Sons getting ready to buy braid for a big heavy duty spinning set-up.

[Tatsu Dave]

Need some suggestions for a good brand and what color and # test he should use. I'm a FC guy and have never used braid myself but he's gonna do it so any suggestions will be appreciated. Heavy wood cover as well as thick pad and arrowhead vegetation, something to fish frogs with as well. Heavy 7' rod and lots of spool capacity with a pretty stout drag which he wants to fish pretty close to locked down.   Thanks Dave

[roadwarrior]

#30 Smackdown Stealth Gray

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Seaguar_Smackdown_Braided_Line_Stealth_Gray/descpage-SMD.html

[BBuck]

Depending on how gnarly the stuff he's going to be fishing you could use anywhere from 40-65# braid, maybe even higher for the frog. 40# is the lightest I would go for that. The higher the # test, the less line he'll have so if it's for shorter casts the heavier stuff will be fine, but not as good if he wants to make long casts. I've got 15# braid on some of my finesse spinning setups too. PowerPro is good braid that doesn't break the bank. Have fun ripping lips. 

[T-Billy]

40# 832 is what I throw in that kinda cover. Best I've found.  Plenty strong and abrasion resistant.

[jimmyjoe]

    Look at the new ultra-low diameter braids coming out on the market. Berkely has two; X5 and X9. The Jordan Lee versions are chartreuse, otherwise the same. 40 lb. PowerPro is 12 mil, but the new X5 at 40 lb. is only 9 mil. Big difference in casting characteristics.

   The bad thing is that the new UL diameter lines haven't been on the market long enough to really get a good idea of their overall characteristics. There might be some area of weakness but I haven't heard of any yet, though.              jj

  

  

[Bubba 460]

 

I agree going with the heavier weight line and feel 50# test is plenty of power unless you're pulling gators out of think hyacinth. Ever try and break 50# braid?... the stuff will stop your boat, rip the reel off the rod  and cut your fingers clean off!  Just yesterday I was fishing a Texas rigged worm with 30 pound braid. Got hooked up on something and could not pull it off at whatever angle I tried. Wrapped the braid around a cleat and tried to break it and noticed whatever I was hooked to, I was dragging it along the bottom! I figured I must have pulled it out of the muck. I got right over it and started pulling straight up with the rod and it started coming up, it was really heavy and I thought my rod might break but it was coming up slowly. Pulled with all my might then take a couple of turns and repeat. Finally I see what it is...  now y'all ain't gonna believe this, It was a Seawolf-class  nuclear-powered, fast attack submarine. I reached down and unhooked my worm from the conning tower and let it sink back to the bottom. Yeah and that was just 30 pound braid!

[Bass Rutten]

Most braids actually test out at 50-100% higher than it’s listed rating if my memory serves me well. I just buy based on the diameter that performs best for a given application.

[Bubba 460]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

#30 Smackdown Stealth Gray

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Seaguar_Smackdown_Braided_Line_Stealth_Gray/descpage-SMD.html

 

 

That Smackdown braid had terrible write-ups ~ did you read some of those?

[redmeansdistortion]

47 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

    Look at the new ultra-low diameter braids coming out on the market. Berkely has two; X5 and X9. The Jordan Lee versions are chartreuse, otherwise the same. 40 lb. PowerPro is 12 mil, but the new X5 at 40 lb. is only 9 mil. Big difference in casting characteristics.

   The bad thing is that the new UL diameter lines haven't been on the market long enough to really get a good idea of their overall characteristics. There might be some area of weakness but I haven't heard of any yet, though.              jj

  

  

I'm currently running 10lb x9 on my Calcutta Conquest BFS and my initial impression is that it's awesome line.  It's a little stiffer than the J braid I was running previously, but it's also smoother casting and not nearly as prone to digging in.  I can see myself sticking with this line, good stuff.

[bulldog1935]

You're going to get a lot of good line suggestions.  

 

Mine is just about fishing braid on spinning tackle.  

Make sure you have a ball-bearing line roller, and always use good manual bail technique when fishing braid on spinning tackle to avoid wind knots.  

