Moving from Braid back toward Mono Baitcaster

[Kev-mo]

I mostly river fish (wade, kayak). I was using braid exclusively for about 6-8 years on both baitcaster and spinning. In the last few years I switched back to mono on my M and MH baitcasters. Contemplating switching back the 50 size reel also. Nothing against braid except for the wind knots and its ability to wrap around my rod tip at a moments notice lol. Braid treated me decently, just found I prefer mono for a lot of how I fish. 

[FishTax]

I have braid on 1 spinning and 1 casting rod, the rest I've moved back to mono. I hate floro and hate leaders. Agree with kiss strategy. I also hate wasting money so I'll use up the supplies I have before going to something else. 

[BrianMDTX]

I have braid to leader on all my spinning rigs. I love braid on a spinning reel. I have braid on my frog rig. All my other baitcasters have Big Game, or Sunline Defier. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I enjoy the monofilament experience too. There are a few instances where braid is perty handy, but for the most part it’s either Big Game , Suffix Siege, or Vicious monofilament. 

[Boomstick]

I run braid for frogs and flipping and on spinning reels. For the former, I skip the leader and the latter I use a double uni and almost never broke off on the leader knot, and only when I snagged a rock shore fishing and was not going in for it and pull it out and even then usually it breaks off further down the leader.

[Koz]

I run 30, 40, 50, or 65 pound braid on all of my baitcasters depending upon what I'm setting up for and throwing. For years it was straight braid, but this past year I've experimented with flouro and mono leaders in certain water conditions.

 

I've fished with 15 or 20 pound braid on some baitcasters but find that they get nicked or stressed to easily and than means a greater risk of breaking them off.

 

I absolutely hate straight flouro on a baitcaster. But I should try straight mono sometime.

[TOXIC]

I usually get flamed for my opinion on this subject but I see many more are either returning to mono or never left.  Far be it from me to tell someone what they should spool up with because we all fish differently but I have never used the braid/leader combo on anything.  For me, I never got the benefit since I am a finesse fisherman first and foremost.  I use straight braid on both spinning and casting for punching, frogs and a couple of dragging techniques.  I consider all of the hybrid lines pretty much in the mono category (copoly, etc.) and fluro, I use max 12lb on baitcasters for cranks.  Other than that all my rods are rigged with mono in sizes from 6 to 10lb test.  I just wish I could still get this. 

[rgasr63]

37 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

I usually get flamed for my opinion on this subject but I see many more are either returning to mono or never left.  Far be it from me to tell someone what they should spool up with because we all fish differently but I have never used the braid/leader combo on anything.  For me, I never got the benefit since I am a finesse fisherman first and foremost.  I use straight braid on both spinning and casting for punching, frogs and a couple of dragging techniques.  I consider all of the hybrid lines pretty much in the mono category (copoly, etc.) and fluro, I use max 12lb on baitcasters for cranks.  Other than that all my rods are rigged with mono in sizes from 6 to 10lb test.  I just wish I could still get this. 

This is the way I think about it too. Straight mono or straight braid  no leaders 

[33oldtimer]

13 hours ago, Koz said:

I run 30, 40, 50, or 65 pound braid on all of my baitcasters depending upon what I'm setting up for and throwing. For years it was straight braid, but this past year I've experimented with flouro and mono leaders in certain water conditions.

 

I've fished with 15 or 20 pound braid on some baitcasters but find that they get nicked or stressed to easily and than means a greater risk of breaking them off.

 

I absolutely hate straight flouro on a baitcaster. But I should try straight mono sometime.

I've switched all my baitcasters back to mono now except for my frog reel. Feels right and no concerns about leader lines. 

[Eric 26]

@gimruis 

@gimruis Dang you now I feel the need to listen to “God of thunder” 😉

[PourMyOwn]

7 hours ago, TOXIC said:

  I just wish I could still get this. 

Holy cow, haven't seen that line in ages! 

 

I'm still spooling up Silver Thread,  which is also discontinued-although I tried Gamma copoly and I do like it.

[MickD]

On 11/12/2023 at 3:50 PM, 33oldtimer said:

simply prefers mono on a baitcaster reel?

If casting easily, confidently, is your only criteria, yes, mono.  However, I'm willing in some situations to give up a little of that for better feel of the bite.   Braid.  I use both.

[Bankbeater]

I fish Big Game on everything except my punch rig.  I tried braid some years ago, and didn't care for it.

[volzfan59]

I got tried of playing the line game a few years ago. Went back to straight mono and have never looked back. I do have a spool of copolymer but haven't tried it yet.

