Why use braid?

[justfishin]

Here I go again. I read a lot of reviews in this post and see that some of you like braid. Personally, I have tried it on spinning and baitcasting reels and I do not like it. Give me copolymer anyday,my opinion. I just wanted to read some opinions of why you like it and what you think is its advantage other than the obvious pound test to line size issue. Thanks.

[0119]

Oh man you'll hear tons of reasons why shortly!  I agree with you.  It at least cured the line twist problem with spinning gear, but I dont see myself ever using spinning gear again anyway.  I have tried over and over to like it, but I see nothing but negatives to it.  What supply I have left of it, Im religating to my Shiner fishing rod.

[carySE406]

It is really effective in deep water, when you need to detect bites and get a good hookset with all that line out.  Also, braid cuts through grass better than other lines.  

[ww2farmer]

I like it because of it's small diameter, zero stretch, increased sensitivity when fishing jigs, and it's ability to slice right through heavy vegetation. I use 10lb braid on one of my spinning outfits that is used to toss small jigs and weightless soft plastics into and around heavy vegetation and/or dingy water. I also use 20lb braid on several baitcasting rigs for frogs,jigs, t-rigged soft plastics, c-rigs. And I use 30lb braid on my flipping rod. I still use mono, exclusivly use it for cranks, topwaters,buzz and spinnerbaits, and jerk baits. And have a spare spool of it for the above mentioned spinning rod for times when braid is not needed. I also do not like braid around docks, wood/brush, for these situations I will use mono, so I can break off if need be.

[roadwarrior]

I don't like braid either.

On spinning tackle, give Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft #6 (11.9 lb test) a try. I think you will like it, I do.

[GAMEOVER]

Jim Blair: To each their own. I am a diehard braid user. I use braid almost exclusively.. well you might as well say I only use braid. I use it for several reasons. First off, I absolutely love how easy it is to handle, it is very limp, will stay where you put it, and tieing knots are a breeze with it. Second, it is the only line type in which I have never busted my line using. Braid is the toughest line on the market, I promise you that you will never lose a fish on it if you have a quality braided line and a good knot. Third, I dont know about you but I absolutely hate losing lures. Some of the lures I own/use are very hard to replace, are expensive, and some even unreplaceable. I feel more secure with my lure tied on to a true braided line. I have never lost a single lure while using braid because my line has never snaped while using it. Fourth, there is 0 memory. I have one reel spooled up with braid that ive had on since early last spring and ill still use it come next spring worry free. You can also get away with a more LB test line on an already extremely tough line because of its smaller diameter. These are all reasons why I love and use Sufix Performance Braid (Moss Green) in 20lb test exclusively. Now, braid by no means is a end all line it is just one anglers (my) preferance. Braid has its downsides. Braid can be bad around rocky areas with sharp edges as it can shed your line, these areas do not hold me back from using braid in them at all. After a few casts to these areas I will make what ill call an inspection cast. What I do is after numerous casts to these rocky areas I cast an extra time for the sole purpose of checking my line the whole slow retrieve back and looking for any tearing or what could be weak spots. If I find anything (rarely do) concerning I will just snip my line and retie. Another thing about Braid is it has 0 stretch. This is both a good and a bad (for some) thing. Its good because you get solid earthquake hooksets. Its bad because some types of baits like a crankbait benefits from a more stretchy line. All I do when I crankbait with Braid is set my drag lower. I get the same results I would get if I had a stretchy line, this can take some time getting use to. Now the only thing I can not work around in braids flaws is its visabiliy in clear water. You can catch fish with braid in clear water but if money was on the line and it was a clear water situation id have to put down my braid for a good handling mono (which I have yet to find, any suggestions?) or fluro (is there such a thing, good handling fluoro?). Well hope this clears up atleast some of what you are trying to find out by asking your question. Braid works better on baitcasters compared to spinning reels but I highly recommend the spinning gear people who want braid to try Sufix PBraid in 20lb test its said to be the best performing braid for spinning gear. I know some people who do use braid successfully and exclusively on spinning gear as well. Fish Chris could help you with it on spinning gear. I recently droped my spinning gear though.

[Glenn]

I use braid for flipping/pitching, but that's it.

[VekolBass]

I use various lines for various purposes. I use braid for fishing in grass and wood, because as others have noted it cuts the vegetation and is about as tough as anything so it reduces lures lost on snags. I use mono because it floats and makes it easier to fish topwater, I also use it sometimes on crankbaits because the increased stretch, in my opinion, helps to set the hook more effectively when bass are aggressive. I recently bought some Yo Zuri Hybrid that I'll try out for finesse fishing. If that works, I might buy some heavier Yo Zuri to use with jigs in clear water situations.

[vtbassin]

Jim,

I like braid for frogs and flipping.  I have also found it gives me better hooksets from my kayak.  I was missing more fish than I usually do when I first started fishing from the yak.  It must have something to do with being close to the water and the angle of the rod.  15/4 powerpro fixed that problem for me.  now just a quick wrist snap and fish on!! ;D  I do not use it for everything. copoly on my spinnerbaits and traps and any light weight stuff from the boat.

But it all boils down to what you like  If you want to use copoly go for it.  You will be a better fisherman if you feel comfortable with what you are using.

Tight lines

[Alpster]

I use braid for everything except crankbaits and I hate crankbaits.  

Ronnie

[TournyFish001]

weird, :-/ people use braid and that is it, like drop shotting? try fishing the clear waters of the N. West with only braid- good luck... I use braid in heavy cover with jigs thats about it-

[dodgeguy]

i use sufix braid for everything.65/16 on all my reels.if you are in clear water just tie on a flouro leader if you feel the need.i personally have not noticed a difference but if it makes you fell more confident then go for it.with the 16 lb diameter it is easy to tie on any size flouro leader.also if you are fishing 50 feet down with a drop shot you are going to feel a lot more with braid and a flouro leader than any other setup.

[RoLo]

Why use braid?

Because it does more things right and fewer things wrong, than any line material I've ever found.

Whether you choose spectra braid or dyneema braid pales by comparison, to whether you use braid or monofilament.

Give me copolymer anyday,my opinion.

It's funny, but if I didn't have 2 grand sons who love fishing,

I'd probably send you a few thousand yards of the stuff ;D

Roger

[Ifishthere4Iam]

BRAID.I love the stuff, it casts well, very limp, virtually no memory or line twist. I fish a lot of thick lilies and such,and the braided has never let me down. The largest fish I've caught have all been on braided line, and I don't believe I've ever lost a lure that was attached to braided line.

[Papa_Tom]

If it is 10# test and above I use one line only---Big Game green.  Not saying that there aren't other options, I just try to keep it as simple as I can.  However, for my swim jigs I use PowerPro 30/8 only.  I tried the BG, but lost some fish in the grass.  Went to the PP and brought in bass that I had been losing.  I'm convinced it is a better tool in that situation.