 

Since we made it around to tiny braids, this isn't for frogging, but has the tiniest PE#0.3 on the shallowest Shimano spool that still holds 150 m with room to spare.  This tiny line is also 9lb test. 

[DaubsNU1]

I've been running 30lb braid on my bait-casters since the early 1990's...plenty strong.

 

Ran one spinning rod with 30lb braid and didn't like it one bit. Never a fan of braid on spinning rod...until....

 

This spring when I made myself fish spinning rod with braid to fluorocarbon leader...and loved it!

 

Now all my spinning rods have the following set up:

- 10lb Yellow Power Pro braid

- 10 or 8lb fluorocarbon leader

 

I fish timber, lily pads, heavy vegetation...no issues. When I do get a big snag and have to break off...~80% of the time i can break where the leader meets lure. About 20% of the time I break at braid-to-leader knot.

 

 

[roadwarrior]

19 minutes ago, Bubba 460 said:

 

 

That Smackdown braid had terrible write-ups ~ did you read some of those?

 

I have been fishing Smackdown since it was introduced by Seaguar a few years ago.  I think it is the best braid I have ever fished. What I particularly like is uniformity in

diameter, supple and very manageable.   There have been no issues with terminal

or connecting knots. Fading is minimal and I have not noticed any fraying.

 

 

[Aaron_H]

I have my heavier spinning setup for inshore but I've used it for bass for the kind of stuff you're describing. I use 50lb PowerPro. Really any color is fine but I tend to stick to standard moss green. Lot of guys like the high-vis stuff, though.

[Bubba 460]

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

 

I have been fishing Smackdown since it was introduced by Seaguar a few years ago.  I think it is the best braid I have ever fished. What I particularly like is uniformity in

diameter, supple and very manageable.   There have been no issues with terminal

or connecting knots. Fading is minimal and I have not noticed any fraying.

 

 

 

 

I've never tried the "spendy" stuff, I buy Spiderwire. Yes, it's fades, yes, it frays but at 1/3 the cost of other lines I simply "switch ends"( pull all the line off and reel then wind worn line on first which gives you new line when re-spooled. I watch the line well for wear. Sometime you need to remove 15 feet of worn line. You can run more braid on a spinning reel than you can mono with no problems so it gives you a little more to work with. Usually buy new braid every two years as I have already reversed all my lines by then. I keep ten rods on my boat, half are spooled with braid. plus I fish over 200 days a year and fish all year. I was slow to use braid as I had fished with mono for over  50 year without a reason to switch.  Braid certainly has its place over clear lines in today's modern fishing~  heavy cover being just one.

 

 Oh, and I can cast ALL the braid line off my 4000 spinning reel spool with a 130 Whopper Plopper

[new2BC4bass]

I don't use much braid.  My B-I-L that is my fishing partner when I visit Florida is strictly a spinning reel guy and uses nothing but 40# Original PowerPro.  I have 30# Fireline on my only MH spinning rod.  I've straightened out jig hooks more than once.  Neither of us fish wood so I have no idea how the braid would hold up in that situation.  I definitely would go heavier if worried about abrasion.

[Bubba 460]

5 minutes ago, Bubba 460 said:

 

 

 

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

4 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

    Look at the new ultra-low diameter braids coming out on the market. Berkely has two; X5 and X9. The Jordan Lee versions are chartreuse, otherwise the same. 40 lb. PowerPro is 12 mil, but the new X5 at 40 lb. is only 9 mil. Big difference in casting characteristics.

   The bad thing is that the new UL diameter lines haven't been on the market long enough to really get a good idea of their overall characteristics. There might be some area of weakness but I haven't heard of any yet, though.              jj

  

  

You have to take the estimated dia with a grain of salt in the case of the X5 and X9.  I bought some 15lb x9 because its supposed to a similar dia to a 6 or 8lb PE at .14mm.  The 10lb smackdown is .20mm and I swear its thinner then the 15lb x9 from feeling it in your fingers at the performance.

