When do you use braid and when do you use straight fluorocarbon?

[softwateronly]

16 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

For me, it (fluoro) just lends itself to a much more adaptable/flexible and consistent system - a nice blend of sensitivity and stretch - that can easily be pushed in whatever direction you want to go. There are some inherent difficulties and challenges with the ultra-low stretch properties of braid to work around, some which could be done more easily than others, but all would require some degree (and cost) of specialization to accomplish in my case, since my equipment purchases are largely set at this point. But as mentioned, there are a few techniques where those (braid) properties are the right qualities for an application, none of which require leaders, IMO (referring to baitcasting).

 

13 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Well Said

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

This is exactly my view but opposite conclusion.  The truth is, it's a system and each line has positives and negatives.  Most of my rod purchases,  choices, and applications are done with use of braid in mind.  Now braid is least expensive for me, because my rod cost is already "sunk."  I'm positive both of you are aware because there's a good chance I've heard you say it on this site, I just want to fill in the gaps for anyone else.

 

scott

 

scott

[papajoe222]

Except for finesse presentations, braid is my line of choice for jigs and worms. I will add a short mono or fluoro leader if the water is gin clear.  For lipless cranks in and around weeds, I use the same combo. Mono for all topwater except frogs and fluoro for the majority of moving baits. 

[CrashVector]

5 hours ago, Chris186 said:

I have tried and tried and tried to like braid. I just don’t like it. Straight fluoro on spinning and bottom contact, mono on everything else for me.

 

Try hercules no fade 8 carrier braid.  It'll change your mind like it did mine.

 

I hate fluoro, but was a die hard mono guy until I tried hercules braid.

 

 

 

[WRB]

Straight braid, FC, mono/copolymer lines no leaders.

Tom

[clemsondds]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Straight braid, FC, mono/copolymer lines no leaders.

Tom

Thanks. I know you have explained this before but can you break down when you use each? Thanks Tom 

[TcRoc]

 I use alot of braid . A Few reels with Flouro or co-poly. Why? Because its what I like.  My flouro is my typical  cranking reels. I am no pro, don’t like a lot of stretch unless I’m fishing a lure that needs it .. where your rod comes into play as well keeping your PB  pinned . Sure there r quote unquote rights and wrongs. I experiment more and more . Whatever works for me . 

[WRB]

2 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

Thanks. I know you have explained this before but can you break down when you use each? Thanks Tom 

Straight braid heavy vegetation cover.

Straight FC jigs bottom t- rigged worms and drop shot.

Straight Copolymer finesse Slip shot worms.

Straight mono top water and crank baits, spinner beats etc.

Tom

 

[Hammer 4]

Straight braid: Flipping, or punching Heavy cover, and frog fishing. No leaders.

99% of everything else, I use mono. I have 1 rig with fluro, and I use that for when I go to lakes with gin clear water.

[Catt]

Braid for frogging, punching, & deepwater structure.

 

Berkley Big Game for everything else.

 

Fluorocarbon I'll never spend a penny on this again. 

[T-Billy]

Braid anytime I'm fishing cover, and sometimes in open water. Mono the rest of the time. Flouro will never cost me another big fish. Done with that overhyped crap.

[clemsondds]

Thank you all for your feedback! Looks like we have pretty much a perfect 3 way split between FC, Mono and straight braid.   

[clemsondds]

For those that use straight fluoro…what’s your biggest pro and your biggest con? 
Maldonado, for those that use straight braid, what’s your biggest pro and con?  I’m mainly referring to cranking/moving baits. 
Backlash, visibility, no stretch, sensitivity, depth…

[Team9nine]

19 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

For those that use straight fluoro…what’s your biggest pro and your biggest con? 
Maldonado, for those that use straight braid, what’s your biggest pro and con?  I’m mainly referring to cranking/moving baits. 
Backlash, visibility, no stretch, sensitivity, depth…

 

Straight fluoro here…

 

Biggest pro - better sensitivity than nylon mono/copoly but still very similar stretch attributes.

