I love braid, but...

[EllisJuan]

...I find myself self-conscious about the fish being able to see it...lol.  Am I crazy?  The castability and strength really floats my boat.  I know the obvious solution is using a flouro leader.  I have tried and hated it.  I hate the way it feels hitting the guides.  I thought "Translucent" Gliss would be a good solution, but I don't feel like it is really translucent.  I have not really liked the way any flouro I have tried handled.  I am about to try some Tatsu with KVD Line & Lure, so we will see how that goes.  I also hear good things about Yo-Zuir Hybrid, so I am going to try that.

I guess my questions are; Am I crazy for thinking a fish can see braid?  Is there anything out there that handles close to braid that I should not be self conscious about a fish being able to see it?  Considering what I have invested in Rods/Reels, cost of line is not really a factor in search of this solution. 

[Fishin' Fool]

3 hours ago, EllisJuan said:

...I find myself self-conscious about the fish being able to see it...lol.  Am I crazy?  The castability and strength really floats my boat.  I know the obvious solution is using a flouro leader.  I have tried and hated it.  I hate the way it feels hitting the guides.  I thought "Translucent" Gliss would be a good solution, but I don't feel like it is really translucent.  I have not really liked the way any flouro I have tried handled.  I am about to try some Tatsu with KVD Line & Lure, so we will see how that goes.  I also hear good things about Yo-Zuir Hybrid, so I am going to try that.

I guess my questions are; Am I crazy for thinking a fish can see braid?  Is there anything out there that handles close to braid that I should not be self conscious about a fish being able to see it?  Considering what I have invested in Rods/Reels, cost of line is not really a factor in search of this solution. 

Brother we live parallel lives besides our NRX's. I just bought 3 different spools of Yozuri hybrid. Trying the regular and ultra soft. I went 10 pound for my casting reels and 6 for my spinning gear.

But also it depends on the sale. Fishing St Clair I think there are some days I could catch them on anchor rope and others I feel I need 4 pound test. Leave yourself options. If you like braid have most of your rods with that. For those tough bite days break out your fluor and hybrid line.

[Master Bait'r]

If it's clarity and non stretchiness you're after CXX may be worth a look.  It's the least stretchy clear line I've ever tried and I really like it.  

[Dwight Hottle]

If you can't enjoy using tatsu you will never find a flouro to suit yourself. It is the best I have ever found. I always use braid with a leader but had a good friend fish with me on Erie using straight braid. On that particular day he caught two smallies over 6lbs fishing jerk baits. On that day it did not matter. He now has transitioned to braid with leader. Depending on what your presentation is you could use a short flouro leader or a longer one double the length of the rod. 

[MIbassyaker]

Even if bass can see braid, it doesn't mean they will be shy of it. I fish around grass most of the time, which means the bass I'm usually targeting spend their lives surrounded by all kinds of stalks, stems, whorls, leaves, fronds, and tendrils. They hunt for food in this stuff day in and day out. Even if they see braided line, it probably doesn't register as anything other than another fiber of vegetation that's in the way. So if I'm fishing around grass, I don't bother with a leader. I DO use a mono leader in snaggy rivers though, so its easier to break off without losing a length of expensive line if (not if, when) I get irretrievably hung up.

[Nick S]

13

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

In general I don't believe bass are line shy. That's just been my experience. Other swear to the contrary. Nothing beats the handling of braid IMO. I use a leader in some instances but not due to line shyness. 

[KDW96]

I used green braid for years,caught fish. Switched to yellow because of my eyes see it better, catch just as many. People used black dacron all the time in years past, and they caught fish. I dont buy the line shy stuff,but thats just me.

[flyfisher]

I am also a straight braid guy for the majority of my fishing.  The only time i use flouro or mono is on jerk baits and topwater.  It seems to get fouled less on the trebles with walk the dog type techniques and for jerk baits, i don't know why but that is what I have always used lol 

[Master Bait'r]

Also you can always color the last 2' or so of braid with a black marker if you think it'll help.  

