My Observation From Fishing This Weekend (Line Options)

[WiregrassRiverRat]

So I decided to give braid to flouro a shot with fishing jigs.. and I will say.. good braid is sooo forgiving on casts.. either that or my flouro is super unforgiving.. I could TRY to backlash the braid and it just wont do it. and I can side arm cast and splash that jig under docks and no overspool. while my t-rig setup still has the flouro I could not be nearly as aggressive or get near the performance.. is it that way for everyone.. is it possible that my t-rig reel is not setup well.. (they are both speed spools) I just really could tell a huge difference in the two when it came to control..

 

What are your opinions and findings in this area?

[gripnrip]

Braid has no memory.  Flouro does.  What type of braid are you using? Have you tried the KVD line conditioner? 

[Tywithay]

Fluoro is heavier than braid. You have to use more braking to slow it down.

[John G]

I found out the same thing two weekends ago. I found out that I had to slow my reel waaaaaaaaay down when throwing an unweighted Senko on a heavy/fast rod and 15# Tatsu.

[TorqueConverter]

So I decided to give braid to flouro a shot with fishing jigs.. and I will say.. good braid is sooo forgiving on casts.. either that or my flouro is super unforgiving.. I could TRY to backlash the braid and it just wont do it. and I can side arm cast and splash that jig under docks and no overspool. while my t-rig setup still has the flouro I could not be nearly as aggressive or get near the performance.. is it that way for everyone.. is it possible that my t-rig reel is not setup well.. (they are both speed spools) I just really could tell a huge difference in the two when it came to control..

 

What are your opinions and findings in this area?

 

Welcome to the braid mustard race.  Braid is the smoothest, most power per diameter line on planet earth.  Fluorocarbon is some of the worst casting plastic line out there.  I love the stuff but it is exceptionally poor casting when compared to good mono let alone a good braid.

 

I deep crank with #30 braid for it's cast-ability and diameter.  I frog with it as well for much the same reasons.  My jig rod has #17 fluro on it for abrasion resistance and low vis (vs braid because it's clear, or at least see-through).

 

If you haven't tried an 8 strand braid I highly recommend you try some. I recommend 832.

 

Fluoro is heavier than braid. You have to use more braking to slow it down.

 

This is the 1st time I've heard this.  It made me double post and all.  Tell me more.  There's a lot of bizarre claims made about 100% fluorocarbon line ranging from invisibility, makes cranks dive deeper than rated to burning knots when tying. While all of this can be tossed out the window as bogus claims, this claim is interesting as it is 1st I've heard of it, yet it sounds unbelievable.

 

Are we sure it's just not the terrible manageability of the line that requires a higher spool tension and/or centrifugal braking to keep it under control?  The line being heavier and needing more braking sounds, on the surface, like many of the other fluorocarbon myths.

[new2BC4bass]

TC, I'm a little skeptic of Tywithay's comment as well.  Not that braid is lighter than fluoro, but that that extra weight is causing the problem.  I always thought it was the weight of the lure that pulled the line out.  I can believe that a heavier spool will take longer to stop than a light spool, but enough to cause that much difference?  More than likely it is fluoro's tendency to 'spring' off the spool.

 

I know it isn't apples to apples, but last year I was using light braid on a baitcaster and a 7' MF rod.  Big problems with backlashing.  Respooled with 17# mono and mounted on a 6'10" HF.  That reel then cast like a champ with no backlashes.  In some cases I think it is a matter of balancing your gear...the right reel on the right rod throwing the right weights with the right line.  I feel reasonably certain that a heavier braid on that reel would also work on the rod the reel is now on as long as I stay within the correct weight range..  Although some throw light lures with that model reel, my casting expertise may not be up to the task yet. 

[Hogsticker]

A heavier line like fluoro will make the spool spin faster. Couple that with a line that has poor manageability, you have to compensate. Fluoro and braid of equal diameter the fluoro will weigh more. The spool speed isn't a huge factor, but it does make a difference.

[Zach Dunham]

You just have to cast differently with different lines and lures. Change the settings on the reel you are using if needed. But as other said, in general you have to use a bit more pressure with fluorocarbon. I rarely backlash any of my reels and the only time it does happen is when throwing something really light (like a weightless senko), but even then it is rare.