[Tatsu Dave]

Thanks for all the quick responses, son picked the Seaguar smackdown to spool up with. 40# and away we go.........don't think our knot will let go and I never burn the line pulling the line tight. Will report when we get fishing with all the new rods - reels - and line. Dave

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Not to crazy about braid around wood, but its great for grass.  I found that Vicious is awesome for grass and its inexpensive.  Its a lower number carrier so its cuts through grass great, but the dia is small for the lb test so it casts more like 8x.  

[roadwarrior]

7 minutes ago, Tatsu Dave said:

Thanks for all the quick responses, son picked the Seaguar smackdown to spool up with. 40# and away we go.........don't think our knot will let go and I never burn the line pulling the line tight. Will report when we get fishing with all the new rods - reels - and line. Dave

 

[Lead Head]

@Tatsu Dave

I know you usually do your research, but since you mentioned you never use braid ill throw this out there. Not all knots will work with braid. Many good mono/floro knots will slip straight out with braid. I like a uni (twice through the eye) and many swear by the Palomar. In either case I don't think "burning" line is a issue with braid. 

 

Also consider a leader when in rocks or coming through wood. Braid is noisy coming over wood and while you can haul logs and sever fingers pulling straight with the stuff, a sharp rock will cut it like butter. 

[PhishLI]

4 hours ago, Tatsu Dave said:

Will report when we get fishing with all the new rods - reels - and line.

If you haven't chosen the reel yet, I'd suggest at least a 4000 size. Spool lip friction becomes a factor with 8 strand braid beginning at 30LB, and will choke off casting distance quickly once a certain amount of line is payed out. Larger spool diameters reduce this effect.

[Boomstick]

On 8/10/2021 at 11:22 AM, Bubba 460 said:

 

 

That Smackdown braid had terrible write-ups ~ did you read some of those?

I have heard from other users that it's not good on casting gear, but great on spinning gear.

[Tatsu Dave]

On 8/10/2021 at 6:29 PM, Lead Head said:

I know you usually do your research, but since you mentioned you never use braid ill throw this out there. Not all knots will work with braid. Many good mono/floro knots will slip straight out with braid. I like a uni (twice through the eye) and many swear by the Palomar. In either case I don't think "burning" line is a issue with braid. 

 

Also consider a leader when in rocks or coming through wood. Braid is noisy coming over wood and while you can haul logs and sever fingers pulling straight with the stuff, a sharp rock will cut it like butter. 

Yes we are going to use palomer knot and he won't use a leader, wants to run straight braid. That will be something for him to deal with if its a problem. I understand what you're saying but will let him decide how to overcome any obstacles he hits with advice on my part. Thanks for good advice   Dave

[Drew03cmc]

On 8/10/2021 at 9:12 AM, roadwarrior said:

#30 Smackdown Stealth Gray

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Seaguar_Smackdown_Braided_Line_Stealth_Gray/descpage-SMD.html

This right here! Can I suggest another place to buy it? Www.tackle-xtreme.com sells it cheaper than most everywhere else. 

https://www.tackle-xtreme.com/?s=Smackdown&post_type=product

On 8/10/2021 at 10:22 AM, Bubba 460 said:

 

 

That Smackdown braid had terrible write-ups ~ did you read some of those?

Do the write ups catch fish? I'm glad I don't shop based on write ups. I read the write ups on it and saw about fraying. Honestly, most fraying isn't the line, it's guides or wood/rocks on braid.

On 8/10/2021 at 10:41 AM, roadwarrior said:

 

I have been fishing Smackdown since it was introduced by Seaguar a few years ago.  I think it is the best braid I have ever fished. What I particularly like is uniformity in

diameter, supple and very manageable.   There have been no issues with terminal

or connecting knots. Fading is minimal and I have not noticed any fraying.

 

 

I absolutely love Smackdown. I have switched everything over to it other than my frogs and punch/a-rig rod. I run Smackdown from 20 to 50 on casting gear, 10 and 15 on spinning gear. It handles amazing, twist isn't a big issue and I can't seem to break it. 

On 8/11/2021 at 8:49 PM, Boomstick said:

I have heard from other users that it's not good on casting gear, but great on spinning gear.

It's great on everything.