Braid on baitcaster?

[Flyfish-mt]

I have been running mono on all of my casting reels as I tried braid back in the mid-90’s and didn’t care for it.  Fast forward, I have a new reel coming my way from Japan and was wondering if I should give braid another try?  I’m certain the technology of braided lines have made leaps and bounds since the last time I tried it.  Currently, I run 20lb Diamond braid on all my saltwater spinning reels but not sure how the new braid performs on casting reels.

[waymont]

It’s the best! Do it. I’d start with 30 or 40lb braid for ease of use. Sufix 832 is a great line that’s very forgiving.

[OkobojiEagle]

1 hour ago, Flyfish-mt said:

I I’m certain the technology of braided lines have made leaps and bounds since the last time I tried it. 

Technology in reels have advanced more so than the PE lines.

 

oe

[Flyfish-mt]

I read about 4 strand and 8 strand along with hollow core vs round braid……..  There are so many choices!!  Is there much difference between the lesser expensive offerings on Amazon vs name brand premium priced braid?

[12poundbass]

All but 2-3 of my setups are all braid. No leader, just braid. 

[Susky River Rat]

I run 10lb and 15lb 832 on my bait casters. I just prefer braid. I do run a very long leader because of all the rocks I grind against. 

[bulldog1935]

Braid in the 90s wasn't worth caring for.  That all changed after 2015 and, especially, after 2018.  

Coated X8 braids are a great choice, Sufix 832 - Japan X-braid (all made by Izanas - YGK, Duel, Varivas) double the breaking strength for the same diameter.  

I fish 100% braid - all but 2 of my baitcasters have shallow spools, BFS-mod, and cast into next week.  

 

If you haven't tried BFS inshore, you don't know what you're missing.  But I also use braid on baitcaster for river kayak, finesse to frogger.  

My two exceptions are both deep-spool Super Duty, because no aftermarket spools are available for them.  Build up a spool arbor with 20-25-yds, 20-25-lb nylon mono (not fluoro), tie that backing to your working braid using a low-profile knot such as Alberto that will pass your line guide.  This is holding 120 yds working braid, diameter equivalent to 20-lb 832.   Casting 1/8 oz, this will give BFS a run for its money.  

Here's the capacity calculator for stacking lines of 2 different diameters:  

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

[dodgeguy]

Vicious no Fade Braid in 50 lb test. Best braid made.

[MN Fisher]

Sufix 832 or Seaguar Smackdown (if you have the money for it)

 

I run everything from 65# 832 on my pitching rig to 8# 832 on my finesse spinning rig...I'm a Sufix 'fanboy' as it's been very good to me.

 

If I could afford it - I'd go Smackdown, but that stuff makes my wallet scream in agony.

[casts_by_fly]

30# 832 is a fantastic all around braid for bass. Supple, strong, fishes easy but tough enough to go into heavy stuff. I go to 50 for frogs but 30 is great.  Also not crazy expensive. 

[softwateronly]

I'm a huge fan.  Braid to leader for most everything, straight braid for frogging.  Clear water and long casts, braid gives me much more confidence and success in my hooksets and bite detection.  I definitely prefer 8 strand pe 1 and 1.5 varivas, but have no problem running out my 30 & 50lb pp super slick on most of my setups till I run out.  Line management has become 2nd nature and I'm able to fish hassle free in the dark of night with just an average thumb.  Since it's all a system, I have moved to preferring mostly mod/fast, reg/fast, and mbr type actions.  Feels like the best of both worlds.

 

scott

[T-Billy]

13 hours ago, Flyfish-mt said:

I read about 4 strand and 8 strand along with hollow core vs round braid……..  There are so many choices!!  Is there much difference between the lesser expensive offerings on Amazon vs name brand premium priced braid?

The cheap brands on Amazon tend to have a looser weave, and are un-coated. The few I've tried have proven strong, but don't handle the best. I've tried quite a few braids, and all my reels now have 832 for bottom contact, and either Fins XS Big Game, or Fins Infinity for chuck and wind baits. The Fins braids are very smooth, and the 832 has proven to be the most abrasion resistant of all that I've tried. Both brands handle great.

