I'm not a perfect angler but I just don't get it.

[dodgeguy]

O.K. I'm not perfect. I'm not even close. But I am 60 years old and have been fishing since I was 7. That's 53 years so I think I know something. As many of you know me I love braided line. I've used it since 1993. I've used a bunch of different brands and numerous products within those brands. I've read many reviews on braids and many posts about braids. I've read about braid snapping when casting. I've read about wind knots.Ive read about tip wrap. One guy will say a braid is to limp. The next guy will say it's to stiff.It seems a lot of people have horrendous issues with braids. Knots seem to be one of them. I use a Palomar knot all the time and have never had it slip with any brand of braid.I am completely convinced that 99 percent of peoples problems with braid are user error. Yes some braids are better than others.But the problems you read about are amazing. In all the years I have fished braid I have never snapped it on a cast. Even with a 1.5 oz spoon and having a backlash stop the cast. Granted I used 50 lb test with it. If your throwing big lures on light line what would you think might happen. I would never throw that on light braid. Another complaint is that braid is hard to remove a backlash from. No it's not. It's really easy and the line doesn't Get damaged. I've maybe had to cut out 5 backlashes with braid since 1993. The good old Bill Dance jam your thumb on the spool and reel technique works for me. Like I said guys I'm not a perfect angler and many here could probably outfish me but when it comes to braid and the problems people have I just don't get it.

[Bird]

I'm 58 and totally agree. 

[dodgeguy]

https://images.app.goo.gl/LmFYtQ4SxbutKyNs6

[Spankey]

I can’t talk the braid game with you. Basically been a mono guy my whole life. I’m only using it on one setup. 35# braid on a MH 7’1” Frog setup.  

 

But like you I’m far from perfect. I’m 60 years old also and to started fishing when I was about 7 or 8 years old.

 

Good luck, have fun. 

[dodgeguy]

I've grew up on mono. Used it for years. Every once in a while I spool some up but wind up going back to braid. Have tried flouro also. I always wind up back to braid. You would think I'd learn and stick with what I like.Your frog setup probably works well . If it ever digs in use thicker braid. Tight lines buddy.

[hwright38]

Exactly my thoughts. Braid mishaps are almost always user error. I also like that I can really dig at a back lash and not have to worry about kinking the line or flat out breaking it off. 

 

I have broke off mid-cast one time, and it was casting a 1oz spoon with 40lb braid. I'm pretty sure that spool was a lemon from the factory, as I had been experiencing a lot of breaks with that specific spool. Once I switched back to my main brand I don't think I've broken off braid since. 

[Junger]

I've had Daiwa J-Braidx4 snap on me once and only once. I use braid a lot, on most of my rods. It was on a rod that I fished a lot of slop on. I think the friction from the guides/slop created a weak point and it snapped the x4.

[Spankey]

14 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

I've grew up on mono. Used it for years. Every once in a while I spool some up but wind up going back to braid. Have tried flouro also. I always wind up back to braid. You would think I'd learn and stick with what I like.Your frog setup probably works well . If it ever digs in use thicker braid. Tight lines buddy.

I have noticed that. That situation comes and goes at random. 

[WRB]

"I use 50# braid" eliminates 90% of braid line issues. Try casting 6 oz lures into the wind over 60 yards and wind over or pick out a backlash.

Single Palomar knot slips using Teflon or polyuerathane coated braid regardless how well it's tied.

Most braid issues are related to 20# and under on spinning tackle and wind knots, tip wraps and abrasion issues become more of an issue.

Like everything in fishing we each have our own opinions, likes and dislikes. If braid is a panacea line then everyone would be using it.

I have been using braid when it was Dacron in the 50's and only use modern super braids when nessesary in heavy cover.

The op has been using braid since 1993, I have been using the same spool of FINS original  60# braid since 1993.

Tom

[jimmyjoe]

46 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

....when it comes to braid and the problems people have I just don't get it.

   I don't think you have to get it. I don't think I have to get it, either.  I won't fish braid. I hate it so much it ain't funny. But you can like it, you can use it, and you can do real well with it in ways that I can't. No problem. No one really has to understand the source of other peoples' problems. I mean, it would be real nice, sure. But not necessary. As long as I can use what I like and you can use what you like, the world keeps goin' round and we all keep catching fish.

