Baitcaster mono or braid??

[Anthony Riello]

I’m looking into getting a shimano curado DC 150. I’m not sure if I should use mono or braid?? On my first baitcaster I’m using braid and it’s all right. I will be throwing just about all kinds of baits for bass fishing. But my friend has his spooled with mono and it’s definitely different? So what are the pros and cons? What would you go with? - thanks Anthony

[Hulkster]

Im a mono fan, I use Sufix Siege 12 pound test on my Curado 200i. Strong and easy to cast. Casts like a bullet. 

[Anthony Riello]

I will probably go with sufix line, I've heard many good things about that line. Mono seems to be better overall, for all around baits, it's cheaper, and has more stretch. How's your Curado 200 I holding up?

[Spankey]

I’m a fan of Trilene XT on my baitcasters. I’m old school when it comes to my lines. Guess I’m not that receptive to change. Have never used braid. Mono and fluorocarbon. 

[Hulkster]

1 hour ago, Anthony Riello said:

I will probably go with sufix line, I've heard many good things about that line. Mono seems to be better overall, for all around baits, it's cheaper, and has more stretch. How's your Curado 200 I holding up?

i have had my curado 200i for I think three years now, I have the PG (5.5:1 ratio) version for throwing big bladed baits like the mepps #5 for pike, big spinnerbaits and big crankbaits for bass. its holding up perfectly. I just give it a few drops of lube every now and then and away I go. Its a great reel but no longer in production

[Anthony Riello]

Yep! Can't go wrong with Shimano curado series.

 

[new2BC4bass]

There are pros and cons to each type.  I wouldn't go with braid if you need good abrasion resistance unless you are willing to use some very heavy braid.  I have used 40# braid for several years fishing in slop.  I am currently trying some 60# braid on my dedicated frog rod, but think I will drop down to a smaller size when it finally needs changing.

 

I prefer a mono or co-polymer for most of my reels.  It is what I grew up with.  Some prefer braid or braid to a leader for everything.  There really isn't a wrong choice although I think most would agree certain techniques are better with one line type than either of the others....like braid on a frog rod.  However, I'd be willing to bet that there are a few fishing frogs with something other than braid and succeeding.

 

My personal preference would be something like (in no particular order) Big Game, Siege, AN40, Mean Green, XXX or Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  I am not a big fan of fluorocarbon line.  I've already admitted to being a little prejudice. 

[Bankbeater]

Only my punch rig has braid on it now.  The other baitcasters all have mono on them.

[Mobasser]

I like Trilene Big Game on casting reels.

[JBFishin]

Braid for throwing frogs and Flipping some Heavy nasty cover. Rest of my reels have Sunline FC sniper.

[kenmitch]

I lean towards braid on all my rigs. 30lb Sufix on my baitcaster rigs and 10lb-20lb on my spinning rigs. I recently picked up a rig for swimbaits and still haven't decided on what line I'm going to go with. Seems like P-line CXX is a common choice and cheaply priced. I'm still debating the braid vs other options on this one. 

 

I switched to braid when I got back into fishing about a couple years ago. Started out with Trilene XT due to it's price point. It didn't take me long to figure out braid was worth the price premium once you figure in the value of the lost lures and tackle. I fish with straight braid for the most part. I do have one spinning rig with some 20lb high vis red braid on it that I may use a lighter weight braid leader in moss-green if I feel the color may work against me.

 

I now fish from a kayak and the strength of braid does have it's downsides if I get snagged too deep. It's hard to break and I really have no leverage as I wind up just pulling myself up to the snag. On the plus side of things it's nice to know that I don't have to horse the larger ones in and it adds to the experience when they pull me around in circles. 

 

I like the strength vs diameter of braid and the no stretch aspect of it. I guess in the end a person just chooses what works best for them.

[Dr. Big Dog]

I use braid to leader. I find braid casts better than mono and is far more sensitive. Braid doesn’t have the memory of mono which makes it easier to manage. I also use hi-vis braid because it is so much easier to watch my line. It really boils down to personal preference. There isn’t a right or wrong.

[gbassman519]

I like trilene XL smooth casting and no line twist.

 

[CrankFate]

Braid. Personally, I have never been able to cast a baitcaster with mono, I don’t know why so many people say it’s easier than braid???

[HeyCoach]

I know this doesn’t help much. I have two baitcasters that I’ve had about a year or so and have only used Sunline fluorocarbon in 12lb test. I’ve not tried mono or braid on them. 

[Heartland]

Why not try a good co-poly or hybrid?

[LionHeart]

High vis braid to leader.  Braid

 

Has nearly zero stretch

Is more sensitive

Easier to see (hi vis colors)

No memory

Stronger

IMO easier to remove backlash 

Lasts forever

 

 

[Dens228]

I go with straight braid on everything..........

50 for frogging, big swimbaits

30 for jigs, plastics, spinnerbaits, medium poppers, medium swimbaits

20 for crankbaits and jerkbaits

 

Also, 90% of my fishing is from a kayak.

[Backroad Angler]

Mono for everything, cheap and versatile.

[LCG]

I was braid to leader for 5 years. Now I am going to straight braid or straight mono. Experience will dictate which I stick with. The leader knot through the guides is really bothering me lately. 

 

[Jcj90]

Mono fan here only use braid for frogging, punching and certain top waters 

[Sam]

Anthony, in the good ole days the rule was to use mono on your baitcaster for the stretch when setting the hook.  This was especially true for treble hook baits when you set the hook by moving the rod from left to right (or right to left) waist high.

 

Today, things have changed. First, the pros are using fluorocarbon on their baitcasters. Second, more and more pros are going with braid on their baitcasters.

 

So what should you do?  Personal preference and what you have confidence should rule your decision. You need to try some mono, fluoro and braid next year to see how they perform on your rod and reel setup. We can only give you our opinion which may not match your techniques or baits so it is up to you to find your best setup.

 

I use braid for flipping and pitching on my spinning rigs and mono for treble hook baits and fluorocarbon and braid on my baitcasters depending on the baits I am throwing.

 

Have fun noting with line suits your fishing style best and go out and nail your personal best. Merry Christmas!