30Lb Braid Woes...

[flyingmonkie]

I've read so many of you have good luck using 30lb braid on your cranking rods.  I've been giving 30lb Power Pro a shot the past month or so and I keep snapping the dang line! I had the same issues a couple years back, but I just figured it was because poor quality braid.  

 

It happens when I'm casting a heavier lure and the spool locks-up (line digging into itself).  I have fouro backing under it (it was used, off another reel)... I'm thinking a switch to mono backer will help with the line digging problem.  But regardless, I had the line snap twice today!  It's not at the knot... seems to be happening about midway between my rod and where the lure is at the time of the breakage.  I'm confident I can get the line to stop digging, but I'm not confident in the braid now!  Anybody else have this problem?

[stk]

Hmm, I haven't had the braid break off like that, might want to check your guides. Take q tip and run it on the inside of the guides to see if you have any knicks or burrs.

[SudburyBasser]

I didn't think that 30lb braid could dig into itself...at least not easily. I had lighter braid line do that and cause me no end of anguish, but never 30lb or higher.

[AK-Jax86]

I have only had 30lb braid break off on a fish bout 3 times. That's weird you te having a problem with it

[kLuo]

I've used 30 lb PowerPro on my baitcasters for years without a single break off. I can confidently say that.

[Grantman83]

If you are casting too hard you can snap the line. I learned that the hard way when I first tried frog fishing lol. Too much speed and a sudden stop from digging in can be a bad recipe.

[new2BC4bass]

Got back into fishing in '09.  First thing I did was find this forum and tackletour forum.  Then I started reading.  Most of my reading suggested 40 lb. or heavier for braid on baitcast reels to avoid digging in..............so I went with 40 Sufix Performance.  Have had the same line on for 5 years.  Haven't lost a lure yet, but it doesn't get used much locally.  It does take the trip with me to Florida every year where it gets used a lot.  Last year it spent almost 6 hours casting a 3/4 oz. saltwater spoon with zilch in the way of digging in.  I did catch a nice tree with it. 

 

Since then I have read of guys fishing with 20 lb. on their baitcast reels with no problem.  I don't see how the kind of backing you are using could cause the dig ins unless you are getting into the backing on your casts.  Line has to be spooled on tight.  Every so often make a long cast, pull out more line and reel it back on keeping lots of tension on the line.  I imagine that would help a lot with the digging in.

 

Although I've never lost a lure on the 40 lb. Performance I have lost a new 1/2 oz. jig on 30 lb. Fireline when the line wrapped around the rod tip without me noticing it.  Nothing like throwing away $5-$6 on a cast.  I can't imagine how long I would cry if I threw away one of those expensive swimbaits some guys fish with.     I'd have to   myself.

[Mike L]

I use 30# Power Pro on my frog / top water rod which also doubles as my swim bait rod.

Maybe not as heavy of lures that you're throwing, but the only time it digs in is when I bring 10 lbs of grass or pads with it, and even then its not all the time.

The type of backing wouldn't make a difference.

Along with checking the guides I'd check the line for fraying.

Something obviously is causeing the line to snap mid throw, Ive heard of mono and even thin floro but not braid, especially in that high of lb test. Not saying that it couldn't, but to me it seems it has to be something correctable.

Good Luck I hope to find why soon

Mike

[wnybassman]

I have the same problem with 30lb and it is always when I start getting over anxious and trying to cast harder than I should be.   Once I settle down and let the rod do the work, that problem goes away.    The frustrating part is it usually (for me) breaks right in the spool after digging in and you can no longer tell where the end of the line is, rendering the spool of line junk because once you do find the end, the line is a mess.

[flyingmonkie]

I have the same problem with 30lb and it is always when I start getting over anxious and trying to cast harder than I should be.   Once I settle down and let the rod do the work, that problem goes away.    The frustrating part is it usually (for me) breaks right in the spool after digging in and you can no longer tell where the end of the line is, rendering the spool of line junk because once you do find the end, the line is a mess.

 Yup!  Had that happen today!

[flyingmonkie]

Yeah I don't get it.  The guides are good, and the line is new.

 

I was doing a hard cast, both times... there was 30 mph wind today for goodness sake!  But still - If I can't trust the line to hold up against a stuck spool, then how can I trust it to hold up against a good fish (or more likely, a tree!).

[Scott F]

I use 20lb Power Pro and Suffix 832. I never have line digging in but I don't lock down my drag. I think line digs in when you get snagged, and pull on the line with the drag too tight. How tight is your drag?

[FlipnLimits]

Flyingmonkie

 

My partner had the exact same problem as you with 30lb PP.  He figured out that it was the settings on his reel.  What's happening is the spool is spinning faster than the bait is moving away and an overspin occurs and it happens so fast you will not notice it.  While the spool is wound up, some slack forms and the biat then "whips" the line and it snaps.  Think of a buggy whip and the snap it makes, even when you don't swing fast.  The solution is to click your spool tensioner up just slightly.  Or use an extra weight in your centrifugal weight system and back off on the tensioner.

 

FL

[Dwight Hottle]

I've read so many of you have good luck using 30lb braid on your cranking rods. I've been giving 30lb Power Pro a shot the past month or so and I keep snapping the dang line! I had the same issues a couple years back, but I just figured it was because poor quality braid.

