Braided Line Selection

[Grim_Reaver]

Hello all, I want to have a discussion about braided line. Currently, the market is dominated by 4 carrier braids(PowerPro, PP Maxcuatro, etc.) and 8 carrier braids (Sufix 832, PP Super Slick, Seguar Smackdown, etc). While 4 carriers are rougher and are said to cut through weeds better, 8 carriers are rounder/smoother and quieter. 8 carriers are also said to cast further and offer better handling on spinning gear in lighter line sizes. This is where the discussion begins. I would like to hear your opinions and experiences. I thought that this might also be helpful for newer fisherman, reading real world experiences vs. marketing hype. Learning how to fish with braid can be very frustrating and the price compared to mono lines can be discouraging, especially for younger fisherman. Thanks in advance to all the participate.

[DenhamBruce]

If you're not worried about cost then 8 carrier every time. If you can't tell the difference first hand between 4 and 8 carrier braid then go with whatever is cheapest!

[Hammer 4]

I've been using Seaguar Smackdown in 50lb stealth gray for frogin and punching. I'm a past user of Diawa Samurai braid. Glenn recommended the smackdown, so I gave it a shot..very glad I did. 

[ike8120]

I have started using KK super power braid. Very reasonably priced.

[dodgeguy]

Personally I feel 4 carrier braid is outdated. I have no problems in weeds with 8 carrier. The benefits to 8 carrier far outweigh anything 4 carrier has going for it.suffix 832 is my braid of choice followed by tuff line domin8.

[Djohn]

I started with 832 and never looked back. Tie direct for top water and a leader for everything else. I don't understand why you say its can be very frustrating to fish with braid. Twist is minimal I run braid for two seasons and no degrading from sun and age. 

[Mikeltee]

It really doesn't matter and leaders will hurt your performance. Bass could care less what that lure is tied to as long as you present it right. I bought a bunch of spider wire when it first came out. It's been sitting in my hot to cold to hot etc etc garage for a decade and all my reels are spooled with it. I cant tell you the last time I changed a spool of it on one of my reels except to try floro. It catches fish just like the high dollar gotta buy this braid guy's line. If it makes you feel better to have $40 of line on your reel and swap it out every week go for it. Your confidence level is what catches fish much more than what you present to them. Don't ever feel like you are missing out on something by buying a cheaper line because you aren't.

[Yumeya]

All I use is 8 carrier braids.

 

Sunline Xplasma and P-line TCB 8 is what I've been using the most.

I do have some Seguar smackdown on my Stella and its good.

For ice fishing I was using Daiwa J-braid grand 8 because its so soft.

 

I did pick up some of the new super slick 8 V2 that was on sale, so far its been pretty good also.

 

 

[Sam]

Gamma

[DanielG]

I just have this observation and a question.

I have always used mono and more recently fluorocarbon line. I have just put some braided Super pro slick 8 on my spinning outfit. 30 lb. First time using it. I am amazed at the distance and smoothness of my casts. It casts really far and the sound and ease that it leaves the pole is very noticeable. I'm thinking that because the curvy coils that the fluorocarbon has as it leaves the end of the reel the braided might be unspooling easier??

 

My Question: I am also new to bait casters. I have a new Curado with a glass Dobyns pole. I've been using it awhile now and am pretty comfortable with it. I have mono on it simply because 1. I know mono, and 2. because I understood that it was a good 'getting used to a casting reel' type of line as it was more forgiving with backlashes.

 

Would I feel as good about changing to braided on my casting reel as I am feeling about it on my spinning reel?

Thnx.

[Smalls]

27 minutes ago, DanielG said:

I just have this observation and a question.

I have always used mono and more recently fluorocarbon line. I have just put some braided Super pro slick 8 on my spinning outfit. 30 lb. First time using it. I am amazed at the distance and smoothness of my casts. It casts really far and the sound and ease that it leaves the pole is very noticeable. I'm thinking that because the curvy coils that the fluorocarbon has as it leaves the end of the reel the braided might be unspooling easier??

 

My Question: I am also new to bait casters. I have a new Curado with a glass Dobyns pole. I've been using it awhile now and am pretty comfortable with it. I have mono on it simply because 1. I know mono, and 2. because I understood that it was a good 'getting used to a casting reel' type of line as it was more forgiving with backlashes.

 

Would I feel as good about changing to braided on my casting reel as I am feeling about it on my spinning reel?

Thnx.

The advice I always give guys new to casting gear and braid is to use at least 30lb and keep in mind to check for “dig in”, otherwise you’ll have nothing but headaches 

[DanielG]

1 hour ago, Smalls said:

The advice I always give guys new to casting gear and braid is to use at least 30lb and keep in mind to check for “dig in”, otherwise you’ll have nothing but headaches 

Thanks.... 'dig in'? What am I checking for?

[dodgeguy]

26 minutes ago, DanielG said:

Thanks.... 'dig in'? What am I checking for?

