Having Some Issues With Braid. Need Advice.

[Backlash123]

Lately I've been experiencing some breakoff's with braid.  Let lay out the scenario.  As of lately I've been throwing lots of frogs, and I've been tying them straight to braid (30lb Power Pro).  A few weeks ago while throwing a frog, I got a nice hit when I set the hook, the like just popped, thought it was strange, but I pulled out 5 yards of line off the real, cut it off, and tied on another frog.  A few casts later, the frog got stuck on a lily pad after the first pull to free it, the line just snapped again.  At this point I'm thinking the line is rotten or something (probably 6 months old) so I just put that rod away.  Pick up another rod also with 30 lb Power Pro, had a spinner bait tied on to that one, first cast and the line snaps as the spinner bait is still flying through the air.  At this point I'm thinking ok, this braid is also rotten, time to respool.  Went home, still had another spool in the garage of 30lb Power pro, and respooled both rods.  Went fishing a few weeks ago, and lost another fish on a frog bite as soon as I set the hook.  At that point I'm really puzzled, so I tied a 5ft. section of fluorocarbon line to the braid as a leader thinking I need a little stretch in the line, and didn't have any other issues the rest of the day (ended the day with about a 15lb bag, all on frogs, thankfully not really heavy cover).

 

Now my dilemma.  I"m having a good hookup ratio using a leader instead of straight braid, but I'm also having issues with fishing a frog in heavy cover.  Now I've seen and read alot of people using braid for frogs, and I believe everything I've seen they have been using it straight (but I can't confirm because nobody calls it out directly).  At first I thought maybe it's the knot, I've used the Improved Clinch knot and the Palomar knot, both with same results, so I ruled that out, now I'm thinking maybe I'm using too light of braid (even though I thought 30 should be more than enough, I'm not flipping with these rods).  Don't know what to do next.

 

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[gar-tracker]

30 lb is too light for a frog in heavy cover. Thats most likely your problem, id go at least 65.

 

Forget a leader for a frog straight and only use a palomare knot with braid unless you snell it then still straight to it but snell the braid.

 

A Frog is a reaction bite, a leader does nothing to help you get a bite just puts another chance of break off between bait and line.

[einscodek]

Could be several things:

1) check yer guides may be tearing up your braid

2) your knot was slipping

3) your hookset was too hard

4) combo of #2, #3

 

Fact you put fluoro on and fixed the prob tells me maybe it was #3

I had this problem years ago but the problem eventually went from that to the knot connecting fluoro to the braid being alil too weak.. watch that

[kikstand454]

Eh.

I wouldn't say 30# isn't strong enough. Many prefer a heavier line. ...but I think its a mental game. Also heavier braid handles better.

Anyway- my first thought was your knot is slipping. Always use a Palomar with braid. The improved cinch only works if you double the line through the hook eye first. Sometimes triple. At that point its easier to just tie a Palomar.

Secondly, one of your examples sounds as though you had the braid digging down in your spool and it broke off upon casting. Do you have the braid as a topshot over some mono filler? You should. You're wasting money filling an entire spool full of braid- unless- ( and this lead me to my final thought here ...) braid lasts forever. I mean. ...years and years. I have had the same braid on my saltwater spinning rod for at LEAST 3 years and its JUST now getting to where I need to replace it. Because of length.....not it "rotting".

With no doubt what so ever- you should be able to have a spool of braid last two years.( durability wise. ....if you cut and retie alot you may run out length wise) Use it one season. ....then. .... stretch it out across your yard and reel it up the other way and use the "new line" for another season.

Unless of course you're storing your reel in direct sunlight outside.

[gulfcaptain]

I'm more apt to agree with your knot slipping and hookset to hard. I'm in the boat where I fish 30lb braid (Power Pro and 832) and use it for frogging, punching, and on my umbrella rigs. Almost all my breakoffs are at the knot.  There are a few exceptions where I've had a bad spot but I can count that on 3 fingers in the last 3years.  Are you using the regular PP or the Slick?

[Backlash123]

Thanks for the replies guys. Let me answer a few questions first.

I do not fill the entire the entire spool. I put around 100 yards of Power Pro. I have not used slick on my baitcasters.

I also thought about the guides causing the breaks, but for it to happen on two rods in the same day was just too rare for me.

I figured the line breaking during the cast was due to the line digging in the spool, how do I fix that, if at all possible.

Sounds like I should move up to heavier line, and relax a bit with the hookset.

[roadwarrior]

You won't need to adjust your hook-set with heavier line. Lots of the guys

really like PP, but there are other alternatives. I'm fishing Kanzen, Tuf-Line

Tournament 8 and Sufix 832. For about $20 I suggest the Sufix #80. It can

be cut, but not broken!

[Dwight Hottle]

I figured the line breaking during the cast was due to the line digging in the spool, how do I fix that, if at all possible.

Sounds like I should move up to heavier line, and relax a bit with the hookset.

 

You asked & answered your own question. Lighter braid can dig in to itself on the spool & weaken. Move up to 50-55lb or 60-65lb and your problem will go away. I carry a wooden dowel in my boat so if I snag & need to pull it out I can wrap the braid around the dowel before pulling to keep the braid from digging into it self on the spool.

