Hollow Core Braided Line For Bass?

[Bass Rutten]

Anyone out there using seaguars thread lock (or other) hollow core braid for fresh water bassing? A recent article about it on a ttackle focused forum got me thinking that its knotless connection it might be a viable solution for using heavier braid and leader on a t-wing equipped Daiwa which won’t pass a knot cleanly on heavier lines, the 50lb version seems to be about the diameter of 17-20lb mono. I think I’m going to pull the trigger on it soon to test but just wanted to get a few opinions before dropping a hundo on it.
 

Edit: I plan to topshot the braid with 25-30ft of mono or copoly so the connection will be wound into the reel. To be used for lures in the .5-1.5oz range, swimbaits, mag sized cranks, etc

[ATA]

Personally I know about hollow core braid when I was deciding a line for my 14/0 for shark fishing. They are pretty much expensive(biggest reason that I didn't go by them). But there is so many benefits in having them and most important one is the line capacity, so if you use normal braid on my reel 125lb I can do 1500 yards but if I use hollow core it might do 2500yards even 3000 yards. So about leader, of course if you want to have leader you can do it very well with hollow core by splicing, But come on, really? I am just using good old trusty FG knot that I swear didn't failed me up to now.

So I go with Nay on hollow core for bass.

[bulldog1935]

If you look at the latest generation of X-braids, 90% of the strength is in the center core strand.  

The 7 outer strands are abrasion resistant.  

Give me shallow spools with X-braid.  

 

[Bass Rutten]

6 hours ago, ATA said:

Personally I know about hollow core braid when I was deciding a line for my 14/0 for shark fishing. They are pretty much expensive(biggest reason that I didn't go by them). But there is so many benefits in having them and most important one is the line capacity, so if you use normal braid on my reel 125lb I can do 1500 yards but if I use hollow core it might do 2500yards even 3000 yards. So about leader, of course if you want to have leader you can do it very well with hollow core by splicing, But come on, really? I am just using good old trusty FG knot that I swear didn't failed me up to now.

So I go with Nay on hollow core for bass.

Yes really, just to be clear the main crux I’m considering hollow core is that the t-wing system will not allow a knot tied on 50lb braid to a .35-.40mm mono to pass through the reels line guide cleanly. I have not tried the fg on 50lb/20lb braid/mono. My reel, a daiwa coastal sv tw 150, can accommodate approx. 100yds of this diameter line, so capacity is not a concern. The seagaur 50lb hollow braid can be bought for less than $100.00 for 600yds so price is not an issue either.

 

32 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

If you look at the latest generation of X-braids, 90% of the strength is in the center core strand.  

The 7 outer strands are abrasion resistant.  

Give me shallow spools with X-braid.  

 

 

 I’m sure it’s a solid line, I love yzh, but I’d still need to tie on a leader creating a knot.

[bulldog1935]

the system is good Allbright knot to leader with a standing perfection loop.  

Loop on anything you want from there, paper clip, micro swivel trace, or loop-to-loop a sacrificial piece of tippet to tie direct.  

Been doing the same thing for fly lines for 40 years.  

[Bass Rutten]

A 50lb braid to heavy mono tied with an Albright will not pass through my reels line guide. My choices with this reel are direct tie/no leader (not what I want), or a knotless connection.

[king fisher]

    I have gone to hollow braid on all my salt water reels.  There are three major advantages to hollow braid.

 

1--  Cost.  Hollow is more expensive with original purchase, but you will never have to replace it.  You can splice hollow to hollow so well, that you will never even notice the splice.  The splice is actually  the strongest part of the line, because the line is doubled at the splice.  FG knots are great, but are still the weakest link.  As you loose line, due to changing lures or leaders, instead of refiling the spool with new line, you simply splice in another section of new line.  You can even splice in different pound tests, making the last few yards stronger, or weaker than the main line.

 

2-- No leader knot.  FG knots are small and strong, but again, not as strong, or small as a leader inserted inside hollow braid.

 

3--   Hollow braid lays flat, making it far less likely to dig in to itself on a reel spool.  It is also less likely to cut your hands if you accidently grab the line.

 

I have over 30 big game rods rigged with hollow braid, and floro or mono leaders, with a crimp used to attach hook, or swivel, making the whole set up complete without a single knot.

 

The disadvantage is it takes time, practice and different size needles to make the splices.

If I am in a hurray, I will simply tie a new leader on the hollow core with an FG, or Alberto knot, and splice a leader in when I have more time.

 

Hollow core line in pound tests under 100 have only been available for a few years.  I am interested to see if the new 50 and 60 pound versions ever catch on with bass fishermen.  Solid braid is almost extinct in the west coast salt water world.

 

I haven't tried it because I rarely use braid, for bass, and when I do I  usually don't use a leader.  Most of the time I use either use all mono, or floro.

