Braid for Jigs?

[Brett's_daddy]

Can you use braid for jigs? Let's say I went with a 50lb. braid for frogs and top water...could that be used for jigs in the 3/8oz. - 1/2oz. range plus a trailer? My only fear is that braid isn't abrasion resistant and with jigs a lot of the time you are dragging them across the bottom and over structure.

[d-camarena]

Braid with jigs is mandatory. You have to feel the bite as soon as it happens. And the braid helps get the fish out faster. 

I do 65lb but for 1/2oz jigs you could do 50. Although if you plan on frogging with the same set up just do 60 or 65 lb

[lmbfisherman]

I don't normally use straight braid for jigs, I usually use a leader.  My preferred leader is 12 to 17 lb Flouro or Copoly (yozuri or Pline) for that range of jigs.  General rule of thumb, don't use straight braid for areas with sharp edges in general, but I'd be confident if I went straight braid in timber and vegetation.  Docks and rocks I'd use a leader definitely.

2 minutes ago, d-camarena said:

Braid with jigs is mandatory. You have to feel the bite as soon as it happens. And the braid helps get the fish out faster. 

I do 65lb but for 1/2oz jigs you could do 50. Although if you plan on frogging with the same set up just do 60 or 65 lb

I think 50 lb is just fine for frogging, in fact I'd be ok with 40lb.  Everyone has different confidence in what they choose!  In the end we all just want to catch that big ole bass!

[d-camarena]

I agree with you. I also tie leaders. Everytime i leave the house i tie leaders on all my rods. But if i lose the leader while fishing i dont retie the leader, i just keep fishing with straight braid. Ive never noticed a difference with or without a leader, i just use leader to be able to break off baits easier if i snag. 

For frogging i use 65 because at the local laked here there is some nasty stuff, 65 just give me a little extra room to horse em out. 

And yes everyone fishes differently, its what makes this sport great. 

Im more of a big line, big rod, big baits kind of guy. But some of my friends fish finnesse everyday and still catch em

[Brett's_daddy]

This kind of relates to my other topic about using braid for top water treble hook baits like the Whopper Plopper 130...I'm thinking my new heavy rod will be getting a workout with jigs, frogs and heavier top water baits. I'm also not confident in my leader knots and prefer to direct tie to the lures.

[RichF]

I use direct braid all the time with jigs that size.  40 to 50lb works great.  I prefer fluoro around rock as it's more abrasion resistant.

[lmbfisherman]

9 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

This kind of relates to my other topic about using braid for top water treble hook baits like the Whopper Plopper 130...I'm thinking my new heavy rod will be getting a workout with jigs, frogs and heavier top water baits. I'm also not confident in my leader knots and prefer to direct tie to the lures.

For treble hooks you can get away with braid if you have a moderate tip on your rod.  If not I'd be tying on a mono leader. If you were doing buzz baits and frogs you can get away with braid.  I would just wait a tad longer before setting the hook, I find that a mono leader using frogs and buzzbaits help because you need that extra "stretch" sometimes to set the hook or sometimes I seem to tear the hook out of it's mouth.  Helps me in my opinion when I get the surprised reaction "set the hook" instinct. 

[Brett's_daddy]

34 minutes ago, lmbfisherman said:

If not I'd be tying on a mono leader.

While this is probably good advice I just can't tie a leader well so prefer to direct tie if at all possible.

[Mr Swim Jig]

If I am fishing heavy vegetation and timber I will use straight braid and if I am fishing around rocks I will switch to fluorocarbon.  But I do not like to use a leader at all and I know a lot of people do like to use a leader but I just personally prefer not to.

 

So you definitely can use 50lbs braid for frog and jig fishing and I wouldn't worry about abrasion resistance unless you are fishing around a lot of rocks.

[roadwarrior]

Braid + fluorocarbon leader.

 

[RichF]

19 minutes ago, Mr Swim Jig said:

If I am fishing heavy vegetation and timber I will use straight braid and if I am fishing around rocks I will switch to fluorocarbon.  But I do not like to use a leader at all and I know a lot of people do like to use a leader but I just personally prefer not to.

 

So you definitely can use 50lbs braid for frog and jig fishing and I wouldn't worry about abrasion resistance unless you are fishing around a lot of rocks.

 

I'm another anti-leader guy.  I'll pretty much only use a leader when I'm drop shotting. 

[lmbfisherman]

25 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

While this is probably good advice I just can't tie a leader well so prefer to direct tie if at all possible.

Yeah understand, but I was like you a few years ago.  What I did was I used all the left over lines and just practiced.  I first used uni to uni, it was the easiest in my opinion to tie but for sure in the beginning due to my skills tying it I lost a few fish.  Eventually I got really good at it but now I use the modified albright.  I found this even as a beginner knot tying to be very good and I haven't lost a single fish.  I was scared to try doing them but once you practice, you will see it isn't that bad.  My advice when tying the uni to uni or modified albright in the beginning, I'd add another wrap or two.  I'm not trying to push you but I was like you at one point.  I wasn't great at tying knots, but by practicing on old line...it helped my confidence and knot tying quickly.  Either way, if you are comfortable the way you are doing it now and confident...I'd continue what you're doing.  Just giving you advice that I was in your shoes before. 

