Best Braided Lines

[MDbassin]

I've tried several brands and both 4 and 8 carrier.

 

I keep going back to the old 4 carrier power pro.....except on spinning reels I use the power pro super slick 8. By far the best braid for spinning reels I've used.

 

The only suffix I use anymore is there mono the suffix siege is great.

[Steve S]

On 1/6/2018 at 10:30 AM, Glenn said:

Used original PowerPro for years, and really liked it....until I used Seaguar Kanzen.  I switched immediately because it handled so much better. Then Seaguar Smackdown came out and, WOW, what a difference! I've been a fan ever since.  Very smooth and extremely strong.  Doesn't fade over time either. Great knot strength and handles great!

 

 

 

 

@Glenn what is the smallest lb braid you would recommend going on a baitcaster reel. I’ve heard you shouldn’t go to small of a diameter and I know smackdown is smaller than other braid. What lb test would you recommend of seaguar smackdown? Thanks 

[waymont]

Power Pro original in Yellow. On every setup, both casting and spinning except one, which has straight fluoro.

I've never had one issue with so I never changed.

Casting I don't go below 30lb, spinning I use 8-15lb.

[Glenn]

Casting, 30lb is about the min I go with.  I prefer 50lb on baitcasting.

 

20lb Smackdown works great on spinning.  Casts really well.

[Mbirdsley]

Power pro has worked for the last 2 seasons so I don’t really have a reason to change it up at the moment. I am interested in possibly trying the kast king stuff based solely on price.  I change all my lines on my poles at the beginning of the year.  I feel it’s cheap insurance and I use cheap mono for a backer so I’m only putting on 75-100 yards max. 
 I use 30 lbs pp for a regular t-rigging 65 lbs pp for slop/punching rod. Both spinning rods atm I have 10 lbs hi-viz (yellow) pp rigged up.  However, the light action rod I’m swapping it out for flouro to throw size 5-6 shad raps 
 

I have used 8 lbs spider wire stealth for t-rigs and other fineness stuff on the one spinning rod.  It worked fine I only swapped it to pp hi-viz just for line watching reasons 

[Columbia Craw]

Seaguar Smackdown has grown on me.  If you are more budget minded, the P-Line TCB is pretty darn good.  Of course, Power Pro has a great track record.  Noisy stuff though.

[VirginiaKayakBasser]

Some people seem to prefer very supple braid, but I like it with a slight bit of stiffness.  Comes off the spool better and is much easier to tie knots with.  8 strand J-Braid was what I first started with, but now prefer Power Pro or 4 strand J-Braid. We 8 strand J-Braid can be hell to tie.

[Kelvin]

YGK 8 strand.  Varivas 8 strand.  Gosen 16. 

 

I've tried many and these are my go to lines so far. Yes they are pricey and hard to find. 

[bulldog1935]

I just bought some Varivas 8 in finesse braid size on Amazon (onshore stock) - it surprised me as much as many.  It was discounted about one-third, $20 for 150-m spool. 

 

It's noteworthy the X-braids were introduced in 2018 after this thread was OP'd.  They changed the game on braid, and initially cost $1/yd, but that's changing fast.

 

[CrashVector]

I use Hercules no fade 8 carrier braid in 10lb on my bass spinning rods, 20lb on my casting gear, and 40lb on my top water rigs.

 

Hercules is the best braid I've tried.  Inexpensive, and doesn't fade at all.  Zero problems with it.

 

KastKing Destron in 6lb camo on my ultralight Pflueger Trion panfish combo, and KastKing Destron camo braid in 8lb on my Pflueger Trion medium light panfish combo.

[ike8120]

KK Finesse 13X,8X, Kastpro and for the budget friendly KK Superpro. I use all of these.

[GreenPig]

Baitcast - Daiwa J - Braid

Spinning - KK 13X Finesse 

[king fisher]

I have tried almost every braid made and haven't found one that is far superior.  That said, I prefer Diawa J 8 in the grey color.  I like it for it's over all performance and price.

[bulldog1935]

if you haven't relegated some braid to backing only, you haven't tried every braid in every size and application.