Does braided really spook fish?

[tommy2609]

I recently changed all my bait-casters to braided line and was told it will spook fish more than mono.  My little lake is clear but the water is dark if that makes sense.  What has been your experience?

 

I fish some open water but also pad patches and stumps this time of year.  I was sick of breaking fish off on mono.                 

 

          

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

This is oft debated, seldom solved. Discussed many times here.

 

My take, probably not. I always use a leader regardless because it

means less cutting into my braid mainline.

[jimmyjoe]

   I use braid when I fish places that have pike or musky in addition to bass. I use 50 or 65 lb. test, and right now I have Sufix 832 in Neon Lime color. That's pretty bright, and if there were any braid that was visible, I would think that braid would be it. Not only that, but my leader is metal.

 

I throw frogs, spoons, spinnerbaits and shallow jerkbaits. The bass don't seem to mind at all.     jj

[Scott F]

I don’t believe braid spooks bass. All line is visible no matter what the advertisement says. I’m sure fish can see the line but they don’t have enough brain power to reason out that because there is line, that they shouldn’t eat the bait. If they were that smart, you’d think that the hooks hanging from that hunk of plastic, wood or metal might keep them from eating too. I’ve caught literally thousands of large and smallmouth bass in very clear water and I’ve never used a leader. 

[MickD]

I have had one experience where I'm convinced that white braid spooked fish.  My son and I were dragging Super Flukes across the top of shallow weeds for LMB and he was doing much better than I.  I either had a very short leader or none, don't remember,  so I lengthened it to about 6 feet and started catching fish.  

 

I think it's logical to conclude that the clearer the water and the fewer the weeds the more important stealth with the line/leader becomes.  But if the fish are aggressive enough it may not matter.  I use a leader now with all my braid to keep from cutting into  the braid.

[Captain Phil]

Very difficult to determine as the fish aren't talking.  From my experience, the visibility of your line does affect the fish.  How much and to what extent is highly debatable.  I think it depends upon the clarity of the water and the lures you are using.  If I had two anglers fishing plastic worms out of my boat and one was using braid and the other mono, the mono fisherman always caught more fish.  For some reason, the braid fisherman tended to use too heavy of line.  Where the mono fisherman would use 10 pound line, the braid fisherman would use 30.   This got so prevalent that I would hand the braid fisherman one of my outfits so he/she could catch more fish. If the braid fisherman had used 10 pound line, this would have made little difference.

 

There is more to fishing line than visibility.  The line affects how your bait falls and acts. If the line is buoyant or impedes the action of the lure, it is going to affect it's action.  I use braid when I need to.  Frog fishing is one of those times.  I also use braid when ripping a Rattle Trap.   I can feel the vibration in my rod and I lose less hooked fish with braid.  When fishing soft plastics, I always use mono or fluorocarbon.  If you have confidence in what you are doing keep doing it, but keep an open mind.  Confidence is the greatest factor in fishing success. 

[T-Billy]

Not so far in my experience, but I just started fishing straight braid this past spring. Alternated between it and mono on several occasions with water clarity up to 10', and noticed no drop off in bites. Doesn't mean that's always the case though. I'm looking forward to fishing with and without a leader in cold, clear water this fall to see if it makes a difference then.

This has been debated alot, and I don't think there's a definitive answer. Maybe it matters to some fish on some waters, and not so much on others. Maybe it's more of a confidence thing. We all fish better when we're confident what we're doing is gonna put 'em in the boat. Best thing to do is get out there and spend some time fishing with and without a leader to see if it makes a difference for you and the fish you're chasing.

I fish a mono leader when fishing deep to keep from breaking off long sections of expensive braid. This has also given me faith in my knots. It rarely breaks at the Trilene knot, and I haven't had an Alberto fail yet.

[moguy1973]

I haven't had a drop off in the bites I've had since I switched to all straight braid.  I guess it does depend on the presentation and water clarity to an extent too.  If you are fishing a bottom bait that may sit for a while to let the fish look at it before they bite it may matter, or if you are using a finesse presentation like a Ned rig or something like that.  But for moving baits it doesn't  matter at all.  Look at the Alabama Rig, it's full of big wires and they attack that thing like it's going out of style.  

