Fluoro vs Braid Casting Distance (spinning reel)

[garroyo130]

Looking for direct experience from anyone who has thrown lighter baits like a weightless trick worm on a premium 10lb fluoro like Tatsu as well as on a 20lb braid. I realize that distance isn't everything but being shorebound, distance makes a huge difference with lighter lures. I'm currently throwing 20lb sufix 832 and it casts well enough but sometimes it almost feels like the braid wants to stick to itself when casting, not dig in from braid, just wet braid being wet braid. Ideally I'd want to go straight fluoro but not if it's going to severely decrease casting distance.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

If really wanting max distance 10# braid is a better choice over both. 

 

[garroyo130]

That's a good suggestion since I fish with a thicker leader either way. I guess something about 10lb braid just scares me but it might make sense to give it a shot. 

[bulldog1935]

If you want to throw into next week, go to Varivas or similar Japan X-braid, PE#1, PE#0.8, or down to PE#0.6, but this works best on a shallow braid spool.  For the same diameter, it will be more than twice the test of 832.  They get there by starting with finer, higher-strength fibers, a single center-strand that's 80% of the strength (they're all made by Izanas in Japan), tighter weave, and finished denser with a fused teflon-based coating. 

There's a Varivas store on Amazon, and they stock it onshore.  Bait finesse empire offers several brands and has YGK X-braid Upgrade in PE#0.8. 

Here's the line capacity calculator for stacking lines if you need to use backing, e.g., 20-lb 832. 

https://www.pattayafishing.net/advanced-fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

here's the diameter chart for Japan braid by PE#

https://www.jpfishingtacklenews.com/japanese-line-size/

 

 

Try it once, and your brain will never think pound-test again, because the braid strength will be irrelevant. 

[garroyo130]

Ive purchased mono from Varivas USA but never braid. Any particular line of braid you would recommend or have experience with? 

[bulldog1935]

@garroyo130

The current Varivas 8 is as as good as any. 

They differentiate a bit on the coatings, Avani Casting has a harder coating, comparable to Duel X-wire, and I like these a bit better on casting and BFS - supposed to prevent line dig. 

The softer coatings cast farther on spinning, by coming off the spool quicker, and the best I've used there is YGK Bornrush, but I also fish Varivas Max Power on spinning, YGK Oltolos finesse (photo above). 

Last fishing trip, I loaned that Stradic C2000 to my buddy on his long finesse rod, and he was doing cartwheels over the cast distance. 

I'm pretty sure Florida Fishing Products Distance Braid is Varivas - the first braid I was really happy with, and still happy fishing that first spool after 3 years. 

Many of the Varivas lines are aimed for finesse and only come in smaller fractional PE# sizes. 

Likewise, many are aimed for offshore, and only come in multiple PE# sizes, up to PE#8. 

Can't go wrong with the basic High Grade X8. 

Any of them will be a notable step from what you're used to. 

 

The X-braids became the standard in Japan beginning 2019.  They all use the same high-strength center strand, there are some differences in the outer fibers, such as fluoro added to G-soul to increase density and sink rate.  What they're really up to now is working FTP coating formulations. 

But again, all the X-braids are made basically the same way by Izanas. 

[garroyo130]

Thanks for the info! I'm guessing these are class lines and I should expect true to advertised breaking strength?

[bulldog1935]

On 12/25/2022 at 10:27 PM, bulldog1935 said:

@garroyo130  Try it once, and your brain will never think pound-test again, because the braid strength will be irrelevant.

Someone who looks like me said this. 

All you'll care about is how can I fit it on a spool, and can my reel manage threadline this small. 

 

Where I used to fish 6-lb 832 in salt spinning finesse for seatrout, I fish X-braid in PE#0.5 and #0.6 on spinning, and #0.8 on BFS, both for snook and redfish. 

PE#0.8, 16-lb X-braid is the same diameter as 6-lb Sufix 832. 

 

My 3000 and 4000 MH spinners fish PE#1.2. 

I fish PE#1 and #1.2 in BFS to MH frogger for bass. 

Because of the shallow spool capacity, you'd call the inshore ML and bass baitcasters BFS, but they're all about casting into next week and horsing big fish. 

[WRB]

10# (.010D) Tatsu on a 2000-300 size spinning reel is too large diameter to cast well on a spinning reel,8# (.009D) is a better choice for FC.

Tom

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, WRB said:

10# Tatsu on a 2000-300 size spinning reel is too large diameter to cast well on a spinning reel, 6# is a better choice for FC.

Tom

Ummm - Tom

 

Per your own recommendations to keep spinning line to .010" or less - 10# Tatsu (and InvizX) is .010" diameter.

 

Yes, 6# or even 8# would cast better - but 10# is within 'tolerance'.

[WRB]

Yes for mono or copoly line FC works but is higher memory creating stiffer coils going through the guides slowing the casting distance. .010D is max.

Tom

[GetFishorDieTryin]

While suffix is a consistent and durable PE, its casting distance is underwhelming compared to other braids.  #20 832 will outperform FC on a smaller dia spool, like a 2500 distance wise, but not by much.  

USDM lines are rated by minimum breaking strength, where JDM lines are rated at max breaking strength, which makes a big difference, keep that in mind.

If you want to stay with a USDM line and get good casting distance, start by going down to 10lb test.  10lb PE will can take more weight you should ever need.  Not only does the thinner dia cast better, but the decrease in drag in the water is substantial.

Dollar for dollar I really like X9.  I don't think it's as thin as Berkely claims it is, but its still thinner then most braids.  Pline TCB is another great casting braid, although it casts slightly better then X9 when its new, I still favor X9 because its a little more durable. 

[garroyo130]

My only concern with 10lb test is I often use a 12 or 15lb leader due to zebras and I would prefer to break off at the leader when I snag. 

[Dwight Hottle]

On 12/25/2022 at 6:27 PM, garroyo130 said:

That's a good suggestion since I fish with a thicker leader either way. I guess something about 10lb braid just scares me but it might make sense to give it a shot. 

 

Most 10 lb braid actually breaks around the 17lb mark so don't be too scared. 

[the reel ess]

Braid is the BEST line hands down for spinning. I don't go below 20 lb. though I could. For panfish I still use 4 or 6# mono.

[Functional]

I've had problems with some spinning reels when I used 10 and even 12lb braid, especially when I go with something supple like power pro slick. I'm strictly 15lb-20lb at this point with the majority using PP slick. 

[Junk Fisherman]

I did a comparison with everything the same but the reel and using 14 lb YGK Sol versus 7 lb Gamma Touch saw a 20%-25% distance increase with the braid.  I did the experiment throwing a finesse 3" swimbait and 1/8th oz jig.  Needless to say, I only use braid for finesse swimbaits.  

[Deleted account]

2 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

My only concern with 10lb test is I often use a 12 or 15lb leader due to zebras and I would prefer to break off at the leader when I snag. 

And you will, most 10lb braid over tests by a bunch. I fish a medium spinning rod with 10lb braid and 8-15 lb mono leader, and seldom break off at the connection with a modified Albright, (what yall call an Alberto).

Super versatile combo.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

6 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

My only concern with 10lb test is I often use a 12 or 15lb leader due to zebras and I would prefer to break off at the leader when I snag. 

If you tie and seat a good connection knot correctly, you wont have any issues breaking 12 and even 15lb FC knots with 10lb PE.