WRB...

[OkobojiEagle]

Tom, in your experience/opinion, what is it about PE line that is a detriment to catching large bass?  If you prefer, flip the question and give the qualities of nylon or fluorocarbon monofilament that enhance the chances of catching larger bass.  Thanks

 

oe

[WRB]

The only issue I have braid is using 2 knots and poor abrasion around rocky structure where I fish.

Butch Brown is a good friend of mine and he uses straight 20 FC replacing it after every outing. Butch uses braid with top shot leader for big tuna to increase line capacity same as I did back in the day.

I like FC for bottom contact lures but it’s like playing around with a rattle snake, it bites you least expected. I don’t fish enough to buy bulk spools of FC line and or change it out after every outing. FC breaks randomly from un noticed nicks cause the hook barbs and knot failure. I am constantly inspecting my line and re tying. 

I did buy bulk spools of BG and changed out when needed, about once a month.

What most bass angler may not realize is pro’s change out their line every outing and they break off bass average size bass occasionally if you watch TV tournaments.

Anyway that’s my thoughts.

Tom

 

 

[bulldog1935]

Using "PE Line" to represent all braided lines is the same as using '74 Impala to represent all automobiles. 

Most USM bait and spinning reels, most braid users over the past 20 years, and most people using the words "PE" and "braid" are talking about 45- to 65-lb braid, same diameter as mono, and made to fill the same deep spool. 

 

A dozen years ago, I laughed to myself at my friends fishing braid who were stuck with all the limitations of that product.  It made good backing on trolling reels.  I've only been using braid for the past 4 years.  Sufix 832 works well on a stacked spool if you stack it right. 

 

In 2018, PE lines made a paradigm change.  The new generation of X-braids use finer fibers, denser wrapping, advanced coatings and most important, a center higher-strength strand that is 80% of the total test.  The whole thing is fused smaller when the coating is applied.  They cost $1/yd in 2018, though that's getting better fast. 

These lines are down to thread size for 20-lb test.  You need the right tackle to use and appreciate them,  

 

The old PE lines are still out there - except for Japan, where most have gone to X-braid, and they build JDM reels just for it. 

[OkobojiEagle]

5 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Using "PE Line" to represent all braided lines is the same as using '74 Impala to represent all automobiles. 

Most USM bait and spinning reels, most braid users over the past 20 years, and most people using the words "PE" and "braid" are talking about 45- to 65-lb braid, same diameter as mono, and made to fill the same deep spool. 

 

A dozen years ago, I laughed to myself at my friends fishing braid who were stuck with all the limitations of that product.  I've only been using braid for the past 3 years. 

In 2018, PE lines made a paradigm change.  The new generation of X-braids use finer fibers, denser wrapping, advanced coatings and most important, a center higher-strength strand that is 80% of the total test.  The whole thing is fused smaller when the coating is applied.  They cost $1/yd in 2018, though that's getting better fast. 

These lines are down to thread size for 20-lb test.  You need the right tackle to use and appreciate them,  

 

The old PE lines are still out there - except for Japan, where most have gone to X-braid, and they build JDM reels just for it. 

After reading your contribution, I'm unable to discern whether you feel a PE line is a plus or a negative in catching "larger bass" compared to nylon or fluorocarbon monofilament.

 

oe

[Scrapiron]

Hold on, somebody replaces their 20# FC after each outing?? Surely they're sponsored.... or just rich. 

[bulldog1935]

The new line matched with the right tackle is a plus in fishing. 

Even the PE#1 in 22-lb test cuts veggies well, and nothing gets down quicker for bottom contact because it has no hydro drag.  It doesn't stretch, it extends cast distance, which you can also read as less effort to fish.  As far as knots to a shock leader, you can learn clean knots. 

 

 

Catching big bass is about paying your dues to know how to find them, and what to do when you get there, whether you're using mono, braid, or a Teeny sinking shooting head. 

[PhishLI]

This question will never die for a few reasons: Environment and species.

 

In the really choked out lakes I fish, northern strain LM bass are striking reactively from ambush points. I'm talking about shore to shore high weeds with no hard bottom. There's no space to inspect anything, especially with moving baits. Perhaps the particular sound tight braid makes coming through certain green cover is a negative somewhere, but tight fluoro certainly sounds like something too. A guitar string maybe? Even if this sounds over the top, it still has a resonance I can feel, so it radiates. Is this less of a negative compared to braid in the conditions described above? Not in my experience. "Line sound" is a thing in open water too. Is one worse or less appealing than the other? I'd guess this depends on where.

 

I happily use mono, fluoro, and braid. Nothing has out-fished straight braid "where" I fish and "how" I fish up this this point. This places my observations into a narrow band though, so they aren't scientific whatsoever. The settings aren't a true control. There are just too many factors and variables for me state conclusively that braid is better, worse, or a non factor. All I can say is I've observed that it hasn't hurt me when fishing the same bait at the same time in the same area as fluoro or mono. I've absolutely done this a lot, and if it hurt my chances I would stop. I like catching big bass. I also like consistently catching fish, which is the clearest path to catching bigs, and neither is the easiest thing to do around here.

 

That said, I don't discount anyone's personal experience based on the conditions where they fish and the type of bass they're fishing for. They don't all behave the same way in different environments. If Butch Brown takes me out to fish where he fishes for spooky Cali LM, I'm doing it like Butch. If Paul Mueller takes me out on Candlewood for northern smallmouth, I'm doing it like Paul.

 

Let the bass where you go fishing tell you what they don't like, and don't do that.

[PaulVE64]

I stopped using fluoro.

 

I catch river smallies in Ontario, so there's that

[WRB]

3 hours ago, Scrapiron said:

Hold on, somebody replaces their 20# FC after each outing?? Surely they're sponsored.... or just rich. 

Butch Brown is neither sponsored or rich. You need to factor in time on the water isn’t free time when angers are still working for a living. 

Butch fishes sun up to sun down grinding it out every minute.

When a trophy bass angler hooks up everything must be perfect and confident in your mind you can put the big bass in the boat. 

Line and the knot tied to the lure and hooks used is all that is between you and that big bass. If the line or knot fails you fail.

If I was still fishing regularly and using FC line It would get changed often. Since I not fishing regularly and only using 2 FC lines, Seaguar 12# Tatsu and Sunline 7# Sniper fun fishing, no reason to change line often or worry about loosing a giant bass.

The BFS shallow spool small lightweight reels appeal to. If I was 10 years younger and fishing more often would definitely fish with it. You need small diameter braid with fast LW on a shallow spool reel. I generally cast between 40 to 50 yards fishing my 7/16 oz hair jigs effectively using size 100 off the shelf baitcasting reels with 12 lb FC. My jig rods are not finesse, reels could be. Finding a rod to control DD size bass after you hook it would be a challenge. The BFS reel today is easy to set up.

bottom line is I am not interested at this point in life. 

I had my time pursuing giant bass, that window closed.

Tom

PS, Fins Sling Braid 10# is .0050D, 15# is .0070D. Suffix 832+10# is .0080D, 15# is .0085D. 832 isn’t small dia braid imo.