okbassguy Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 I am always torn between Braid and Fluorocarbon on my baitcasters and I know both have their pros and cons fluorocarbon is practically invisible underwater but it stretches, Braid is visible underwater but I don't think it bothers the fish but if it does tell me but the water I fish is always murky or muddy so im not to concerned about that but is braid not as good for casting as fluorocarbon? 1
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 Generally speaking a softer line will cast and handle better. In this case that would be the braid. This is one reason I use it on spinning tackle. 1
Super User Darren. Posted November 21, 2014 Super User Posted November 21, 2014 Braid - for me - is the best for both spinning and casting. And for all of my setups, I simply tie on a leader for the technique I'm wanting to use. Braid just manages better than straight FC or even mono, copoly. I've used them straight, prefer braid. Not everyone agrees. Beauty of opinions based on our experiences. 2
John G Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 I think casting with FC sucks! I have to tighten the cast control knob more than I like and instead of 2 brakes on I will use 3 and I generally have to use a heavier lure than I like.
Super User Sam Posted November 21, 2014 Super User Posted November 21, 2014 What is interesting about your post is that you need to have some braid line on your spool first and then add the mono or flouro line and then you need some mono the size of your braid on your spool first and then tie the braid to it to help stop slippage. Mono stretches. And it depends on the water clarity, structure, cover and the mood the bass are in as to what line you need to throw. Sometimes they don't mind the braid; other times it chases them away. However, if braid works for you then go with braid. Personal preference.
Fisher-O-men Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 Was fishing straight 20# braid yesterday on my dropshot. I was not getting bit and I could see the bottom in 15' of water. I tied on a 12# FC leader and ended up with 6 "keepers". (15"+) Coincidence? Not sure, but my confidence is now with a FC leader. As to handling, yeah, FC is a pain. Not only does it seem to backlash more, but the backlashes seem to go deeper due to the springyness of the FC. Tape down in the spool will help control that.
Super User fishballer06 Posted November 21, 2014 Super User Posted November 21, 2014 I've always been a braid buy myself. I started using a FC leader this year and my number of hits definitely went up. I now use a FC leader on basically every setup, other than topwater. The only reel I use straight FC on is my worming rod.
desmobob Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 Braid is smaller diameter per lb. test and much limper than fluoro or mono... I think it casts much better. I love braid with a 6' fluoro leader on casting and spinning reels. Monofiliament feels like a rubber band after using braid and fluorocarbon can be a major pain to manage. I do have monofilament on my cranking reel, only because I don't have a proper rod for it yet and the stretch is welcomed. Tight lines, Bob
FunkJishing Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 This will answer all of your questions. Are you using the right line???4 = being best; 1 = being worst
FunkJishing Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 better yet read this http://www.bassresource.com/hank-parker-fishing/line-technique.html
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 I'm sorry but that chart begs all kinds of questions. Who's scores are these? What tests were performed? The myth of fluoro having less stretch has been debunked. It looks like a piece of marketing from a fluorocarbon line maker to me. There is no perfect choice, there will always be a one or more compromises when choosing line for an application. The OP was about ease and distance of casting. Braid is the clear winner there due simply to it's suppleness. 7
FunkJishing Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 honestly i got the chart here. lol but reguordless of ratings that very well could be rigged, you want to use the right line for the right situation. and yes, braid wins when it comes to castability.
PAGreg Posted November 21, 2014 Posted November 21, 2014 After using both for the last few years I think I've come up with the combination that I like best. I've gone to 30# Smackdown braid with 20# FC Sniper fluoro leaders. The sensitivity with this combination is incredible and it casts great with little backlash. 1
Ozark_Basser Posted November 22, 2014 Posted November 22, 2014 This will answer all of your questions. Are you using the right line??? 4 = being best; 1 = being worst Yeahhhh fluoro is not as abrasion resistant nor does it have a longer lifespan than braid. That's not even all that's wrong with this list.
Ozark_Basser Posted November 22, 2014 Posted November 22, 2014 To the OP, braid vs fluoro is all about preference. Does braid cast farther than fluoro? Well, 20 lb braid will definitely cast farther than 20 lb fluoro because you can pack more line on with 20 lb braid, but really i've never noticed that big of a difference in casting distance between 50 lb braid and 15 lb fluoro, and yes braid sometimes bothers the fish. Stretch is not always a bad thing either. It depends on your technique and/or what kind of rod you're using for that particular technique. Also keep in mind that your kind of have to adjust everything else if you want to fish braided line.
