8 carrier braid for frogging

[Beetlebz]

A revisit to a post I made a while ago, I switched to an 8 carrier braid for frogging and flipping. I settled on Tuf Domin8 in 50lb test. For flipping Texas rigs into some pretty nasty cover the line has performed fantastic and I've never seen evidence of the braid getting chewed up by minor incidental contact with brush or grass. 

 

Frogging is a different story. I can walk the dog like a pro on the Domin8, but when I'm making bomb casts I have to be *extremely* careful about loose wraps on the spool. The braid doesnt really dig in so to speak, but it kinda gets stuck in loose wraps beneath it. It pulls out effortlessly without damaging the line, but its enough of a hiccup to affect the spool speed and cause inconsistent casting at best. At worst that quick little grab when it gets stuck is enough shock in the line to break my frog off and send it flying. This has happened twice now. I break off on the cast but the line can still be pulled by hand off the spool. I dont think that the line is a bad batch either, I've hooked into some pigs and brought up 10 extra pounds of grass and the line has held great. The only remedy this far is to almost max out the brakes on the fuego so the spool can get caught up when it hiccups, but I lost a ton of casting distance. 

 

I'm thinking maybe a coated 8 carrier braid like 832? Maybe try the Domin8 again but in 65lb so it's less likely to get stuck in itself? I'd prefer not using a 4 carrier braid just because I dislike the coarse feel under my thumb.

[ratherbfishin1]

I use 832 and love it... I don’t know if it will solve your problem but I’ve never had that problem with it.

[Angry John]

I have frogged with 4 6 and 8 carrier.  The only difference is how well the braid cuts the pads.  The lower the lb test and lower the carrier the better it cuts in my experience.  Liked 40lb sonic braid for a while but it's not made any more.  65 sonic braid was also good.  

[Beetlebz]

The heart breaker here is that for some reason the Tuf Domin8 can often be found super cheap.

 

I should add that I have more issues with lighter lures. I've turned up while flipping to hit a set back brush pile... the stuff casts great. My terminator walking frogs are a little heavier than some and dont give me too much trouble. The poppin pad crashers are lighter and are the most problematic. I guess itll be trial and error to get to the bottom of it.

[The Bassman]

I don't think 832 is coated.  Just the single gore-tex fiber.

[Beetlebz]

On 9/23/2018 at 4:02 PM, The Bassman said:

I don't think 832 is coated.  Just the single gore-tex fiber.

It felt like it had maybe a waxy type texture to it, I use it on 2 spinning rigs but I've never paid paid that close of attention to it. 

 

For about the same price as most everything else is the P-Line TCB braid, looks like it might do the trick. I was looking at the fireline ultra 8 but tackle warehouse only has up to 30lb.

 

The more I read the more I'm wondering if it's a limitation of the magforce Z brakes. I might try playing with my spool tension to see if that helps too, but I still need some fresh braid.

[Beetlebz]

I spent the day throwing a 110 plopper in some chop today on the 50lb Domin8. Even with the heavy easy-casting plopper had some issues with the braid. I could make 10 casts with no issues and then on cast 11 with no slop at all on the spool I launched the plopper..  it almost seems like the spool accelerates faster than the line is coming off (which I think is from the line sticking/digging in). With my lure in mid air the line on the spool got tangled in the loose wraps, stopped dead and whipped directly back at me. 

 

I cut off the rest of the spool (there wasn't much left after my last trip out) and managed to scrounge up some 65lb standard power pro I had leftover, itll have to do until I find something smoother.

[GeekOutdoors]

I just spooled my new baitcast reels with Tuf-Line Tournament 8 without issues, works great !

[Beetlebz]

37 minutes ago, GeekFisher said:

I just spooled my new baitcast reels with Tuf-Line Tournament 8 without issues, works great !

That one isn't even listed on TUF's website. They make a few interesting looking braids I'm curious to try. To be honest I might come back to TUF and try the domin8 on my spinning reels when those braids get looking worse for wear. I liked the line when I wasn't having bizarre snarls. 

