2 reels, 2 rods, and 2 different lines

[Bernie Mac]

So I went fishing off and on throughout last week and this Labor Day weekend.  Now it's been over a year last time I fished with a B/C and it really didn't take me long to get back on the ole' horse.  The Loomis (MBR843 IMX) w/ Quantum Code setup I have is pretty nice.  After a couple of easy casts I was able to put any lure tied on in any place I wanted and with some good distance.  No backlash or overruns at all.  After I was use to it even more I pretty much had the ACS set to free and was whipping lures all over the place.  (spooled w/ 14lb SW XXXMono) Now on handling fish, very nice, nothing heavy yet but a 16" Brown in white water current was no match at all.  

Now the other set up is a 6'6" MH Berkely Lighting Shock Rod w/ a Quantum Code Red spooled (at first) 40lb PowerPro.  Rod is almost as light as the Loomis and the blended tip didn't make it slow or moderate.  It actually has a fast action and just (IMO) as sensitive (but not as) the Loomis.  Now I was able to start whipping lures left and right put when I started to put some umph into it...backlash.  I set the cast control to were the lure would creep and the same thing.  Now I had the ACS set to about 3 or less.  When I would set it to 6, no backlash but no distance on the cast at all.  I noticed the PP was digging into it self so I decided to change lines (thinking that was the issue).  So yesterday, spooled with SW EZ braid (50lb), off to the river I go.  And as you guessed it, same issue, I had to get down a whole new technique to fish with the braid.  And to me the SW EZ Braid was the worst thing I could have ever bought, it was like spooling my reel with reach dental floss w/o the mint flavor and not very abrasive resistant at all.  I will say one thing about it.  It's some strong stuff.  I had a spoon hung on either a rock or something next to this bridge pylon I was casting too and while seeing if I could pull it free the treble hook snapped and almost completely straightened out the split ring too  .  

All and all I'm enjoying both reels and both rods.  Both reels do cast smooth and quietly.  And both are really smooth on retrieves too.  Just need to re-spool the red with some better line (want to keep it with braid of course).  

[islandbass]

Great report. Not surprised at the results with braid. Line dig is a practical given unless you take steps to minimize it. The benefits braid offer are so good many people overlook the line dig. As I said, it can be minimized.  I use 30# Ppro and hardly ever encounter line dig.

Keep one thing in mind now that you know how strong braid can be and other lines of great strength in how easily it straightened your hook. When you're yanking your lures free, take the rod out of the equation completely. You saw what the line did to the hook, now imagine the stress you're putting on the rod as a result of those forceful pulls. It's a wonder to me when people are surprised they're rods break.  You take the rod out of the equation by working only with the line. Be careful with braid. You know or will learn how easily it cuts grass and weeds and it can do the same of your hand and fingers. I use a stick on the ground or my key caribeaner to assist in freeing things.

Congrats on your latest acquistions! Oh yeah. Another benefit of taking the rod out of the sang freeing equation is that you eliminate line dig. Every time you yank with the rod and reel to free something you are also making the braid dig into itself in the spool.  8-)

[dave]

So I went fishing off and on throughout last week and this Labor Day weekend.

Must have been cool to be in a time warp.

[Bernie Mac]

Great report. Not surprised at the results with braid. Line dig is a practical given unless you take steps to minimize it.

Thanks IB, I never had problem with digging on my first B/C using original SW, so maybe just a bad spool of PP cause it does fray pretty easly.  And using a stick or something stiff to wrap the line around to pull loose a lure is smart idea as so to take the stress off the rod and reel.  Thats what I actually did and it felt like it just came loose, I didn't think I pulled it that hard  :-? to break a piece of the treble off.

[Bernie Mac]

Must have been cool to be in a time warp.

OH yes it was...wish I could go back into it.

[bassprofishguy]

sw braid is like cheese grader baaaaaad stuff.