Feel like stirring up some poopy

[justfishin]

 Ok, and please don't drive to MD to whoop up on me. I still do not get the braid thing. I have tried it and gave it a honest try. I just do not like the feel of it or anything. I like mono. My 20lb test hauls them out of the thick stuff. I can feel everything on the end of my mono, no problem. Why use something you go to the hassle of adding a leader to? OK, I am going to " Tuck and Roll " now, have at it,lol.

[Cajun1977]

i actually hate braid also,the line always wraps around the rod tip.

[justfishin]

Cajun, thanks for jumping on board, but, save yourself boy,lol, I have a feeling that by the time this post is over I will be in my basement crying like a little Nancy Boy in the corner,lol.  ;D

[bass109]

I believe braid line works best for summer months, in colder weather(spring,fall,winter) its not a good choice. I'd pick spiderwire braided line over berkley fireline anyday.

[pondhopper]

i actually hate braid also,the line always wraps around the rod tip.

Amazing what the stuff can do in an uncontrolled limp condition for a fraction of a second.

But then I have found something to hate about every line I have ever tried. For example, my favorite (Stren original) stretches like a freaking rubber band. Braid has just barely enough good points to stay on one of my reels.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I like it but the only time I use it is on frogs,  thick weeds, or muddy water.  Other then that I use flourocarbon.  Braid is more sensitive then any other line I've used.

[Cory20]

I'm slowly falling for McCoy braid

[Bass Hammer]

Right tool for the right job

When you need super strong hooksets way out like on a frog. Braid is the way to go. I often times will even use it on top water if I am throwing from way back. Zero stretch allows me to feel my lure much better at a distance.

There is no better line in my opinion for flippin' super heavy grass.

I like to use it on traps in the early spring when I am ripping them through the tops of grass.

One line won't do everything for me....I still use mono and fluoro but braid has it's place too.

[RWHusker.]

We went to Fork and was told to use Berkley Fireline Braid.  The point was you came for a trophy why let a line choice loose it for you?  I didn't like the Fireline and went back to mono and floro.  The Cabela's people talked me into PowerLine Braid and I love it for my worm/jig rig, frog/grass setup.  Mono and Floro on the Crank and Spinnerbait set up.

GO BIG RED

[Catt]

I use Power Pro only when fishing matted Hydrilla for every thing else it Berkley Big Game 15# with absolutely no problems.

[flechero]

I'm right there with you, justfishin...

I grew up fishing Fork and some other east Texas lakes where heavy grass and wood are the norm.  We always used XT, without trouble.  Now that I fish the rocky, clearer waters of central Texas, I still use XT without trouble...  I tried braid but never found a scenario that it worked better for me.  Yes it is more sensitive, but unfortunately, that only made it easier to confirm that I was getting fewer bites with it.

I can see why people would want use it in matted grass and a few other specific scenarios but I just never shared the need.

No offense intended, but I think braid is too often used as a crutch, not a tool, for some people. If you "need" it for this or that then something else is probably missing.

[roadwarrior]

I think the main reasons river fishermen don't like braid are these:

Abrasion resistance is poor; the line is difficult to manage in wind and we usually create our own when moving on a river; the line is difficult to break when you need to break-off, which is often in river situations; the line digs into the spool, burns and cuts fingers when we deal with hang-ups; knots are a hassel; smallmouth "seem" to be line shy and visibility comes into play; and most importantly, there are better alternatives for the way we fish.

On the positive side: I think braid might be the answer for heavy vegetation and for fishing expensive lures that you DO NOT wish to lose. Fishing $30+ Huds in open water for largemouth is an example. Another is fishing frogs on pads. So, for certain applications, braid is probably the best choice, but I'm still not going to use it again!

[surfer]

To each their own.  

I am a believer in the stuff (suffix), but i still get an occasional knot in it.  How can it tie itself around an eyelet so well so quickly?  I use spinning reels and have found leaving a 1/4 inch lip when filling the spool is better than 1/8.  I figured that out after cutting a dozen knots out then I had a 1/4 inch lip and no more knots.

[senile1]

I use braid but I think its wonderful lack of stretch is outweighed by its visibility.  I use it only in thick brush and weeds.  I don't like the extra work involved in tying on a leader to correct this issue either.  

[Taliesin]

Right tool for the right job .

To go along with that, the tools have to match up well. If the angler can't use braid (for whatever reason), then it's the wrong tool.

I love braid and use it anytime I can, but I understand that for some people it's not the right choice.

[RWHusker.]

Great thread, I'm so fickle I'm wanting to restring all but one set up.  I'm looking forward to this thread playing out and getting more opinions.

GO BIG RED

[fourbizz]

i love braid and I use it with a leader on all of my rods except my swimbait rods.

RW, I would be WAY more worried about about losing expensive baits if i was using braid than if I was using my 25lb test PLine. the low abrasion resistance is a big concern with baits like the hudd in the rocks. plus if you make an error and your reel backlashes while casting that 6 ounce bait, you can kiss it goodbye. at least with stretchafilament you have a chance

[dave]

I fished with Power Pro 12/50 for a couple of years.  Tried Yozuri Hybrid on one reel last year and switched all this year.  12# and 15#.  It is amazing how braid would wraps around your tip in a blink.  

[ABC123]

I have 2 setup's with braid, and the rest are mono. The brands of lines may change as I find something I like better, but the type of line on the setup's most likely won't change. Braid has it's place, but it's no doubt not a one size fit's all line. My 2 braid setup's are for vertical jigging/dropshotting with a flouro leader, and direct tie on for casting topwaters and worms. I don't do some of these "new" techniques like flipping, so maybe there are other uses for braid too, but for me it's just 2.

[lubina]

Sufix braid for jigs and all soft plastics.

[.dsaavedra.]

i really like my power pro braid:

>good strength to diameter (50lb=12lb diameter)

>tough as a mo-fo! ('nuff said)

>ultrasensitive! (i can feel the individual blades spinning on a spinnerbait, i couldnt do that w/ mono)

>zero stretch (great hooksetting power and pulling power...as needed in thick weeds)

>near zero spool memory (great for finesse fishing where there is alot of slack in the line)

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I can't say I like it or dislike it.  I use it for a couple techniques ...... c-rigging and slop fishing.  IMO it's the right tool for those techniques.

[The_Natural]

Without reading a single post beyond the initial one, I don't use braid.  It's just too limp and actually hinders me by wrapping around my rod tip or burying in the spool on a hook set.  Also, if you get a bad backlash...you're screwed!  There is a happy medium for me...I guess you can say I like my fishing line 'al dente'...not too limp, not too stiff  

[justfishin]

Wow, I am happy about this post. Everyone maintained well. I really thought it would be a shooting match. I am not a braid hater. I just don't like the feel of it. And yes, I can see where it can be a tool for top waters in the spatterdock or in the slop. I personaly will never use it again but, it certainly can be a good tool. Thanks for keeping it kind. Now, about that crappy brittle, too stiff, pure Flourocarbon..................

[Bass Hammer]

You're one of those guys that likes to play chicken arn't you?