Braid for Spinning Gear

[hjerk24]

Any guys here use braid for spinning tackle? I was fishing weeds this weekend, and lost a few to weeds on 10lb. fleurocarbon. Do you think a 20 lb. braided line would be helpful when fishing plastics near/in weeds with spinning?

Thanks-

I usually fish a 3/8 ounce slider head and baby brush hogs...a deadly combination for me.

[SirSnookalot]

Many fish braid on spinning and I do exclusively.  My standard set up is 10 or 15# braid and 20 # mono leader.  If they are hooked good I seldom lose them, but it happens.

[andamtoft]

I only fish braid on my spinning reels, i primarily use 30# spider wire stealth and love it. Although I have heard a lot about fishing braid with a leader, as mentioned above, and i think im gonna get into that this season.

[The Next KVD]

I like braid on spinning rods for fishing for heavy vegetation.

[Gone_Phishin]

I've been fishing Power Pro on Stradics for years, and I'm very happy with the line's performance.  Very supple, and it only gets better with time.

It covers all spectrums of weight ranges too.  It can handle larger baits, as well as ity-bity jigs.  I fish a lot for walleye, and I cast small, 1/8oz leadheads and live-bait combos a ton.  I have 20lb on my walleye jigs/rigs rods, and it does a fantastic job.  

If the cover your speaking of isn't too thick, 20lb should be fine.  Otherwise bump-up to at least 30lb.

[mrlitetackle]

i as well fish braid on my spinning gear.....

40lb suffix braid on my saros 3000.....

(the 40lb is overkill in my mind, but the dia. of it is a good match for the amount of line that my spool can hold.......i can hold about 140 yds of it)

[bilgerat]

I just started this year with braid. Speaking only for myself, I still have to get used to it. I love the strength, sensitivity and how it handles, I just have to tone down on my hooksets a bit, as I have missed quite a few fish by being too aggressive. I don't blame this on the braid at all, just 25 years of mono fishing. No biggie, I'll figure it out.

[midnighthrasher]

shimano sustain 2500----- 1st spool 20lb powerpro

                                     2nd spool 8lb yozuri hybrid

[dmac14]

shimano sustain 2500----- 1st spool 20lb powerpro

                                    2nd spool 8lb yozuri hybrid

Thats how I am gonna respool my spinning gear.

1st: 20# Suffix

2nd: 6# Yo Zuri Hybrid

[Fish Chris]

I use nothing but braided line. And spinning gear 95% of the time. I have a couple baitcasters for Sturgeon, but even so, I've got big Sturgeon on micro-light spinning gear with 10lb test micro-braid, as well.

Peace,

Fish

[SirSnookalot]

I use nothing but braided line. And spinning gear 95% of the time

Knew there was something I liked about you ! lol

[Fish Chris]

:-)  LOL

So hey SirSnook, do you have as hard a time as I do, not just coming unglued over the fact that some guys still use a big arse rubberbands, between them and the fish ? .......and then these guys ask for advice and I'm like.... Uhhhh, well for starters :-)  LOL

I mean, these guys don't even know what it "really feels like" to fight a fish !

Braided line is just an absolute no-brainer...... and this is coming from a guy who used crappy arse mono for the first 25 years !

Hey SirSnook, how long have you been using braid, and what was it like for you to switch from mono ? It felt REALLY weird and whacky to me. Took many trips over a period of months... maybe a full year before it felt totally normal. But that was 15 years ago. And I could sure never go back.

Hmmm,

Fish

[J Francho]

I made the cut over to braid on spinning gear a few years ago, starting with fall and spring steelheading.  It didn't work so well in freezing conditions, so I went back to mono in winter months.  I liked it so much that both my spinning rigs for bass have the braid spool on them 90% of the time.  I also use braid on three of my 9 casting rigs.

For reference, I have 30# Power Pro on a Daiwa 2500 series reel paired with a 7' MH team All Star rod.  This is a general purpose rod.  The other spinner, a Daiwa 1500 size reel, is for finesse applications, like drop shot, shaky head, mojo/split shot, and light jigworms.  For that I use 15# Power Pro.  I frequently use a leader due to the zebra/quagga mussle infestation we have here in the Great Lakes, usually P-Line CFX leader material.  A uni to uni connection or Allbright knot makes the connection.

It is a very direct battle with the fish.  Hooksets are a simple matter of a snap set.  I have a lot of confidence in braid once the fish is hooked.

[SirSnookalot]

I was a late bloomer, fished mono back in Michigan.  When I moved to Florida I started using braid on my new salt reels, used the left over for freshwater reels.  I wouldn't use "cat gut  " anymore and I'm totally converted.