 

Biggest con - having to put up with all the fluoro bashers on this site ?  

[Gera]

I love reading about this topic, you always get really good points from both sides. However the only right answer for me was to just use what you feel more confortable with. Does it really matter? maybe, do the fish see the braid and if they do, do they care?? maybe. There will always be pros and cons so just use what you like the most in your hands and most important what your budget allows you, you will catch fish anyway...... maybe.. 

[Catt]

15 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Biggest con - having to put up with all the fluoro bashers on this site ?  

 

Yeah they're almost as bad as Fluorocarbon kool-aid drinkers.

 

?

[T-Billy]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Yeah they're almost as bad as Fluorocarbon kool-aid drinkers.

 

?

?

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Yeah they're almost as bad as Fluorocarbon kool-aid drinkers.

 

?

 

People that bash fluoro or braid either don't have enough experience with the lines, spooled them incorrectly, used the wrong line or weight for the technique or their tackle or possibly got a bad batch.  Both lines have a time and a place and at times one will be the better choice.  I have migrated more to fluoro or the last couple seasons but they'll always be applications where I prefer straight fluoro or mono-.  

[Catt]

18 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

People that bash fluoro or braid either don't have enough experience with the lines, spooled them incorrectly, used the wrong line or weight for the technique or their tackle or possibly got a bad batch. 

 

Yeah that's the reasons I bash Fluorocarbon ?

 

The only thing I dislike about Fluorocarbon is it's coils worst than the old Dupont Stren. 

[InfantryMP]

On 2/19/2022 at 10:28 AM, Finessegenics said:

Dropshot, ned rig, light weight and light wire jigs/swimbait heads: braid to leader cause they’re on my spinning rods. Simple as that. Braid is more manageable on spinning reels because it has basically no memory and doesn’t twist as bad.
 

Everything else on your list (including heavy jigs and heavy swimbaits): mono or fluoro because the braid offers me no advantages throwing those baits. Even thick diameter mono/fluoro handles well on baitcasters. Just don’t cheap out on your line if you can avoid it. 
 

Now, if you added frogs and punch rigs, I would have said straight braid cause it saws through grass well compared to mono. It gives an advantage.

 

 

I agree with everything here. I would think though if you are using large / heavy swimbaits, then straight braid may not be a bad deal because you get no line stretch. The braid will instantly  ensure that hook penetration. 

[Junk Fisherman]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Yeah that's the reasons I bash Fluorocarbon ?

 

The only thing I dislike about Fluorocarbon is it's coils worst than the old Dupont Stren. 

 

Something is going wrong for you then.  I've used many fluorocarbons over the years on spinning reels and baitcasters and have never had that problem.  And I use more braid than fluoro nowadays so I am not a fluoro Kool Ade drinker.  

[Team9nine]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Yeah they're almost as bad as Fluorocarbon kool-aid drinkers.

 

?

…or the “Big Game Boomers” 

[Bird]

Not going to bash anyone's line choice as it has no effect on my standard of living or my mental health. Lol

 

The last time I spooled a reel, never considered anyone's feelings. 

Maybe I just lack empathy. ?

 

[Fallser]

All the spinning reels I use have spare spools.  I have braid on one spool, Fluorocarbon or mono on the other.  When do I use them?   If I'm casting lures I use braid tied straight to the lure, no leader.  It I'm jigging or bottom bouncing, I'll use fluorocarbon or mono.  Not sure how sound the logic is, but it's easier to break off fluoro or mono if I get snagged.

[EWREX]

the only applications i use braid:

• casting reels while frogging, flipping and pitching dirty water or heavy matted cover/lily pads.
• spinning reels braid with a fluoro leader on all setups.

other than that i use fluorocarbon and copolymer for all other techniques and applications.

 

[TnRiver46]

Braid is pretty good for stripers. I think I have only gotten one with braid but it was 44” and grabbed a top water right next to the boat then peeled off the rest of the braid all the way into the backing! 
 

but the reason I truly know it’s good line for striper is because my buddy that catches tons and tons of striper uses 30 lb braid exclusively.