Braid and Flouro and Mono, oh my!

[guitarplaya39]

New to the forum and fairly new to bass fishing baitcasters (only other experience is surf casting 8'n'bait on 13ft rods). 

I've been doing well with a couple Lew's setups running 12-14lb copolymer, but I recently splurged on a Curado DC. Going to pair it up with a 7'1 MHF Victory. I intended to put straight FC on it, but after some reading it appears that may not be the best option? I don't mind using braid since hopefully the DC will assist with my incompetence, but using a leader is what concerns me. Won't the knot hinder casting distance and/or damage the eyelets eventually? One guides on this rod are miniscule. 

 

Thanks!

[MN Fisher]

45 minutes ago, guitarplaya39 said:

Won't the knot hinder casting distance and/or damage the eyelets eventually? One guides on this rod are miniscule. 

Use the correct knot and it isn't an issue

FG

Alberto

Albright

 

All those are good mainline/leader knots and small enough to have negligible effect on casting distance and eyelet wear.

[WRB]

No advantage using braid on a bait casting reel you have chosen with a FC leader vs straight FC, Copoly or mono imo.

Mono is the easiest line to learn to cast. Copoly line is a blended mono. FC is Fluorocarbon (monofilament) line that cast good if managed properly using a line conditioner.

Your concern with 2 knots is valid, 1 knot at the lure is preferred.

Tom 

PS, exchange the rod if it isn’t right, full warranty from SC.

[MediumMouthBass]

I have fished several different types of lines so far since i started fishing, heres my opinion on what ive learned.

Fluorocarbon isnt good as a mainline, without taking proper care of it it becomes a mess. And it gets very expensive when you are respooling frequently after cutting the line and breaking line (The budget fluoro usually isnt good so to get the better stuff it gets more expensive, and replacing it over and over again starts getting expensive).

Braid mainline and a Fluorocarbon leader this works great if you can get your knot small enough that it wont interfere with the reel (if it has a TWS) or the rod. You can also cut the FC leader off and use the braid for frogging/fishing lily pads.

But you will always have to bring extra leader matieral with you, and it takes time to retie the leader every 30 minutes.

Hybrid/Copolymer this is my favorite line to use if using it for a mainline, it has the best of Mono and Fluoro but without the mess or the high costs. Works good for fishing bottom baits and also moving baits.

 

[Hulkster]

I use 12 pound Sufix Siege. its amazing. 

[Captain Phil]

I fished salt water tournaments for many years, both inshore and offshore.   I can tell you from experience that using a fluorocarbon leader catches more fish, especially when using live bait.   Back then, all we had was mono and it worked well.  Today, many anglers have gone to braid for the main line.   If you use the correct knot for the job, you won't have knot failures.  If the lines you are joining a not too dissimilar in diameter, a Blood Knot is a good choice.  This is the line I use when joining 30 pound flourocarbon leaders.  It runs through the rod guides well and I have never seen one fail.   If there is a wide difference in line diameters, I use a wire line to mono knot also called an Albright knot.    This knot will hang in the guides, but it's not all that bad unless the leader material extra heavy.  I am not fond of fluorocarbon as the main line.  It's a mess to cast and has a lot of memory.  I haven't tried hybrid/copolymer lines myself.  In any case, tie the right knot and you will be fine.

[waymont]

Knots don’t damage guides. Tons of people fish braid to FC/mono leaders, including me.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I like FC as a mainline for casting gear.  Its got less stretch then mono and as long as you get a decent FC it handles really well.  I 

It might be a good idea to stick with a co poly or mono until youre proficient with the reel.  You dont want to blow up a spool of braid or FC.  

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

I like FC as a mainline for casting gear.  Its got less stretch then mono and as long as you get a decent FC it handles really well.  I 

It might be a good idea to stick with a co poly or mono until youre proficient with the reel.  You dont want to blow up a spool of braid or FC.  

False. Flourocarbon stretches differently and more than mono. It also does not recover from it.

Get 50 LB Vicious No Fade Braid 12 lb diameter. Forget the leader. Microguides don't work well with leaders. Just a other knot to break.Braid is easier to cast and easier to get a backlash out of if you know how.

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

I like FC as a mainline for casting gear.  Its got less stretch then mono

Disproven several years ago by our own Frydog.

 

[Scud_Muffin]

4 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I have fished several different types of lines so far since i started fishing, heres my opinion on what ive learned.

Fluorocarbon isnt good as a mainline, without taking proper care of it it becomes a mess. And it gets very expensive when you are respooling frequently after cutting the line and breaking line (The budget fluoro usually isnt good so to get the better stuff it gets more expensive, and replacing it over and over again starts getting expensive).

Braid mainline and a Fluorocarbon leader this works great if you can get your knot small enough that it wont interfere with the reel (if it has a TWS) or the rod. You can also cut the FC leader off and use the braid for frogging/fishing lily pads.

But you will always have to bring extra leader matieral with you, and it takes time to retie the leader every 30 minutes.

Hybrid/Copolymer this is my favorite line to use if using it for a mainline, it has the best of Mono and Fluoro but without the mess or the high costs. Works good for fishing bottom baits and also moving baits.

 

 
what’s your favorite copoly? I tried some 6 lb yozuri hybrid for finesse hard plastics and experienced more break offs than I did with sniper at 6, and that yozuri is equivalent to 10 lb sniper diameter. Not saying it’s all bad, just feel like I started off my experience on the wrong foot and would love your thoughts on what to try next. 

