Baitcaster Line Twist

[reason162]

Since switching to baitcasting reels for my fluke/flounder fishing 5 years ago, I've noticed that after 1 or 2 trips a good 30-yard or longer portion of my line would develop some pretty horrendous twist. I figure I must've helicoptered one too many jigs into the wind, but even on days where that never occurred...I get horrible line twist. I compiled a list of possibly relevant facts below: 

 

1.) I use a single 3/4 or 1.5 oz jig, usually with a 5" to 6" gulp grub. No teasers, no double hooks/bucktails, just a single jig. As mentioned, I rarely helicopter the jig on the cast, and rarely does it come back spinning through the water; I'm very OCD and check my presentations every cast. I'm fishing 20 - 60 ft of water on a drifting boat, bouncing/popping the jig off the bottom.   

 

2.) Usually my setup is 20 lb Daiwa Samurai braid, and 832 Suffix 15lb to small spro power swivel to 15/20lb floro leader to small loop knot to jig. Last year I swapped a couple of reels to good old powerpro, which seems to fare a little better in the twist department due to its stiffer nature. But still...twist.  

 

3.) Last few trips, on the advice of a friendly fellow angler, I ditched the swivel and connected braid to mono with a connection knot: same problem, severe line twist. 

 

4.) 80% of the time I fish ahead of the drift, which means I'm constantly casting with my back to the wind. My strong suspicion is that, since I work the jig ahead of the drift back to the boat, the interplay between wind/water while having slack in the line is somehow causing the line twist...but I can't quite work it out in my head. 

 

5.) I spooled the braid top to top, with plenty of tension. 

 

This is not supposed to happen with baitcasting/conventional reels. I'm really at my wits end, having changed line twice this season and not having the faintest clue why this is happening. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Alpster]

I wonder if what you have is more coiling memory than line twist. Given the same circumstances, Power Pro shouldn't twist any less than Samarui. I would try a heavier braid, maybe 50lb instead of 20. Very light braid has more memory issues than heavier test. That's all I can figfure. I use 50lb PP on several reels and have never had any twist issues, but it will get tangled with itself in the memory coils.

[SirSnookalot]

Seen it happen and it's happened to me many times, IMO it just might be the drift as you eluded to.  When I'm fishing offshore, conventional or spinning, drift constantly turns the bait or lure over causing line twist.  For me there is no cure, for you maybe re positioning yourself may help.   

[reason162]

I wonder if what you have is more coiling memory than line twist. Given the same circumstances, Power Pro shouldn't twist any less than Samarui. I would try a heavier braid, maybe 50lb instead of 20. Very light braid has more memory issues than heavier test. That's all I can figfure. I use 50lb PP on several reels and have never had any twist issues, but it will get tangled with itself in the memory coils.

 

It's possible, esp when the pp is new...but I think the Samurai, being extremely limp (and thinner in diameter) does behave differently in the wind/water. I wish I could use 50lb braid, but anything above 20lb and I can't sound bottom with these (relatively) light jigs. I used to use 10lb braid but now switched to 15 or 20. I might bump one outfit up to 30 to see if it makes a significant difference.  

 

Seen it happen and it's happened to me many times, IMO it just might be the drift as you eluded to.  When I'm fishing offshore, conventional or spinning, drift constantly turns the bait or lure over causing line twist.  For me there is no cure, for you maybe re positioning yourself may help.   

 

That's what I figure, esp when I cast way ahead of the drift on windy days and there's a big bow in the braid. I manually "untwist" the last 50-80 yards of line by hand every 2 or 3 trips...which is ridiculous but I can't seem to find another solution (towing behind boat does not work for me). 

 

Thanks for the responses guys!