Trouble Casting With Braid

[mattk22]

So I don't know if this is off or not. I am pretty good with a baitcaster. My distance has improved year after year and I am down to using little brakes and spool tension. But as soon as I put braid on, 30-50lbs I backlash like crazy unless I have tons of brakes on. Why? What makes casting braid so different?

[Loop_Dad]

I've never had this problem when I made the swtich. What line /lbs where you using before? Do you have more problems with 30lbs braid than 50 lbs?

[Catch and Grease]

Anytime I put a new spool of any line on it takes a little for me to get used to it while it settles in, so I'll get a backlash here and there for the first bit of cast.

[Jar11591]

I had the opposite happen. I learned casting with mono, then I switched to braid and it's so much more manageable and smooth off the reel. Only thing I'll use for baitcasters.

[WIGuide]

It could be because the line itself is lighter than both mono and fluoro which also makes your loaded spool lighter. I don't know if it'd affect it that much, but I've also never had this problem. 

[BassinLou]

Did you re-adjust your reel? Every time I swap out lines, I go through the entire re-adjusting process. If its mag break reel, I will zero it out, and then adjust accordingly. Centri's I leave alone. Spool tension knob I adjust according to the fall rates of the baits I use. 

[Bassin Bob]

When you first start with braid, I recommend not filling your reel until you get used to it.  Most of my first braid backlashes were caused by overfilling.  When I cut the line, it stopped.   Now, with many years of braid experience, I can fill the reel with no problems.  But give it a try--might work for you too.

[DTack]

Another small recommendation.. if you really SNAP your wrist or rod when casting, try to even the cast out and make it a little smoother... I think you get more of a negative effect with braid or fluoro if you snap a cast really fast without practice than with mono.  Hope this little tip helps.

[mattk22]

When you first start with braid, I recommend not filling your reel until you get used to it.  Most of my first braid backlashes were caused by overfilling.  When I cut the line, it stopped.   Now, with many years of braid experience, I can fill the reel with no problems.  But give it a try--might work for you too.

how far from the top of the spool are you spooling it?  mine is about 1/8" from top just like my Floro spools.

[Bassin Bob]

Leave just a "grunt" more line off your spool (not quite 1/4").  See if that's the problem.  If it is, eventually you will work your way back up to 1/8.  Also, make sure you put tension on the line as you put it on the reel.  You can use a glove or rag to hold onto the line tightly as you turn your handle.  On occasion, I've also spooled my reel, tied the end to a tree, and walked off the entire length of the line.  I then cranked it back in using a lot of drag while making sure the line was tight the whole way.  I sure hope this helps--it can't hurt!

[hatrix]

It is the difference in the weight of the line. I can almost guarantee it. It's changes how your spool starts up and all that. I think braid is actually heavier I might be wrong I am not positive. That is why maybe taking a touch off your spool might help.

I have also noticed when I put on fresh braid as opposed to stuff that's like a year old even if it is the same exact stuff it will want to backlash easier. I think it is because its not worn in and still has all that coating on it.

[einscodek]

Mono is going to cast farther.. braid is not a smooth strand and there is friction when the line goes out.. to minimize braids friction you need to go as small diameter as you can tolerate.. problem is the smaller diameters eat into the line spool.. well so as with all things.. tradeoffs

[carlm01]

Make sure when you spool it up it's not too tight braid has a tendency to dig in on the spool and that will cause back lash too.. 

[RoLo]

The only thing that comes to mind is that your spool tension may be set too light.

Once the spool tension has been set to the lure weight, even thumb-free casting shouldn't produce an overrun.

 

Roger

[Tywithay]

It is the difference in the weight of the line. I can almost guarantee it. It's changes how your spool starts up and all that. I think braid is actually heavier I might be wrong I am not positive. That is why maybe taking a touch off your spool might help.

I have also noticed when I put on fresh braid as opposed to stuff that's like a year old even if it is the same exact stuff it will want to backlash easier. I think it is because its not worn in and still has all that coating on it.

Braid is actually much lighter than mono and especially lighter than fluoro.

 

Kind of a strange issue, as braid is typically much easier to cast for most people. Only thing I could think of is that the spool is spinning too fast at the beginning of the cast, because the lighter weight makes it start up easier. It's usually more of a problem with heavier lures, or light lures on too heavy of a rod.

[mattk22]

It must be the weight of the braid.  as soon as I cut about 20 yards off my spool it helped a ton.  thanks guys.

[aavery2]

Out of my own curiosity what reel are you using?

[Capt.Bob]

Make sure when you spool it up it's not too tight braid has a tendency to dig in on the spool and that will cause back lash too.. 

This is sure to cause a problem, Braid needs to be spooled tight, loose braid is sure to have diggin problems with and weight on the line, it digs in easily between the loose wraps and will dig deeper. It is hard to eliminate but the tighter you spool it the harder it is to dig in and especially dig deep.

 

As was said, braid is lighter so I don't know why you fixed your problem by shortening the line unless you were over filling it,,,,, is this a Revo?

[jason41987]

ive had problem going from mono to braid as well, also had problem going to heavier braid.. my reel seems to work better with 12lb mono, or the equivalent diameter braid (50lb test braid).. dunno, seems like i have more or less issues depending on the diameter of the fishing line?

[carlm01]

I had problems until i went to 20lb braid works fine now and I did'nt spool it loose but did'nt spool it too tight either it's what works for me

[mattk22]

I have Lew's Super Duty.  i haven't had any issues since i took some line off of it.