I don't fish worms often (rather take a nap which is what worm fishing is), but the other day I did.  Big winds , big arc in my braided line and I still felt every nibble and bite.  I'm a braid man till something better comes along.

No brainer to me, sensitivity & castability of 2#, strength of 10#+

[hjerk24]

Thanks for all of the replies....I think I will set up one of my spinning rods for the next trip. Any thought on visibility difference from braid and fleuro?

Just curious???

I may try 15 lb. to start, sound good?

Green color I'd imagine?

I have used Power Pro, so I will probably stick with that.

Thanks for all you advice!

[RandySBreth]

Superlines (not just braid) are spinning reels best friend. You'll see.

[tennwalkinghorse]

I like braid on spinning rods for fishing for heavy vegetation.

I use 20lb Power Pro

[J Francho]

I use red or gold for line visibility, and green in vegetation.  In either case, I swipe the spool with a black marker, and color the last 2' feet black.  in extremely clear water, I'll use a FC leader.

[twitchfish]

JFrancho, you mentioned a floro leader for you spinning reel for drop-shotting. When you do that, where do you tie it? Obviously, above the hook? Uni-knot (not sure how to tie that one)? What poundage combination are you using?

I am still not thrilled with any of the lines I have tried on my spinning gear. I threw half a spool of Fireline 14# I had left on a Gander Mountain 1000 size Competitor I found in a clearance rack and put it on a medium action Ugly Stick light that needed a reel (nothing more bothersome than a reelless stick in your garage). That rig has given me half the headaches my Shimano/Mojo with 6# Sufix Elite has.

Any help is welcome. Twitch

[J Francho]

I tie a 6-8' leader (P-Line CFX in 6 to 12# ratings) to the mainline, and then simply tie the dropshot rig.  For knots, look here: http://www.animatedknots.com/

[roadwarrior]

:-) LOL

So hey SirSnook, do you have as hard a time as I do, not just coming unglued over the fact that some guys still use a big arse rubberbands, between them and the fish ? .......and then these guys ask for advice and I'm like.... Uhhhh, well for starters :-) LOL

I mean, these guys don't even know what it "really feels like" to fight a fish !

Braided line is just an absolute no-brainer...... and this is coming from a guy who used crappy arse mono for the first 25 years !

Hey SirSnook, how long have you been using braid, and what was it like for you to switch from mono ? It felt REALLY weird and whacky to me. Took many trips over a period of months... maybe a full year before it felt totally normal. But that was 15 years ago. And I could sure never go back.

Hmmm,

Fish

Uncle!

Geez...I didn't even have to (re)visit your website for the evidence.

I fished braid on the river years ago and quit mainly because it was

very dangerous. However, I'm going to spool up one baitaster

and one spinning rig.

So, (1) what exactly do you recommend (brand name and size);

and (2) do you always use a leader or are there some things (big

swimbaits) that you tie direct?

Also, how do you feel about clips as opposed to direct tie?

BTW, J Francho: Aren't your trout and steelhead line shy?

8-)

[SirSnookalot]

I've used a number of the different braids and I prefer PP, bit cheaper. strong and knots are down to a minimum, but like anything it's personal preference. Btw I understand shimano is buying PP, your customer loyalty will be intact.........hehe.  Got a 20# cuda today in heavy current on15#pp line looks frayed but just fuzzy and held strong.

Caught it on my stradic 4000fi, got to admit one fine reel.

[SirSnookalot]

So hey SirSnook, do you have as hard a time as I do, not just coming unglued over the fact that some guys still use a big arse rubberbands, between them and the fish ? .......and then

Nope .......haha, I get miffed at saltwater guys using mono, the braid just handles those stronger fish better.

I use mono on only 2 outfits. On a conventional used on a drift boat(they frown on braid because it's very normal to get 5-6 lines tangled) and ul. I am going to try some yozuri on it, I gotta be objective and know why I like it or don't like it.

[J Francho]

BTW, J Francho: Aren't your trout and steelhead line shy?

Yes, and no.  

The rig we use is a float rig, and the braid or mono is simply for the mainline, which technically SHOULDN'T even touch the water.  The business end of the rig is tied with fluoro leader material, anywhere from 4# to 10#.

Here is the float rig:

mainline----([FLOAT[[[>---shot line---O--O--0--0--0--o--o--o--swivel---fluoro leader---bait.

Some guys use a second and/or third micro swivel (Raven 20# are preferred) before and after the float.  When I use mono mainline, there is only one swivel, before the leader, and use the mainline as my shot line.  When using braid, I like to use 8-10# mono as a shot line, and run a 2nd swivel just below the float.

There are MANY variations on this rig, and it takes learning to read the flow to know what works when.  Here is a good PDF on the float rig: http://www.raventackle.com/Shotting%20Patterns.pdf