I finally discovered the blessing called "braid"!

[Grey Wolf]

Nothing but braid for me.

[skunked_again]

I have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters.  Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.

thats what i need to learn. one backlash and that rod/reel is done for the day. maybe some day ill take the time to learn instead of just fishing with what i know, sort of like picking up a baitcaster for the first time.

[bighed]

If it's so great why don't the pro's use it full time?

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

Yea man I absolutely love Spiderwire Stealth in either 50 or 65 pound test for my flippin stick

[dodgeguy]

I have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters. Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.

thats what i need to learn. one backlash and that rod/reel is done for the day. maybe some day ill take the time to learn instead of just fishing with what i know, sort of like picking up a baitcaster for the first time.

that's what i don't get.braid is the easiest to remove a backlash from.put your thumb on the spool and reel in some line.release the spool and pull out some line.repeat as needed.99.9% of all backlashes come right out this way.

[Grey Wolf]

If it's so great why don't the pro's use it full time?

Every one uses what they feel comfortable with and get the best results with. If you don't like don't use it.

[jb_adams]

I have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters. Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.

thats what i need to learn. one backlash and that rod/reel is done for the day. maybe some day ill take the time to learn instead of just fishing with what i know, sort of like picking up a baitcaster for the first time.

If you can fish out a backlash from mono or fluorocarbon in a baitcaster, you should be able to do the same for braid.  I've only backlased once so far with braid and it was nothing to dig out.  I think it was due to line burrowing like Rolo stated.

I will occasionally get a really bad backlash because of some strange circumstance with both mono or fluorocarbon.  Like when I flipped my jig wrong and it hits the water abruptly or when I just really over cast and try to fling a bait too far out there.  When you get a real rats nest of line, it can take you 10-15mins to dig out because when the line already has a curl due to line memory, it will jump off the spool.  Braid doesn't seem to do that at all.

Braid is not for everyone but I really recommend you try lighter weight braids like a 10lb or 12lb with a 4-6lb mono diameter.  They are much less intimidating and look more like tiny sewing thread so you feel more like you are using mono than braided line.  I used 10lb Suffix on my BPS Prolite baitcaster because it's a finesse baitcaster and 10lb is the max. line size.  For finesse jigs (1/4oz-1/2oz), it's an awesome setup.  I was able to flip back into a waterfall that was over 40ft away and that little jig just settled down nicely.  I can feel the rattles, hear the rattles (braid has more audible feedback), feel the difference between a rock, stick, grass, and I swear I can even feel the grub trailer wagging it's legs if I swim it.

One thing about braid that I don't like.

Since I can hear my jig rattles easily, that means the fish can hear me talking to my buddy or any other topside noise if the line is pulled tight with no slack in the line.  If you ever took two coffee cans or soup cans and strung a taught string between them as kids to make a play telephone, this theory explains what I mean.  If I can hear the jig rattles, then the fish can hear my conversation in the boat.  Maybe not as well as I can hear the rattles but it still transfers some vibration below the water to the bait.

[jb_adams]

If it's so great why don't the pro's use it full time?

Every one uses what they feel comfortable with and get the best results with. If you don't like don't use it.

Agreed.

I know lots of pros that use Fireline Crystal and still use fluorocarbon too.  Each has there application for certain presentations.  Braid is highly visible in clear water so using it for a wacky rig is not as good as fluorocarbon but it's great for crankbaits, etc.  

[Tokyo Tony]

One thing about braid that I don't like.

Since I can hear my jig rattles easily, that means the fish can hear me talking to my buddy or any other topside noise if the line is pulled tight with no slack in the line.

That's my favorite thing about braid - I can talk the fish into biting  

- "Come on Larry, you may not be hungry, but just have a bite and try it out - it's delicious, trust me!"

Seriously though, I don't think you're hearing the jig rattling from far away...it must be something else.

[jb_adams]

One thing about braid that I don't like.

Since I can hear my jig rattles easily, that means the fish can hear me talking to my buddy or any other topside noise if the line is pulled tight with no slack in the line.

That's my favorite thing about braid - I can talk the fish into biting

- "Come on Larry, you may not be hungry, but just have a bite and try it out - it's delicious, trust me!"

Seriously though, I don't think you're hearing the jig rattling from far away...it must be something else.

Nope, I promise it's the rattles.

I use the cheap Renegade rattles from Wal-Mart with two rattles per jig.  It was quiet, the wind died down, I was slowly twitching the jig and I kept hearing a ticking noise.  As I focused on the sound a bit more, I realized it was my jig rattles.  So, I placed the baitcaster to my ear for a closer listen, sure enough it was the jig rattles.  I could distinctly hear the little shot rattling inside the plastic sleeve and hitting the metal end.  You could hear a tick, tick tick.

By then, I was giggling like a little schoo-girl and raving how much I loved braid!

