Braid users...question on drag settings..

[jdw174]

Back when braid was the "latest and greatest", I bought a spool to try on my jigging rod.  Not knowing any better (no one had written much on it), I went out fishing on Kentucky Lake while on vacation.  I pitched a jig to a stump and was rewarded with a solid THUMP as it fell.  Unfortunately, I had my drag set the same as I would for my normal copolymer line and when I crossed his eyes, I also snapped my AllStar SJ2 in half...right in front of the telescopic section >

How tight do you set your drags when fishing braid?  I have it on my C-rig and have the drag set to slip a bit.  I also loaded it back onto my pitching rig with a slight slippage set in.  Any suggestions?

[Guest DavidGreen]

jdw174,

With the low stretch lines you have to compensate for it somewhere. Either by setting the reels drags a little lighter (allowing for some release), or backing off on the tip actions of the rod. As you found out using an eye crossing hook set with low to zero stretch lines without compensating for it, could result in the lose of a quality fish and your rod.

Tight Lines!!!

[jdw174]

Thanks Reelmech.  It's a bit easier (and cheaper) to just back off on the reels a bit than to start dropping bucks on new rods...not that I wouldnt mind that

[dodgeguy]

keep the drag tight but set the hook with your wrist not like bill dance.

[senile1]

keep the drag tight but set the hook with your wrist not like bill dance.

This is one method used by some.  I always set the drag to slip.

[justfishin]

Like ReelMech said, loosen your drag up on this types of lines. When I first used braid years ago and I snapped a rod on a short line flippin situation. I know I better tuck and roll but, I have tried this line on baitcasters and spinning reels and wanted to like it but, I just don't. I don't like the feel of it or anything about it. As I said, give me Co-poly anytime. I am sure this is not a very popular statement but, does anyone feel like me about braid? One instance I still use braid for occasionally is on long casting top water baits in the grass like a frog. Other than that, icksnay on the braiday. Good luck fishing !!!

[jdw174]

Like ReelMech said, loosen your drag up on this types of lines. When I first used braid years ago and I snapped a rod on a short line flippin situation. I know I better tuck and roll but, I have tried this line on baitcasters and spinning reels and wanted to like it but, I just don't. I don't like the feel of it or anything about it. As I said, give me Co-poly anytime. I am sure this is not a very popular statement but, does anyone feel like me about braid? One instance I still use braid for occasionally is on long casting top water baits in the grass like a frog. Other than that, icksnay on the braiday. Good luck fishing !!!

I'm not so sure that the braid is going to stay on the two reels I have it on.  Like you, I favor the copolymer lines.

[Keithscatch]

Hmm, I use braid allot. I have never ever broke a rod on a hookset with braid on it. I have a heavy action 7.5' flipping stick that resembles a pool cue and I have 50lb braid on it and the drag as tight as I can manage. I also flip into some thick and I mean thick floating grass so when I get a bite I have to set the hook very hard to move the fish upward and then pull them out of this mat. Using any sort of mono or co-poly or Flourocarbon would be silly.

Braid shines in flipping. Best thing ever invented for it in fact. But I guess to each their own.

[Vyron]

Hmm, I use braid allot. I have never ever broke a rod on a hookset with braid on it. I have a heavy action 7.5' flipping stick that resembles a pool cue and I have 50lb braid on it and the drag as tight as I can manage. I also flip into some thick and I mean thick floating grass so when I get a bite I have to set the hook very hard to move the fish upward and then pull them out of this mat. Using any sort of mono or co-poly or Flourocarbon would be silly.

Braid shines in flipping. Best thing ever invented for it in fact. But I guess to each their own.

I agree 100%

[Bud]

         does anyone feel like me about braid          

Yes me I don't use braid.  My openion you don't need a winch cable to land a 5 pound fish.

[Papa_Tom]

I would say that I find myself in close agreement with ReelMech's advice.  I use braid for one application only and that is swim jigs.  If it weren't for grass beds I may, or may not, use it even then.  I keep the drag so loose on my Curados that it may slip on the strike, (I didn't say hookset) then I thumb the spool if need be.  I also use Fenwick HMG MH Mod rods.

[dodgeguy]

      does anyone feel like me about braid      

Yes me I don't use braid. My openion you don't need a winch cable to land a 5 pound fish.

some of us fish in heavy weeds for fish bigger than 5 lbs.braid cuts through the weeds better than any line.besides,that's not the only reason we use braid.braid is unbeatable for sensitivity.braid backlashes less than either mono or flouro.it's easier to get a backlash out of and a backlash doesn't put permanent kinks in the line.it also lasts a long time.

[harshman]

Quote:

  does anyone feel like me about braid    

Yes me I don't use braid.  My openion you don't need a winch cable to land a 5 pound fish.

You're right you don't need a winch for the fish you need it for the 50 pounds of vegatation stuck on you line when you get inot the nasty spots bass live.

harshman

[castaway]

Actually, I never had any problems getting a jig into the thick milfoil beds using mono.I don't think braid falls through the weeds better than mono will, but braid will definately bring them out of the weeds better.I seem to think the heavier lb test braid cuts through the milfoil clumps easier than the thinner lb test braid does, but it doesn't make any sense to me that it would be true. I tighten the drag down, I want that fish to be turn towards me on the hookset and ski them to the boat . I always seem like I am in trouble when I don't get them started coming up on the hookset. Ivan

[justfishin]

Dodgeguy,

   I will be a diplomat for this particular post, from a braid hater to a braid lover, good luck fishin and have fun because the bottom line is that is what fishing is all about. No matter what each of us chose to use whether it be tackle, line, rods or reels. Just keep your braid away from my co-poly,lol, Good luck.

[justfishin]

Keithscatch,

" Using any sort of mono or co-poly or Flourocarbon would be silly. "

Its just my opinion my friend and my choice. I would not say that my choice in line would be considered " silly ". I have pulled big bass out of mats and pads for 30 years with mono and now co-poly. It just works for me. Good luck fishing.

[dodgeguy]

Dodgeguy,

I will be a diplomat for this particular post, from a braid hater to a braid lover, good luck fishin and have fun because the bottom line is that is what fishing is all about. No matter what each of us chose to use whether it be tackle, line, rods or reels. Just keep your braid away from my co-poly,lol, Good luck.

roflmao!!! ;D

[RoLo]

Yes me I don't use braid. My openion you don't need a winch cable to land a 5 pound fish.

Next to braid, it's monofilament that looks like winch cable: 30lb PowerPro = 0.011" <> 30lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid = 0.023"

Roger

[Guest avid]

I too use braid alot.   Here in Florida our lakes are typically very weedy and can hold some big bass.  You need to be able to horse em out and braid does that better per line diameter than anything else.

for non pitching applications I still like braid for the sensativity, but I may add some mono as a shock leader or for confidence when fishing surface lures for example.

About the only thing that really bugs me about braid is that it is so limp that it seems to wrap around rod tips, reel handles and anything else it feels like.

The Gloomis GLX series with the recoil guide is great for braided line because the recoil guides will bend and not break if you get the braided line wrapped around a guide when the biggun hits.

I have broken several guides due to this.  Fortunately St. Croix has replaced them with no hassle and no charge.  I just pay my local rod guy less than 5 bucks for a perfect repair.  

[dodgeguy]

yup,i hate tip wrap.but it's not like mono and flouro don't have issues either!!! ;D

[Greg Harris]

On all my baitcasting reels, I have the drag turnes as high as I can get it to go. If I get a nice fish on, I use freespool and my thumb as drag. That way, I have more control of the fish. If you are using fluro though, set your drag a little looser, because it can snap on the hookset.