Braid Believer!

[Jdm219]

Recently, i discovered an awesome spot that is usually empty. For a while i was having a lot of hang up in the rocks and not being able to get my lure back. But when i went to my local Bass Pro, a guy that works in the fishing department told me to go with braid because he fishes the same spot with braid and never has had a break off. Well he pointed me towards power pro and i felt that it couldn't hurt to try. Braid is a beautiful thing. I would usually get a break off in these heavy rocks. But the other day when i was fishing some tubes, i got hung up really bad. After 5 or 6 minutes of trying to get my tube back i almost cut the line. But i remember what the guy said and i continued to attempt to get my tube back. After a few more minutes i was finally able to get it back. The line and knot were in perfect shape but the tube jig hook was bent to all hell. I would have had a breakoff with any other line but braid has me conviced. Power pro 30 pound is a gift from the gods. It's sensitive too!

[Chris at Tech]

Braid's strength can certainly be a good thing, but it can also work against you

There will be those times when a snag just won't come free no matter how hard you try. And in some cases your only recourse may be to cut your line and lose 10, 20,maybe even 30 yards. That's one of several reasons to use a leader - so in the event of a tough snag, you'll lose your hook and a few feet of leader and not lots of expensive braid.

If you keep finding yourself getting snagged in the rocks, perhaps also try a lighter weight to see if that helps reduce your snags

[Smokinal]

^^^Very true. Braid is a beautiful thing but I, too, would recommend a leader for another reason=braid has no abrasion resistance to rock. It cuts like butter on a sharp edge of a rock. Fluoro has great abrasion resistance so that's what most use, myself included.

Go here:

http://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php

 

learn the Albright or the Blood knot and start whackin em.

[aavery2]

So if you bent your hook all to hell as you say, what did you save yourself?

[SirSnookalot]

So if you bent your hook all to hell as you say, what did you save yourself?

Line.

[aavery2]

Line.

I would gladly give up a few feet of line for the 10 minutes or so he spent trying to get a tube back and then to get it back useless.  

[SirSnookalot]

I would gladly give up a few feet of line for the 10 minutes or so he spent trying to get a tube back and then to get it back useless.  

As some of the other posts mentioned I'd be using a leader and would be breaking off my lure.  I do agree about not spending 10 minutes, especially if it's a jig or single hook.  The OP did mention he thought about cutting the line, in that case it's more than a few feet and what if happen a second time.  I want as much line on my reel as I can have, it casts better and I may just get that fish where I need 50-75 yds.  

[BadBassWV]

I am a Believer also, Spool it, Fish it, Love it. It's the only thing I use.

[tcbass]

Power Pro is all my friend uses and got me to use it. Works great. I've never used a leader before either.

[aavery2]

As some of the other posts mentioned I'd be using a leader and would be breaking off my lure.  I do agree about not spending 10 minutes, especially if it's a jig or single hook.  The OP did mention he thought about cutting the line, in that case it's more than a few feet and what if happen a second time.  I want as much line on my reel as I can have, it casts better and I may just get that fish where I need 50-75 yds.  

I think we are in agreement, a leader in this situation would have been good, better abrasion resistance in the rock and could have broke it off quickly if needed and resume fishing.

[RoLo]

Since we live in central Florida, we fish shallow weedy lakes most of the time and use straight braid ALL the time.

 

If your lure gets hopelessly snagged (a rare occurrence), do the following:

 > First shorten the line by moving your boat alongside the snag

 > Point the rod directly at the lure so the fishing rod and fishing line are parallel and form one continuous line

 > Clamp your thumb down on the reel spool to prevent line slippage

 > Pull the rod backwards by withdrawing your elbow 'parallel' to the rod and line (this is key). 

 

This will exert tremendous pressure and cause one or more things to happen:

 > It will move the boat toward the snag

 > It will rip the lure free from the plant stem or peel open the cellulose cane

 > That failing, it will raise the snagged stalk upward toward the surface within reach of the angler. 

     (if you dare using a polymer leader, the leader will break and you will lose your $20 swimbait!)

 

It's normal to go for weeks on end without losing a lure, and common for braid to last several seasons on the reel.