[skunked_again]

I have switched to braid with a flourocarbon leader for everything. I hate how mono will coil up on the spool and ruin the castability on spinning outfits and backlash constantly on baitcasters.  Occasionally I will get backlash, but it is always easier to pick it out with braid. I havent had to respool with braid. but with mono its almost the routine when it backlashes to have to remove almost all of it. Im not concerned with the braid getting nicked on rocks because I fish in the weeds. Everytime I tried a new mono that was supposed to be "it" for a baitcaster it would work ok for a couple weeks, then it would take on a coil and be useless. Braid may be more expensive to start, but is cheaper in the long run. Not all braid is the same either. I use Power Pro. It is as limp as string. Fireline is much stiffer and feels like a coil of wire when not on the spool. Those are the only brands I have used.

thats what i need to learn. one backlash and that rod/reel is done for the day. maybe some day ill take the time to learn instead of just fishing with what i know, sort of like picking up a baitcaster for the first time.

that's what i don't get.braid is the easiest to remove a backlash from.put your thumb on the spool and reel in some line.release the spool and pull out some line.repeat as needed.99.9% of all backlashes come right out this way.

i need to spool a rod with braid again knowing it will bever see water and go out in the back yard and learn to use it. i think id like my jig rod to have braid...i think.

[jb_adams]

The backyard isn't the same as the water believe me.  It's a good start for practice though.  Try starting off with something like Suffix 10lb braid.  It's cheap and 6lb diam. so it feels more like mono.  Not near as intimidating as 50lb "rope"! (haha)

After trying braid again, I'm very glad I did.  I feel like I just dropped a blown V8 in a muscle car.  I've got good quality rods, now I just added the horsepower & feel to make them perform better.

Give braid a shot on the water after playing with it in the backyard and see if you like it better.  Just remember to try these things:

- don't overcast with braid (don't cast too hard)

- always try to unspool extra line after your cast so the line on the spool is even with the line guide on the reel so when you start your retrieve, the line is re-spooling where it left off.  This keeps your line straighter on the spool and helps prevent backlashes (both braid & mono)

- try finding that just right adjustment with your adj. knob till the line is flying off the spool without backlashing

- strive for easy gentle casts until you get a rythm going.

I think you will find you like it after you get past the noise difference braid makes and how it feels.  It's still a bit "weird" but I have confidence in it and the "weirdness" goes away.

Good luck! ;D

[dodgeguy]

the new 8 strand braids such as diawa,saltiga and spiderwire ultracast are now even smoother than sufix and make almost no noise.this year on my braid rods i'm trying spiderwire ultracast invisbraid with the last 10 feet colored black.the white color makes it so i can see it and the black makes it harder for the fish to see.it is definately not translucent.i like the smoothness and the way it handles.

[Bushwacker]

I am on the opposite side of the spectrum from most of you.  I have been using braid almost exclusively for about 10 years now and in the past year I have been going to fluorocarbon and co-polymers.  I still use braid quite a bit for certain techniques, but I really think braid was actually costing me fish.  One of the biggest pros of braid is the no-stretch, but it is also one of its biggest cons too.  With cranks and other treble hooked lures, the no stretch was costing me fish.  With fluoro the line gives a little as well as the rod so it is not as easy for the fish to shake off.  I personally put fluoro in front of braid for sensativity too.  If you are totally tight lining a fish braid is very sensative, but then a fish can also feel you easier.  If you have any slack in the line fluoro seems to give me a lot more transmitted feeling.  I still love braid, I prefer PowerPro for baitcasting setups and Fireline for spinning reels, but I definitely think braid has its place.  Some techniques are hurt by using braid.

[Georgia Jeff]

I bought some PowerPro 20lb line last week.  I fished it this weekend and so far I am loving it.  It is so much more sensitive and it throws great.  

I used it several years ago but was having problems with dig-in.  I would throw the lure and suddenly it would stop in mid air and die.  The line had dug in to the rest of the line on the spool about 30 feet into the spool.  

So far I am not having this problem with the PowerPro.  If it keeps performing like this I will be hooked. Ha!  I had a couple of rods that are a little flemsy and was having a problem setting the hook on far cast with mono.  The braid stops this.  Loving it.

[Micro]

I just discovered the blessing of not using braid.  I'm back on mono for everything (except for Yo-Zuri for plastics).   For me, mono's sensitive enough, cheaper, allows me to respool more frequently, and doesn't create backlashes that can't be picked out.  

A love affair with braid is like a love affair with bacon.  

[jb_adams]

It doesn't take much to get someone hooked on braid.  I've had line dig only one time and that was probably my fault.

I tried a new technique for fishing jigs this weekend and I loved it.  I could feel every size rock, stick, bite, etc.  It was amazing what I've been missing.  After using braid, fishing anything slow with mono or fluoro feels mushy and like I'm using a slinky.  Braid has totally ruined me! ;D

Glad it's working for ya Jeff and thanks for the feedback! 8-)