 

Next time I fill one of my bass reels, with braid I will use hollow simply because I will be able to change lures, and cut off top sections without worrying about having to replace the line, or put on some kind of backing.  Just fill the spool with the braid, and splice more on when needed.  I doubt I would bother splicing a leader.  An Alberto works with hollow as well as solid braid, and I don't think it would be worth the bother.  If you absolutely want the strongest slimmest leader connection possible, than give it a try.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Why not skip the leader altogether?

[FishTank]

Hollow core is good for saltwater.  I really don't see the benefit for bass fishing.   

 

Also, I might pass on braid for big cranks and swimbaits.   I tried it multiple times but I like the stretch of mono for both baits.  Currently I have been using 19 and 25lb Sunline Defier Amarillo.   Good line, tough, some stretch but not as much as most others.  No complaints. 

[Bass Rutten]

3 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Why not skip the leader altogether?

Shock absorption for boat side strikes, surges, abrasion resistance. Low visibility, debatable I know but I’m not taking the chance with a 50lb white braid direct to lure, they only offer bright blue and white. And more consistent hookups, I’ve had lots of misses on straight braid.

 

2 hours ago, FishTank said:

Hollow core is good for saltwater.  I really don't see the benefit for bass fishing.   

 

Also, I might pass on braid for big cranks and swimbaits.   I tried it multiple times but I like the stretch of mono for both baits.  Currently I have been using 19 and 25lb Sunline Defier Amarillo.   Good line, tough, some stretch but not as much as most others.  No complaints. 

The only benefit that I’m looking for would be the elimination of the connection knot so I can use it on my t-wing daiwa reel and this would accomplish that. The 25ft leader I mentioned above should provide plenty of stretch and shock absorption.

[WRB]

Why not skip the braid altother? A hollow braid wind on leader top shot of 100’ means you only using 50’ of Braid.

Tom

[Bankc]

That's what I'm thinking.  If you're using 25-30' of leader, then why even mess with the braid?  With a leader that long, you're getting all of the disadvantages of using braid, without any of the advantages.  

[Bass Rutten]

54 minutes ago, WRB said:

Why not skip the braid altother? A hollow braid wind on leader top shot of 100’ means you only using 50’ of Braid.

Tom

I do use straight copoly now. I goofed above, I meant a 25-30 foot not yard topshot, 10-15ft might be better? So my theory would be that I’d get some of braids benefit of casting distance, solid hooksets at distance, and a little stretch to make it easier for the fish to inhale the lure. Once the fish is boatside all the braid will have been wound onto the reel and you’d be using only mono/fluoro for shock absorption, hard surges, boatside strikes, etc and you’d get your leaders abrasion resistance everywhere in between. Last but not least would be long term money savings. Just spitballin’ here, I know I know sounds great on paper…

[ATA]

6 hours ago, Bassjam2000 said:

Yes really, just to be clear the main crux I’m considering hollow core is that the t-wing system will not allow a knot tied on 50lb braid to a .35-.40mm mono to pass through the reels line guide cleanly. I have not tried the fg on 50lb/20lb braid/mono. My reel, a daiwa coastal sv tw 150, can accommodate approx. 100yds of this diameter line, so capacity is not a concern. The seagaur 50lb hollow braid can be bought for less than $100.00 for 600yds so price is not an issue either.

Well, Sounds we have the answer, It never hurts to try and see the result. also please keep us in loop and tell me about it. That is interesting.

[WRB]

Swimbaits I used 20 lb Maxima Ultra Green changing to Sunline Defier Armillo 25 lb for improved casting performance.  No problem with hook set using 8” Hudds top, 9” Triple Trout, 8” Lunker Plunker, wooden Shell Crackers, 50 size rates, etc, etc.

Your reel is a Daiwa Tatula of unknown size so maybe braid gives you additional line capacity in lieu of using 300 or larger reels.

Your reel has a good drag system, set it and trust it.

Swimbait rods are long fast/moderate action for long distance casting. A good swimbait rod is flexible enough to handle any LMB near the boat.

Learn to use a fast reel set with firm rod sweep and setting hooks 50 away is easy with mono or Copolymer line. Most swimbait Rods bottom out with 8 lbs of weight, set your drag 7 to 8 lbs for big swimbaits, that force doesn’t stretch 25 lb mono.

Tom

PS, Butch Brown uses 20 lb straight FC, Bill Seimantel uses straight 25 lb Max UG, no braid. The anglers I know that braid with swimbaits are Tactical Bassin fishing lakes with heavy cover lake Clear Lake.

[Bass Rutten]

34 minutes ago, ATA said:

Well, Sounds we have the answer, It never hurts to try and see the result. also please keep us in loop and tell me about it. That is interesting.

Well I wouldn’t say I have any answers as I haven’t even tried it yet, but I’ll revisit this thread after some testing.