Fluorocarbon Line Keeps Breaking?

[Sturgeon]

Need some help here.  Pretty new to baitcaster, so I still get the few birds nest each trip.  My problem the last two trips is that my line will get a little kinked during the nesting, but I am able to get cleaned up fairly quick.  Its like my line is breaking everywhere I had some kinking.  Ill go to make a long cast and my line will break mid air and I'm not digging the loss of a lure for no reason.  Seaguar brand 17lb fluorocarbon on a Abu black max reel.  Thinking about going with like a 50lb braid and tying a fluorocarbon leader on.  Any suggestions would be great.  Re stringing a reel every week is getting expensive.  Throwing jigs and texas rigged plastics mainly too with this reel. Thanks

[Tony L.]

Switching to braid would definitely help your breaking problem, but might not be the best of ideas if you still get birds nests. It is VERY expensive to replace if you have to cut a tangled mess out of your reel. Also think about possibilities of what can happen when using it with a flouro leader. If you have a hard cast that comes to an abrupt stop (such as a birds nest), sure your mainline will stay intact, but that occurrence will put a ton of pressure on the knot at the end of your leader and you will still run the risk of it breaking and sending your lure into space. This is especially true with braid because it has absolutely no stretch and will transmit all of your force directly to the end of the line.

If you do decide to go with braid, consider fishing first with hefty topwaters until you get practice. Lures like spooks are easy to cast because they weigh so much and, since they float, easy to retrieve if they snap off. Also seem to be pretty productive this tine of year.

Good luck!

[ABW]

Also practice thumbing your spool. Prevents lots of backlashes

[Catch and Grease]

Braid is way more user friendly when starting out because it can be salvaged after a horrible backlash... FC turns to junk and has to be replaced after being dug and picked out of a backlash.

Braid also is very easy to manage and last longer.

[Tywithay]

Fluorocarbon does tend to break down after being in the sun and being used a lot. I would try braid if I were you. Use 40 instead of 50 lb.

Fluorocarbon is nearly impervious to UV rays. It would take years to break down from the sun, under normal conditions. Most cheaper fluoros will break when they're kinked because the resin is not very pliable, same applies to stiffer fluoros. It will also burn up and break easily if knots aren't wetted and tied properly. It's definitely a bit finicky, and has to be used with a little extra care.

[DTack]

Fluorocarbon and those new to a baitcaster do not mix.  I have a good friend who was having the same problem with small "kinks" in the line.  He would reel over them, then make a long cast again and break mid cast. 
Maybe try some inexpensive copolymer or mono while you're getting your casting down.  It is more forgiving to backlash and such, also if you do end up backlashing bad you can cut it out and not be out so much money. 
Until then, just keep practicing and your backlashes will decrease with time like everyone elses!

[aavery2]

Seems like a lot of people addressing this as a line issue, when to me we should be trying to figure out why he is having problems casting.  OP are you sure you are setting your reel up properly?

[iabass8]

Fluorocarbon does tend to break down after being in the sun and being used a lot.

No...it doesn't..

[river-rat]

Try this - pull off about as much line as the longest cast you would make and then pull another 2-3 feet. Take a piece of electrical tape cut to the same width as the spool and place it on the line. Then reel in all the line. When you start to get a backlash, it will only go as deep as the tape and you should be able to pull it out with no problem.

[Fisher-O-men]

Seems like a lot of people addressing this as a line issue, when to me we should be trying to figure out why he is having problems casting.  OP are you sure you are setting your reel up properly?

While I would agree that reel set up is crucial to casting success, FC is the trickiest of the three lines to cast.  It is also the most likely to break once it is kinked.  Who hasn't casted and wondered, "why did my line just break after traveling 20 yards."  It is usually caused from a previous backlash.  That being said, your braid idea is a good one, but your still need to learn to cast FC.

[aavery2]

While I would agree that reel set up is crucial to casting success, FC is the trickiest of the three lines to cast.  It is also the most likely to break once it is kinked.  Who hasn't casted and wondered, "why did my line just break after traveling 20 yards."  It is usually caused from a previous backlash.  That being said, your braid idea is a good one, but your still need to learn to cast FC.

