Straight Braid...who Are Ya?

[bkohlman]

Who here uses straight braid for all or most applications. Those who use leaders need not apply!

[Big Bait Fishing]

I've been using straight braid for awhile , I used to use flourocarbon leaders but since I went to micro guides, I went to straight braid. I started out with #50, then to #40,#30 and now I am very comfortable with #20 , I have tried many brands of braid but am hooked on Stren Sonic Braid. I've learned that through practical experience over the years that line clarity is mainly a myth . The only reel I don't have braid on is my Revo Toro which is my swimbait reel. I have Izorline XXX co-polymer in #20-25 (depending on the size baits I'll be using ) .

[Scott F]

All braid, all the time for me. No leaders (except steel for pike and musky). 8lb on my spinning reels, 20lb on baitcasters. 65lb on my musky rods. No problems with line digging in or break offs due to line abrasion.

[Big Bait Fishing]

I've been using straight braid for awhile , I used to use flourocarbon leaders but since I went to micro guides, I went to straight braid. I started out with #50, then to #40,#30 and now I am very comfortable with #20 , I have tried many brands of braid but am hooked on Stren Sonic Braid. I've learned that through practical experience over the years that line clarity is mainly a myth . The only reel I don't have braid on is my Revo Toro which is my swimbait reel. I have Izorline XXX co-polymer in #20-25 (depending on the size baits I'll be using ) .

Oh yeah, I also have #10 Sonic Braid on my spinning set up !!

[Long Mike]

I'll use straight braid if I'm fishing in the slop or when I am fishing reaction baits.  Most of the water I fish is somewhat stained, so I don't feel that a leader is necessary for applications other than fishing plastics or other finesse presentations.  Because I almost always fish plastics, most of my rods have a flouro leader.

[bass1980]

Senkos I used all 20lb braid no problem. Jigs and Trig I used all 50lb braid no problem too. I fish around or inside vegetation so braid is a must most of the time. My only setup I tie a flouro leader is shakey head. I'm undecided to go all braid or all flouro this year on that setup.

I guess it really depends on the water you fish. Northern natural lakes braid is often used.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Straight braid no leader used here.

[JGBassinAL]

I've been using straight braid for awhile , I used to use flourocarbon leaders but since I went to micro guides, I went to straight braid. I started out with #50, then to #40,#30 and now I am very comfortable with #20 , I have tried many brands of braid but am hooked on Stren Sonic Braid. I've learned that through practical experience over the years that line clarity is mainly a myth . The only reel I don't have braid on is my Revo Toro which is my swimbait reel. I have Izorline XXX co-polymer in #20-25 (depending on the size baits I'll be using ) .

 

Practical experience? I've seen many instances on clear water lakes where fluoro has outcaught braid by a longshot. 

[FishTank]

For me, braid is technique specific.  I don't use it exclusively but it does have it's place.

 

I use it mainly for heavy coverage areas and punching the thick stuff.  Other than that, I subscribe to the "if I can see it, so can the fish" (even though I know their eye sight is terrible) method.

[ABW]

For some reason I have never caught a fish on straight braid (except frogs), even if the water is stained like it is here. Wish I could, I'll keep trying this upcoming spring

[Big Bait Fishing]

Practical experience? I've seen many instances on clear water lakes where fluoro has outcaught braid by a longshot.

I find that I catch fish wether using braid or flourocarbon, I catch fish all the time using braid dropshotting !!

So line clarity to me is a non issue .

Just my opinion......

[RoLo]

Bass tolerate the sight of gaudy colored lures, gangly weedguards, obtrusive rattleboxes and big gaudy treble hooks.

But once a bass notices a fine filament attached to the lure, All-Bets-Are-Off! 

 

My line and leader are polyethylene braid (even in gin clear water)

If I really thought this was hurting my results, guess who would quickly add a leader?

 

Roger

[Mike L]

I use straight braid only for punching heavy mats and froggin.

Mike

[ccr425]

Been using 50lb braid with no leader on my frog setups and heavy pitch/flip setups for years. Just spooled my trig setup and my senko setup with 40lb braid without leaders to try. I'm in North Florida and fish around dense vegetation 95% of the time. I still have a couple of setups with mono for spinnerbaits/chatterbaits and squarebills. And one all purpose setup with fluoro that is soon to be some type of hybrid line. I'm wanting to go lighter than 40lb braid, just worried about the line digging in. Time will tell.....

[rippin-lips]

Almost all my reels are spooled with braid BUT I'll tie a leader on for certain waters. When you can see the bottom plain as day in 15 fow it can help you land some fish. If it didn't have any positive qualities so many pros wouldn't be using it. Most line companies offer braid and fluoro. So they could easily push that companies braid to take care of the sponsorship part of the deal.

[mjseverson24]

There is a reason most people who fish for a living use a combination of mono, floro and braid in order to give them the best chance to succeed in competitions... there is no one line that is the best at everything, but I think for the average angler braid is the best all-around line...  

 

Mitch

[powerduster]

i use straight braid before and never had problems with fish seeing it and turning away. In fact, i think thin diameter braid would be less noticeable than thicker mono or fluoro when it moves through the water, especially in calm conditions. Of course, i still prefer a leader and swivel nowadays.

[cyclops2]

A hungry fish    EATS.   Line or no line.  Add in it is 1/2 the diameter.

It cuts right thru MOST weeds when A fish hides in them.

I am converting this spring to only braid on the TROLLING flyrod.  Hook rate  /  percentage  is too good to pass up.

[carlm01]

Ive been using 20lb braid for years and never with a leader I fish mostly small lakes and ponds they are always a little stained so moss green works for me ...

[Thornback]

Straight #40 braid and fishing with shiners.

[DogBone_384]

I use straight braid on all but two of my setups, which have a 20# Fluoro leader.  

[adam32]

When I wade for river smallmouth I usually use straight braid. I use it mainly for the extra casting distance I need sometimes for spots I can't safely wade close enough to. I've never used a leader and I've caught lots of 20+" smallmouth in clear water with straight braid.

A super clear lake may be a totally different story on line visibility.

[RB 77]

There is one technique and one technique only for me... Hollow body frog! I wouldn't even consider fishing one with out a straight braid connection. Every other technique gets some other form of line application...

[cyclops2]

 How can any line BURROW if it is NOT BEING rewound, by hand ?????

 

The constant  Criscross of any reel prevents that. I use 4 pound set very high on drag.  Never a digin.    I use very light lures.

 

We need some line rewinding basics taught to some people

[ccr425]

How can any line BURROW if it is NOT BEING rewound, by hand ?????

 

The constant  Criscross of any reel prevents that. I use 4 pound set very high on drag.  Never a digin.    I use very light lures.

 

We need some line rewinding basics taught to some people

I would appreciate that. I have my local tackle shop spool my reels. I had s spool of 50lb Power Pro that would dig in very badly if I caught a fish. Almost every time I was hung in the pads it would dig in. That was very annoying. Basically every cast after catching a fish or pulling my frog out of the "V" in a lilly pad resulted in a very short cast with me having to pull out a few yards of line to clear out the mess. That sucked!! As soon as I ripped that line off and had it replaced the issue was solved! Never had a problem before or after. Just a little concerned now.