Braid Causes Pre-Mature Reel Wear ?

[ChrisD46]

While watching a recent  episode of TH bass fishing - he indicated braid to be much harder on a baitcast reel than other line types of line such as FC or mono . TH went on to say that is why he uses a Lou's Super Duty for braid use as it will hold up to braid the best . The only thing I can imagine is that the no stretch nature of braid may potentially be harder on a reel - but I can't think of any other reasons  ?... What are your thoughts on your baitcast reels spooled with braid  , any pre-mature wear issues with your braid / baitcast reel set ups ? Thanks in advance for your replies !

[Raul]

While watching a recent  episode of TH bass fishing - he indicated braid to be much harder on a baitcast reel than other line types of line such as FC or mono .

Braid Causes Pre-Mature Reel Wear ?

NO.

 

[Scott F]

The guy was trying to sell Lews reels. Braid goes not cause reels to wear faster.

[Raul]

The only wear braid could cause in a reel and we´re talking about older reels is in the level wind guide, in modern day reels that, in theory, should not happen ( however there have been cases of grooving in Daiwa reels with TWS system ).

[J Francho]

Typical shill for a sponsor.  He's better off just telling the truth, instead of spreading marketing nonsense.

[BassThumb]

If braid is wearing out a reel, it's the junky reel that's the problem, not the line. 

[Mike L]

No, it does not..I've had a few guides on 30 yr old rod get groved up a little, but never a reel. 

 

 

Mike 

[0119]

Yes braid does cause premature wear to reels.  But its the users fault. 99% use it with drags set too tight, with rods too stiff, without using COMMON SENSE angling technique. All because you use braid doesn't mean you should use it in test ratings above what your reel was designed to be used with.  Even if a "pro" tells you you should for a technique. All that lack of give is going to come out somewhere.  But hey........it doesn't matter because we are a disposable society.  When next year the reel is an ounce lighter and has pink accents instead of last years blue, everyone is going to want to buy the new one and the effects wont even be noticed.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

TV and tournament anglers sometimes run out of stuff to talk about start talking this kind of nonsense in an attempt to remain relevant or cutting edge while propping up sponsors. Braid is perfectly safe for use on your reels. 

[J Francho]

4 minutes ago, 0119 said:

Yes braid does cause premature wear to reels.  But its the users fault. 99% use it with drags set too tight, with rods too stiff, without using COMMON SENSE angling technique. All because you use braid doesn't mean you should use it in test ratings above what your reel was designed to be used with.  Even if a "pro" tells you you should for a technique. All that lack of give is going to come out somewhere.

You could have stopped there.  The rest is irrelevant.

[ChrisD46]

1 hour ago, Raul said:

While watching a recent  episode of TH bass fishing - he indicated braid to be much harder on a baitcast reel than other line types of line such as FC or mono .

Braid Causes Pre-Mature Reel Wear ?

NO.

 

Technically you are correct Raul - however can you not interpret "harder" on a reel to cause a reel to wear out quicker ? I'm thinking otherwise why plant the seed that braid is harder on a reel ? ...It's like anything you state is "harder" on something mecuanical would mean it will not last as long or stand up as long ?

23 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

TV and tournament anglers sometimes run out of stuff to talk about start talking this kind of nonsense in an attempt to remain relevant or cutting edge while propping up sponsors. Braid is perfectly safe for use on your reels.

Since you work on reels for a living : If I have a modern baitcast reel (or spinning reel for that matter) used with the correct size braid range for the reel , a proper drag setting for braid (slightly loose)  and a proper flex rod for braid (one flex less) in a well maintained reel - then even if braid is "harder" on a reel I should not see any premature wear on my reels ?

[J Francho]

I also work on reel.  As long as you don't crank your drag down so hard the spool will never slip, you can use pretty much whatever line you want.  Does that mean use 200# braid?  Well, no.  It also doesn't mean 2# braid is appropriate either.  I use 40-80# braid on low profile baitcasters.  There's no issue with premature wear.  What does wear reels out prematurely is heavy use without simple maintenance, and a yearly cleaning by a pro like MIke @ DVT.

