Braid for Panfish?

[Collin W]

I have seen some light braid in the 5-10 lb test range. I was wondering when to use braid vs mono when fishing for panfish. Braid seems to be better diameter wise. But is there a disadvantage in some situations?

[J Francho]

I don't see much point in it.  Always just used 4# XL for panfish rigs.

[Team9nine]

If you're swimming/drifting small jigs or fishing shallow, no issues with mono. However, I prefer using 3# and 5# braid when fishing tiny crappie jigs deep, down to 30' at times. The difference in feel is quite noticeable.

[J Francho]

8 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

The difference in feel is quite noticeable.

 

Interesting.  I think by the time braid had caught on, we had added a year round season for bass.  All my crappie gear has done since is collect dust.

[Crestliner2008]

For the past half dozen years I've been using 2# test Fireline Crystal on all my panfish rods, with a 4' fluorocarbon leader. I fish a deep, clear water reservoir mainly and when I'm casting & drifting to crappie suspended 15' - 20' down, I need that extra sensitivity for detecting the lightest takes. I'm using this line on B n' M Sam Heaton rods, both the 7' and 9' models.

 

I've caught a ton of nice crappie, bluegill, rainbow trout, as well as some respectable largemouths on these rigs. And I've rarely experienced any problems. Understand too that the waters I'm fishing are highland reservoirs with little cover on any of the targeted structures. Consequently I'm not having to deal with brush or trees. If I were, I might consider stepping up to 4# test Crystal, but that doesn't seem likely. 

[Oregon Native]

Have used the braid in lighter tests and love it....nice being able to give a little jerk and get off weeds....and long casts and sensitivity is over the top.

[everythingthatswims]

Braid with a leader is great for panfish. Just make sure you use a leader.

[I.rar]

I use braid with 4lb floroclear leader for my UL rig and love it. 

[Loomis13]

Depends on the kind of fishing you are doing. Many people prefer mono when casting jigs because it offers a slower fall rate compared to the thinner braid. When I am fishing in timber I like braid because I can get my jigs out of the wood by bending the hook. 

 

Disclaimer: I do not use any mono on my panfish rods, I have braid and nanobraid for casting light jigs. However, the best pan fisherman I am acquainted with refuse to use braid when casting jigs because they like the slow fall rate mono offers.

 

Oh I almost forgot...the braid is WAY more sensitive  

[nighthawk25]

I like braid when using whats called a tightline rig here locally. It consists of a bell sinker (1/4 to 3/8 oz) and a 2 hooks about a foot apart. Braid is much more sensitive and doesn't stretch with the big sinker at the end. I do make the rig with mono or flouro so the fish can't see it as well. 

[fishwizzard]

I have used 6lb braid on my panfish/perch reels before and like it well enough, except when trying to tie on a new leader in any kind of wind.  It is so thin and limp that it drives me crazy trying to get a knot tied.  I tried 4lb braid once and that lasted about two trips, my fingers cannot deal with it.   

 

I fish a lot in brackish water for white perch.  As bycatch I get pickerel, small stripers, and sometimes small blues.  I will sometimes run 6lb braid to pretty heavy floro, like 8-12lb.  It seems to help get my little spinners deeper and the perch don't seem to care.  

[N Florida Mike]

I use 4-6 pound mono mostly. When I fish the St johns river around docks I like a light braid which is stronger around docks.I got into some big shellcrackers ( redear sunfish ) under a dock and lost about a third of them wrapping around the pilings and breaking off. Got me some spiderwire ( dont remember the pound test,but it was like 6 pound mono diameter) Never had another fish break me off there.

[SummertimeCarl]

My creek-specific spinning rod has some 6lb Kastking braid I just had laying around.  I don't use a leader.  The line is super thin.  

 

Shoving that limp braid through the smaller panfish hooks can be more of a challenge because the eyelets are smaller than they are on my 3/0 worm hooks.  Its a minor inconvenience.  I like the feel of braid more than flouro/mono, though.

 

In all honesty I am not a "serious" pan fisherman so that rod just gets whatever line I have laying around at the time.  

[Looch]

I've seen guys using 20lb braid while trolling spoons and crankbaits for slab crappie, but they used some sort of mono/fluoro for leaders

[bagofdonuts]

i use straight braid some when bream fishing the lilly pads in the spring. got tired of losing the biggest red ears when they wrap around pad stems.