Making the switch to braided

[iiTzChunky]

Just put some 10# test braided line on my bait caster and I love the feel of it coming off. 

 

 

Question being, I usually run 10-12# test mono. Should I up size my braided some? I ended up snagging on some weeds while casting and it snapped the line. Never had that happen before. 

[thebillsman]

10lb braid might dig in on a baitcaster. I usually go with at least 50lb. If you want a smaller diameter you could always go with FX2.. incredible strength for its thin appearance. 

[A-Jay]

Try 30 or perhaps 40lb braid.

The diameter will be closer to  10-12 lb mono and it will have quite a bit more strength to effectively present baits in light to moderate cover.

If you're fishing heavy / matted vegetation you'll need to not only plus size the line but your gear will also need to go up in power appropriately as well.

A-Jay

[Darren.]

I run 20# braid on my baitcaster now.

 

But I did run 10# at one point - and with a 10#

leader, I caught my PB of 7.5# in thick slop/salad.

So it can be done if you know how to work the 

bass with the entire setup, drag, rod action, etc.

 

Differing schools of thought on the matter...

[iiTzChunky]

14 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Try 30 or perhaps 40lb braid.

The diameter will be closer to  10-12 lb mono and it will have quite a bit more strength to effectively present baits in light to moderate cover.

If you're fishing heavy / matted vegetation you'll need to not only plus size the line but your gear will also need to go up in power appropriately as well.

A-Jay

I'll have to try to up size the line than. I wasn't expecting it to snap on some random weeds growing on the side of the pond. 

 

I've had 1 backlash since putting braided on but really didn't seem like the line dug in like everyone says it will. Wasn't any more of a pain to untangle than when my mono back lashed. 

[Smokinal]

52 minutes ago, iiTzChunky said:

I'll have to try to up size the line than. I wasn't expecting it to snap on some random weeds growing on the side of the pond. 

 

I've had 1 backlash since putting braided on but really didn't seem like the line dug in like everyone says it will. Wasn't any more of a pain to untangle than when my mono back lashed. 

It's not so much of a backlash issue but more of a casting issue after the dig-in. When you set the hook, a small diameter line will dig in to the rest of the line, pinching it there. Then, on your next cast, the cast will go as far as the dig-in and stop immediately. I've had my line snap and lure go sailing because of this. And if you're throwing a big dollar bait, that's no fun man.

[iiTzChunky]

6 minutes ago, Smokinal said:

It's not so much of a backlash issue but more of a casting issue after the dig-in. When you set the hook, a small diameter line will dig in to the rest of the line, pinching it there. Then, on your nest cast, the cast will go as far as the dig-in and stop immediately. I've had my line snap and lure go sailing because of this. And if you're throwing a big dollar bait, that's no fun man.

Ah ok. I misunderstood that. Well I don't throw anything expensive really. But if I lose some of my cheap favorites I'm still gonna be mad. I have some 20# braid. About to replace the 8 I had on my reel. 

[Smokinal]

^^You'll be better off with the higher lb line; and it floats off just as nice

[MassYak85]

Lowest I've ever gone on a baitcaster was 20. Now I don't go below 30. I would definitely say avoid using 10, it will dig in a lot. 

[Outdoor Zack]

55 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

Lowest I've ever gone on a baitcaster was 20. Now I don't go below 30. I would definitely say avoid using 10, it will dig in a lot. 

 

This all day long.

 

10# braid on a bait caster sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.  To tell you the truth, i probably wouldn't even use it on a spinning setup.  

 

If youre dead set on using braid, I would strongly suggest you use something like 30# to 50# with a leader.  

[iiTzChunky]

OK I'll run the 20# test today and see how it runs,, I'll be picking up some 40# test this week 

[Turkey sandwich]

If possible, save the line and spool your spinning reels with 10-20lb braid.  It'll last forever and solve a lot of common line management issues with your spinning gear as well.  Small diameter line is really hard to manage well on casting gear and can limited casting distance/accuracy, cause backlashes, and even cause the line to wear/break.  I run 30-40lb braid on all my casting gear and have very, very few problems.

[Sam]

Chunky, good question.

 

I fished with a pro last year and here is what he told me about braid.

 

1. Use the same test mono as your braid as backing on your baitcaster and spinning reels.

2. Use the same size flouro or mono as your leader to match your braid test: 10# braid = 10# mono/flouro

3. Use strong glue that you can apply via the brush that comes with it (can find it at Hobby Lobby) or use fast acting Loctite Super Glue to put over your leader knot. Make sure the glue is dry before casting. And don't use a lot. Just a dab will do.