[gulfcaptain]

If you want to go heavier that's up to you.  IF you're having issues digging into your spool, make sure you some backing before you put the braid onto your reel. I use mono and don't have that problem as well as making sure when you put it on you have enough pressure on the filler spool to keep it tight.  When I do a lot of pitching, about every 20 or 30 pitches I'll cast out to straighten out the line and go at it again.  IF you're putting it straight onto your spool without backing make sure you have some kind of tape for it to grip onto as it spools to keep it from slipping.

[Chris at Tech]

But are you sure the line is breaking as opposed to line slipping?  Try a double palomar and see what that does.

[JellyMan]

I have never had a line break using PP. I use 40lb on my flipping setup and 30lb on my frog setup. Only reason I use 30 on my frog rod is for easier casting. 

 

Sounds like a knot problem. Do you use a palomar knot? That's what I use and have never had an issue. Only problem I have had is a couple of days ago, I was not prepared with a frog setup and was throwing a rage toad on 12lb Flouroclear. I broke of on the hook set on a huge schooling fish. Not sure if the knot broke or just huge fish. I know it was big tho... Solid 10lb+ fish.

[Backlash123]

IF you're having issues digging into your spool, make sure you some backing before you put the braid onto your reel. 

 

I do use backing, for both my frog rods and flippin rods.  I think I have 15lb mono underneath.  I only use 75 - 100 yards of braid on the reels (could probably use less on the flippin rod).  I don't want to lose casting ability, but I'll try to go up in line weight.  Maybe I should give 50# a try with a Palomar knot. 

 

Coming from the saltwater world of fishing, I never imagined using 50# PowerPro, or even 30# for that matter.  I guess it's all about casting and using it on baitcasters.  Because the heaviest I ever used in saltwater was 50# and that was on my bottom rods fishing for 20+ lb mutton snapper in the Bahamas (which we did plenty, and landed plenty).  One of the advantages of living in South Florida.

 

Thanks for all the info.  I'm still learning the bass fishing game, but I'm loving it!

[gulfcaptain]

Then I don't think you have the problem of it digging into your spool, more then likely the knot is slipping.  I've started leaving a bit longer tag end on mine as well as changing the my knot.  If you do a lot of flipping, use a marker on the first 18" so you can see if you have wear from the sinker and check the knot if the hook isn't welded closed, sometimes you can get small knicks right where the hook closure is.  I've had that happen a few times and it's just from not taking that few seconds to check.

[Hyrule Bass]

throw the braid in the trash, mono is better...and dont believe all the people whining about its stretch, theyre just over paranoid; and probably the type that likes to waste line changing it every outing or week or month...

[kikstand454]

throw the braid in the trash, mono is better...and dont believe all the people whining about its stretch, theyre just over paranoid; and probably the type that likes to waste line changing it every outing or week or month...

Lol. Stretch is real. Its effect may be arguable....but its a real noticiable thing. If you have ever fished inshore with a popping cork, you would see the HUGE difference in mono and braid at casting distance. Its insane.

FTR- I only use braid for flipping and frogs.... And popping corks!

[Hyrule Bass]

Lol. Stretch is real. Its effect may be arguable....but its a real noticiable thing. If you have ever fished inshore with a popping cork, you would see the HUGE difference in mono and braid at casting distance. Its insane.

FTR- I only use braid for flipping and frogs.... And popping corks!

oh i dont doubt stretch i know its real lol, but what i was getting at is its effect is minimal in my opinion...

[gar-tracker]

throw the braid in the trash, mono is better...and dont believe all the people whining about its stretch, theyre just over paranoid; and probably the type that likes to waste line changing it every outing or week or month...

 

You wouldn't last 2 seconds down here with mono on a frog.

[Backlash123]

Mono has it's uses, but it's not for flipping and frogging in my opinion. Here's the plan, step up the line weight and switch to the Palomar knot. My flipping setup will remain as is, 65# using a snell knot. Now, if I could only get my boat out of Bass Pro for a small gelcoat repair.

[Mattbasscrusher]

Power pro is garbage, everytime I go to it all I do is break off. Buy Sufix 832 in 50 lb to Sling frogs and 65 for the slop , mats and heavy cover.

Izorline is fantastic and stren sonic braid is good too.

[BadBassWV]

All I use is power pro. I have one reel its been on for 2 years. IMO if your casting and breaking power pro, Your not using a heavy enough line, or your guides have places in them to cut the line and last but not least, User Error.

[NDH Fishing]

Well, you should stick with the Palomar knot cause thats the best simple knot for braid. And if you ever get your frog, or any weedless topwater bait stuck on a lily pad dont try pulling it out with medium power, and then pulling hard, cause pulling with medium power is what gets it STUCK. When you get your topwater stuck on a lily pad, reel the slack out of your line, point you rod-tip strait at your bait, and  slowly pull, do it right, and it works every time. But you should make sure you have no frays and no knots in your line. Its always a good idea to make sure your rod tips are good. And ive never had to do this, but You can treat your line once in a wile by spraying liquid on too your line. I dont know the names of the brands that make this product, as i said ive never had to do it, but its supposed extend the life of your line. If that doesn't help, im stumped.