Braided line

[LipRipper1]

I have been trying braid out.   Not getting any bites the water clarity is avout 10-12 inches.   Can fish see it          and can they see it when im punching lilypads

[Ktho]

I fish braided line in water with 20ft+ visibility. I don't think the water clarity is the issue here. 

[LipRipper1]

So.     I can use a texas rig with straight braid.         

 

2 minutes ago, Ktho said:

I fish braided line in water with 20ft+ visibility. I don't think the water clarity is the issue here. 

So i can use a texas rig with straight braid       without it scaring the fish

[Darren.]

Just now, LipRipper1 said:

So.     I can use a texas rig with straight braid.         

 

Welcome aboard!

You can use straight braid if you want, plenty
do, and I used to, but these days I always tie
on a leader. For one, I'm 100% confident in my
leader knots.

Second, a leader allows me multiple reties of
my hooks during an outing, thereby my braid
mainline is depleted more slowly than going
without a leader.

Lastly, often people fish too fast. I don't know
if you are, but slow down your retrieve with
a TX rig, wacky rig, etc. When you think you 
are slow enough, slow down again.

[LipRipper1]

Does braid scare the fish.    I usually tie a 17 # floro leader but today i was throwing a tx rig around some trees and my friend said just use straight braid. I   didnt catch anything.       Are fish shy of braid

[MassYak85]

I've had days where the only difference between what me and a friend were using was that I had a leader, and he didn't, and I caught a heck of a lot more fish (just fan casting over weeds, not a ton of actual skill required) on the same lure as he did. That being said I have also used straight braid for years and have only recently started using leaders, and I did fine back then. I'd be comfortable using straight braid for most applications unless it's some kind of finesse technique on a day they are really finicky, then I might not, but  that's probably more of a confidence thing than anything. Whether or not the fish see it or not, using a leader has other advantages too such as abrasion resistance. 

[LipRipper1]

So straight braid is fine.         Fish wont run from it

 

[Ratherbfishing]

1) The water clarity, 2) how bright the sky is, and 3) how pressured the fish are.  These are the 3 things that influence my decision to use (or not use) a leader. But truthfully, most of the time I have a leader tied on anyway.  This is for soft plastics.  For crank baits, spinnerbaits, etc. I generally use straight braid.  Certain baits fish better with mono and in those instances I usually use my spinning rod (with mono).

[fishnkamp]

Try this the next time you go out. Pick up a spools of P Line CXX in 10 pound or 12 pound green moss.  The diameter is about .14 but it is so strong. 10 pound breaks closer to 22 pounds when tested.  Use that for about a 3 foot leader.  In my opinion I would not fish the straight braid without a leader. i think they can be line shy.  The difference between your 17 pound leader and what I am suggesting is you can go down in leader poundage with the cxx because it actually breaks so much higher than advertised and the moss green will help disguise it as well  

[LipRipper1]

Thanks

[wnspain]

I usually tie on co-polymer leader (YZ). I think I get more bites with a leader, at least it seems that way.  

[LipRipper1]

Im in dirty water  sure just plain braid wont work

[Surfcaster]

I know you will be fine with straight braid with no leader.  I believe the fish do not care what color your line is or that it is attached to something they want to eat.  Most bites are reaction strikes and there is enough broken off line floating in the lakes or hung on the bottom that the fish probably think it is part of the natural landscape.

[CenCal fisher]

Next time you are out tie on a leader. If you start catching fish cut off the leader and use straight braid. What happens next will help answer your question 

[Cgrinder]

They can see it, but the real question is, do they care?

[Terzy]

I fish straight braid 90% of the time and I don't think fish care for it at all even in clear water. 

[flyingmonkie]

This is a commonly debated topic on here, and one of my favorites.

With 1' visibility, braid was likely not the issue... especially considering you're punching mats (looking for a reaction strike).  Most pros will punch mats with either 50-65lb straight braid or 20lb flouro

[blckshirt98]

As Greg Hackney said, bass will bite an Alabama Rig where all the baits have a big fat wire coming out of their face, so the fish really don't care about braid.

[LipRipper1]

Good i gished my local lake and thay tore it up on straight braid thanks yall

[iceintheveins]

I do think with water that has more than 2' of visibility, you should use a leader with your braid, unless you are frogging heavy vegetation, then you really don't need it because the vegetation will obscure the line.

[Yudo1]

In heavy cover I use straight braid, but usually have a leader otherwise.  It's more of a confidence thing for me.

[S. Sass]

On 6/24/2016 at 3:54 PM, LipRipper1 said:

So straight braid is fine.         Fish wont run from it

 

If fish are running from your line A. you weren't catching that fish anyway. And B. Your presentation was most likely crap if the bait didn't draw more attention than that piece of line. 

On 6/28/2016 at 0:41 PM, blckshirt98 said:

As Greg Hackney said, bass will bite an Alabama Rig where all the baits have a big fat wire coming out of their face, so the fish really don't care about braid.

^^^ Exactly 

Prerigged Crappie rigs are somewhat that way as well and people buy them by the dozen and catch fish. 

[doyle8218]

On 6/24/2016 at 4:11 PM, LipRipper1 said:

I have been trying braid out.   Not getting any bites the water clarity is avout 10-12 inches.   Can fish see it          and can they see it when im punching lilypads

Even if they see it, do they care. I have never found line to make a difference in fish biting.

[Fish4bigfish]

I wish there was more research on this. Some of my spots have big fish and 15 feet plus visibility. I catch more fish drop shotting with 6 lb then I did with 12. This means for me line can make a difference. Visible hooks can turn off a big old fish as well. Details... Fooling the older bass can be in the details. A split shot can be used 8 inches in front of your worm to keep the line down on the bottom. Some say the older fish can see the line coming from the head of a lure being dragged. 

I don't think the fish under 4 lbs are as effected by the line visibility as the big fish. Fish grow old and big for a reason. I do believe the older bass are different and learn to pick up problems with a presentation. 

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, Fish4bigfish said:

 I catch more fish drop shotting with 6 lb then I did with 12. This means for me line can make a difference.

Do you believe this is due to visibility? Or maybe because 12lb test is way more stiff and doesn't allow the typically small bait on a DS to move naturally like 6lb line does? 

For weightless presentations (which a DS basically becomes once the weight is on the bottom), I've always felt that lighter line is better because it keeps the bait from making odd/jerky movements.