The other option is, why not just use like 17-20 lb Yozuri or PLine?  It would be an all around compromise for all of your techniques, no knot tying, abrasion resistance..etc.

[Brett's_daddy]

37 minutes ago, lmbfisherman said:

The other option is, why not just use like 17-20 lb Yozuri or PLine?  It would be an all around compromise for all of your techniques, no knot tying, abrasion resistance..etc.

These wouldn't be that great for frogs would they?

[lmbfisherman]

40 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

These wouldn't be that great for frogs would they?

Why not?  I would use 20lb copoly or mono as my leader.  Main advantage of braid in heavy vegetation is that it can cut through easier.  You can fish frogs on 20-30 lb mono with no issues.

[Brett's_daddy]

25 minutes ago, lmbfisherman said:

Main advantage of braid in heavy vegetation is that it can cut through easier.

So that 20lb. co-poly won't cut it in heavier vegetation?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A logical case can be made for several lines for the same application. For me, braid offers the no stretch sensitivity and line management I want. I'll occasionally add a leader for certain conditions. I see the logic in using the stiff Fluoro for semi slack presentations but in my experience I don't think I'm missing out by not going that route. 

[Brett's_daddy]

21 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

A logical case can be made for several lines for the same application. For me, braid offers the no stretch sensitivity and line management I want. I'll occasionally add a leader for certain conditions. I see the logic in using the stiff Fluoro for semi slack presentations but in my experience I don't think I'm missing out by not going that route. 

What about for the trebel hook top waters like the Whopper Plopper 130 and MS Mini Slammer, Spro Rat etc.?

[J Francho]

2 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

What about for the trebel hook top waters like the Whopper Plopper 130 and MS Mini Slammer, Spro Rat etc.?

 

You have two pages of advice, here:

 

 

[Cgrinder]

Learn to tie a leader. Adds abrasion resistance and versatility, not to mention saving the expensive braid when retying. 

 

I would also argue with the assertion that braid is mandatory for jigs. 

[WRB]

I fish jigs a lot without braid because where I fish it's sparse cover with mostly rocks and don't like using leaders with 2 knots. If FC is good enough for a leader, it's good for the main line. My suggestion would be to consider Sunline Armillo Defier Nylon 19 lb for your application with top water, frogs and jigs if 1 outfit is your goal.

Tom

[Senko lover]

I only fish jigs with straight braid, and that's because I put my jigs in places that fluorocarbon wouldn't survive.

[lmbfisherman]

1 hour ago, Brett's_daddy said:

So that 20lb. co-poly won't cut it in heavier vegetation?

I'm no scientist or expert but braid can be ripped out easier in vegetation.  Try it sometime, to see what I mean.  Really though you are over thinking this, in the end this is your preference on how you want to fish.  In my opinion you can use any line, people who argue mono sucks for Frogs are generalizing because of the stretch.  At heavier test 17+ that isn't really an issue, copolymer is less stretch than mono in general so that in my opinion is a good compromise.

[CTBassin860]

Yup.I put Yo-Zuri Hybrid on my jig rod but am going back to braid for the sensitivity.

[Yudo1]

IMO, braid is the way to go and learn how to tie a leader knot.  The alberto is the easiest for me.

[Brett's_daddy]

I'm thinking it's looking like my Irod Fiber 7'5" Heavy/Fast w/ a Daiwa Tatula CT 7.3:1 will be used for frogs, buzzbaits and heavier top water treble baits (like Whopper Plopper 130) and jigging in heavy cover so I'm leaning towards Sufix 832 braid in the 50lb. test. I'll just have to deal with the occasional fouling of the treble hook baits and recast them.

On my Dobyn's Fury 734C 7'3" Heavy/Fast w/BPS Pro Qualifier 2 6.8:1 will use for jigs in structure and non-vegetation situations, chatterbaits, swim jigs, spin jigs, spinnerbaits, jerk baits, t-rigs, senkos/craws and think I'll be spooling on Sunline FC Sniper in 16lb. test (this is up in the air though as it's darned expensive plus I'll also be using this some for smaller top waters (spooks, sammy's, poppers etc.) so maybe a copoly or even mono (Sufix Siege) would be a better option?

On my crankbait rod (which for now will be a Berkley Lightning Rod Shock 6'6" MH/F until I can find a suitable replacement) I'll be using my Lews Tournament Pro (for now until I determine which type of casting reel i like better, LH or RH) and I'll be putting on Seaguar Invizx in 12lb. test.