braid questions

[Red]

i have used braid in the past, but not enough to really know much about it.  i just spooled up my jig rig with 50lb power pro.  i am looking for any advice on using this instead of mono.  what to watch out for? drag settings?  is there a risk of rod damage due to its strength?  any info to help is much appreciated!!

thanks

Cliff

[bigbassdave]

I would say there is definitely a risk of rod damage on the hookset since the line has no stretch. I back off my drag a tad so I get a slight amount of slippage on hookset. I don't like doing this if I'm pitching/flipping in heavy timber though, for obvious reasons. Probably the best thing to do is to learn not to set the hook so hard--it's really not necessary with braid--I have a hard time relaxing my hookset though. Finally, I tend to use a slightly more moderate action rod for braid.

David

[joeyd50]

I jig and frog fish in slop, like bigbassdave said back off on the drag, I thumb the spool when I set the hook, once hooked you can tighten up on the drag.

Good Luck

 Joe

[Wayne P.]

The best advice anyone can give you when first using braids is to not use a violent hook-set like you do with monos. Just a quick wrist movement instead of arm movement is all it takes. All of your rod movement is transferred to hook movement and too much movement, too violently will tear the hook out and or damage you or your equipment.

A lighter action rod or looser drag will help.

[Red]

thanks guys, i guess i will have to ease up on my hookset and back my drag off, cuz i aint gettin another rod!!  this is one i made just for jiggin, it is a 6'6" allstar785(?) hvy, and it is a VERY stout rod, flechero knows, after all he sold me the blank.  i am headed out in about an hour so i will post back and let you know how it went, assuming i catch something.

thanks again

Cliff

[Wayne P.]

Another thing you might want to add to your arsenal: stronger hooks. Gamakatsu has some called Super Line hooks, they can stand the pressure you may exert better than regular wire hooks.

[Red]

thanks.  i would love to tell you how the hook setting went, but i never had the chance!!  skunked!!  but i can tell you i dont think i will like the power pro, i think i will end up going back to trilene XT but with a heavier test.  i may give it one more shot.  thanks for the info guys.

Cliff

[fishbear]

Red,

Try some Suffix Performance Braid.... It casts great.  I use 30 lb. on my baitcasters.

[fishfordollars]

Try some Suffix. It solved alll my braid problems.

[Red]

i didnt really have any problems with it, i just dont like it in general

[flechero]

Yes, that blank is a 785...  (and braid isn't for everyone, so stick with XT if it's working better for you)

[Grey Wolf]

i didnt really have any problems with it, i just dont like it in general[/quote

You have got to be able to have an open mind and give things a fair shot.

[Red]

i am going to give it another run or two before i strip it off.  after all i did pay $13 for the stuff

[Red]

well i tried it out a bunch more, and although it hasnt given me any trouble, or problems with hook ups or anything, i am going back to trilene XT.  this might sound crazy, but the main reason i am switching back is because i cant bite the line with my teeth.  thats how i do it when changing lures.  being that i only use two set ups, i change baits frequently.  it takes too much time to get out a knife cut it off, then cut off the knot(pet peeve), tie on new bait, cut tag end.  with my teeth it take sonly seconds.  anyway, i feel i gave it a fair shot, but i am going back.  howeverr i do like the 10lb braid on my nephews UL set up, i plan to stick with it for that.

Cliff

[anglermangler]

cliff, have you considered snap swivels for your braid? i know they're not the strongest but i have caught 5 and 6 lbs bass on my wonderful ole' ugly stick with a quantum inferno spinning reel and i believe 10 lb test cajun line with a snap swivel that i got from wal-mart.

AnglerMangler

[fretfishman]

can't blame you for going back. as one poster said - braid isn't for everyone. nor is it for all facets of fishing anyway.

I personally don't like using snap swivels, because they make me lazy and I wouldn't be checking my line for frays, etc.

I don't mind cutting braid and re-tying when necessary, because I have very small and sharp fiskar titanium scissors on a retractable hanger. the cut is always clean and easy and I just have to reach towards my chest to grab the scissors and let them fall when I'm done. one other thing to consider is that cutting the line with your teeth (while this is a method I used to use) isn't a great option since it's one way you can pick up a parasite which will make you very sick...just one more thing to keep in mind. it doesn't happen to anglers all that often, but when it does it'll make you feel like you're dying - or wish you were dead for the time being. food for thought - g'luck!

[Grey Wolf]

well i tried it out a bunch more, and although it hasnt given me any trouble, or problems with hook ups or anything, i am going back to trilene XT. this might sound crazy, but the main reason i am switching back is because i cant bite the line with my teeth. thats how i do it when changing lures. being that i only use two set ups, i change baits frequently. it takes too much time to get out a knife cut it off, then cut off the knot(pet peeve), tie on new bait, cut tag end. with my teeth it take sonly seconds. anyway, i feel i gave it a fair shot, but i am going back. howeverr i do like the 10lb braid on my nephews UL set up, i plan to stick with it for that.

Cliff

That's as good as excuse as any.

[Red]

can't blame you for going back. as one poster said - braid isn't for everyone. nor is it for all facets of fishing anyway.

I personally don't like using snap swivels, because they make me lazy and I wouldn't be checking my line for frays, etc.

I don't mind cutting braid and re-tying when necessary, because I have very small and sharp fiskar titanium scissors on a retractable hanger. the cut is always clean and easy and I just have to reach towards my chest to grab the scissors and let them fall when I'm done. one other thing to consider is that cutting the line with your teeth (while this is a method I used to use) isn't a great option since it's one way you can pick up a parasite which will make you very sick...just one more thing to keep in mind. it doesn't happen to anglers all that often, but when it does it'll make you feel like you're dying - or wish you were dead for the time being. food for thought - g'luck!

thanks, i have been biting my line as long as i can remember.  i could probably eat the parasites for dinner and not get sick.  the only thing that seems to make me sick is too much sun.  i never get a "cold" or the "flu" or anything like that.

anyway i am goping to spool it back up with 17 XT today.  i have tried it before but i didnt give it a fair shot like someone here mentioned.  this time it will get a fair trial.  

i want to have a heavier line cuz this is my jig rod, and, i plan to throw some swimbaits with this set up soon.

Cliff

[joshuaryan]

i use 40 lb test power pro on all of my setups and never had a problem with any one of them.  

[S I G M A]

I really like 50 lb power pro in green. My only complaint would be that my reel is now green... but i can live with that

[kbkindle]

kb here   iam 73 years old and thought i have heard them all  but you take the prize i dont like power pro because i cant bite the line with my teeth   kb :-/ :-*

[fretfishman]

g'luck with the xt, cliff. at least you tried the braid and can always go back to it for certain fishing conditions and styles if you choose. that happened to me. I tried braid when it first really hit the scene and liked certain things about it but other things were annoying. now I use braid for only certain things like swimbaits and deep water presentations.

[wisturkeyhunter]

well i tried it out a bunch more, and although it hasnt given me any trouble, or problems with hook ups or anything, i am going back to trilene XT. this might sound crazy, but the main reason i am switching back is because i cant bite the line with my teeth. thats how i do it when changing lures. being that i only use two set ups, i change baits frequently. it takes too much time to get out a knife cut it off, then cut off the knot(pet peeve), tie on new bait, cut tag end. with my teeth it take sonly seconds. anyway, i feel i gave it a fair shot, but i am going back. howeverr i do like the 10lb braid on my nephews UL set up, i plan to stick with it for that.

Cliff

I agree with you there. One of the biggest reasons I don't use braid. Its a pain in the ***. Impossible to cut with my teeth without alot of chewing but rocks tear it up. :-/