[Scott F]

7 hours ago, EllisJuan said:

...I find myself self-conscious about the fish being able to see it...lol.  Am I crazy?  The castability and strength really floats my boat.  I know the obvious solution is using a flouro leader.  I have tried and hated it.  I hate the way it feels hitting the guides.  I thought "Translucent" Gliss would be a good solution, but I don't feel like it is really translucent.  I have not really liked the way any flouro I have tried handled.  I am about to try some Tatsu with KVD Line & Lure, so we will see how that goes.  I also hear good things about Yo-Zuir Hybrid, so I am going to try that.

I guess my questions are; Am I crazy for thinking a fish can see braid?  Is there anything out there that handles close to braid that I should not be self conscious about a fish being able to see it?  Considering what I have invested in Rods/Reels, cost of line is not really a factor in search of this solution. 

No line is totally invisible. The question is, even if they can see it, are they smart enough to conclude that line is to be avoided. If they are that smart, they must also be smart enough to avoid hooks hanging from lures, spinning blades, plastic and wood bodies.  I don't think they're that smart. 

[EllisJuan]

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

No line is totally invisible. The question is, even if they can see it, are they smart enough to conclude that line is to be avoided. If they are that smart, they must also be smart enough to avoid hooks hanging from lures, spinning blades, plastic and wood bodies.  I don't think they're that smart. 

This is awesome logic...and what I tell myself when throwing reaction bates.  It is when I am throwing slow moving finesse that I feel iffy. 

[tbone1993]

I still don't have faith in straight braid for fishing jigs in open water. That being said have you tried abrazx/invsix? I'm thinking about trying the new flipping line for seaguar but its hard to stray from my tried and true. 

[Hogsticker]

6 hours ago, EllisJuan said:

This is awesome logic...and what I tell myself when throwing reaction bates.  It is when I am throwing slow moving finesse that I feel iffy. 

Moving baits, deep water, moving water, I'm fine with straight braid and feel it makes no difference. I'm with you though. Slow finesse plastics in calm clear water, no thanks. Light fluoro for me. I fished one hole in a river (smallmouth) most every morning last summer for 2 hours a pop using JUST finesse plastics. One day I'd use straight 10 lb braid, the next 6 lb fluoro. I'd alternate every day. The fluoro out fished the braid. Maybe it means nothing, maybe it means something, but I'm not gonna fix what isn't broken. This section of the river gets a fair amount of pressure so who knows. Most anything else I say fish what you are confident with. 

[ChrisD46]

P-Line CX-X : Spool it correctly and run the line through KVD Line Conditioner as you are winding it on then fill no more thatn 1/18th ~ 3/16th " from the spool lip . Also be careful of CX-X line diameter as #8 lb. and beyond are larger diameters for their respective line ratings (i.e. #12 lb. CX-X is equal to #15 lb. line diameter of other brands Co-Poly & Mono .

[jignfule]

I want the bass not to be line sensitive, I really do, and much of the time I think line visibility might not matter. I am convinced that in some cases it is critical and can makes all the difference in the world. Next, Tatsu is much more manageable than Yo-Zuri IMO. Tatsu is  more expensive, but it's the only FC I use.

[flyfisher]

Many people also have the mindset that it isn't the visibility of the line but the vibration that it creates that can turn off a fish.  This would be a reason to go with smaller diameter braid for a similar lb test.  

 

[Big Swimbait]

If a wad of coat hangers like an Alabama Rig can catch fish, I don't think straight braid matters. Like said before, presentation, fall rate & action trigger bites. Plus, some of the 20# braids are the diameter of 6# fluro. I use a black & brown Sharpies & alternate marking the green line on the last 10 feet.

[Bluebasser86]

Do you catch fish on straight braid, enough to be happy anyways? If yes then I wouldn't worry about it.

[FrogginOhio]

I use braid on every reel I have except 1 and that one hardly sees the water. I love braid. Yes on 2 of my setups I will throw a 3-4ft fluorocarbon leader on. Now a good friend on mine that I fish with is complete opposite. He hates braid, and never uses it. We catch about the same amount of fish between the both of us. My opinion is its all about what you prefer. 

[Caliyak]

For me, comfort and confidence is first. I will always fish with mono and braid. I keep it simple and old school.