Line Twist And Braid (Specifically On Spinning Reels)

[JeziHogg]

So a friend and I where talking about braid twisting on a spinning reel. He said it has no effect and its better because even though it does twist, you wont get a foul up on the reel because there's no memory. I on the other hand say that the twist in the braid will weaken the line but he says I'm out to lunch.

 

Are we both right? or both wrong? or one of each?

[Tywithay]

Twisting braid has no effect on the line. Might make it thinner, as the weave will be even tighter.

[SirSnookalot]

I think excessive line twist on braid could have negative effect on strength.  But the caveat is that under normal bass fishing the line should not ever twist that severe, plus the initial strength of the line is more than is needed.  If the line gets that severe I'd be changing it due to the chance of getting more wind knots.

 

I tell you when I won't use braid because of excessive twist and it has nothing to do with spinning or b/c.  Trolling with specific lures that constantly turn over, one that I've bad experience with is a drone spoon.  Within 5 minutes I totally trashed entire spool of braid while trolling, I no longer us that lure.

[Hogsticker]

I've always used a swivel when trolling most anything. I got bored one day and decided to troll a scrounger on straight braid. Had to replace the entire spool.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Braids lack of memory will greatly reduce, but not eliminate the effects of line twist. I follow the same practices of keeping the line roller working freely, closing the bail by hand and using swivels where appropriate regardless of line type. I don't see twisting having any meaningful effect on braid strength. Even if it did, I fish braid for the sensitivity of no-stretch not for the rediculously high breaking strength. 

[Fishes in trees]

If, every so often, you drag the braid behind your boat for a couple of hundred yards, with no hardware or knots or anything on it, it will untwist, just like mono or fluorocarbon will.  Every few trips is often enough.  If you are dragging line with your trolling motor, take care not to get it tangled in the outboard prop.  If you are putting and dragging with your outboard, continue to take care and not get it caught in the prop.  Line in the prop is a mess.

[J Francho]

The line will become unmanageable, leaving you with wind knots before it becomes weakened.  There's definitely an effect, it's just not as pronounced, or takes longer to manifest.  Oddly, its the 8 carrier lines and the fused filament lines that exhibit problems with twist before simpler, 4 carrier lines.

[SirSnookalot]

I agree with Francho about the manageability, I've had braid wrap around itself and the tip just like mono.  My cuda tubes turn 360 degrees constantly, twist can get excessive.  Only thing I can think of in freshwater may be a large in line spinner putting twist on, maybe some of the revolving spoons.  We more or less fixed the problem, I always used BB swivels to attach the lure but that wasn't the cure, the cure was using a ball chain swivel in making the lure.  Exactly how this can be implemented bass fishing I don't know, the ball chain swivel should work.

 

Every attempt I've made to troll braid out hasn't worked for me, mono no problem.

[Patrick Morrow]

The damage from twisting is nothing big to worry when it happens occasionally, but I have found out when occurs regularly the first sign is more frequent wind knots. Make sure swivel is not too big too if using it.