 

I don't do any frogging but if I did, especially around lily pads and other thick stuff, I would undoubtedly use braid if only for its vegetation-mowing properties.  

[Capt.Bob]

I would never think of using anything but braid on any rod. After 35 years of fishing every mono made and knowing all it's shortcomings made braid a no brainer for me. Then the last decade or so after 20 years of seeing all the benefits of braid and the flexibility using mono or fluorocarbon leaders, I have been able to tune any outfit I own to perfection for any species or tactic I use to catch them. You will never loose any braid unless you trim it and will last multiple years once you learn how to rig it. I usually respool reels no more often than every two to four years using braid the way I rig it. Blugill to Muskie 5 to 30 lbs test, and on baitcasters 20 to 65 lbs test does it all for me!!