[Kevin22]

1 hour ago, 0119 said:

Yes braid does cause premature wear to reels.  But its the users fault. 99% use it with drags set too tight, with rods too stiff, without using COMMON SENSE angling technique. All because you use braid doesn't mean you should use it in test ratings above what your reel was designed to be used with.  Even if a "pro" tells you you should for a technique. All that lack of give is going to come out somewhere.  But hey........it doesn't matter because we are a disposable society.  When next year the reel is an ounce lighter and has pink accents instead of last years blue, everyone is going to want to buy the new one and the effects wont even be noticed.

Yup. We should all get rid of our new fangled low profile reels and high end rods also.. Those Pros who fish for a living have no idea what they are talking about. Abu round reels from 1980 and pistol grip 5' rods is all anyone needs! Spooled with 10# original stren clear blue of course. Its purely common sense. Round reels, 5' pistol rods, 10# mono, set the drag loose and go catch some fish! 

[S Hovanec]

What noone has mentioned yet is that none of the lines will wear on your reel or your guides. What will wear on your gear, no matter what type of line you use, is the microscopic debris that gets deposited in the pores of the line from the water.  The dirtier the water, the more abrasive your line becomes.

[gulfcaptain]

Yep sure does.  We should spool up with $40 filler spools of FC every week because it's SOOOO much better for our reels. Now if you believe me on that one I've got some property to sell you.....don't worry about who owns it, I know a guy.  Bottom line,  I fish braid on EVERYTHING. I agree with everyone above that lack of cleaning and maintaining your equipment is a bigger cause of pre-mature failure.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

3 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

Technically you are correct Raul - however can you not interpret "harder" on a reel to cause a reel to wear out quicker ? I'm thinking otherwise why plant the seed that braid is harder on a reel ? ...It's like anything you state is "harder" on something mecuanical would mean it will not last as long or stand up as long ?

Since you work on reels for a living : If I have a modern baitcast reel (or spinning reel for that matter) used with the correct size braid range for the reel , a proper drag setting for braid (slightly loose)  and a proper flex rod for braid (one flex less) in a well maintained reel - then even if braid is "harder" on a reel I should not see any premature wear on my reels ?

Regardless of what line you use, regular maintenance is important. Annual deep cleaning and interim oiling and general care . Just like an oil change on your vehicle extra hard use and harsh conditions may indicate more frequent servicing. 

[GetJigginWithIt]

17 hours ago, Raul said:

The only wear braid could cause in a reel and we´re talking about older reels is in the level wind guide, in modern day reels that, in theory, should not happen ( however there have been cases of grooving in Daiwa reels with TWS system ).

I used braid for a whole season with my TWS. As soon as I changed the reel over to my crank bait and started using a hard line like fluorocarbon is when I got the grooves. Not trying to start an argument but I think the softer braid was fine but the combination of a hard line and heat is what caused the grooving. Again, NOT TRYING TO START AN ARGUMENT. 

[Deleted account]

Braid is absolutely more demanding on rods and reels than mono. It won't be very obvious with bass fishing, as its not very demanding fishing. Is your reel going to assplode (term borrowed from cycling gear geeks) the first time it touches braid? of course not, are most higher end reels designed to work well with braid, and will do so? Yes. None of that negates the fact that braid is tougher on rods and reels than mono. 

[S. Sass]

I think maybe at one time it was a noticeable / measurable to the average user how braid was wearing different. But like others have said I believe the contaminants today are much more abrasive and destructive than the line choice. Rod and reel manufactures have constantly evolved to make sure their equipment works with all the popular line choices. And to top that off braid today is nothing like braid from 10 years ago. Braid now days has evolved to a much more fishing friendly line unlike the rope like material that was sold originally. Just an example would be the many many different lines each company produces. TW has at least 50 different types of braid listed and I am sure there will be more coming. The same is happening every year the reel and rod manufacturers are changing materials and evolving.

Like so many things in fishing most there is no standard, and some no real clear way to determine facts. With a blanket statement that one line vs another causes more wear on a reel is really not worth making the comment with no laboratory test run in a controlled environment to back the claim. Heck there are only a million different reels, what reel(s) was this that was wearing so bad? Fun to banter about but that is about it.      

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Braid is hard on a levelwind that isnt syncronised to go out with your drag.maybe i dont use braid on my older round abus for that.reason and.also the closer the.levelwind the more angl e. you get.

[Josh Smith]

I have one reel I run locked down, 65lb braid, no leader.

I just kinda' accept that I'll need to rebuild that one sooner than the others.

I am hard on equipment and buy and build equipment that can take it.

Josh