It happens when I'm casting a heavier lure and the spool locks-up (line digging into itself). I have fouro backing under it (it was used, off another reel)... I'm thinking a switch to mono backer will help with the line digging problem. But regardless, I had the line snap twice today! It's not at the knot... seems to be happening about midway between my rod and where the lure is at the time of the breakage. I'm confident I can get the line to stop digging, but I'm not confident in the braid now! Anybody else have this problem?

If your casting motion is like a snap cast 30 or 40 lb braid will break at impact if you backlash or the braid digs into itself. It is especially aggravated by heavier baits . Braid has no stretch so when it is suddenly stopped it breaks. The solution to your problem is to go with heavier braid or control your casting motion to more of a lob cast with heavier baits.

[flyingmonkie]

But it should be able to support a force of at least 30 lbs, right?!?!?  A bullet fired from a handgun applies something like 10 lbs of force to what it hits (thanks, Mythbusters).  I know that my lipless crankbaits are generating no more than a couple pounds of force at the end of my line - even going 60-0.

 

 

So it sounds like braid doesn't tolerate immediate tensile forces well.

[lmbfisherman]

If your casting motion is like a snap cast 30 or 40 lb braid will break at impact if you backlash or the braid digs into itself. It is especially aggravated by heavier baits . Braid has no stretch so when it is suddenly stopped it breaks. The solution to your problem is to go with heavier braid or control your casting motion to more of a lob cast with heavier baits.

This is the answer, Power Pro 30lb is 8lb equivalent.  I'd go at least 40lb (10lb diameter), unless I am using a 50 size reel or reel that can handle lighter line....but then I wouldn't be using heavy baits.

[deaknh03]

Flyingmonkie

My partner had the exact same problem as you with 30lb PP. He figured out that it was the settings on his reel. What's happening is the spool is spinning faster than the bait is moving away and an overspin occurs and it happens so fast you will not notice it. While the spool is wound up, some slack forms and the biat then "whips" the line and it snaps. Think of a buggy whip and the snap it makes, even when you don't swing fast. The solution is to click your spool tensioner up just slightly. Or use an extra weight in your centrifugal weight system and back off on the tensioner.

FL

This

[Dwight Hottle]

But it should be able to support a force of at least 30 lbs, right?!?!? A bullet fired from a handgun applies something like 10 lbs of force to what it hits (thanks, Mythbusters). I know that my lipless crankbaits are generating no more than a couple pounds of force at the end of my line - even going 60-0.

So it sounds like braid doesn't tolerate immediate tensile forces well.

Correct. The stress is at the backlash or digin not the lure end. Braid is very strong on slow pull or gradual stress like a snag. But braid can not tolerate sudden impact forces because of the lack of stretch.

[flyingmonkie]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.  

 

If anybody is curious, I calculated the kinetic energy of a 1oz lure traveling at 44 fps at around 2 ft/lbs.  Sucks that my 30lb PP can't handle that. :/

[War Eagle 44]

I had a friend 5 or 6 years back that was breaking braid in the very same fashion as you. His was the same problem that the other posters have already pointed out, casting to hard. I was in his boat on more than one occasion where he broke 50# braid in this manner with 1/2 oz buzzbaits. He tried LOTS of different brands of braid; Power Pro, P-Line Spectrex, Spiderwire Original, Spiderwire Stealth, Stren Super Braid and maybe a few more that I don't recall. If I'm remembering correctly he liked Stren and Stealth best but he broke all of them at some point.

 

I'll freely admit that he isn't easy on his gear and he also isn't very diligent about making sure it's spooled tight, checking for abrasions, or re tying when he knows he should.   

[FlipnLimits]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.  

 

If anybody is curious, I calculated the kinetic energy of a 1oz lure traveling at 44 fps at around 2 ft/lbs.  Sucks that my 30lb PP can't handle that. :/

It's not you, it's the setting on the reel.  30lb PP is good stuff.  You'll break any braid under these conditions though.  Just think, braid, Spectra, was made to stop Bullets!  So it is a strong material.  Try the fix I mentioned before you swap line or reels, it might be a free "fix".  Good luck.

[rippin-lips]

I've straightened out 4/0 ewg hooks pulling a snag free. So #30 is plenty strong but as mentioned it doesn't handle sudden stops at all. I've even had #50 break on me in mid cast before when I get a bit over zealous with my cast.

[Tim Kelly]

Musky anglers use 80 and 100lb braid for casting big lures. Two reasons, first, it's strong so can resist a backlash with a 3 or 4+ oz bait and secondly because , as the line is thick, it doesn't dig into the spool when under tension. Both of these things are crucial to a happy experience throwing big lures on braid. I don't know how heavy the baits you are throwing are, but if you want to throw on braid, for it's many advantages you need to go to a thicker line. 

[Hyrule Bass]

this is why i debate with myself about ever trying braid. seems more trouble than its worth. i have none of these breakoff problems with mono, not on a cast or a fish. no backing to deal with or putting sticky tape on my reel, etc...

[21farms]

this used to happen to me occasionally with 30# and even 50# power pro casting 1/2-oz. lipless crankbaits. i came to realize that i was only having this problem with certain reels, the ones with narrower spools and where the line guide laid the line down at narrow angles, allowing the line to dig into itself. i recommend trying a different reel with a wider spool that lays the line in broader crosswraps (e.g., shimano curado) to see if that doesn't solve your problem.