[PourMyOwn]

@Scud_Muffin, I've been using copolymer for 30 years and Gamma is my favorite. I would recommend looking at line diameter before buying- 12 lb Gamma is similar to 14 lb Silver Thread (which is sadly discontinued)

[volzfan59]

As you can see, you get a ton of answers concerning which line to use. Use what feels most comfortable to you. Personally, I've gone back to 100% mono 100% of the time.

[txchaser]

TLDR: If you are fine on a regular baitcaster, you'll be more than fine with that DC. Just spool it up with whatever line you are already using and see how it goes. 

 

Long version:

Braid to leader has some great use cases, but it's not the be-all/end-all it sounds like. Casts just fine through even small guides. Knots take a little time to learn but aren't magic. And... I went from mostly braid to leader to almost all flouro across my rods over the last few years, just noticing what worked better and what I liked more. Braid's slack line sensitivity is basically zero. 

 

Here's where I'm using braid to leader:

Yes:

-Chatterbait and swimjig - I need the snap because of how and where I usually fish them. Basically open hook moving baits.

Maybe:

-Keitech/flashy swimmer - considering doing it here because it can be hard to get a good hookset on the 5/0 hook in certain circumstances, and I'm not fishing it on slack line. Fishes mostly like the chatter/swimjig anyway 

-Considering on crankbaits so I can quickly change out line diameter depending on what the cover looks like. If Fritts is using braid on crankbaits it can't be too crazy.  

No: 

-everything else

 

Everyone here tried to convince me early to just go straight flouro or mono. They were right.

[FishTank]

9 hours ago, guitarplaya39 said:

New to the forum and fairly new to bass fishing baitcasters (only other experience is surf casting 8'n'bait on 13ft rods). 

I've been doing well with a couple Lew's setups running 12-14lb copolymer, but I recently splurged on a Curado DC. Going to pair it up with a 7'1 MHF Victory. I intended to put straight FC on it, but after some reading it appears that may not be the best option? I don't mind using braid since hopefully the DC will assist with my incompetence, but using a leader is what concerns me. Won't the knot hinder casting distance and/or damage the eyelets eventually? One guides on this rod are miniscule. 

 

Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forum. As you can tell, line becomes a personal topic and the opinions will be all over the place. To me each type of line is it's own tool. With that said, and I can't believe no one has asked, what do you intend to use this setup for?

[GetFishorDieTryin]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Disproven several years ago by our own Frydog.

 

I was waiting for the, well AKCHULLY!...   

 

I know, we've all seen the results several times over.  Its a great thought, provoking experiment, but I take those results with a grain of salt.  Im not saying that because I think Im right and hes wrong sort of deal, thats not it at all.  I just think the experiment falls short on replicating reasonable practical use.  Its a good simulation if you're lure is stuck in a tree.  Or possibly one of those 2/0 2x strong ned rig guys.

IME, I struggle setting the hook on a t rig at range, especially at the end of a cast when using M F gear and 10lb BG.  When I use 12lb InvizX same rod/reel/hook I can set that hook at range significantly better.  I would be curious as to how much pressure 

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

IME, I struggle setting the hook on a t rig at range, especially at the end of a cast when using M F gear and 10lb BG.  When I use 12lb InvizX same rod/reel/hook I can set that hook at range significantly better.  I would be curious as to how much pressure 

I think the 'no stretch' myth got going because it takes more force to START FC to stretch.

 

These are numbers picked out of the air - by no means accurate, but just to show the difference.

8# Mono vs 8# FC

The Mono will start to stretch at around 3#-4# of force

The FC won't start stretching until you hit 5#-6# of force.

 

Main difference is that Mono will 'rebound' and be just as strong, while FC doesn't rebound and will remain stretched thereby weakening it.

[bowhunter63]

Mono all the time . Never a issue 

[Captain Phil]

For those of you who do not know, there is more to using a leader in salt water fishing than visibility.  Many salt water fish have teeth or sharp gill covers that can cut mono line.  Snook and tarpon are the most prevalent of these in Florida.  It is futile to fish for these species without a leader.   You don't need wire leaders unless you are fishing for king fish, barracuda or sharks.  When plug casting for snook, I use 30 pound fluorocarbon leaders.  For Tarpon, you need at least 50 pound leaders.  Offshore fishing requires larger leaders.  Marlin fishing leaders can be hundreds of pounds.

[roadwarrior]

 

17 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

I can tell you from experience that using a fluorocarbon leader catches more fish, especially when using live bait.   

 

 

 

                                   

[guitarplaya39]

Thanks for all the insight! I figured I was kinda opening a can of worms with this question, but I tend to kind of overanalyze things. Already have a new spool of YoZuri 12lb flouro I'll try out first. Also have some 40lb J8 braid and copoly in the stash somewhere, so I'll probably be swapping lines around as curiosity gets the best of me. 

[guitarplaya39]

Also, what line conditioners are recommended for flouro? 

[LrgmouthShad]

I need to find that old post of mine where I found something wrong with every type of line and concluded that we should just use shoestrings instead. 
 

It all works. Experiment and find what you like

[roadwarrior]

52 minutes ago, guitarplaya39 said:

Also, what line conditioners are recommended for flouro? 

KVD Line & Lure Conditioner

[MN Fisher]

^Don't leave home without it.