4. A lot of pros are starting to use braid without a leader. This is occurring when the water is stained to dirty. Seems this does not negatively impact the strike numbers.

5. Remember, a knot creates a "weak spot" in your line so try to use braid, only, without a leader and note if it has any impact on your results.

6. The favorite braid of the pros seems to be Gamma Torque. Gamma line is difficult to find (BPS and Cabela's do not carry it) so you will need to go on-line and order a supply. And please note that Gamma Torque is expensive.

7. In order to reduce or prevent spinning reel line twist, go with braid.

8. Also, on the other hand, try to "balance your baitcaster" setup to avoid any braid backlashes. A braid backlash can put your reel out of service if you manage to get a serious backlash.

9. Always have one or two spare reels ready to replace the one you are using. You never know when you will have a disaster on your hands and it is easier to replace a reel than to fight a backlash or a line twist problem. This is a good rule to follow no matter what line you are throwing.

 

I use 8-pound test Gamma Torque on spinning reels and have not had any line twist problems since switching over to 100% braid with an 8-pound mono backing. As an option, I have experimented with using the "equivalent mono line test" to match my braid but I liked using the same test for both the braid and mono/flouro. Easier to tie together and the glue held it together with no problems. 

 

May I suggest purchasing Spider Wire braid and give it a try to determine if you like using braid on your spinning and baitcaster setups.

All the best for a new personal best this year and please let us know what you do and the results.

[GreenGhostMan]

I use 30 lb braid on my swim jig/chatterbait/spinnerbait setup and 50 lb braid on my frog/big jig rod.

[the reel ess]

I use 20 lb min on spinning gear and 30 min on BC. Then I have 50 on the frog combo. 30 is the diameter of 10 lb mono so you won't have a problem casting it and it won't dig into your spool excessively.

 

I like it even more on spinning gear. 20 lb is about the diameter of 6-8 lb mono but it doesn't have memory and doesn't seem to get those loops that become line-shortening knots from long-term use that other lines get. But you MUST manually flip the bail before you start retrieving. It will also add to you casting distance over the other similar lb test lines.

[kbeeb374]

I think everyone basically covered the suggestions for what # test to use.  Rarely will I use less than 30# myself on a baitcaster.  I will suggest using an 8 carrier braid in addition to the other suggestions.  once I started using suffix 832 I never went back.  this year I am trying out some PP super slick 8 as well.  I like the 8 carrier because it just feels so much smoother coming off the reel and through the guides.

[Tony L.]

Sizing up doesn't hurt. Did you have any kind of leader on your line as well? That could be another part of why it broke off. You might have already learned that, strong as it is, braid doesn't have very good abrasion resistance. I love it, but braid breaks almost immediately when it scrapes against something rough.  I learned on this forum that you can protect yourself by tying a few feet of flourocarbon between the end of your braided mainline and your lure. The abrasion resistant  flouro takes all the hits when dragging through rocks and wood - which keeps your braided mainline from fraying and snapping. 

[fishnkamp]

If you compare Power Pro Spectra braid to a quality mono like Stren Original Clear blue than here is how it compares.

 

10 pound test Stren mono measures .012.  If you spooled 10 pound Power Pro Spectra braid it measures only .006.

In order to have the braid act close to the same on the reel as your .012 mono then you should choose 30 pound test Power Pro which measures .011.  It will not break as easily as you saw the 10 pound braid nor will it tend to want to dig in any more than the mono.

 

The way I like to do things, with both my spinning and baitcasters, is to fill the spool up halfway up with quality Stren mono in 12 or 14 pound test. Then fill it the rest of the way with my braid or fluorocarbon.  For my spinning reels I like to add a 4 foot leader of P Line Halo (fluoro) or CXX moss green in 8 pound test.  In 6 years or more I have never had my double uni knots break. Doing this saves money on expensive braid or fluoro. A bulk spool of line will fill multiple reels, and when you go to change the line you only need to replace 1/2 of the line on the reel.  If you are lucky enough to hook a big muskie, striper of catfish (something that can really pull a lot of line) then you do not have to worry about the quality of the baking.  I have had some stripers and big blue cats really run some line off my reel.

[roadwarrior]

If you tie a leader braid will last several years. Step up and try #40 Seaguar Smackdown...

It REALLY makes a difference!