I agree, I would not recommend someone that is just starting out use FC line, too expensive and does damage when kinked.  But to honestly help the young man, changing line is not going to be enough, we need to understand the root cause.

[J Francho]

All line is "tricky" if you don't have the reel setup properly.  Personally, I fear a braid backlash or a wind knot on a spinning reel more than anything else.  There's also an art to fixing a backlash.  It's a gentle process, and there's usually only one or two overun loops that causing the mess.  Don't yank on the line, carefully unwind it.

 

For setting up the reel, there's plenty of videos and articles for beginners on our pages:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/how-to-cast-baitcast.html

[mjseverson24]

the black max reel and FC are not a good combination in my opinion. I have used the black max's in the past and often on long casts the line becomes loose on the spool until the end of the cast when it tightens up again, this with FC is a recipe for backlashes and broken lines. use a more limp mono, and or if you realy want to use FC get some KVD line and lure conditioner and it should help a little, but IMO unless it is a daiwa mag breaks with FC is a money pit... not to mention frustrating loosing good fish to line breaks as well...

 

Mitch

[K_Mac]

I agree that fluorocarbon is not forgiving of kinking and is a tough lkne to learn on. I do not like braid and do not recommend it. That is a personal preference though. I would also agree that spending some time making sure your reel is setup properly and practicing is vital.

I would buy some copolymer line while you figure out what works and what doesn't. Yozuri Hybrid or PLine CXX is my choice. Even better for learning is a nice manageable mono like Trilene XL. Good luck

[WRB]

Taping the unused spool line works good, try wrapping the spooled line withTeflon plumbers tape, no adhesive.

Learn to adjust your end cap spool tension to match the weight of your lures, slight line when you release the spool to cast is the correct tension to prevent backlashes.

Slow down your rod back casting motion so you are not whipping the rod, just loading it up.

How to remove a backlash; don't try pulling out the nest loops, just put your thumb on the spooled line nest and reel over it until the lure is back. Now keeping light thumb pressure on the spooled, pull out line into the water until you are past the nest loops. Reel the line back on using slight thumb pressure, no more nicked line.

Use TanglFree line dressing or KVD.

Tom

[DTack]

Need some help here.  Pretty new to baitcaster, so I still get the few birds nest each trip.  My problem the last two trips is that my line will get a little kinked during the nesting, but I am able to get cleaned up fairly quick.  Its like my line is breaking everywhere I had some kinking.  Ill go to make a long cast and my line will break mid air and I'm not digging the loss of a lure for no reason.  Seaguar brand 17lb fluorocarbon on a Abu black max reel.  Thinking about going with like a 50lb braid and tying a fluorocarbon leader on.  Any suggestions would be great.  Re stringing a reel every week is getting expensive.  Throwing jigs and texas rigged plastics mainly too with this reel. Thanks

I would assume this is just happening here and there because you are still "pretty new to a baitcaster".  Just keep practicing and things will smooth out.  Casting takes a lot of getting used to.  Even those who consider themselves great casters and "never backlash" still use a rod based on "it casts well" so just practice and things will iron out with time.  There are some good videos and posts here about adjusting your reel so that backlashes are minimized, also WRB has a great post above!

[EmersonFish]

I'm experienced casting baitcasters, and almost never have a problem, even using them for lighter applications than most do. Having said that, I've used an Abu Black Max that I bought as a low priced reel to put on a rod I got free at a tourney, and even I had problems with it; and that was with mono (nylon). Maybe I got a lemon, but I can't imagine someone new to baitcasters using that reel with FC on it. That's a tough way to start, in my opinion. I'd look at all of the videos and articles mentioned, get a lot of practice, and in the meantime, do it with mono (nylon)or a "copolymer." Whatever advantages you seek from using FC are pretty much out the window if it is giving you a headache and emptying your wallet.