[TnRiver46]

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. I always like to have some of each. Swim underwater one day and listen to the noise braid makes. It’s the same noise it makes going through rod guides only way louder 

 

you could catch thousands of bass while blaring hip hop music in your boat and stomping your feet too but why. Might as well sneak up on them in stealth mode 

[Tatsu Dave]

47 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

here is more to fishing line than visibility.  The line affects how your bait falls and acts. If the line is buoyant or impedes the action of the lure, it is going to affect it's action. 

Excellent point that isn't mentioned much but is a factor, I think a part of why my sons new foray into braid w/out any leader has lowered his fish count compared to the tatsu he always fished. Notice hes put a FC rod setup back in the boat now and is back fishing it as well as braid. 

48 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

Very difficult to determine as the fish aren't talking.  From my experience, the visibility of your line does affect the fish.  How much and to what extent is highly debatable. 

I fish a continual array of plastics rigged weedless on line that sinks, small reels and finesse tactics. Success is such that I would never change what's working and giving me such confidence. Its all about what truly puts fish in the boat and since I've got back into fishing and got the boat I have never been skunked even once on the water. I credit that to fishing techniques and really good places we fish I see guys coming in all the time that are complaining about no bite or fish to catch. Seeing the boy who fishes exactly like me with same lures on the same water out of same boat drop down on his success noticeably has opened my eyes and it seems his too. Is it noise/lure action/visibility/lack of confidence or a combination of these and more factors perhaps.  

[Captain Phil]

21 minutes ago, Tatsu Dave said:

Its all about what truly puts fish in the boat and since I've got back into fishing and got the boat I have never been skunked even once on the water. I credit that to fishing techniques and really good places we fish I see guys coming in all the time that are complaining about no bite or fish to catch. 

 

What I like about tournaments is the only thing that matters is fish. You can't weigh stories, opinions or marketing.  One fish can make the difference between getting paid or going home a contributor.  A strictly recreational fisherman only has to satisfy him/herself.  I don't care what line I fish with or who's line I use.   All I care about is putting fish on the scales and I will use whatever it takes.  

[Deleted account]

No.

[12poundbass]

Here’s my theory, Gill nets have been used for hundreds of years. If the fish were spooked by things like this they wouldn’t still be used today. 

[tommy2609]

Thanks for the opinions guys.  I am going to keep going with straight braid for now using a palomar knot.  I have not busted one off yet and I have caught a few nice sized bass the last few sessions.    

 

I just got this brand of braid and seems really good so far.,,,..,and a decent bass that stopped by for a photo op   ... Tried to post more fish pics from the last several days but I guess the pic size limit got me.  There are a few 4lb'ers that were nice.  I'll shrink them down and try again later.....Thanks again for the advice....tommy                     

[tommy2609]

26 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Here’s my theory, Gill nets have been used for hundreds of years. If the fish were spooked by things like this they wouldn’t still be used today. 

This is a great point - never thought about it! 

[dodgeguy]

No

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

Here’s my theory, Gill nets have been used for hundreds of years. If the fish were spooked by things like this they wouldn’t still be used today. 

Gill nets are mono. And they way they are used, fish can’t escape them no matter what they look like 

[12poundbass]

2 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Gill nets are mono. And they way they are used, fish can’t escape them no matter what they look like 

Right. I guess the point I was trying to convey was the fish can see the nets and aren’t spooked by them and get close enough to get themselves caught in them. 

[LCG]

I experimented with straight braid, braid to leader,and straight mono this year. My conclusion is that staright braid is fine in stained to dirty water. In clear water I would personally opt for leader or straight mono.

 

But there are more factors to explore than just visibility. Abrasion resistance is a big factor for me. Braid is not the best in this respect. Stretch is also a factor, both positive and negative, depending on many factors.

 

For me I have landed on 10lb high Viz braid to a 10ft leader of 10lb mono for my spinning set up for finesse stuff and straight 10lb mono for my baitcasting set up for 1/8-1/4oz Texas rigs and 5/16oz (.56oz in actual weight). Mono is big game and handles very well, super strong, very good abrasion resistance. Keeps things simpler as I use the big game for both my casting set up and as leaders for my spinning set up. If there is some abrasion on the line I cut and re-tie.  Also changed my leader knot from double uni to Alberto and I like it a lot, just as strong and smaller knot allowing it to go through the guides easier.