   Maybe 90% of the problem is people trying to MAKE themselves like something or use something that they don't really need. Kind of a fashion thing.

   I might be wrong, but I doubt that bass fishing is the place for "fashion". Just keep using what works.   jj

[dodgeguy]

3 minutes ago, WRB said:

"I use 50# braid" eliminates 90% of braid line issues. Try casting 6 oz lures into the wind over 60 yards and wind over or pick out a backlash.

Single Palomar knot slips using Teflon or polyuerathane coated braid regardless how well it's tied.

Most braid issues are related to 20# and under on spinning tackle and wind knots, tip wraps and abrasion issues become more of an issue.

Like everything in fishing we each have our own opinions, likes and dislikes. If braid is a panacea line then everyone would be using it.

I have been using braid when it was Dacron in the 50's and only use modern super braids when nessesary in heavy cover.

Tom

I agree on the heavier line gives less issues. I have been using 20 and 30 on my baitcasters this year in an attempt to lighten up. Using Sufix 832 on Lews reels. It does dig a little sometimes but hasn't been bad. I fish Ned rigs on 20 lb braid on a 7 ft medium fast rod. I don't use spinning rods anymore.

3 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   I don't think you have to get it. I don't think I have to get it, either.  I won't fish braid. I hate it so much it ain't funny. But you can like it, you can use it, and you can do real well with it in ways that I can't. No problem. No one really has to understand the source of other peoples' problems. I mean, it would be real nice, sure. But not necessary. As long as I can use what I like and you can use what you like, the world keeps goin' round and we all keep catching fish.

   Maybe 90% of the problem is people trying to MAKE themselves like something or use something that they don't really need. Kind of a fashion thing.

   I might be wrong, but I doubt that bass fishing is the place for "fashion". Just keep using what works.   jj

I feel the way you feel about braid when I use flouro. LOL !!!

[Dens228]

I use braid down to 20 lb test.  The ONLY issue I have, and it's mainly with the 20 lb stuff is line wrap.  Not enough to make me switch to something else though. 

[Bird]

I use braid almost exclusively and do have front treble wrap but will trade that for casting, hook set and bait action.

 

I've yet to experience any line dig in many years of use with braid. 

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

O.K. I'm not perfect. I'm not even close. But I am 60 years old and have been fishing since I was 7. That's 53 years so I think I know something. As many of you know me I love braided fluorocarbon line. I've used it since 1993. I've used a bunch of different brands and numerous products within those brands. I've read many reviews on braids fluorocarbons and many posts about braids fluorocarbons. I've read about braid fluorocarbon snapping when casting. I've read about wind knots. I’ve read about tip wrap. One guy will say a braid fluorocarbon is too limp. The next guy will say it's too stiff. It seems a lot of people have horrendous issues with braids fluorocarbon. Knots seem to be one of them. I use a Palomar knot all the time and have never had it slip with any brand of braid fluorocarbon. I am completely convinced that 99 percent of people’s problems with braid fluorocarbon are user error. Yes some braids fluorocarbons are better than others. But the problems you read about are amazing. In all the years I have fished braid fluorocarbon I have never snapped it on a cast. Even with a 1.5 oz spoon and having a backlash stop the cast. Granted I used 50 lb test with it. If you’re throwing big lures on light line what would you think might happen. I would never throw that on light braid fluorocarbon. Another complaint is that braid fluorocarbon is hard to remove a backlash from. No it's not. Like I said guys, I'm not a perfect angler and many here could probably outfish me, but when it comes to braid fluorocarbon and the problems people have, I just don't get it.

 

OK - I fixed your post and couldn't agree more with you 

[king fisher]