 

The supercast braid looks neat too but they dont say what its coated with. 

 

I'll report back when I see how the original 65lb PP works. Maybe it's just me, who knows. If it works I'll return to the hunt for a new quieter braid that doesnt zip against my thumb. I have a couple in mind to try.

[GeekOutdoors]

5 hours ago, Beetlebz said:

That one isn't even listed on TUF's website. They make a few interesting looking braids I'm curious to try. To be honest I might come back to TUF and try the domin8 on my spinning reels when those braids get looking worse for wear. I liked the line when I wasn't having bizarre snarls. 

 

The supercast braid looks neat too but they dont say what its coated with. 

 

I'll report back when I see how the original 65lb PP works. Maybe it's just me, who knows. If it works I'll return to the hunt for a new quieter braid that doesnt zip against my thumb. I have a couple in mind to try.

Yep I saw that its not on the website ? Tuf-Line XP is good too, very flexible. PP is usually stiffer. I Will likely switch to KK Braid next season.

[WRB]

Does anyone know the difference between 8 carrier and 4 carrier? 

For example 4 carriers with 2 ends (spools) vs 8 carrier with 1 end (1 spool).

Tom

[J.Vincent]

Ive successfully used Spiderwire Zilla Braid 40lb when frogging . I’m not sure if it’s 8 carrier or 4 Carrier braid. But if I remember correctly the 40lb Zilla Braid is the equivalent diameter of most 65lb braid. So it has a larger diameter than normal braid and somewhere around 6 or 7% stretch, this allows the line to cast better with less binding and looping. It might be an option if you can find it on the shelf anywhere. 

[Beetlebz]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Does anyone know the difference between 8 carrier and 4 carrier? 

For example 4 carriers with 2 ends (spools) vs 8 carrier with 1 end (1 spool).

Tom

The only primary difference is the size of the weave. 8 carrier achieves the same tensile strength as 4 carrier using twice as many fibers that are half as strong. Same strength but a smoother weave. The only difference beyond that is a couple variations in the actual weave itself which doesnt account for much to us regular bass guys.

 

The only curveball that's coming out now is 5 and 9 carrier braid which is 4 and 8 carrier braid respectively woven around a core of spectra. The only real difference on the user end will be the smoothness of an 8 carrier braid with an increased strength to diameter ratio thanks to the spectra core and it should stay rounder thanks to the circular structure.

[WRB]

2 minutes ago, Beetlebz said:

The only primary difference is the size of the weave. 8 carrier achieves the same tensile strength as 4 carrier using twice as many fibers that are half as strong. Same strength but a smoother weave. The only difference beyond that is a couple variations in the actual weave itself which doesnt account for much to us regular bass guys.

 

The only curveball that's coming out now is 5 and 9 carrier braid which is 4 and 8 carrier braid respectively woven around a core of spectra. The only real difference on the user end will be the smoothness of an 8 carrier braid with an increased strength to diameter ratio thanks to the spectra core and it should stay rounder thanks to the circular structure.

Do you know how braiders work or what a carrier is?

Tom

 

[Beetlebz]

@WRB I'm going to PM you a link, hopefully I wont get banned for it lol it's an article that I've referenced a few times when I have had questions. 

 

Basically an end or a carrier (different names for the same thing) is a bunch of strands of the fiber (think of a girls hair)  Those ends or carriers are bunched together then woven into a line (like braids). Theres a few different types of machines that make different types of weaves for different applications. 

[WRB]

You don't need to educate me, I was in the aerospace business about 50 years making state of the art EMC shielding products that included one of the largest braiders in the west, machines from 8 to 128 carriers. Post the link on this site, shouldn't be an issue and informative.

Tom

[Beetlebz]

Oh, I didn't realize you were just trying to make an example out of someone.

 

https://www.sportfishingmag.com/comparing-4-and-8-carrier-braided-fishing-lines

[Catt]

@Beetlebz as you've noticed the problem only occurs when you "bomb" cast.

 

The solution I've found is to apply slightly more thumb pressure on extra long cast.