Best Company Braid?

[ELM]

I am about to buy some braid and wanted to know what y'all think the best company is. Thanks!

[KTinman86]

There are all sorts of braids out there and they are just about all made from the same fibers and in the same way. However, the characteristics of each can vary and provide advantages/disadvantages for particular presentations. I prefer 8 carrier braids over 4 carrier braids (how many strands it's made of) because they tend to be smoother/quieter, more abrasion resistant, and better casting, with some exceptions... I also prefer bright colors like neon green or chartreuse because it's easier for me to detect bites on techniques like flipping grass, and several finesse techniques using spinning tackle. I do black out 3-5ft of line with a sharpie and then I go over the sharpie with a garlic scented marker to help mask the sharpie smell (more of a confidence thing...) and I use a fluorocarbon leader for all my finesse presentations. 

 

So, after all that, my favorite braids are the Daiwa J-8, and the Sufix 832. I use the Daiwa J-8 in Chartreuse for flipping vegetation (50 & 65lb), swimming jigs (30 & 40lb), and on all my spinning tackle (10 & 15lb) because it's the smoothest and quietest braid I've found. I use the Sufix 832 for frogging and toading in 50lb because it's the strongest braid made.

 

Some other braids to check out are Power Pro, Seaguar, Spiderwire, Sunline, and P-Line. I've used them all and I've settled on Daiwas J-8 and Sufix 832. 

[ELM]

Thanks so much! Very informative!!!

[tander]

For finesse fishing, I use Power Pro, 10# test in hi vis yellow. Have been 100% satisfied with PP.

[Finnz922]

Sunline FX2

[NHBull]

832, smackdown, Gamma Torque 

[Dustyh]

Power pro spectra 10lb on spinning setup.

[3crows]

I do not think there is a consensus best or there would not be so many different products, not just including line.

 

I use Power Pro. Why not? Like all of these lines, the base fiber is white. So, after a little while you have green, yellow, red or whatever the original color was in the box, kinda faded looking remembrance of it's former self, like old, worn blue jeans. 

 

I think bass have the IQ of a flatworm, if that, and I am pretty sure they do not go, "hey, like dude bass, look, the thing has a green piece of string on it" like that.

[fishindad]

Agree with others that there's no one best braid/line for all situations but - for all around, general use I vote for Sufix 832 as I feel it's only weakness is the color fading which to me, makes no difference to the fish. If you think it does keep a black Sharpie on hand.

[r83srock]

22 minutes ago, 3crows said:

I do not think there is a consensus best or there would not be so many different products, not just including line.

 

I use Power Pro. Why not? Like all of these lines, the base fiber is white. So, after a little while you have green, yellow, red or whatever the original color was in the box, kinda faded looking remembrance of it's former self, like old, worn blue jeans. 

 

I think bass have the IQ of a flatworm, if that, and I am pretty sure they do not go, "hey, like dude bass, look, the thing has a green piece of string on it" like that.

Totally agree! I've used others, but I always gravitate back to power pro. 10lb on a spinning reel and 30lb on a Bait casting reel. I feel that innovative textiles with the support of Shimano, with the low cost and availability of Walmart is a winner for me. 

[Boomstick]

I like the x8 (8 strand) Daiwa J-Braid the best to date. The reason I like the Daiwa line is simply because it frays less than some others I've used, although I didn't have any issues with the line fraying to the point it was breaking either.

 

Power Pro, Suffx, and Spiderwire (minus the EZ braid) are all fine - I'm sure there are others as well.

[CTBassin860]

Personal favorite is Sufix 832

[WRB]

Best means different things to different folks and rarely reply to this type of thread.

Threads like these are a popularity contest using well known brands or promoted.

My preference for products are 1st those manufactured in the America and have a history of high quality and performance. FINS braid is one of those products, made in Kentucky, high quality great performance over the years I have used the PRC braid.

Introducded to FINS by off shore Marlin and tuna tournament anglers. Not well known amongst bass anglers and I am still using the same spool 60 lb PRC for 27 years.

Tom

[XpressJeff]

I use Power Pro and Suffix 832 on everything.

 

I have confidence in them from long time use!

[Bluebasser86]

I've had great luck with KastKing Super Power. Handles very nicely, available in lots of colors, and it's cheap!

[PatrickKnight]

12 hours ago, WRB said:

Best means different things to different folks and rarely reply to this type of thread.

Threads like these are a popularity contest using well known brands or promoted.

My preference for products are 1st those manufactured in the America and have a history of high quality and performance. FINS braid is one of those products, made in Kentucky, high quality great performance over the years I have used the PRC braid.

Introducded to FINS by off shore Marlin and tuna tournament anglers. Not well known amongst bass anglers and I am still using the same spool 60 lb PRC for 27 years.

Tom

 

FINS is huge among the inshore anglers on the Texas coast as well. I LOVE Windtamer and I am really surprised it hasn't caught on more in the bass fishing arena then again they don't spend as much on marketing as other companies do I guess.

[thebillsman]

Sunline! 

 

FX2 for the top, SX1 for the bottom.

[mattkenzer]

Power Pro Hi Vis Yellow 10-20 lb on Spinning Reels c/w Maxima Fluorocarbon Leader.

Power Pro Green 30-50 lb on Baitcasters c/w Maxima Chameleon Leader. 

[Chance_Taker4]

I use Vicious No Fade

[Master Bait'r]

Smackdown all day every day.  Nothing is thinner or smoother.  Spooling up with smackdown is like upgrading your reel.  

[BigAngus752]

Spiderwire on spinning gear and Sufix 832 on baitcaster. 

[Big Bait Fishing]

i've tried lot's of braid , in my opinion , sunline makes the best braid in the SX1 and FX2 , i use 10 lb. on spinning set up , 20 lb on Ml rod , 40 lb. on H rod -all SX1 . 80 lb. on punch rod (FX2) .. i hate overly coated lines and lines that flatten and fuzz ...

[Big Bait Fishing]

10 hours ago, Master Bait'r said:

Smackdown all day every day.  Nothing is thinner or smoother.  Spooling up with smackdown is like upgrading your reel.  

if you want thinner and smoother , try some YGK G-SOUL X8 , consideribly thinner and smoother than smackdown ...

[Master Bait'r]

9 hours ago, Big Bait Fishing said:

if you want thinner and smoother , try some YGK G-SOUL X8 , consideribly thinner and smoother than smackdown ...

 

 

Huh, never even heard of it.  I'll have to give it a look.  Smackdown has been my go-to for years!  

[DroneFisher]

I started using PP Super Slick. Great braid but expensive. I researched KastKing and got some of their SuperPower braid. It was a good start. My favorite braid by them is actually not being made anymore, Mega 8.