War Eagle 44 Posted November 22, 2014 Posted November 22, 2014 Yeahhhh fluoro is not as abrasion resistant nor does it have a longer lifespan than braid. That's not even all that's wrong with this list. Fluorocarbon is absolutely more abrasion resistant than braid.
thehooligan Posted November 22, 2014 Posted November 22, 2014 Honestly, the only line I can't fault are copolys. Some Mono's have too much stretch, flouro is too unmanageable, and braid is visable in clear water. Can't go wrong with braid/flouro leader setup or straight copoly. Coming from a braid lover, straight hybrid has been working great for me... 2
Super User deep Posted November 22, 2014 Super User Posted November 22, 2014 Castability is the last thing I look for in a line. Just saying.
Ozark_Basser Posted November 23, 2014 Posted November 23, 2014 Fluorocarbon is absolutely more abrasion resistant than braid. I would say that 20 lb fluoro could be more abrasion resistant than 20 lb braid depending on brand. But if you compare the two by line diameter, 20 lb fluoro is in no way shape or form more abrasion resistant than 50 lb braid unless you're comparing some cheap braid to some expensive fluoro, and it's still probably not as abrasion resistant. I can flip and pitch to moderately heavy cover all day long without a single worry in the back of my head with 50 lb Seaguar Smackdown. If I were using 20 lb fluoro, I'd be checking my line every time I had to pull my bait through anything where the line touched the cover and would probably have to retie half the time. The only fluoro I have used that I would be confident in throwing around pretty heavy cover all day without worrying too much is Toray's high end stuff. However, I haven't tried Sunline's fluoro made for flipping. Abrazx, Trilene 100%, P-line, Maxima, none of these would hold a candle to 50 lb Seaguar Smackdown.
Super User iabass8 Posted November 23, 2014 Super User Posted November 23, 2014 But if you compare the two by line diameter, 20 lb fluoro is in no way shape or form more abrasion resistant than 50 lb braid i want whatever drugs you're on. 1
Ozark_Basser Posted November 23, 2014 Posted November 23, 2014 i want whatever drugs you're on. Lol I'm not on any drugs, but do you not agree?
War Eagle 44 Posted November 23, 2014 Posted November 23, 2014 Lol I'm not on any drugs, but do you not agree? No he's not going to agree because you're wrong! I'm really not trying to come across like I'm "attacking" you here because I'm not, I'm simply suggesting that you do a little testing for yourself. Braid, no matter the brand, isn't close to a quality fluorocarbon in this department.
Super User aavery2 Posted November 23, 2014 Super User Posted November 23, 2014 I don't find one line or the other makes that much difference in terms of casting distance in my fishing. I can cast most every reel I own consistently between 30-40 yards. There are a lot of variables that go into every cast, it is very difficult to make a blanket statement that one line out performs the other always. I prefer FC, on my reels other than my frog rod and spinning reels. It is just my preference and that does not make it right.
Super User iabass8 Posted November 23, 2014 Super User Posted November 23, 2014 Lol I'm not on any drugs, but do you not agree? you are probably the only person i've ever heard say braided line is more abrasion resistant than fluocarbon. if we are talking heap 10-15$ fluoro, that's a bit closer. i fish in very heavily infested zebra muscled waters and use some very premium fluorocarbons. in no way shape, form, alter universe, w/e is braided line more abrasion resistant than fluorocarbon.
Ozark_Basser Posted November 23, 2014 Posted November 23, 2014 No he's not going to agree because you're wrong! I'm really not trying to come across like I'm "attacking" you here because I'm not, I'm simply suggesting that you do a little testing for yourself. Braid, no matter the brand, isn't close to a quality fluorocarbon in this department. Do some testing? Can you read? I figured I made my experience with them both quite clear in my second to last post. If I go outside right now and stretch out both types of line in my hands and rub them on a tree, I will have some fluoro that will be torn all to hell, and some braid that I could probably reuse if I wanted to. If fluoro was so abrasion resistant than why isn't everybody throwing it on punching rigs and flipping super heavy cover? I have personally had fish break me off in not even that heavy of cover with fluoro. I can honestly say it has never happened with braid. However, I have only used the cheaper flatter braids one time and didn't like the way it fished so now I only buy 8 strand round braids like Sunline FX2 and Seaguar Smackdown. you are probably the only person i've ever heard say braided line is more abrasion resistant than fluocarbon. if we are talking heap 10-15$ fluoro, that's a bit closer. i fish in very heavily infested zebra muscled waters and use some very premium fluorocarbons. in no way shape, form, alter universe, w/e is braided line more abrasion resistant than fluorocarbon. I do not think this is the case with Seaguar Smackdown and FX2. Have you fished with both of these in comparison? It is very difficult to get either of these lines knicked up at all. I had a frog wrapped up in a tree branch and seriously broke the not so small tree branch off of a tree with absolutely no damage to the 65 lb FX2 I was using. Can you say any fluoro on the market can do that?
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