[Eric 26]

@volzfan59 What Co-Polymer did you get? I’ve used McCoy mean green with great success many years ago and didn’t even know it was a Co-Polymer 😬🫤 And as of a few years ago I’ve really been enjoying Suffix Advance Monofilament which goes on more than 1/2 of my baitcasters.

[ElGuapo928]

11 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I just wish I could still get this. 

I was digging through some old stuff the other day and found an old “Trimax” patch…..got me to thinking how I used to spool EVERYTHING with the old Berkley “Photochromic” lines, and wondering why they ever quit making it.

[volzfan59]

@Eric 26, Hello my friend! I have a spool of Yozuri copolymer, though I'm not sure of what pound test. Probably ten or less.

[WRB]

12 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I usually get flamed for my opinion on this subject but I see many more are either returning to mono or never left.  Far be it from me to tell someone what they should spool up with because we all fish differently but I have never used the braid/leader combo on anything.  For me, I never got the benefit since I am a finesse fisherman first and foremost.  I use straight braid on both spinning and casting for punching, frogs and a couple of dragging techniques.  I consider all of the hybrid lines pretty much in the mono category (copoly, etc.) and fluro, I use max 12lb on baitcasters for cranks.  Other than that all my rods are rigged with mono in sizes from 6 to 10lb test.  I just wish I could still get this. 

6 lb test with “average” diameter of .010D, no wonder it’s gone! So what is the smallest diameter vs largest diameter....it’s only as strong as the weakest diameter!

Tom

 

 

[TOXIC]

@WRB Tom, I can look at all of the stats, breaking strength, diameter, knot strength, abrasion resistance, memory, sensitivity, visibility, and on, and on but that freakin Trilene line fit my fishing to a T.  It just worked better than anything else I ever tried.  When it was discontinued, I wore out eBay and I found some spools in Canada and even got contacted by Berkley but alas it never came back.  I have been on a continuous rotation search since then with everything from bargain Excel to the more expensive mono’s and while good, I’ve never found anything that fit as well as that old Photocromic Tournament Strength.  😂

[Darth-Baiter]

threads like this interests me.  I used to put up all types of fishing line questions.  then I realized fishing line isn't that expensive.  it isn't cost prohibitive to simply try it.  Mono?  buy a spool and give it a go.  if it suck, peel it off and go back.  or use and and not like it much until you need to go buy a replacement spool of the next "experiement"

[TOXIC]

@Darth-Baiter my wife has a cabinet of expensive line to hang decorations with. 😂😎

[Darth-Baiter]

Just now, TOXIC said:

@Darth-Baiter my wife has a cabinet of expensive line to hang decorations with. 😂😎

hahhah...

 

I just took a spool to hang balloons on at my Goddaughter's 16th B-day party.  funny thing..all the guys brought spools of line we deemed unworthy.  there was a lot of fishermen there.

[WRB]

19 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

@WRB Tom, I can look at all of the stats, breaking strength, diameter, knot strength, abrasion resistance, memory, sensitivity, visibility, and on, and on but that freakin Trilene line fit my fishing to a T.  It just worked better than anything else I ever tried.  When it was discontinued, I wore out eBay and I found some spools in Canada and even got contacted by Berkley but alas it never came back.  I have been on a continuous rotation search since then with everything from bargain Excel to the more expensive mono’s and while good, I’ve never found anything that fit as well as that old Photocromic Tournament Strength.  😂

You find a line that fits your needs why change, unless it’s discontinued🤬

Sunline Armilo fits my needs, the price keeps going up and no bulk spools….snd 11 lb : .0108D smallest size. I use Maxima 5 lb. 008D for my finesse spinning, strong manageable but the price keeps going up.

Good luck with your search.

Tom

 

[Hulkster]

18 hours ago, ElGuapo928 said:

I was digging through some old stuff the other day and found an old “Trimax” patch…..got me to thinking how I used to spool EVERYTHING with the old Berkley “Photochromic” lines, and wondering why they ever quit making it.

 

same. back in the late 90s the orange stuff was on everything I owned lol it was great line. 

 

I think today's Sufix Siege and Elite have surpassed it as it is more limp but for its time the Photochromic (later renamed Premium Strength) was an excellent line 

[ThatZX14Fella]

I run straight braid. I prefer the way it handles. I can’t do the leader thing. I’ve given it many opportunities and it’s just too much of a hassle when lose a lure and have to tie on another leader. Seems like a waste of time.