[new2BC4bass]

I ran braid on just a few reels while living in PA.  And those were mostly used on my trips to Florida.  Grew up on XL and continued to use mono or a co-polymer lines when I got back into fishing.  Now that I've retired to Florida, more of my reels will be seeing braid.

[Dye99]

I use suffix 832 and a leader in different pound weights on all my bait casters but two which are BFS stuff which get flouro.

 

Strange thing is I just recently started using flouro on bait casters. I prefer braid but the flouro does work pretty good for jerk baits and crank baits.

[JackstrawIII]

I use Suffix 832. 40 pound is the lightest that I've successfully used without getting it to dig in on itself. 50 pound is my usual. 

[Flyfish-mt]

Ok, I bought a 150yd spool of the Daiwa J-Braid X8 in 50lb on Amazon for cheap ($9.99) to try on one of my reels.  I assume I should put 10 to 15yds of mono as backing before spooling?  Also, how much tension should I put on the line while spooling?

[TnRiver46]

I’ve really been liking the seaguar tactx 50 lb on baitcaster, strong like bull 

[dodgeguy]

On 5/12/2024 at 10:13 AM, 12poundbass said:

All but 2-3 of my setups are all braid. No leader, just braid. 

leader knots suck .i hate the sound through the guides.

On 5/13/2024 at 12:04 AM, T-Billy said:

The cheap brands on Amazon tend to have a looser weave, and are un-coated. The few I've tried have proven strong, but don't handle the best. I've tried quite a few braids, and all my reels now have 832 for bottom contact, and either Fins XS Big Game, or Fins Infinity for chuck and wind baits. The Fins braids are very smooth, and the 832 has proven to be the most abrasion resistant of all that I've tried. Both brands handle great.

brother you should try vicious no fade braid or plines no fade braid

[T-Billy]

4 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

brother you should try vicious no fade braid or plines no fade braid

I have tried the Vicious. I prefer the 832 and Fins braids. Fade doesn't matter to the fish one bit.

[Jmurphy87]

I will say yes to braid on baitcasters. Go as small of a diameter as you can and enjoy the distance gains. I really love J-Braid grand 8 strand it works great with no issues, 8lb on spinning gear no problem. 30-50 on casting is great.

[Tennessee Boy]

I personally refuse to use braid that is larger in diameter than the mono I would use instead.  In my opinion the advantage of braid is the smaller diameter.  If you need 50lb line then use 50 lb braid.  Don't replace 12# 0.011 in diameter mono with 50# 0.012 diameter braid.  If the small diameter braid does not work well on your baitcaster then get a baitcaster designed for braid, use a spinning reel,  or stay with mono.    

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

I have tried the Vicious. I prefer the 832 and Fins braids. Fade doesn't matter to the fish one bit.

cool. 832 is good. yeah i dont think fish care either. the only thing that cares is my brain and my ocd.

[Flyfish-mt]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I personally refuse to use braid that is larger in diameter than the mono I would use instead.  In my opinion the advantage of braid is the smaller diameter.  If you need 50lb line then use 50 lb braid.  Don't replace 12# 0.011 in diameter mono with 50# 0.012 diameter braid.  If the small diameter braid does not work well on your baitcaster then get a baitcaster designed for braid, use a spinning reel,  or stay with mono.    

I’m replacing 14# mono w/ 50# braid so I guess I’m going a bit smaller…….

[Fishingmickey]

6 minutes ago, Flyfish-mt said:

I’m replacing 14# mono w/ 50# braid so I guess I’m going a bit smaller…….

50# braid is about the same as 14# mono.  But if you decide to throw a frog or flip or pitch a jig into heavy cover it will work just fine.

FM

[Brian11719]

I wouldn't go below 20-30lb since going too low seemed to cause issues for me but aside from that it's been fine. I use 50lb suffix 832 for my heavy setup and it works great...dinks around the world shudder at the sight of my black popping frog flying through the air...