Braided line smallies

[WI_Angler1989]

For years I've use Power Pro braided line with a fluorocarbon leader when smallmouth fishing. Up until this year it has served me well. I don't know if it was the line, the amount of time that I fished, or just that I noticed it more, but it frayed and faded way more than ever.

I do use mono on a number of reels and applications I have, but braid-fluoro is my ideal setup for fishing plastics and small jigs.

So my question is what do you other braid users like? Power Pro? Suffix 832? Another brand?

[gulfcaptain]

I fish Power Pro, 832, currently using P-Lines TCB-8 to see how it handles.  As for fading, the more you fish the more the line will fade.  832 seems to fade the quickest from my observations.  As for fraying, how old is your braid?  Is it a few seasons old or brand new.  I flip mine every couple years.  Then respool.  Of course this is subject to what condition the lines in.  If it's frayed really bad I'll just respool since there isn't a need to flip and have crap line at the end of a long cast.

[A-Jay]

I'm also an 832 user & abuser.  Haven't tried them all but this one does what I need it to.

A-Jay

[Felix77]

For every tournament I shed a little of the braid and retie.  That way I am ensured a fresh setup.

When fun fishing I can leave the same line/leader setup on for weeks.  I will notice some wear on the braid but it takes some time for that to happen dragging it through stuff.  Sometimes several trips before I notice it.

FWIW I use PowerPro 15lb.   My leaders vary from 6 - 15lb test and I usually have about a 3 - 4 foot leader.

Good Luck.

[5fishlimit]

I starting using the Seaguar Smackdown braid this year, and love it.  I did spool up my dropshot setup with Seaguar Kanzen to see how that works since it is so cheap - so far, so good.

[WI_Angler1989]

Thanks for the input, guys. My braid was new in the spring. So it wasn't that old really. I'm thinking I just fished way more this year than previous years so it seemed to degrade faster. 

Seems like an even split between suffix and power pro fan here. I had some wind knot issues with the power pro on a full spool for the first time ever which prompted me to see what others thought. Maybe I'll try suffix just for the hands on experience and decide from there

[WI_Angler1989]

2 minutes ago, 5fishlimit said:

I starting using the Seaguar Smackdown braid this year, and love it.  I did spool up my dropshot setup with Seaguar Kanzen to see how that works since it is so cheap - so far, so good.

Seaguar has a good reputation. Haven't tried any personally but it adds another option to the looong list haha.

Is kanzen a fluoro?

[Jon G]

Anytime I need braid I'm using 832

[5fishlimit]

38 minutes ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

Is kanzen a fluoro?

No, Kanzen is a braid.  Tatsu is their high end fluoro.

[WI_Angler1989]

I've got so sunrise fc sniper that I use for leaders but it's getting low. I got it cheap and it's pricey normally 

[Drew03cmc]

PP 15/4 yellow is on my spinning rod. I use it for finesse techniques and if I drop shotted, it'd work there too.

[smalljaw67]

It depends on where you're fishing for them. If you use braid to fish in the rivers I target big smallmouth, you'll go through a spool a day as it will shred and fray braid like no tomorrow, to many rocks. So fluorocarbon or a good mono but some guys are using leaders that are like 25' to 30' so it keeps the braid out of the rocks but I'd imagine you lose the sensitivity that the brad provides and you'll have some stretch as well but that is the only way without having it frayed. If you're fishing river smallies in a rocky environment it isn't the brand of line, it is the braid as it doesn't have the abrasion resistance fluorocarbon and mono have.

[PitchinJigz]

1 hour ago, smalljaw67 said:

It depends on where you're fishing for them. If you use braid to fish in the rivers I target big smallmouth, you'll go through a spool a day as it will shred and fray braid like no tomorrow, to many rocks. So fluorocarbon or a good mono but some guys are using leaders that are like 25' to 30' so it keeps the braid out of the rocks but I'd imagine you lose the sensitivity that the brad provides and you'll have some stretch as well but that is the only way without having it frayed. If you're fishing river smallies in a rocky environment it isn't the brand of line, it is the braid as it doesn't have the abrasion resistance fluorocarbon and mono have.

Bingo! Rocky rivers with brush piles will take a toll on your line. When I moved from Minnesota to Oregon I found that out pretty fast.

[Josh Smith]

I got a bad batch of 832 fairly recently.  The stuff had memory like cheap mono.

I heard mixed reviews of Power Pro, but I bought some 65lb stuff to use in salad, and I love it!

Anyone can have a bad run, I guess.

Josh

[ThatFishin'Guy]

I use 832 on all my reels except for one I wanted to try Power Pro on and found it to be much louder on my guides than the 832. I also use a flouro leader on my spinning reels but just use straight braid on my casting reels. I try to check my line every couple of casts for frays and cuts but when the bites on I think we can all agree that goes out the window. Also one thing I do when my line gets really faded I just re-spool the line with the faded bit tied to the spool and you have brand new line!

[WI_Angler1989]

1 hour ago, ThatFishin'Guy said:

I use 832 on all my reels except for one I wanted to try Power Pro on and found it to be much louder on my guides than the 832. I also use a flouro leader on my spinning reels but just use straight braid on my casting reels. I try to check my line every couple of casts for frays and cuts but when the bites on I think we can all agree that goes out the window. Also one thing I do when my line gets really faded I just re-spool the line with the faded bit tied to the spool and you have brand new line!

Agreed, when it's on nothing else matters, maaaybe  check a few knots if I remember. 

That's what I've been hearing, 832 is quieter. You'd thing that means less friction so longer casts. Even slightly. 

Have you ever had issues with flipping the line around and getting twisted and messed up?

[ThatFishin'Guy]

2 hours ago, WI_Angler1989 said:

Agreed, when it's on nothing else matters, maaaybe  check a few knots if I remember. 

That's what I've been hearing, 832 is quieter. You'd thing that means less friction so longer casts. Even slightly. 

Have you ever had issues with flipping the line around and getting twisted and messed up?

nope, never had an issue while flipping the line. As long as you make sure its spooled on tight you shouldn't have any problems

[Cgolf]

On December 22, 2015 at 2:15 PM, WI_Angler1989 said:

Thanks for the input, guys. My braid was new in the spring. So it wasn't that old really. I'm thinking I just fished way more this year than previous years so it seemed to degrade faster. 

Seems like an even split between suffix and power pro fan here. I had some wind knot issues with the power pro on a full spool for the first time ever which prompted me to see what others thought. Maybe I'll try suffix just for the hands on experience and decide from there

I have used Power Pro for years, but did get a bad spool of 20 lb. It broke on multiple different sticks, even when trolling for walleyes. I still really like the product, but have also found 832 to be some awesome line, and it seemed to handle better out of the package were PP needs to be worn in a bit. My shallow water river cranking for smallies is done with 50 lb Power pro and no leader, go so heavy to free baits from snags.