Braid for Bladed Jigs

[Junk Fisherman]

I had my first outing of the year yesterday and I was trying some different combos with different lures.  I have primarily used 15 lb flourocarbon with ch@#$&$baits and spinnerbaits but yesterday I was trying a braid/flouro leader setup on an 892 GLX with a mini-chatter (Tackle Tour suggestion) and then the same setup with my new Steez utiility rod.  I was crazy-impressed with the sensitivity and easily feeling the bait.  I felt it was easier to understand the action I was imparting on the bait by fluctuating my reeling speed and twitching or shaking the rod to flare the skirt.   Now I know I have to back off on the hookset and let the fish completely take the bait so I don't pull it from its mouth but the increased sensitivity offsets that IMO- or at least that is my current line of thinking.  I caught multiple keepers and some big hybrid stripers (6.5 lbs).  I might have found a new setup for my bladed jigs.

 

So anyways, how say you?  Do you like braid for the chatters or are you using something else?  Thanks for any suggestions.  

[TnRiver46]

I saw a tourney interview somewhere along the way, tons of anglers had worked an area throwing bladed jigs and not caught much at all. I believe it was Brian Schmitt that came in behind everyone and waxed the fish. The difference? He was throwing straight braid and of course the masses were throwing fluoro. Somebody walked up to his boat after the tourney and noticed all his bladed jigs had the paint worn off the head. They asked him why, he said using braid they bang harder and that’s why he got all the bites 

 

just something I heard long ago that stuck in my head

[FrnkNsteen]

I have a few different setups I have been using.

 

First, I have a couple Dobyns 736cb Glass that have a pair of old Shimano Calcutta reels loaded with braid. I like the braid on those setups so I can feel what the lure is doing on those composite rods, plus it doesn't hurt the hook sets. The braid on the softer composite rod lets me feel it without being numbing after fishing it all day. Currently running a Jackhammer on one and a Sieberts Fogy on the other to vary to actions and sounds.

 

Second, I've got a pair of older Fenwick Techna AV that I throw lighter MiniMax setups on up in shallower spots. I think both of those currently have 15lb mono on them.

 

Lastly, I've got one setup I run 20lb Abrazix on while throwing chatterbaits up around the rocks and reefs when we go to Ontario for Smallmouth. The hope is the larger flouro stands up a little better against the northerns without having to run a steel or titanium leader. So far so good! I think I have only lost one to northerns.

 

My point is to do what works for you. Different setups for different situations

[Choporoz]

The line and rod really have to pair and work together.   I used braid exclusively for years on MHF with what I considered a somewhat soft tip.  Loved it, fishing over mostly shallow grass and wood.  Tried fluoro in same rod and absolutely hated it.   But when I tied on to a jig rod with less tip and fluoro to fish slower, deeper hopping, it was perfect. 

  I won't pretend to say I can explain why.  But, I suggest you try both fluoro and braid and see which works best for you.

[DogBone_384]

2 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

Now I know I have to back off on the hookset and let the fish completely take the bait so I don't pull it from its mouth

 

I use a mono leader to add a little cushion.  I don't find any loss in sensitivity when compared to a fluorocarbon leader.

 

I'm 'pretty easy' with my hook sets too.

[FishTank]

12 to 15lb fluorocarbon for me. I do like braid to leader for some applications but not for bladed jigs and spinnerbaits.  

[casts_by_fly]

like choproz said, the rod and line have to work in tandem and there needs to be a little give somewhere for moving baits.  You're right that with braid you can feel every little bump and nick (try it with a red eye shad sometime!) but the rod has to have enough flex.  For that reason, I don't prefer braid with chatterbaits and spinnerbaits.  I have one rod where it might be a good combo (I've fished heavy fluoro with limited stretch on it with CBs before) but that's not my preference for type of rod to fish those baits.  I prefer a faster action rod which means a stretchier line.

[Bigbox99]

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I saw a tourney interview somewhere along the way, tons of anglers had worked an area throwing bladed jigs and not caught much at all. I believe it was Brian Schmitt that came in behind everyone and waxed the fish. The difference? He was throwing straight braid and of course the masses were throwing fluoro. Somebody walked up to his boat after the tourney and noticed all his bladed jigs had the paint worn off the head. They asked him why, he said using braid they bang harder and that’s why he got all the bites 

 

just something I heard long ago that stuck in my head

I'd be inclined to belive that the missing paint is from the bladed jigs he was using and not from the line.  Some of these bladed jigs like the Fogy use a split ring to  attach the blade and when paired with a long trailer can cause the blade to twist upside-down and wedge itself against the head of the bait and scrape off some paint.  It will do it in either direction. So you will see two spots with missing paint. 

 

The bait will also veer left or right in a classic hunting action when this happens and then resume wobbling and tracking straight.  This also triggers fish and absolutely clean house with one of these baits.  I fish these baits a lot this way and slow and speed up my retrieve to encourage the hunting.  Later in the year I switch to L bill cranks to get the same hunting action from deflection off of weeds.  

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I'd lose a bunch of fish with braid, it took me lots of time to figure out the best combo to allow the fish to actually eat the bait, and then have the bait properly orientate for a reliable hookset.   

 

I was listening to the designers of the original chatter ringo (can't say the name), and they were talking about how the bait is quite unique in the way you need to delay the hookset to allow the bait to right itself inside the fish's mouth.  Made a ton of sense. 

 

I don't think there's a wrong choice as long as it works for you.

 

Personally I only use 16lb FC Sniper.  

[Junk Fisherman]

52 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'd lose a bunch of fish with braid, it took me lots of time to figure out the best combo to allow the fish to actually eat the bait, and then have the bait properly orientate for a reliable hookset.   

 

I was listening to the designers of the original chatter ringo (can't say the name), and they were talking about how the bait is quite unique in the way you need to delay the hookset to allow the bait to right itself inside the fish's mouth.  Made a ton of sense. 

 

I don't think there's a wrong choice as long as it works for you.

 

Personally I only use 16lb FC Sniper.  

Was that the After Dark podcast?  It was nearly a 3 hour podcast with about 10 minutes of atual information that can help our fishing today.  Guess I shouldn't complain when it's free.  

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Yeah that was it.    Thrift, and Montgomery along with the inventor of the bait were on the show.   

[MRQturbo]

I use straight 50lb braid for chatterbaits and spinnerbaits..