 

Roger

[Jdm219]

I have a few things to say about the posts made.

1. I would have lost quite a bit of line. And I would prefer not to.

2. I would have a leader on but many of the staff in the fishing department at my local bass pro said not to because it'll break and that I wouldn't have a problem running straight braid. Which I haven't. So. That being said I would rather spend some time to get a tube back than cut a decent amount of line. But if a fluoro leader would hold up to the rocks and hang ups, then l might try it.

[aavery2]

I have a few things to say about the posts made.

1. I would have lost quite a bit of line. And I would prefer not to.

2. I would have a leader on but many of the staff in the fishing department at my local bass pro said not to because it'll break and that I wouldn't have a problem running straight braid. Which I haven't. So. That being said I would rather spend some time to get a tube back than cut a decent amount of line. But if a fluoro leader would hold up to the rocks and hang ups, then l might try it.

Learn to tie a good joining knot like an alberto or double uni and you will have no issues at the joint, FC line is also much more abrasion resistant than braid in rocky areas.  It takes a little time to learn to tie a good knot but once you learn, it is fast and easy and you have the best of both worlds.

[Diggy]

The money that you save on line and lures you can then use to buy Mugen parts for the s2k

[Raymurda]

Buy one of these bad boys and never lose another lure.

[Jdm219]

The money that you save on line and lures you can then use to buy Mugen parts for the s2k

I wish! I'm getting a 240sx soon. But i deffiently can't afford an s2000. lol

[Jdm219]

Learn to tie a good joining knot like an alberto or double uni and you will have no issues at the joint, FC line is also much more abrasion resistant than braid in rocky areas.  It takes a little time to learn to tie a good knot but once you learn, it is fast and easy and you have the best of both worlds.

Well then i guess i'll try a leader. Any sugesstions? and what if i want to use topwaters? How long should the leader be? Sorry for a bombardment of questions.. haha

[aavery2]

Well then i guess i'll try a leader. Any sugesstions? and what if i want to use topwaters? How long should the leader be? Sorry for a bombardment of questions.. haha

 

For topwater use about 6 -6 1/2ft. of mono leader, use as light a line as you feel you can get away with, it will help to impart better action on your bait,  For pitching I use 12lb FC in about a 7ft length, just a little shorter than the length of the rod.  Practice, practice, practice you knots until you can tie them in your sleep.

[Jdm219]

For topwater use about 6 -6 1/2ft. of mono leader, use as light a line as you feel you can get away with, it will help to impart better action on your bait, For pitching I use 12lb FC in about a 7ft length, just a little shorter than the length of the rod. Practice, practice, practice you knots until you can tie them in your sleep.

I only have 2 rods and one of them is a baitcaster.I went into basspro today and the guy there said that mono would break off in those rocks because he's tried. So will fluoro have the same effect?

[aavery2]

I only have 2 rods and one of them is a baitcaster.I went into basspro today and the guy there said that mono would break off in those rocks because he's tried. So will fluoro have the same effect?

My suggestion for mono line was in topwater use, you will not encounter many rocks while topwater fishing.   FC line is very abrasion resistant, it is an excellent choice for fishing in rocky areas.

[Jdm219]

I know I won't encounter rocks when fishing top water. But my question is will fluoro Lino hold up in a snag like braid does or will it snap? I've never had a break off with braid.

[aavery2]

I know I won't encounter rocks when fishing top water. But my question is will fluoro Lino hold up in a snag like braid does or will it snap? I've never had a break off with braid

Why don't you just give it a try and see if it works for you or not, if not it is easy enough to remove a leader.  Good FC line tends to break a little higher that it's rated breaking strength.  If not breaking off is your only priority put some 80lb braid on and fish away.

[Jdm219]

Why don't you just give it a try and see if it works for you or not, if not it is easy enough to remove a leader. Good FC line tends to break a little higher that it's rated breaking strength. If not breaking off is your only priority put some 80lb braid on and fish away.

Can't hurt to try! Anything specific I should use?

[aavery2]

Can't hurt to try! Anything specific I should use

Are you asking about 80lb braid or FC?

[Jdm219]

Are you asking about 80lb braid or FC?

FC. What leader should I use?