I Make my living big game fishing on the Pacific coast of Mexico.  When the super braids came out it completely changed the game.  I couldn't even imagine ever going back to mono as a main line. All my rods are braid with floro leaders, or mono top shots.  I can correctly tie almost any knot used with braid, direct to lure, braid to floro, braid to mono, hollow splice and more. I only give this back ground because I want to make it clear, I do know how and do tie all my gear correctly.  When I started bass fishing again a few years ago after many years away from the sport, I naturally thought I should use braid for everything.  It worked and I caught lots of bass.  I have gone back to using mostly mono for my bass fishing, because in many situations, I don't see a great advantage to braid.  I do feel that tangles are more difficult to deal with,and I don't like having to fool with leaders if I don't have to.  I have done many knot tests with a crane and scales and will tell you that all the popular knots I tested with braid will broke at 75% or less.  The break is usually about 1/8 inch above the knot on most knots.  I realize that doesn't really mater if you are using 50 pound line.  Even at 50% break strength 25 pound is more than enough to land any bass.   Even with lighter braid there isn't a problem because most peoples leaders are significantly lighter than the braid.  You can get over 90% strength with hollow braid splices but that is not applicable for most bass fishing.  My point being that braid is great line, it is by far the best line in many situations,(punching, frogging, many others) lasts forever, doesn't stretch, very strong for diameter, and is the line preferred by many great bass fishermen.  However I personally believe in many situations, mono works as well with less hassle.  I also believe mono holds knots better than both braid and floro.  That does not mean that your knots with braid are going to break.  I'm sure many people here have landed way more bass than me without knot failure. I just  don't get why more people don't use mono more, and braid as a specialty line.  

[Todd2]

I don't really have the problems with braid that the OP mentions...but everytime I try braid, I usually go back to mono. Not sure why, braid's just not my thing. 

[CrankFate]

I fish up to 3.5oz lures on 10lb braid. I usually don’t have any problem with it. But, yes, I have casted the lure right off a few times. I’m sure those lures made it a good thousand feet 

[Mike L]

OP

On this board mono is King. Other than for 2 braid presentations I use 100% flouro and gave up trying to "get it". 

Your braid experiences are mine with both. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

[Catt]

Well I guess we're telling our ages, I'm 68. ?

 

I've fished braided Cotton, Dacron, Micron, Suture Material (Silk), Micro Dyneema®, Kevlar, & Spectra.

 

Do I experience tip wrap with braid, yes but I experience it with mono & fluoro. 

 

Backlashes are definitely easier to remove with braid!

 

Digging in on itself might happen once or twice a day.

 

Never had any type of braided line snap on hookset or casting.

 

Palomar knot is all I use on braid, mono, or fluoro with zero issues.

 

The only real issue I have with braid is when you get hung up you have to cut it leaving to much line in the water.

 

Note: I only use 50 or 65#

[new2BC4bass]

I've only snapped off one lure on a cast.  1/2 oz. jig, 30# braid, MH spinning rod.  Yes it was user error.  Line wrapped around tip and I didn't notice it.

 

I use braid on a few reels, but much prefer a Co-Polymer or mono.

 

EDIT:  I'm 71 and started fishing at 5.  However, I haven't been fishing for 66 years.  I quit for 23 years after moving to this area because fishing is so bad here.  Only been out twice so far this year.  I would probably quit for another 23 years (or until I can retire to another area) if I didn't have several thousand dollars worth of fishing gear.  Criminal not to use it occasionally.

[Deleted account]

So the guy who has been fishing for over half a century doesn't have issues, but the guys who have been fishing for a few months or years and chase the InterWeb advice do? I don't see a problem, I see a lesson.... (Says the guy who's been fishing for 52 years)

[Choporoz]

What are the issues?

[OkobojiEagle]

Well Dodge, what I don't get is bass anglers handicapping themselves with 50 lb test PE lines.

 

oe

[jmz313]

I love braid.  10-20 LB on spinning rods to leader is what i love to fish inshore.

 

When i started freshwater and set up braid on a baitcaster i did struggle for a little bit.  What i found was i has to short the spool a little with braid.  Knocking like 10-15 yards off of what i would spool with mono was the magic ticket for me.  Otherwise i'd have to make sure my line guide was centered before casting to have a good chance for a smoooth cast.

 

It could be specific to the cheaper Abu reels i use (ultramax, pro max, revo X).  

[dodgeguy]

3 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Well Dodge, what I don't get is bass anglers handicapping themselves with 50 lb test PE lines.

 

oe

Some of us don't do any better when the bite is tough using flouro. I'm down to 20 lb. Fish love it on a Ned rig. I really have my doubts about line visibility being important.

      Anyway my original post was about guys having all kinds of problems with braid. If you like mono and flouro that's great. Keep using them. Post is not about if braid is better than mono or flouro.