 

You pull hard on braid it can dig into the line already spolled causing casting issues. The thicker and rounder the braid the less this occurs.if you get snagged wrap the braid around a wood dowel and pull. That will keep it from digging. Never pull braid with your hands unless you want stiches.i suggest for beginners at least 50 lb braid on a casting reel and make it Sufix 832.i can get away with 30 and 20 on a casting reel but don't suggest it for beginners.Whoever says mono is more forgiving of backlash is dead wrong.Backlash is far easier to remove with braid.it also does not damage the braid.

[DanielG]

Ah.. this makes a lot of sense, thanks. When I get braid for my casting reel I'll get 50 instead of 30. I thought people used it this high because they were in a place that caught big fish. But, I think the fish would have to be pretty big right? Seems on youtube they're all using 50 lb. The advice I was looking for.

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

 

You pull hard on braid it can dig into the line already spolled causing casting issues. The thicker and rounder the braid the less this occurs.if you get snagged wrap the braid around a wood dowel and pull. That will keep it from digging. Never pull braid with your hands unless you want stiches.i suggest for beginners at least 50 lb braid on a casting reel and make it Sufix 832.i can get away with 30 and 20 on a casting reel but don't suggest it for beginners.Whoever says mono is more forgiving of backlash is dead wrong.Backlash is far easier to remove with braid.it also does not damage the braid.

 

[Smalls]

31 minutes ago, DanielG said:

Ah.. this makes a lot of sense, thanks. When I get braid for my casting reel I'll get 50 instead of 30. I thought people used it this high because they were in a place that caught big fish. But, I think the fish would have to be pretty big right? Seems on youtube they're all using 50 lb. The advice I was looking for.

 

Braid that thick has advantages when it comes to fishing heavy cover. Think matted grass, or places where fish are gonna try and wrap you around stuff. You need line big enough to winch em out and away from that. 

[Bandersnatch]

On 8/8/2019 at 2:37 AM, Hammer 4 said:

I've been using Seaguar Smackdown in 50lb stealth gray for frogin and punching. I'm a past user of Diawa Samurai braid. Glenn recommended the smackdown, so I gave it a shot..very glad I did. 

Not problems froging or punching on 50lb smackdown? I've broken several frogs off on 40lb smackdown so I switched to 65lb maxq

[Hammer 4]

15 minutes ago, Cheif250 said:

Not problems froging or punching on 50lb smackdown? I've broken several frogs off on 40lb smackdown so I switched to 65lb maxq

Nope..no breakoffs.

[BassCats]

8 carrier an be less noisy. Otherwise I see no benefit. I have tried many of them and keep trying new ones as they come out. I keep falling back on Tuff Line XP which is a 4 carrier braid. Nothing gives me the sensitivity and the control as much as this line. Never had any issues with or a bad batch. Some people prefer braids with some sort of coating. I just prefer regular braid. I freely admin though that Dodgeguy has much more time with braid and experience than I.

[GreenPig]

I use original 65 lb Power Pro for flipping/frogging and Berkley Ultra 8 in 8 lb & 10 lb to a flouro leader for finesse presentations such as Ned/dropshot. 

[ChrisD46]

On 8/8/2019 at 4:44 PM, Djohn said:

I started with 832 and never looked back. Tie direct for top water and a leader for everything else. I don't understand why you say its can be very frustrating to fish with braid. Twist is minimal I run braid for two seasons and no degrading from sun and age. 

*There are greater possibilities to getting wind knots and line loops down with the #8lb. - #10 lb. braids on a spinning outfit . Also some  of the 8 carrier braids tend to fray more than 4 carrier or even other 8 carrier braids ... It all depends .

[Bassattackr]

Don't know anything about line carriers or aircraft carriers but Sunline FX2 and SX1 work just great for me. ?

[LionHeart]

23 hours ago, Smalls said:

Braid that thick has advantages when it comes to fishing heavy cover. Think matted grass, or places where fish are gonna try and wrap you around stuff. You need line big enough to winch em out and away from that. 

Sorry dude but that makes absolutely no sense, and I hear it all the time.  Can you please elaborate?

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, LionHeart said:

Sorry dude but that makes absolutely no sense, and I hear it all the time.  Can you please elaborate?

Why does it make no sense? Can you please elaborate? Thicker braid will withstand abuse better than thinner braid.

[gnappi]

I started using 4 strand braid, and never saw a reason to use or try anything else. Like I go to a fave restaurant and find something I like, I never try anything else :-)

[LionHeart]

11 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

Why does it make no sense? Can you please elaborate? Thicker braid will withstand abuse better than thinner braid.

Well, when people say 50 pound test braid helps to pull a fish out of cover better than let's say 30 pound test, I don't see how that is possible.  It's not as if the thicker braid somehow gives the angler a higher mechanical advantage over the fish. 

 

With a rod that will likely break at <20 lbs., and a reel drag that will slip at around 15 lbs., I just don't see how 50 lb braid would offer any practical advantage over 30 lb.  Both line choices far exceed the amount of force the angler will be able to apply while retrieving a fish from the muck. 

 

Is the idea that the line often becomes damaged while fishing,  so it's best to start with 50 lb. test and even if damaged, the line will maintain enough integrity to get the job done?  I've never had my line damaged by grass or lily pads or hydrilla.  

 

Seriously wondering this because I see the claim often.