[Sturgeon]

Pretty sure I have it set up properly.  I have watched a ton of youtube videos between youtube and bassresource recomended videos from tying line on to casting and even working a backlash out.  I just need more practice at it, but line breaking is my biggest problem.  I need a more user friendly line for sure till I do become better at casting the new reel.  Also I noticed a lot of people having issues in the post about the reel I have.  Maybe I need to invest in a new reel.  I think I will give the braid a try.  17$ for a spool of fc is killing my budget.  Thanks for all the suggestions. 

[hatrix]

Braid is way more user friendly when starting out because it can be salvaged after a horrible backlash... FC turns to junk and has to be replaced after being dug and picked out of a backlash.

Braid also is very easy to manage and last longer.

This right here ^^ It is basically impossible to ruin. I never met a backlash I couldn't fix pretty quickly. Just keep backlashing as much as you can. You will get really good at getting them out I promise! Lots of people do that thumb thing and it works but I have never been a fan. of it. I just don't pull hard so it doesn't tighten down on it self. Eventually you can probably just look at it and know instantly what to grab and its out in a couple seconds. It is a bit or a art to getting them out and not tearing up your line or making it worse. Like J said its only one or two loops you really need to pull if you get it right from the start. 

[hatrix]

Yea it is not really a great reel. For someone starting of you should for sure try to find a reel with centrifugal brakes. That will really help out when you new and have a lapse of concentration or just did something wrong. The Black Max will make you pay for that in a big way since it is not getting any slower on its own. Once you get it down it can become a ok reel i suppose. I got one recently and it is a casting machine for what it is and can keep up with all my reel. Although I totally broke it down and cleaned and lubed it properly before I ever used it so they are probably not on the same level but in theory yours could be just as good with a little love.

[5fishlimit]

Pretty sure I have it set up properly. I have watched a ton of youtube videos between youtube and bassresource recomended videos from tying line on to casting and even working a backlash out. I just need more practice at it, but line breaking is my biggest problem. I need a more user friendly line for sure till I do become better at casting the new reel. Also I noticed a lot of people having issues in the post about the reel I have. Maybe I need to invest in a new reel. I think I will give the braid a try. 17$ for a spool of fc is killing my budget. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Switch to a copolymer line, or even mono until you resolve your casting issues.

Just my $0.02.

[Sturgeon]

Switched over to 40lb braided line and bought a Lew's tournament speed spool along with a Mojo Bass rod.  After figuring out the breaking system I fished 10hrs straight with not one major backlash had a few hick ups but came out instantly.  The Lews reel is a much better reel than my black max combo from Cabelas.  The braking system seems to work for me much better on the Lew's.  Thanks for all the advice!  Think Ill stick to the braid for now I did tie a flouro leader on though seemed to work great.

[EmersonFish]

Good combo you have there. I use Lew's reels, and you can't beat them for the money (my opinion, of course). You won't regret the investment in higher quality.

And I see you have Butler State Fishing Lake listed as one of your favorites. That little lake has some great channel cat, and some pretty darn good flathead that a lot of people overlook. Don't go telling too may people that though. Don't want a lot of people making that drive out there.

[Hattrick7]

Braid + flouro leader = awesome. Line memory? What is that? I went that route and I'll never go back. I backlashed pretty good this one time after I cleaned my reel and forgot to set my brakes. Normal cast and the spool is spinning like crazy. Worst one yet took me a good 10 minutes to pick out and that was three months ago but using the same line and zero issues.

Love that braid stuff!

[Sturgeon]

This new Lew's I picked up is much more smoother than the old black max.  I definitely will be adding another Lew's reel to my equipment list.  I don't have a lot of experience with rods, but the reviews were pretty good on the St. Croix Mojo rods.  Over all I couldn't be more happier with my new set up and the move to braid seems to working out great for me.  Thinking about hitting Butler again real soon.  Its the closest lake to me that's worth a darn and its a pretty good one. Ya I have made that mistake being new to bait caster as well no brake equals one big headache, but it only takes one cast to realize that mistake.