 

I simplified my style a lot this year. I use a lot of finnese techniques but around wood, rock, cover, etc and I have had no break offs so far. In clear water I might opt for lighter lb test but that's not often for me personally. 

 

 

[DitchPanda]

I don't feel like braid spooks fish. I always opt for a leader when using braid for finesse on spinning gear but that is simply because braid has very little abrasion resistance around rock...hence the mono or copolymer leader.

[huZZah]

I think if you think it does it does. If you think it doesn’t it doesn’t.
 

Personally, I agree with previously stated about action and fall in the water affecting bite vs visibility. 

[new2BC4bass]

6 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

If I had two anglers fishing plastic worms out of my boat and one was using braid and the other mono, the mono fisherman always caught more fish.  For some reason, the braid fisherman tended to use too heavy of line.  Where the mono fisherman would use 10 pound line, the braid fisherman would use 30.   This got so prevalent that I would hand the braid fisherman one of my outfits so he/she could catch more fish. If the braid fisherman had used 10 pound line, this would have made little difference.

 

Are you saying the clients are catching fewer fish with braid due to line diameter?  30# braid is equivalent to most 8# or 10# mono depending on which line you are looking at.  Therefore I have to think that there is something else going on.  What?  I don't know.  Lure action?  Depth lure is running at?

[Captain Phil]

23 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

Are you saying the clients are catching fewer fish with braid due to line diameter?  30# braid is equivalent to most 8# or 10# mono depending on which line you are looking at.  Therefore I have to think that there is something else going on.  What?  I don't know.  Lure action?  Depth lure is running at?

 

Braid has it's advantages.  In my opinion, it's not when fishing soft plastics in clear water. I have witnessed two anglers fishing plastic worms side by side, one using mono and one using fluorocarbon. The fluorocarbon fisherman got more bites.  Braid makes this difference greater.  This doesn't matter as much when the water is murky or stained.  When fishing clear water in the back of a spring fed canal, it makes a difference.  No matter what you do to braid, you will never make it as invisible as thin mono or fluorocarbon.   You can make it thinner, but it's still opaque.  Fish do see the line.  If it's only one fish out of twenty, it's too many for me.

 

Many line factors can affect the action of a lure, like diameter, buoyancy, stiffness and surface texture.  I want my line to be as invisible as possible and have as little influence on the lure as possible.  If you believe braid does what you want, do as you will.  I want every advantage on my side and braid isn't always one of them.

 

 

[BigAngus752]

Does braided really spook fish?

 

Yes when you aren't catching fish.  No when you are catching fish.  

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

5 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

 

Braid has it's advantages.  In my opinion, it's not when fishing soft plastics in clear water. I have witnessed two anglers fishing plastic worms side by side, one using mono and one using fluorocarbon. The fluorocarbon fisherman got more bites.  Braid makes this difference greater.  This doesn't matter as much when the water is murky or stained.  When fishing clear water in the back of a spring fed canal, it makes a difference.  No matter what you do to braid, you will never make it as invisible as thin mono or fluorocarbon.   You can make it thinner, but it's still opaque.  Fish do see the line.  If it's only one fish out of twenty, it's too many for me.

 

Many line factors can affect the action of a lure, like diameter, buoyancy, stiffness and surface texture.  I want my line to be as invisible as possible and have as little influence on the lure as possible.  If you believe braid does what you want, do as you will.  I want every advantage on my side and braid isn't always one of them.

 

 

I don't use much braid.  Frogging rod, always.  Take at least one reel with braid when I visit Florida.  Two minimum now that I have a dedicated frog rod there.  We are casting unweighted worms back into the lily pads.  I prefer braid for that.

 

Lot of people seem to like braid for jigs.  I am trying it on one reel.  May even try it with a leader.  Don't use a leader for the other two techniques.  Otherwise I stick with a mono or co-polymer.  Put fluorocarbon on one reel I purchased.  Any other reel I have with fluorocarbon on it is because that is what came on it when I purchased the reel.  Am a bit frugal and can't see throwing the line away before it is necessary.